Matt Wearn delivered a masterclass on the final day of the ILCA 7 World Championships in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, turning a tough week of racing into a silver-medal finish. After struggling early in the week, the two-time Olympic Champion found himself ninth overall with a significant points gap to claw back. However, with the new format compressing the scores going into the final day, there was still andoor open.
Wearn kicked it down, finishing first and second in the Final Series races, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. While the objective was always gold, the comeback to silver held substantial meaning.
“It’s a little bittersweet, and you sort of feel like you’ve taken it out of someone’s hands, but at the same time, it seems to be the new format, and you’ve got to perform on the last day,” said Wearn. “So, it feels good to have a silver medal at the World Championships considering how the whole week’s gone.”
Sitting 14 points off gold and 13 off silver with 20 points available across the two final races, Wearn had plenty of ground to make up. Known for leading from the front, he demonstrated his capability to hunt down competitors when needed.
“Quite tricky conditions, but I had a win in the first race, which I guess sort of put me in the hunt a little bit more, and then the second race, it was sort of all happening. I was OCS (on course side) and then fought back. I think I was last around the top mark and first around it the next lap. Then just missed out on winning the World Championships but ended up with a silver medal. So, I can’t be unhappy with that.”
National Coach Rafa Trujillo noted that the result was another strong indicator of Wearn’s impressive return. “It definitely exceeds expectations,” Trujillo said of Wearn’s season, which has included three Grand Slam gold medals and now a World Championship silver.
Wearn took a year away from international competition following the 2024 Olympic Games. Trujillo believes this break was crucial for the reigning Olympic Champion. “I know that a year off was needed, but his diligence doesn’t go on holidays. He kept his body in perfect shape, and this year he is completely refreshed,” Trujillo explained. “And that was the feeling throughout the year. He always has more in the tank for the end of the events.”
This stood in contrast to the lead-up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Marseille, where Wearn was managing his energy carefully. Trujillo noted, “In the lead-up to Marseille, with the long COVID, we felt that we never had the tank full. We always needed to manage energy, whereas now he’s got plenty of energy mentally and physically to make the events.”
The Australian ILCA 7 National Squad will take a few weeks off before reconvening in Sydney at the Australian Sailing Team National Training Centre. However, there is little time before the next major target: the 2027 World Sailing Championships in January in Fortaleza, Brazil. This event will also provide Australia’s first opportunity to secure a national quota place for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad), Australian Sailing Futures (ASF), State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP) and other Australian (AUS) results at the ILCA7 World Championships:
ILCA7 (141 entries)
2nd – Matt Wearn (AST)
21st – Ethan McAullay (AST)
23rd – Zac Littlewood (AST)
45th – Isaac Shotte (AS Squad)
76th – Michael Compton (AS Squad)
101st – Alexander Bijkerk (SSPP)
106th – Lawson McAullay (AS Squad)
126th – Patrick Scally (AUS)
136th – Finn Buckley (AUS)
Lisa Darmanin – Australian Sailing Team Communications & Brand Lead
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