Sailor cuts through State competitors

Just a month after clinching the New South Wales State under-16 State Championship in Sydney, Bunbury Open Bic sailor Will Drew has won the overall WA State Title in Perth.

Sailing in a fleet of 38 boats, Will sealed the championship with a win in the last of the eight-race regatta.

The 13-year-old was the only regional sailor in the event, which was conducted on the Swan River by Perth Dinghy Sailing Club.

Light, shifting winds plagued the weekend’s racing, with the race management committee having to adjust the course several times to deal with the changing conditions.

This made sailing tough, with the top competitors having to predict wind direction and strength well ahead. Will now leads a strong WA State Team that will head to Adelaide to contest the Australian titles in the New Year.

Sailing from Henley Beach Sailing Club, the event is set to pitch Will and his teammates against Australia's best junior Open Bic sailors.

This gives the Bunbury sailor another chance to lock horns with World Champion Travis Wadley from Queensland, who he ran a close second to in the overall division at the New South Wales event.

A top-four finish at the nationals will also seal a spot in the Australian Team, that will head to Lake Garda in Italy for the World Cup in July and August.