The Yachtsman 2016-2017 RPAYC Yachtsman 2016-2017 | Page 40

O LY M P I C S
JASON WATERHOUSE AND LISA DARMANIN WIN SILVER AT THE RIO OLYMPICS!
N
ewport local, and Royal Prince Alfred
Yacht Club member, Jason Waterhouse,
sailing with his cousin and team mate,
Lisa Darmanin, made history winning
Silver in the newly added Nacra 17 class
sailing in their first ever Olympic Games. Among the crowd at the RPAYC, was Jason and Lisa’s
sailing coach and good friend, Traks Gordon, along with
Traks, Jason’s Grandfather and Aunt came down to the
Club. Jason’s Grandfather gave a touching speech about
his grandson’s competitive spirit which has gotten him a
Silver Medal.
More than 100 keen members headed down to
the Club in the early hours of the morning to support
their fellow member and Australian Sailors in the final
Medal Races. We would like to thank those staff from the Club who
came in at 3am to assist and cheer on the medallists.
Anticipations were high when Tom Burton claimed
Gold in the Men’s Laser in the previous race. The crowd
watched nervously as Jason and Lisa took to the race
course. Coming into the Medal Race in 4th position
meant the team had to really lift to clinch the Gold
Medal from the leaders, the Argentinians.
At the start of the race the Argentinians were
penalised early which gave Jason and Lisa a good start
ahead of the leaders. At the top mark Jason and Lisa
along with the Kiwis, took a good lead. On the last leg of
the race New Zealand was 20 seconds ahead of Australia
with Austria in third and Argentina in fourth. Coming
from almost last place, Argentina pushed their way back
in with the race leaders until they were hit with a set-back
when they were given a penalty rounding the last mark.
With the crowd at the Club on their feet at the finish
it was New Zealand first, Australia second, Austria third,
USA fourth, France fifth and Argentina came in at sixth
place. With the lead Argentina had coming into the
finals, won they Gold by a single point, with Australia
winning Silver and Austria winning Bronze.
38
YACHTSMAN