Ruben and Rita Booth have secured a Bronze medal at Kiel Week, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the year. The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Nacra 17 pair delivered a consistent regatta in challenging conditions on Germany’s Baltic coast, earning their first podium finish. 

Light and unpredictable winds proved to be a constant challenge throughout the week, with racing frequently disrupted. The final day was no exception, with only four of the twelve scheduled races completed across the fleets.

For the Booths, the lack of racing proved costly. Locked on equal points with the second-placed team heading into the closing stages of the regatta, they were denied the chance to fight for Silver as conditions prevented further racing in the Nacra 17 Finals.

Despite narrowly missing a higher step on the podium, the Bronze medal marks a significant milestone for the siblings as they continue to build momentum through the European season.

Fellow NSWIS duo Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown also impressed, finishing fourth overall and just one point shy of joining their teammates on the podium. The Paris 2024 Olympians have enjoyed a string of strong performances this season and once again demonstrated their consistency against strong competition. 

Australian Sailing Team Technical Director Michael Blackburn praised the performances of the Australian crew, “It was great to see our Nacra’s on the podium again,” said Blackburn. 

“The conditions probably suited Rita and Ruben, being on the lighter side, and gave them a chance to show their light-wind skills. It was awesome to see. They’ll be up against another great challenge when they tackle the full European fleet in a short amount of time.”

In the 49er fleet, the Australian Sailing Futures squad continued to gain valuable experience against some of the world’s best skiff sailors.

Daniel Links (NSWIS) and Keizo Tomishima (NSWIS) finished ninth overall after qualifying for the Finals Series. The pair finished on a high, placing second in the final race of the regatta and carrying valuable confidence into next month’s European Championships.

Fellow Futures Squad members Kurt Hansen and Charlie Zeeman (NSWIS) narrowly missed qualification for the top-ten Finals Series, finishing an impressive 12th overall in another encouraging performance from the emerging Australian duo.

Blackburn said the results reflected the dedication the young sailors have shown throughout the season.

“Having seen the 49er Futures working hard at home and putting in some great hours on the water, it’s a good testament to their work ethic,” he said.

“So, congratulations to them for a solid performance. Again, they’ll have a great chance to test their improvements at the Europeans in a couple of weeks.”

With a medal, multiple top-ten finishes and valuable experience gained across the fleet, Kiel Week provided another important benchmark as Australia’s sailors continue to build towards LA2028 and beyond. 

Images: Sailing Energy & Felix Diemer

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