Besides playing second fiddle to Olympic Laser Champion (OLC) the Australian sailor Tom Burton, who is now 22-years, believes that for him time is nearing to prove he has all the capability to close out regattas.
The story was same at the Laser World Championship (LWC) in Croatia in September. Here, Wearn had to settle for bronze and Burton had to settle for silver even after racing was abandoned on the final day, which left Cypriot Pavlos Kontides the winner.
“The World Championship is always the result of consistency, but I went there with a desire to win,” Wearn said.
“Getting a bronze medal in the race was great but, at the end of the day, I have got to start winning at regattas. After my performance, I was happy on the day, still disappointed. I was disappointed because I was one point off second and very close to first. I know it was just because of a few mistakes I made. So, overall I was happy still not happy.”
Competition in the Australian Laser team is intense, and this is despite the strong kinship sense. Teammates of Wearn, including Burton, Jeremy O’Connell Sail Melbourne bronze medalist and Finn Alexander, the U21 national champion would respect his desire to beat them as it makes them perform all better.
“It is about where the squad has come from – Slingers Tom Slingsby, Jared West, and Ash Brunning. It is just filtered down,” Wearn added.