Paris 2024 Olympics: Grae Morris, Matt Wearn silver at Hyeres, Australian sailing team results

He’s the youngest male in the Paris Olympic sailing team with a big dream starting to look like it could become a reality to the surprise of many - but not Grae Morris.

Paris Olympic bound sailor Grae Morris was delighted with his silver medal at the famous Hyeres regatta in France but his idol and teammate Matt Wearn not so much.

Tokyo Olympic champion Wearn was keen to contest the final ILCA 7 race of the French regatta but instead watched his bid for gold blown away when officials cancelled his Medal race citing too much wind.

It left the reigning world champion frustrated and with a silver round his neck, not the gold he was after.

“It is really tough,’’ Wearn said. “I was in a great position just a point behind (the leader) and it was a great opportunity to try some stuff.

‘‘It’s a bit of a shame. Frustrating we couldn’t do that.’’

Matt Wearn (ILCA 7) and Grae Morris (Men's iQFOiL) in France. Picture: Supplied/Australian Sailing Team

Happier was Morris, the 20-year-old set to debut at the Paris Olympics in the iQFOiL class, the foiling windsurfer also appearing for the first time at a Games.

Fourth places at the Test event last year and world championships in 2024 plus a second in Hyeres behind Aruba’s Ethan Westera in the three-man final, have put him on the medal radar right where he believes he should be.

“One hundred per cent, I’ve been a believer since childhood, you can just ask my dad and my mum.” Morris said. “You do sport to win and I want to win.”

In an encouraging sign ahead of the Formula Kite worlds in Hyeres in May, Breiana Whitehead finished fifth with a total of seven Paris Olympic bound sailors finishing top 10 in Hyeres.

Racing at the Hyeres regatta. Picture: Sailing Energy/Semaine Olympique Française

In the 49erFX, Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot finished fifth and two places ahead of Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine, the duo who beat them for the Paris Olympic selection.

ILCA 6 medal Paris Olympic contender Zoe Thomson, who finished with a silver in her last big European regatta, was unwell and unable to compete for most of the regatta.

“She showed grit out there even though she wasn’t well health wise,’’ said coach Carolijn Brouwer.

Her training partners Mara Stransky and Casey Imeneo finished fifth and sixth in a solid sign for the future.

Disappointingly but not unexpectedly Australia has failed to qualify a spot in the men’s Formula Kite class which debuts at the Paris Olympics.

The Olympic regatta will be raced off Marseille from July 28 to August 10.

AUSTRALIAN RESULTS AT HYERES REGATTA 2024

ILCA 6, 69 Entries

5th - Mara Stransky (AST), 6th - Casey Imeneo (AST), 14th - Evie Saunders (ASPT), 28th - Elyse Ainsworth (ASPT), 48th - Zoe Thomson (AST) due to illness)

ILCA 7, 68 Entries

2nd - Matt Wearn (AST), 6th - Ethan McAullay (AST), 9th - Finn Alexander (AST), 18th - Zac Littlewood (ASPT).

iQFOiL Men’s, 35 Entries

2nd - Grae Morris (AST), 26th - Matthew Quinlan (ASF), Joseph Folley (ASF).

Formula Kite Women’s, 24 Entries

5th - Breiana Whitehead (ASPT).

Mixed 470, 27 Entries

10th - Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas (ASPT), 24th - Sophie Jackson and James Jackson,

26th - Ashlee Daunt and Brayden Daunt (ASF).

49er, 30 Entries

10th - Jim Colley and Shaun Connor (AST), 14th - Jack Ferguson (AUS) and Max Paul (AST)

49erFX – 9 Entries

5th - Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot (AST), 7th - Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine (AST) –

Formula Kite Men’s – LCR – 64 Entries

20th - Hector Paturau (ASF), 30th - Oscar Timm (ASF).

Originally published as Paris 2024 Olympics: Grae Morris, Matt Wearn silver at Hyeres, Australian sailing team results