Australian sailing team’s Jim Colley, Shaun Connor win silver, Casey Imeneo bronze at Hyeres regatta

An Olympic champion and a number of his Tokyo Olympic teammates missed medals but two mates have starred for Australia at a major European event with a “cool’’ result.

Jim Colley broke through for their first major medal at a European regatta at the famous Hyeres event im the south of France on the weekend. Picture: Australian Sailing Team

A pair of Sydney mates who have raced together for years have outperformed a team of Australian sailing legends - including two Olympic gold medallists - for a breakthrough medal at a major Olympic class sailing regatta.

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club sailors Jim Colley and Shaun Connor raced off with their first medal at a major European event with their silver in the 49er skiffs at the famous Hyeres regatta in the south of France.

In a major statement ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the young 49-skiff crew was one of only two teams at the event to medal for Australia with Victorian Casey Imeneo from the McCrae Yacht Club winning bronze in the ILCA 6.

Tokyo Olympic champion Matt Wearn from Perth finished just off the ILCA 7 podium in fourth while Rio Olympic medallists Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin, also from the northern beaches, finished eighth in the foiling Nacra 17 racing.

Rio Olympic Laser gold medallist Tom Burton, who has switched boats and is now sailing a 49er skiff with fellow Sydney sailor Max Paul, finished 21st, while Tokyo Olympian Mara Stransky from Queensland was fifth in the ILCA 6 class.

The happy Australians after their silver. Picture: Sailing Energy/Semaine Olympique Française.

London Olympic match-racing silver medallist Olivia Price, now in a 49erFX, finished 11th with Sydney crewmate Evie Haseldine.

Colley, who attended Barrenjoey High as a teenager, and Connor, a St Luke’s Grammar Dee Why old boy, have never medalled at a major Olympic classes regatta before with their best past result a fifth at last year’s European championships and the more recent Palma regatta.

Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse at the Tokyo Olympics.

The medal was even more remarkable given Colley was sick at the start of the regatta and unsure whether he would be able to race.

“It’s pretty cool, considering after the first day I didn’t think I could race, as I was ill with flu,” said Colley, who started sailing at five in a boat built by his dad before moving into Manly Junior at Avalon Sailing Club, when 10.

Casey Imeneo in Hyere. Pic: Sailing Energy/Semaine Olympique Française

“It’s a testament to Shaun, I’m full praise for him. He’s done everything for me this week, I only had to get on the boat and sail it. He took care of the rest.’’

Earlier Imeneo secured a bronze - her first podium at a major European meet.

“It’s pretty unreal, my first major podium. I’m rapt how I performed across the week,” she said.

“I heard people from my Club, McCrae, were tuned in to watch the race. Happy faces to come home to.’’

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