Homesick Newcastle sailor Will Ryan’s flying visit home before Tokyo Olympic test

He is one of Australia’s newest world champions and Newcastle sailor Will Ryan wanted to celebrate the milestone in a special way - even if it did require more than 24 hours of travelling.

Will Ryan, right, hard at work in an international regatta in Spain earlier this year.

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When Will Ryan won his fifth world title earlier this month he knew exactly what he wanted as a reward - a whirlwind trip home to see family and friends.

The newly minted Newcastle 470 world champion flew from Japan to Australia and then 72 hours later was at the airport again for the trip back to Tokyo.

Despite the journey taking more than 24 hours of travel time, he didn’t care.

“The last time I came home it was just for 20 hours so the three days was fabulous,” said the Rio Olympic silver medallist. “I just wanted to connect with my family.”

Will Ryan with his sister Jamie. Both are currently competing in Tokyo at the Olympic sailing test event.

Ryan won his fifth world 470 dingy title in Enoshima, near Tokyo, and the site of next year’s Olympic Games sailing event.

He and Mat Belcher, who with eight world 470 crowns is Australia’s most successful Olympic class skipper in history, came from behind to win their first world title since 2017.

While the life of a professional athlete has its up’s - in Ryan’s case being one of Australia’s top gold medal hopes in Tokyo next year - it also has its downside.

Ryan spends much of the year away, traveling the world not just for his Olympic campaign but also to make a living as a gun for hire to international teams.

Skipper Mat Belcher and crewmate Will Ryan have won eight and five world title respectively in the 470 class.

Will Ryan, right, hard at work in an international regatta in Spain earlier this year.

“I’ve hardly spent any time at home this year in the last seven months,” said Ryan, whose sister Jamie is also competing at the Test event in Japan this week with skipper Tess Lloyd in the 49erFX class.

When not campaigning for the Olympics, Ryan links with top class crews around the world to race yachts in an assortment of regattas - from the TP52 and Farr 40 circuits to the world Match Racing tour.

His ultimate goal is to be picked up by an America’s Cup team post his Olympic career.

Ryan and Belcher are among Australia’s top contenders for gold in Tokyo in 2020 along with fellow sailors Tom Burton (Laser) and Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (Nacra 17).

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