Tom Saunders is heading into his ninth ILCA 7 World Championships but knows this one will be a bit different to the rest. That’s because the 29-year-old goes in as defending champion after winning last year’s world title in Barcelona.
It was a breakthrough performance for Saunders, who has regularly been in and around the world’s top 10 over the past decade, and he became only the second Kiwi to win the ILCA 7 (Laser) world title since the first event in 1974.
“It’s great knowing I have won it before, and that brings a lot of confidence,” he said. “If anything, it’s a lot more exciting to come in and try to defend your title and I feel like I have the right tools to try to figure out how to do that. I’m probably a lot more excited than previous world championships.”
Tom estimates as many as 10 of the 127 sailors who have gathered in Riviera Nayarit in Mexico have the potential to finish on top.
There is more information on Tom Saunders on Live Sail Die web site Here.
Follow the results of the ILCA 7 Worlds are Here. The event web site is Here and photos Here.
Tom Saunders after his win in Barcelona – New Zealanders like to look fierce but underneath they are really nice people – Photo by Live Sail Die