Dan Slater on his way to gold at the World Masters Games. Photo / Supplied
Dan Slater on his way to gold at the World Masters Games. Photo / Supplied
Soon after Dan Slater crossed the finish line in the final race of the World Masters Games, someone yelled out that he had finally picked up a Games medal at the fourth time of trying.
The medal might not have been an elusive Olympic one - he is a three-timeOlympian - but it was gold and special nonetheless.
The 41-year-old emerged victorious after a tight battle over 10 races with Matt Blakey in the apprentice masters of the Laser fleet. Only two points separated the pair going into today's final day and that was how it finished as they crossed within one position of each other in both races.
Slater shed 7kg in the leadup to the event having, as he explained, continued to eat like a Finn sailor just without the exercise and said it had all been worthwhile.
"It's just good fun," he said. "I really enjoyed being back racing in such a big fleet. The dieting is just good for my health. I'm better for that, fullstop."
Matt Blakey had to settle for second in the Laser fleet. Photo / Supplied
Competitors enjoyed the best sailing conditions of the week today, with a 10-15 knot northerly blowing off Torbay. There were a couple of hairy moments for some, and former New Zealand Sailor of the Year and yachting commentator Peter Lester was unceremoniously thrown into the drink.
Lester and Slater weren't the only sailing royalty competing this week and former Olympic champion Rex Sellers just finished out of the medals in the single-handed Weta. He easily won his age group (65-74) but was more interested in individual honours.
"I was just a bit slow around the boat, as you would expect for a pensioner," said the 66-year-old who won Tornado gold and silver at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics respectively. "It's great to be sailing again. I just need a bit more of the smarts and a bit more speed and youth.
"You have a lot going on [with a Weta], with a main, gib and a gennaker, and I'm a shit crew. Some of the people watching me come around the mark must have thought, 'my god, she's pretty chaotic'.
"But you would have to be happy with [fourth] at 66, wouldn't you? These guys are 10-20 plus years younger than me."
The Paralympic trio of Chris Sharp (8th), Paul Francis (9th) and Andrew May (10th) continued to impress in the 30-boat fleet but Jon Bilger was the standout performer in the single-handed class.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympian stayed out of trouble on the final day to comfortably win and Brent and Sarinan Gribble also continued their domination of the double-handed Weta, finishing 10 points ahead of their nearest rivals Tony Sadler and Beryl Morris from Australia.
Scott Leith was too consistent in the Laser Radial fleet, finishing out of the top two only once to win his seventh masters title in eight years, and Australia's Mark Kennedy romped away in the 55-plus Laser Radial fleet, winning by 31 points.
It was closer in the 55-plus Laser fleet, with Great Britain's Tim Law taking the title by five points from New Zealand's Murray Thom.
It didn't take too long for the recovery drinks (beers) to emerge after the final race but Slater's celebrations had to be put on hold, initially at least. As a Laser dealer, he needed to pack away 20 boats before he could relax.
Blakey was going to afford himself a good meal, but already had his eyes on future World Masters Games.
"I think there is going to be a masters worlds in Australia in a couple of years so I will have to get Dan over for revenge," he said. "I will have to start dieting now, I reckon."
