Rockal Evans capitalised on local knowledge to secure another podium finish competing in the Finn class in Sydney, Australia.

The Bermudian sailor placed third in the Woollahra Sailing Club Summer Series opener, contested on the waters off Sydney Harbour on January 16 and 30.

Evans made up considerable ground on the leaders, having missed the first two races on the opening day of the regatta through family commitments, posting a 1-1-2 record in the remaining three races on the second and final day of the event, to secure a spot on the podium.

The multiple Bermuda national champion has become quite familiar with the local conditions in Sydney Harbour, which he says played a key factor in his latest success in the former Olympic class Finn dinghy.

“It was really a light wind race day and tricky,” Evans told The Royal Gazette. “I was consistent with working out what the wind was doing on each leg of the races.

“Local knowledge is paying off big time now in Sydney Harbour.”

Australian James Bevis won the regatta by five -points over second placed Greg Solomons, with Evans finishing a further four points adrift to round off the podium.

Evans’s solid display follows closely on the heels of earning the bronze medal at the International Finn New South Wales State Championship last month and his dominance in the Woollahra Sailing Club Championship series, which he leads with two race days remaining.

He was also among the crew aboard the 52-foot yacht, Gweilo, which won division honours and finished second among the overall 18-boat fleet that competed in the City of Sydney Cup, as part of the Australia Day Regatta last month.

Evans and his team-mates completed the short ocean race, open to all keelboats, from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay and back in an elapsed time of 2 hrs, 25 min, 25 sec.

The grandson of late Bermuda Olympic sailor, Howard Lee, has resided in Sydney with his family since 2017 and also competes in the one-design Comet dinghy and International Etchells keelboat.