Rockal Evans overcame an eventful final day of racing to secure his best finish at the Ronstan 2023 International Finn Australian Championships in Queensland, Australia on Friday.

The Bermudian sailor placed fourth among a formidable 39-strong international fleet to eclipse his previous best showing of sixth, which he achieved on his debut at the regatta in 2018.

Despite having just missed out on the bronze medal, Evans is content with his finish after heading into the event without much sailing time as a result of a back injury.

“I was pleased with my results and was not really expecting to finish in the top five with the little preparation I was able to do,” he told The Royal Gazette.

The 34-year-old started the final day of the championships in fourth and got off to the worst possible start when he capsized in the penultimate race of the eight-race series with a spot on the podium well within grasp.

“Race one, I was in third place at the first top-mark and capsized at the beginning of the downwind and my rudder fell off while I capsized,” Evans explained.

“Once I got back in the boat and put the rudder back on I was in last place, but I managed to fight my way back to eighteenth.”

The experienced sailor bounced back with a third-placed finish in the final race but the damage had already been done to his hopes of making it on to the podiun.

“In the second race I gave it my all and sailed a smart race to finish third,” Evans said.

Australian Rob McMillan won the regatta, with Great Britain’s Cam Tweedle and New Zealand’s Mark Perrow taking second and third respectively.