Dawson and Micah Wilkinson have been consistently near the front of the mixed Nacra 17 fleet since their Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021.
Dawson showed considerable promise in her junior and youth sailing days and is the only female to have won the Starling national championships. She earlier campaigned in the 49er FX and also had a brief stint in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) before teaming up with Wilkinson in 2019.
Originally a skipper of double-handed boats, Dawson swapped roles with Wilkinson and the pair finished seventh at the 2020 world championships - but their Olympic campaign suffered a major setback when Dawson broke her leg in a training accident only a month out from the event.
Against all odds, Dawson and Wilkinson made it onto the start line in Tokyo, finishing 12th in the 20-boat fleet.
They have started the 2023 season confidently, with a bronze at the Lanzarote International Regatta and a top-10 at the French Olympic week regatta in Hyères.
Erica Dawson and Micah Wilkinson won bronze at the 2023 Lanzarote International Regatta. Photo / Sailing Energy
Career highlights
- 2023 French Olympic week (Nacra 17): 10th
- 2023 Lanzarote International Regatta (Nacra 17): 3rd
- 2022 World championships (Nacra 17): 9th
- 2022 French Olympic week (Nacra 17): 5th
- 2022 European championships (Nacra 17): 2nd
- 2022 Kiel Week (Nacra 17): 4th
- 2022 World Cup Palma (Nacra 17): 6th
- 2022 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta (49er FX): 3rd
- 2021 Spain SailGP (Foiling50): 5th
- 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (Nacra 17): 12th
- 2020 World championships (Nacra 17): 7th
- 2019 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta (Nacra 17): 3rd
- 2018 Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta (ILCA 6): 6th
- 2018 NZ national championships (49er FX): 1st
- 2017 Sail Sydney (49er FX): 3rd
- 2017 Enoshima Olympic week (49er FX): 3rd
- 2016 Sail Auckland (49er FX): 2nd
- 2015 World Cup Melbourne (49er FX): 2nd
- 2015 European championships (49er FX): 10th
- 2015 Sail Auckland (49er FX): 3rd
- 2015 NZ national championships (49er FX): 3rd
- 2015 North American championship (49er FX): 7th
- 2014 World Cup Melbourne (49er FX): 5th
- 2014 Sail Sydney (49er FX): 2nd
- 2012 Youth world championship (420 women): 5th
- 2012 Junior world championships (470 women): 6th