SAILING NEWS
News 11
Ben leads the way as UK’s finest hit top form in Australia
World glory for the
Brits Down Under
BEN Ainslie is the King of the Finn World
yet again after clinching a historic fifth World
Championship crown in Australia.
Ainslie held a one-point advantage over
Kiwi and long-time friend Dan Slater going
into the double points Finn Gold Cup medal
race at Black Rock Yacht Club, Port Phillip,
having edged his nose in front of the pack for
the first time on the penultimate day.
And a second place in the medal race
behind Skandia Team GBR teammate Ed
Wright, combined with a fifth place for
Slater, saw 30-year-old Ainslie add an
unprecedented fifth World success to the
Gold Cups he won in 2002, 2003, 2004 and
2005.
Ainslie said: “It’s a fantastic feeling. It’s
been a tough week but we had great condi-
tions for the medal race and I was pleased to
get that right and do what I needed to do.
Now I’m looking forward to working hard
over the next six months to get ready for
Beijing.”
In what had been a relentless week for the
sailors, the medal race turned out to be
arguably the most fairly contested, a constant
15-knot sou’westerly propelling the fleet
around the two-round windward-leeward
course.
Wright fired off the best start, closely-
trailed by Ainslie and Swede Johan Tillander
around the first mark. Pieter Jan Postma,
third heading into the medal race, was dis-
qualified for an over-zealous start.
With second enough for Ainslie to win the
JUST CHAMPION:
title, overall victory never really looked in
Ben Ainslie,
Max and Alex
doubt despite Slater moving up to fifth.
above, and Nic
And as he swept down the final wave over
Asher and Elliot
the finish line, Macclesfield-born Ainslie
Willis, left, show
toast Under
how it’s done
could once again celebrate being the undis-
in Australia
19 29er title
puted best sailor ever to grace the Finn Gold
Cup.
RYA Youth Squad pair Max Richardson
In a double fillip for Skandia Team GBR,
and Alex Groves have double cause for
hot prospect Giles Scott was crowned 2008
celebration after being crowned Under
Finn Junior World Champion having led the
19 World 29er Champions and clinching
contest since day one. Scott finished 14th
a hard-fought overall bronze at the 29er
overall, an astonishing 133 points better off World Championships in Australia.
than silver medallist Piotr Kula (POL). With the championships being staged
Delighted Nic Asher admitted he and team-
alongside the Olympic Classes 49er
mate Elliott Willis had done it the hard way
World event at the Sorrento Sailing
as they celebrated clinching the 470 World
Couta Boat Club near Melbourne,
Championship crown in Australia before
Richardson and Groves ensured RYA
insisting “Now we want to help Great Britain
PICTURES:
Team GBR walked off with the Youth
win gold at Beijing”.
Richard Langdon/
29er World title for the second year run-
Asher and Willis’ World Championships
Skandia Team GBR
ning – Sophie Weguelin and Sophie
Ainsworth having taken gold in
looked in doubt when a collision with
Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark fin- home pairing of Nathan Outteridge and Ben Argentina last year.
Australian pair Mathew Belcher and
ished their Women’s 470 Worlds’ campaign Austin, following a week of windy condi-
The 16-year-old duo led the way for
Nicholas Behrens saw Willis sidelined for
on a high sailing to third in the medal race to tions off the Sorrento Couta Sailing Club.
the other six Team GBR crews, qualify-
24hours with severely bruised ribs and their
take seventh overall. Morrison and Rhodes – whose official
ing for gold fleet in third behind eventual
score for races eight, nine and 10 calculated
After a difficult week, the duo staged an selection to Team GB for the Beijing Games
gold medallists Steven Thomas and
as an average of their results from races
Jasper Warren (AUS) and 2007 ISAF
amazing comeback in the final two races of has been announced by the British Olympic
seven, 11 and 12.
Boys World 29er champions Henrik
the Series, nailing two bullets to climb from Association – went into the final day of rac-
Sogaard and Soren Kristensen (DEN).
But having gone into Wednesday’s medal
16th to ninth and clinch their spot in the final. ing tied on points at the top of the leader-
And having sailed into medal con-
race at Mordialloc Sailing Club in bronze
American pair Erin Maxwell and Isabelle board with the Australian duo and just one
tention courtesy of strong mid-series 5-
medal position the pair continued the form
Kinsolving took the overall title. point ahead of the third placed Ukrainian 7-2-3 results, a sixth and seventh in
that had seen them in and around the top
Beijing-bound sailors Stevie Morrison and team, setting the stage for a nail-biting medal their final two races was enough to seal
three throughout the whole series and win the
Ben Rhodes got their Olympic year off to a race to determine the final podium positions.
them the silverware. With reigning 29er
medal race to leapfrog overnight leaders
medal-winning start, clinching silver at the The final race was sailed in 15-18 knot
National Champions Bleddyn Mon and
Alvaro Marinho and Miguel Nunes (POR)
49er World Championship in Melbourne. gusty winds on choppy waters in front of host
Tom Humphreys holding their nerve on
and Gideon Kliger and Udi Gal (ISR) to take
The duo, defending the world title they venue and the Australians managed to edge
the final day to finish fourth overall to
gold.
claim a fantastic Under 19 silver, it was
won in Cascais (POR) in July 2007, clinched away on the second lap to take the overall
Meanwhile, Beijing-nominated pair
a happy Team GBR Down Under.
silver for Skandia Team GBR behind the title.
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