Belcher/Ryan and Burton remain World #1 on ISAF World Sailing Rankings

by Cora Zillich on 3 Feb 2015 The ISAF World Sailing Rankings for 2 February 2015 have been released with Australian Sailing securing two World #1 rankings with Mat Belcher (QLD) and Will Ryan (QLD) in the Men’s 470 as well as Tom Burton (NSW) in the Laser class leading the ranks in their class.

World Championship bronze medallists Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) remain World #3 in the Nacra17 despite not competing at the recent ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami.

Australian Sailing Squad’s rising star in the Finn class Jake Lilley (QLD) moved up into fourth after finishing Miami with a bronze medal.

The rankings were released following the second ISAF Sailing World Cup of the 2015 series in Miami last week. In Miami Australian Sailing crews took home two silver medals in the Men’s 470 and Men’s 49er skiff as well as two bronze medals in the Laser and Finn class.

Based on the ISAF rankings the current top 30 in each Olympic event will receive an automatic invitation to compete at the next ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères, France from 20-26 April 2015, which will include the top 40 sailors in each class.

Based on this, eight Australian Sailing Team and eleven Australian Sailing Squad crews will represent Australia in Hyères.

The remaining spots will be distributed to the top ranked crews at the Princess Sofia Trophy regatta in Palma, Mallorca, Spain (29 March – 4 April).

Men’s 470

World Champions Mat Belcher(QLD) and Will Ryan (QLD) retain World #1 in the Men’s 470 after two medal winning performances in Miami, USA. They claimed the North American title in advance of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami but were made to settle for silver at the main event. They sit 25 points clear of World #2 Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE).

Luke Patience and Elliot Willis (GBR) finished behind the Australians at the 100-point North American regatta but had their revenge by securing a seven point victory at World Cup Miami. As a result they shift up to World #3.



Laser

By his own standards, Tom Burton was off the pace at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami finishing down in 18th. However with a number of medal winning performances already behind him, he holds on to World #1.

Western Australian Matt Wearn, who finished Miami with a bronze, is ranked 11th.

49er

Australian Sailing Squad’s Joel Turner (QLD), sailing with Iain Jensen (NSW), picked up silver in Miami and as a result Turner moves from World #40 to World #18 and will receive a Hyères invitation for himself and usual crew Lewis Brake (QLD).

Turner came in for Nathan Outteridge (NSW) who missed out on the Miami competition for personal reasons. Jensen will revert back to sailing with his usual helm.

In the 49erFX Tess Lloyd (VIC) and Caitlin Elks (WA) took the honours at the Oceanic Championship and continue to march up the rankings after finishing sixth in Miami. They move up four places to World #14.

Olympic silver medallist Olivia Price (NSW) and crew Eliza Solly (VIC) are two places ahead of them ranked 12th.



Finn

Australian Sailing Squad’s Jake Lilley put in a great performance at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami by finishing third which moves him into fourth on the ISAF World Rankings.

At 21-years of age, Lilley was the youngest Finn sailor in Miami and with his coach John Bertrand the current Junior European Champion is making steady progress. Lilley only joined the class in 2013 and is one of its fastest rising stars. Only time will tell whether he can continue this momentum, but there is no doubt that performing well at Rio is his aim.



Nacra 17

Despite not competing in Miami, Australian Sailing Team’s Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) remain World #3 in the Nacra 17. Olympic medallists Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (NSW) follow in fifth.

All three Australian Nacra 17 are in the ISAF top ten and the full squad will compete in Hyerès.

ISAF Rankings events included

The full ISAF World Sailing Ranking lists, results from all ISAF Graded events, lists of Graded events throughout the year, Ranking release dates and the method of calculation for the Rankings can be found on the ISAF at website.

Australian Sailing Team and Squad invites for ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères
(As of 2 February 2015 and incl current ISAF Rankings)

Men’s Two Person Dingy – 470M
- Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (QLD) – AST (1)
- Patrick Conway and Alexander Conway (NSW) – ASS (19)

Men's One Person Dinghy – Laser
- Tom Burton (NSW) – AST (1)
- Matthew Wearn (WA) – AST (11)
- Ryan Palk (QLD) – ASS (8)
- Mitchell Kennedy (QLD) – ASS (26)
- Luke Elliott (WA) – ASS (27)

Men’s Skiff – 49er
- David Gilmour (WA) and Rhys Mara (VIC) – AST (8)
- Joel Turner (QLD) and Lewis Brake (QLD) – ASS (18)
- Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (NSW) – AST (24

Women's Skiff – 49erFX
- Olivia Price (NSW/AST) and Eliza Solly (VIC/ASS) (12)
- Tess Lloyd (VIC/ASS) and Caitlin Elks (WA/ASS) (14)

Mixed Multihull – Nacra17
- Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) – AST (3)
- Darren Bundock (NSW) and Nina Curtis (NSW) – AST (5)
- Euan McNicol (NSW) and Lucinda Whitty (NSW) – ASS (9)

Men's One Person Dinghy (Heavyweight) – Finn
- Jake Lilley (QLD) – ASS (4)
- Oliver Tweddell (VIC) – ASS (14)

Women's One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
- Ashley Stoddart (QLD) – ASS (24)

Women's Windsurfer – RS:X
- Joanna Sterling (QLD) – ASS (19)