Belcher takes record fifth 470 World Championship

by Rob Kothe & Jedda Murphy on 21 Sep 2014 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist and 2013 World Sailor of the Year Australia’s Mat Belcher and his crew Will Ryan sailed conservatively to take yet another 470 World Championship in Santander today.

Victor Kovalenko the Australians’ 470 Coach, the Medal maker says World Domination in a class in year three of the Olympic cycle is the secret to an Olympic Gold Medal, he must be happy that it’s been achieved by his 470 Men’s team in year one and two, and its seems that given this amazing record that it is likely to happen in years three and four too.

In tricky and light sea breeze conditions for 470 Men’s Medal Race Australia’s Belcher and Ryan sailed well, they had a good start, second behind Spain down the first run, Belcher went right keeping out of the traffic.

While the Australians played it safe the battle for silver and bronze down the last leg was titanic with the USA, the British trying to do enough on the water to get past Croatia and Greece who were the podium players going into the medal race.
At the gun, it was a popular medal race victory for Spain, GBR second USA third Australia fourth.

Australia took Gold with Croatia silver and Greece bronze.

After hoisting a big Australia flag on their 470 mast the Australian pairing was all smiles

Belcher said ‘- it was nor easy has been a long week, tricky conditions, a really compressed format we are really stoked it’s a great day. '

Ryan chipped in ‘I’ve been lucky enough to sail with Mat this is our second World Championship and it will be double celebrations tonight because this is Mats 32nd birthday.

Belcher commented ‘ We want our opposition to feel we are invincible, every regatta it helps, we have had a realty amazing run we are enjoying racing and the competition is getting tougher and we have to keep focussing on doing what we do best’It has been a few amazing weeks. There has been a lot of pressure coming into the event, coming in as World number one.

'It has been a tough week. Two days ago we were sitting outside the top ten. Nice that we could find it within ourselves and start sailing our own style. At the beginning of the week it was really up and down. It’s nothing in like we trained in. You do so much preparation when you get to the regatta.

'We have an amazing team unit, Australian Sailing Team, the sponsors and supporters and to have someone like Victor Kovalenko, Victor has coached the winners of 16 or 17 world championships.

'What Victor does means a lot. It’s great for your confidence, winning the titles in the last year and to win the world and to be able to do defend that together. It is a new step in our relationship. We are really looking forward to racing in Rio and he is trying to get us as good as we can and fingers crossed we can do it in two years’ time.

'One thing I love, I got my first birthday present from the coffee shop. The guy who makes the coffee every morning and that really says a lot about the regatta. The fact that he / they are so passionate about what we are doing.

'The locals, everyone. It’s a nice feeling. It’s really great for our sport. It’s really nice feeling. It’s absolutely fantastic.

'The Duna grandstand area worked well. The wind direction really makes it pretty difficult to race in this direction but you know you are on the water and you are hearing the crowd cheer you on as you are coming out of port. It’s pretty good.'