Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne- Internationals to the fore in 470s

by Richard Gladwell on 2 Dec 2013
ISAF Sailing World Cup, Melbourne Day 1 - 470M Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Two races were sailed in the first session on Day 1 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, Melbourne, in the Mens and Womens 470 events.

International crews won both the second races of the day in both Mens and Womens. With Croatia and China taking the honours in the two fleets.

Overall leader of the Mens 470 after the first two races is the Croatian crew of Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic who had a first and second place in the two races sailed. They have the same points as second placed crew Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS).

On the overall points table, the Croatians, who are the current European Champions in the 470, lead by virtue of a countback, having beaten the Australians in the last race of the day.

'It’s been a great opening day for us', said Sime Fantela. 'We placed second in the first and the other one we won.

'In the first race it was gusty to around 15kts and then it dropped to around 8-10kts.'

'In the second race we had a really good start, and played the shifts well upwind, the upwind leg was long and it paid to go for the shore. We extended our lead on the second reach after the Australians (Belcher and Ryan) became stuck in the pack.'

'This is our second time at Sail Melbourne, we were here five years ago. It is still the same – we love to be here, the weather is always nice, and it is much better than in Croatia, now,' he grinned.


Fantela and Marenic placed sixth in the 2012 Olympics in Weymouth, and from here will have a break before heading to Miami for the next round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup.

The Australian crew of Angus Galloway and Tim Hannah are third overall but are in a group of three who are locked on 9 points. Australia’s Crawford brothers are in fifth overall, with the Chinese crew of Hao Lan and Chao Wang positioned in fourth overall.

Brazil’s Gelson Mendes and Gustavo Mendes did not have quite such a good day lying sixth overall, after placing fourth and seventh .

'It was good for us in the first race, in the second we did not sail so well. The wind went to the right, we went to the left, so it was not so good for us. In the first race we finished fourth – we got a good start and sailed clear.

'This is our first time here, in Melbourne. The wind is very shifty here.

'There is more wind here than in the Olympics – especially in Rio where the Olympics will be,' he added.


Winner of the ISAF Youth Girls World Championship, Carrie Smith has teamed up one of the top ten 470 crews, Sarah Cook to compete in the Womens 470 event at the ISAF Sailing World Cup, Melbourne.

They currently lead the six-strong fleet, in which two countries are competing.

Smith and Cook placed first and second in the two races sailed today, and are three points ahead of a second Australian crew Jacqui Gurr and Amelai Catt.

In third and fourth place overall is the Chinese crews, Shasha Chen and Haiyan Gao, who placd sixth in the frist race of the day and then came through to win in the second, sailed in lighter, probably more challenging conditions.

They are only one point out of second overall, and one point behind is a second Chinese crew, Nan Zhang and Yixiao Lv.



Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastBarton Marine Pipe Glands

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul