Australian Gold medallist takes regatta winning streak to thirteen

by Rob Kothe and Jedda Murphy on 8 Apr 2013 The Sail-World Team has been in Palma de Mallorca, Spain this week, at the first European Olympic class regatta.

It was a controversial event, with Victor Kovalenko, one of many unhappy with the experimental new format, unleashing a serious spray, aimed at the ISAF Sailing World Cup organisers, because the event discounts the first three days of the competition, reducing the qualifying rounds scores to just a single number value.

In spite of this, the 30 year old Mathew Belcher has extended his amazing event winning streak to 13, by taking victory with his new 2012-2013 crew 24 year old Will Ryan.

Belcher has won every event he sailed in since November 2011, including two World championships and last year's London Olympic 470 dinghy competition with former crewmate Malcolm Page. We talked at length to Mat, Will and their British rivals in Palma.

Not a great medal round for two other Aussie sailors. Tom Burton was OCS and turned his regatta lead in a third place and Brendan Casey also OCS, finished ninth in the Finn Class.

We interviewed the ISAF World Cup organiser, as you will see below and will have more on the World Cup format debate in the coming days.

Sail Port Stephens is just a week away, now it its sixth year, this must do regatta runs from Monday 15th April and there is still time to enter www.sailportstephens.com.au.

After single digit temperatures in Mallorca, we are looking forward to spending this weekend in Nelson´s Bay with temperatures of 28 forecast for both days.


Sadly, an icon of the sailing media, Ian ‘Stripey’ Grant and his bride Marie both died in recent days. Our tribute to Stripey is below, along with the details of his funeral and wake upcoming.

The 2012 Hempels Gosford to Lord Howe race is mid-race in soft conditions and we have the latest reports. The 2013 Melbourne to Osaka fleet are heading north at the same time.

America's Cup - Richard Gladwell has been on the interview trail, we have the latest.

Check back with us every day for all the latest news.