Kiwis claim gold at Sail Melbourne, Sail Sydney in 49erFX

by ISAF on 18 Dec 2012
New Zealand 49erFX sailors Alex Maloney and Molly Meech have set the early pace having claimed gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and Sail Sydney over the weekend. The Kiwis, who have both come up through the ISAF Youth Worlds, won nine of twelve races to take a comprehensive victory ahead of Ella Giudice and Caitlin Elks (AUS) and Tessa Parkinson and Kate Lathouras (AUS).

Current world number one 49erFX pair Maloney and Meech will now add another 100-points to their ranking after Sail Melbourne, solidifying their spot at the top.

Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) maintained their perfect start together in the Men's 470 with a mammoth victory. Belcher and Ryan had won 20 consecutive races and were eventually toppled by Matthew and Robert Crawford who won back-to-back races towards the latter part of the regatta. But the damage had been done and Belcher and Ryan were at the front again the final race to seal a 17 point victory over the Crawfords'.

In the mixed RS:X fleet Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) won six races to pick up gold ahead of Jessica Crisp (AUS) and Sam Treharne (AUS).

Luka Parkinson and Rhys Mara (AUS) comfortably won the 49er gold as did Sasha Ryan and Rike Belcher in the Women's 470.

Sam Meech (NZL) overcame world number one Tom Burton (AUS) in the Laser to take gold by five points over the Australian and Ashley Stoddart (AUS) took the Radial honours. Sail Melbourne Sail Sydney ISAF website