New 470 Men and Women and 49er World Champions

by ISAF on 14 Jul 2007 The Men's 470 Medal Race has brought the curtain down in style on the Sailing World Champions which were held in Cascais, Portugal, from the 3rd to the 13th July.

Dutch sailors Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berhout, in the women's 470, Britain's Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, and Australia's Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page took gold on the last day of the championships.

In the Men's 470 class, Australia's Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page have achieved another world title, the third in their career. In a Medal Race dominated by Croatians Fantela and Marenic from start to finish, the Dutch crew Sven Koster-Kalle Koster took silver, controlling the movements of Portugal's double-hand Alvaro Marinho-Miguel Nunes throughout.

The Portuguese saw bitter disappointment at the end of the race, finishing 10th and last, thus crashing out of the medals and losing bronze to the Israelis Gideon Kliger and Udi Gal by a single point.

In the women's 470 class, the Dutch double-act of Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berhout celebrated their third world title on the trot.

In the Medal Race, the champions limited themselves to controlling the race, doing just enough, placing fourth.

The French pairing of Ingrid Petijean and Nadège Dourox held on to 2nd spot and Britain's Christina Bassadone and Sashia Clark wrested bronze from the Japanese Ai Kondo and Naoko Kamata.

In the 49er, with the title all but in the bag before the Medal Race, and 2nd place comfortably occupied by Austrians Niko Delle Karth and Nilkolaus Leopold, the focus of interest was on the battle for third place.

Australia's Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin managed to get the better of Piero Sibello and Gianfranco Sibello and snatched bronze, which means the Italians go home empty handed from these championships.

Great Britain has won the IOC Cup which is awarded to the nation that has scored the highest medal tally. The Britons collected 6 medals; two gold and 4 bronze.

470 Women - Final

470 Men - Final

49er - Final