Skandia Sail For Gold 2010 - Belcher and Page win silver and gold

by Lynn Fitzpatrick on 15 Aug 2010 Skandia Sail for Gold - Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page, Australia’s Golden Boys won the silver medal at the finale of the 2009-2010 ISAF World Cup circuit. Belcher and Page have grossed two gold and three silver medals in the seven World Cup events for the year. Mat Belcher’s and Malcolm Page’s dominance of the Men’s 470 Class throughout the September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2010 period, culminating with their 470 World Championship victory in July, stands out among all of the other Olympic Class sailors’ records this year.

They won the 2010 ISAF World Cup championship with one regatta to spare and experimented with equipment and sailed a conservative regatta at the 2012 Olympic sailing venue.

Had they held onto their brief lead over the French on the final run to the finish of Skandia’s Sail for Gold double-point Medal Race, they would have won the gold medal. The top British team throughout the week, Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, finished eighth in the Medal Race and held onto their bronze medal position for the regatta.

Today’s Medal Race did not go as planned for Belcher /Page with the French Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garos getting the early advantage and rounding the weather mark ahead of Belcher/Page. The only teams assured of a medal going into the race were well back in the ten-boat fleet.

They match raced one another because the gold medal would be decided on who beat whom. Belcher/Page were given a penalty by the jury and lost quite a bit of distance on the French when they exonerated themselves. Belcher/Page recovered throughout the remainder of the race and passed the French with about 100 meters remaining in the race.

A final wind shift came in and went in Leboucher/Garos’ favor, giving the French the gold medal by less than a boatlength.

'We’re not quite sure why we were given a penalty when there were three boatlengths between us and the French and they could have tacked or gybed, but hats off to the French.

They led throughout most of the week and sailed a really good regatta. Hopefully we’ll return and take it off them next year,' said a disappointed Malcolm Page.

Competitors can not challenge jury decisions during the medal races of World Cup events.

'It came down to the last five meters of the race,' said Belcher. 'We’re happy with our performance and with our year, having won the World Cup and the World Championship.'

Coach Victor Kovalenko returned to shore smiling. 'Their race was fantastic. The week has been fantastic. I am really pleased with Sam (Kivell) and Will’s (Ryan’s) 20th too. It shows that the team is very strong. Every day, every hour on the water here is invaluable and I am really happy with our performance.'

Belcher and Page collected their silver medal for the regatta and their World Cup trophies during the afternoon’s prize giving ceremony.

Belcher and Page will conclude their productive and rewarding international sailing season with a ten-day training session at the 2012 Olympic sailing venue before they return home to Australia.

http://www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk/

Skandia Sail For Gold 2010 - 470 Men’s Final Results
1. Leboucher/Garos (FRA) – 3,1,1,1,(12),2,10, 3,1,5,4 – 31
2. Belcher/Page (AUS) – 4,8,1,1,2,2,(13),2,6,3.6 – 35
3. Patience/Bithell (GBR) – 1,7,5,2,(9),7,5,4,2,(10),16-58
4. Asher/Willis (GBR) – 1,3,6,(31),3,13,6,1,20,2,12-67
5. Fantela/Marenic (CRO) – (10),2,5,2,7,4,9,9,7,(29),14-69
6. Saxton/Kohler (GBR) – 12,4,2,,7,11,(14),1,5,31,15,2-73
7. Mcnay/Biehl (USA) – 10,1,4,10,13,1,(20),10,12,4,10-75
8. Charbonnier/Meyer-Dieu (FRA) – 4,11,7,17,3,(20),2,7 ,11,6,18-86
9. Kliger/Sela (ISR) – 19,5,3,4,(31),1,14,12,4,17,8-87
10. Lingren/Lingren (FIN) – 7,4,7,(31),7,13,8,14,9,7,20-96


Belcher & Page London Challenge 2012 - Results - September 1, 2009- August 31, 2010

August 2010- Skandia Sail for Gold - Weymouth & Portland - Grade 2 - Silver.
July 2010 - 470 World Championship -Scheveningen, Netherland - Gold Won three races in one day. Mathematically won event before Medal Race. Page becomes the most decorated 470 sailor of all time with 4 World Championship titles, 1 ISAF Games World Championship title, two silver medals and one bronze medal at other 470 World Championships, two European 470 championship victories and 1 Olympic gold medal.
June 2010 - ISAF World Cup Championship- Belcher & Page are the only team to win their ISAF World Cup with one regatta to spare.
June 2010 - Kieler Woche - Kiel, Germany - Grade 1- Gold - Belcher & Page have a perfect score throughout fleet racing.
May 2010- Delta Lloyd Regatta - Medemblik, Holland - Grade 1 - Silver.
April 2010-Semaine Olympique Francaise Hyeres, France- Grade 1- 6th. Mathew Belcher sailing with Will Ryan.
April 2010 - International 470 Spring Cup - Hyeres, France-Grade 2- Gold. Mathew Belcher sailing with Will Ryan.
March 2010- Princess Sofia Regatta- Palma de Majorca, Spain- Grade 2 - 4th.
January 2010- Miami Olympic Classes Regatta - Miami, Florida, USA - Grade 1 -Silver.
January 2010- 470 Australian National Championship - Sorrento, Australia, Grade 3- Gold. Perfect Score for Regatta. End Australian sailing season with 28 straight victories.
December 2009- Sail Melbourne - Melbourne, Australia - Grade 1 - Gold. Perfect Score for Regatta.
December 2009 -Sail Sydney - Sydney, Australia - Grade 1- Gold. Perfect Score for Regatta.
September 2009 - Skandia Sail for Gold - Weymouth, UK - Grade 2 - 4th. August 2010- Skandia Sail for Gold - Weymouth & Portland - Grade 2 - Silver.