Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page clinch early lead in 2012 470 World Championships
Defending champions of 470 Worlds, Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page, grabbed a superb start in the 2012 470 World Championships as they sailed outstandingly to hit the top podium place in the overall standings.
The pair had the best of their sailing skills to win the only race of the opening day on the Barcelona waters. The duo is now aiming to retain their overall top position until the finish of the regatta.
Speaking to the local media, Page said that they only managed to complete one race on the first day which proved to be a very, very, long day. However, they were originally postponed on shore for three or four hours and then when they finally hit the water
they drifted around for another two hours before finally getting a race in.
He added, “It was a very difficult day with strong current and only four or five knots of breeze which shifted around all afternoon. We managed to get off the line well and got ahead, it’s great to get a win to kick off our world title defence.”
The beginning of the first day proceedings were quite ideal for the pair as they hit the fleet lead from the start of the race. The light winds that kept the proceedings halted for while, made sure that the crews on shore sail in one race only. The participants
had to wait for the winds to fill up in the race course to start the race.
To retain the lead of the regatta, both Page and Belcher have to come up with some strategy to cope with the lighter wind conditions in Barcelona. The second podium place was occupied by their compatriot sailors, Sam Kivell and Will Ryan.
Overall standing on the opening day:
1. AUS 11 MATHEW BELCHER, MALCOLM PAGE 1 = 1 point
1. FRA 27 SOFIAN BOUVET, VINCENT GUILLARM 1 = 1 point
1. FRA 44 PIERRE LEBOUCHER, VICENT GAROS 1 = 1 point
2. AUS 13 SAM KIVELL, WILL RYAN 2 = 2 points
2. FRA 8 KEVIN PEPONNET, JULIEN LEBRUN 2 = 2 points
2. GRE 1 PANAGIOTIS MANTIS, PAVLOS KAGIALIS 2 = 2 points
3. ARG 11 FRANCISCO SUCARI, FRANCISCO RENNA 3 = 3 points
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