The pair became one of Australia’s first sailing world champions for 2004 with their dominating display in a range of conditions at the 420 regatta. In all, there were 110 crews, comprising 420 Open and 420 Womens.

Australia fielded 29 entries, with Italy (14), Japan (8), New Zealand (7), Greece (1), Germany (12), Singapore (3), Croatia (1), Switzerland (4), U.S.A. (3), Brazil (2), Great Britain (14) France (5) and Belgium (1).

The Sydney duo of Wilmot and Page, who just a day after their victory returned to the Olympic 470 class to compete at the Sail Melbourne Regatta on Port Phillip Bay, produced four wins in the Gold fleet racing to ensure their victory.

Ranked No.1 in the world in the 470 class, the pair used the world 420 championships as vital race practice prior to leaving Australia for a long and intensive European campaign leading in to the Olympic Games in August.

Another Australian 470 sailor and former World champion in the class, Mathew Belcher, from Queensland and his girlfriend Rike Ziegelmayer, picked up the Silver medal at the 420 World Championships, with young guns Nathan Outteridge and Ayden Menzies securing the Bronze medal.

Outteridge and Menzies, the 2003 World Youth champions from Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast, moved into a medal position on the final day of play with a win in the last race of the regatta - which Wilmot and Page declined to compete in having already secured the world crown - moving them from fourth to third place overall.

Outteridge earlier in the Sail Melbourne Regatta, sailing with his new Youth crew, Iain Jensen, won both the Open and Youth categories of 420 Australian Championships, also sailed at Mornington Yacht Club.

It was just as exciting in the Womens 420 World Championship, the current 420 Youth World champions, Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson (AUS) the eventual victors from a four way tussle with two Great Britain entries, second place getting sisters Lucy and Nicola MacGregor and Charlotte Savage/Harriette Trumble, who had to settle for fourth place. The other challenge came from third placers Camille Lecointre/Gwendolyn Lemaitre (FRA).

The lead sea-sawed between the four, but on the final day, Rechichi and Parkinson, all the way from Perth in Western Australia, pulled two first places out of the bag to cement the Championship. It was a triple celebration for Rechichi – six first places in the 12-race series, the World Championship trophy and her 18th birthday on the day. Her excitement was palpable.

While the pair was determined on a top three, Rechichi said from the start that beating the British and French girls would be no easy task. A disqualification from Race 6, right when things were heating up between the four, did nothing to help settle their nerves.

Although determined, being young and still classified as Youth sailors, one had to wonder whether they had the maturity and nerve to pull it off – they did, their futures in sailing looking bright.

Sailed in a mixture of conditions, including massive winds shifts on many days, the sailors were certainly put to the test, as were the Race Officials from Mornington Yacht Club who did a superb job out on the courses – no complaints, only praise from competitors.

Mornington Yacht Club put on a spectacular Opening Ceremony and backed that up with a prize giving and Closing Ceremony. It was akin to a junior Olympics – all athletes proudly wearing their country’s team uniform.

International Class President, Nino Schmueli, came all the way from Israel and liked what he saw. Following the welcome and speeches at the Opening, the National flag of each team was paraded past the officials gathered on the pontoon in front of the club, to the cheers of the crowd. With the flags catching the late afternoon light, Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor, Cr David Renouf, officially declared the 2004 International 420 World Championships open.

Sail Melbourne Chairman, Kevin Wood, looked proudly on – and so he should. Wood has done everything in his power to make the many Sail Melbourne events the resounding success they are.

Of course he has good backing from Regatta Manager David Staley and the multitude of volunteers who put their hand up each year – it could not be done without these resources.

Sponsors also play an important role and this year thanks go to:

Victorian Government - Parks Victoria - Collex – Yanmar - Ronstan International - Yachting Victoria – Mornington Peninsula Shire - P&O Nedlloyd - Schenker Australia – Menere’s BMW – Yachting Australia – Hardy Wines

The 420 World Championships was one of the feature events of the Sail Melbourne Regatta, now regarded as one of the world’s leading Olympic and non-Olympic class regattas in the world.

To view all the Sail Melbourne action go to: www.sailmelbourne.com.au

Source: Sail Melbourne - Di Pearson