| MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA-(6-1-2004) British competitors lead both the 420 Open Qualifiers and Ladies World Championships on the second eve of the Sail Melbourne event hosted by Mornington Yacht Club.
On the Open course, Nathan Batchelor/Joe Crabb’s (GBR) second place in Race 6 and consistent places in their other races, with one race drop in play; have finished in the lead of the six race qualifier series with 22 points.
After today, the open fleet will be split, the top 32 finishers of the 64-boat fleet will sail in Gold Fleet for the World Championship, the lower half will sail in the Silver fleet for minor placings.
Michael Anderson-mit//Graham Biehl (USA) finished the qualifier in second place one point behind the leaders, with current 420 Youth World champions, Nathan Outteridge/Ayden Menzies (AUS) on equal second points, but relegated to third place on count back.
Italian, French, Singaporian, German and New Zealand competitors also made the cut into the Gold fleet, as did the lone entries of Croatia, Matija Longin/Pavle Kostov and Greece’s Georgios Vassilas/Evangelos Mitakis, much to thrill of the other competitors and Mornington officials alike.
Other Aussies to make the cut include former World champion, Matt Belcher and his crew Rike Ziegelmayer, brothers Nathan and Jeremy Wilmot, sailing separate entries, Nathan and his crew Malcolm Page competing for some extended practice prior to their 470 Olympic Class final selection regatta starting Monday next, and Jeremy, freshly out of the Youth class sailing with his crew David Stevens.
In the Ladies 46-boat 420 World Championship, Alison Martin/Bethan Carden (GBR) have a large lead after four races with 17 points from Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson (AUS) on equal 29 points with sisters Lucy and Nicola Macgregor (GBR), the former in second place on count back.
Rechichi and Parkinson, who come from Perth, are the holders of the Youth 420 World championship and outsailed many in the Open section of the Australian Championship to finish sixth overall, beating all the Open Ladies competitors to claim the Ladies title. Their future looks bright.
Camille Lecointre/Gwendolyn Lemaitre (FRA) currently fill fourth place with 34 points, then comes Maria Stella Turizio/Maria Carolina Renda (ITA) on 38 points.
The fleet sailed in light, tricky, shifting winds all day today, underneath grey overcast skies, experience telling in the results.
Officials have been warned of 30 knot squally, rainy weather tomorrow, which would certainly keep competitors ashore.
Full for results, photos and details go to the official website: www.sailmelbourne.com.au
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