Racing is underway at the 49er World Championships with two Australian crews in the top ten at Riva del Garda in Italy.
The Australian Sailing Development Squad crew of Euan McNicol and Sam Newton lead the way for the Australians and currently sit in fifth position after a first, second and seventh in the opening three races of the regatta.
McNicol and Newton, who only recently started sailing 49ers together, are just four points behind the leading pair of Dave Evans and Simon Hiscocks of Great Britain.
The Australian Sailing Team's reigning 49er World Champion skipper Nathan Outteridge and new crew Iain Jensen are just behind their counterparts in eighth position, finishing the day with two seconds and a tenth.
The 87 teams were split into three flights and alternated racing on Lake Garda in Ora winds that began with 15-18 knots and slowly increased to 20 knots, holding steady for the remainder of the day.
The ASDS crew of David O'Connor and Robert Bell are in 16th and capped off a solid day's racing with a third place in the final race, while Will and Sam Phillips are in 22nd.
Three time 49er World Champion Chris Nicholson and AST crew Ben Austin got their first day of competition together out of the way and are currently 30th after three top 15 finishes.
Sean O'Rourke and Harry Bethwaite are the next best placed Australian crew in 54th, ahead of Clint and Ty Marshall in 58th, Steven Thomas and Kyle Langford in 61st and Robert Gibbs and James Garnaut in 81st.
For more information head to www.australiansailingteam.com.au
