Three Australian crews remain in contention for victory at the 2009 470 World Championship in Rungsted, Denmark, with three days of racing remaining.
With the men's fleet now split into gold, silver and bronze groupings and the women's fleet into gold and silver the racing stepped up a level and the sailors were also forced to contend with a highly unstable and patchy offshore breeze.
The Australian Sailing Development Sqaud crew of Sam Kivell and Will Ryan has continued their stellar run of form after the first day of finals racing and are currently in fifth place, a fine performance given this is the first time they've made the gold fleet at a 470 World Championship.
Australian Sailing Team sailors Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page are just a point behind their compatriots and sit in eighth position, well within striking distance of the regatta leaders, Sven and Kalle Coster of the Netherlands.
In the women's fleet the AST's Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson slipped slightly to now be in sixth place, but with three days left on the water the Olympic Gold medalists will be confident of closing the gap to Dutch leaders Lisa Westerhof and Lobke Berkhout.
Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall are second in the women's silver fleet, claiming victory in the day's first race to be just two points off the lead while fellow Australians Jacqui Bonnitcha and Claudine Olgilvie are in 23rd .
In the men's bronze fleet Max Taylor and Klade Hauschildt are in fourth position, winning the day's opening race, ahead of Alexander and Patrick Conway in ninth.
For more information go to www.australiansailingteam.com.au
– Craig Heydon
