| MADEIRA, PORTUGAL-(25-7-2003) With one day of racing still to be completed and day five weather conditions only allowing one race to be contested, Australia has secured gold medals in both the 420 Boys and Girls fleets at the 2003 ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship.
The decision was made to cancel racing on the Laser and 420 courses after gusts of up to 30 knots threatened to decimate the fleet.
Both Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Ayden Menzies (NSW) and Elise Rechichi (WA) and Rayshele Martin (WA) will be crowded Youth World Champions at Friday’s presentation ceremony.
Despite the strong winds and choppy conditions, reigning Youth World Champions Outteridge and Menzies managed to add another 1st place to their tally in race 10. This first, is just one of six for the pair, placing them in the number one spot throughout the entire regatta.
Although extremely excited with his results, Outteridge showed his true Aussie spirit, praising the performance of the other Australian team members,
“Australia is smashing everyone and that’s how it should be”, Outteridge rejoiced.
A great surprise for the 420 Girls, who did not realise until after they were back on shore, that they too had won the title before the last day of racing.
Elise Rechichi (WA) and Rayshele Martin (WA) are currently six points in front of the French team and with one race scheduled for tomorrow, should the French girls secure a first place, the Aussie’s would still win on a count back.
The pair were ecstatic with their result, having missed out on the gold medal at last years championship by one point!
The latest report from Madeira was that the Rechichi and Martin were still keen to sail the last race, despite their guaranteed gold spot.
Laser sailors Ricky Ironmonger (VIC) and Krystal Weir (VIC) will keep Australia in suspense until results are available in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ironmonger, who currently sits in first position, needs to secure a 14th or better in the final race in order to hold onto the gold medal from Norbert Wilandt (POL).
While Weir is positioned second, on equal points with first place American Paige Railey. Therefore, the sailor that can produce the best result in the final race will win gold.
Australia is sure to also be awarded the Volvo Nations Trophy, currently about 35 points ahead of any other nation. The Aussie team was determined to steal the trophy from last years winners and Aussie rivals, New Zealand.
420 Boys:
1. Nathan Outteridge/Ayden Menzies (AUS) 11pts
2. Loic Le Bacquer/Yannick Peduzzi (FRA) 30pts
3. Scott Kennedy/Allistair Thompson (NZL) 54pts
420 Girls:
1. Elise Rechichi/Rayshele Martin (AUS) 15pts
2. Camille Lecointre/Gwendolyn Lemaitre (FRA) 21pts
3 Liying Toh/Shiu Wun S. Tam (SIN) 33pts
Laser Boys:
1. Ricky Ironmonger (AUS) 25pts
2. Norbert Wilandt (POL) 39pts
3. Marko Sekardi (SLO) 47pts
Laser Girls:
1. Paige Railey (USA) 25pts
2. Krystal Weir (AUS) 25pts
3. Gea Barbic (CRO) 30pts
Mistral Boys:
1. Mariano Benitez (ARG) 23pts
2. Biron Kokalanis (GRE) 23pts
3. Wing Ho Yu (HKG) 24pts
15.Corey Plant (AUS) 121pts
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