ISAF Sailing World Championships – Cascais 2007 - Evening Report day 11- July 13th

Marcelien de Knoning and Lobke Berkhout are the women’s 470 world champions

Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes win gold in the 49er class

Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page claim the world title in the men’s 470 class.

The Men’s 470 Medal Race has brought the curtain down in style on the Sailing World Champions which were held in Cascais, Portugal, from the 3rd to the 13th July. Dutch sailors Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berhout, in the women’s 470, Britain’s Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, and Australia’s Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page took gold on the last day of the championships.

In the 49er, with the title all but in the bag before the Medal Race, and 2nd place comfortably occupied by Austrians Niko Delle Karth and Nilkolaus Leopold, the focus of interest was on the battle for third place. Australia’s Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin managed to get the better of Piero Sibello and Gianfranco Sibello and snatched bronze, which means the Italians go home empty handed from these championships.

In the women’s 470 class, the Dutch double-act of Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berhout celebrated their third world title on the trot. In the Medal Race, the champions limited themselves to controlling the race, doing just enough, placing fourth. The French pairing of Ingrid Petijean and Nadège Dourox held on to 2nd spot and Britain’s Christina Bassadone and Sashia Clark wrested bronze from the Japanese Ai Kondo and Naoko Kamata.

In the Men’s 470 class, Australia’s Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page have achieved another world title, the fourth in their career. In a Medal Race dominated by Croatians Fantela and Marenic from start to finish, the Dutch crew Sven Koster-Kalle Koster took silver, controlling the movements of Portugal’s double-hand Alvaro Marinho-Miguel Nunes throughout. The Portuguese saw bitter disappointment at the end of the race, finishing 10th and last, thus crashing out of the medals and losing bronze to the Israelis Gideon Kliger and Udi Gal by a single point.

Great Britain has won the IOC Cup which is awarded to the nation that has scored the highest medal tally. The Britons collected 6 medals; two gold and 4 bronze.

For additional information and Hi Res photos please contact: rui.costa@portugalvela2007.pt
Tel: (+351) 96 172 88 30