Brits over the line in thriller

21st May 2008  

New world champs Nic Asher and Elliot Willis (GBR)

Brits Nic Asher and Elliot Willis overcame great odds this week to pull off a stunning 470 Men’s world championship victory at Mordialloc Sailing Club today.

The 2006 world champions survived a nasty mid-race collision in Race 8 before they rallied to win today’s top 10 double points medal race and their second world title by just 0.9 of a point.

"It feels really good ... it also proves the first one (world title) wasn't a fluke in China," an excited Elliot said.

"We didn't get selected for the Olympics last year in Cascais so we said we'd win the world titles this year and we did it," he added.

Willis was out of action for 24 hours with severely bruised ribs but following a successful application for redress points for Races 8, 9 and 10, he and Asher were elevated into the bronze medal position for the start of the today’s action.

With just 3 points separating the top three crews, Asher/Willis managed to leapfrog overnight leaders Alvaro Marinho/Miguel Nunes (POR) who crossed the line in third place today.

Marinho/Nunes secured the silver medal, ahead of Gideon Kliger/Udi Gal (ISR) who struggled into today’s light conditions to eighth place and a bronze medal on 70 points.

The Brits won with 56.10 points with the Portuguese on 57 points.

“The world championship was good for us … we didn’t have much training back in Portugal,” Nunes said.

“It was winter and we were expecting strong winds here and in Portugal it was light winds, so it was difficult preparation but in the end it worked out well for us,” he added.

For Marinho/Nunes, it is their first time on the podium at a world championship event, however for Kliger/Gal it is their third consecutive bronze medal at the world titles.

“It’s okay, we were second in the morning … we’ll be happy in a few hours,” a disappointed Kliger said.

“But it’s still a good result … we should be happy,” he added with a smile.

Australian’s Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page, the 2004, 05 and 07 world champs, finished fifth in today’s medal race and eighth overall on 93 points.

By Jodi Kelly/Clare Murray - Sail Melbourne Media Centre