Sailors cash in on medals

Five NSWIS sailors have claimed medals at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup in the Netherlands to cap off a successful week of sailing.

Tom Slingsby and Malcolm Page were gold medal winners at the event, Slingsby taking top honours in the men’s laser and Page joining with Mat Belcher to win gold in the men’s 470.

Slingsby cruised to victory in the men’s laser, winning by 16 points over his nearest competitor. Ten top 10 finishes and six race victories over the course of the week meant the reigning world sailor of the year could finish third in the medal race and still win his second consecutive gold in the Netherlands.

Fellow NSWIS athlete Page won his second world cup gold for the season with a 10 point victory in the men’s 470. Page and skipper Belcher suffered through some tense moments in the medal race, recovering from a dip in form to cross the line second and claim overall gold.

The NSWIS pair of Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen continued their strong international form by taking silver in the men’s 49er class. The duo almost snatched victory in the medal race, but could not put more than one boat between them and the crew from Great Britain, who were crowned eventual champions.

Three time Olympian Jessica Crisp then rounded out a successful regatta for the NSWIS sailors, taking silver in the women’s RS:X. Crisp finished second in the medal race to take overall silver, unable to overcome Li Ling of China.