Australians sailors have a good start in ISAF World Finals in Abu Dhabi

Mathew Belcher dedicated his labours on Day 1 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Finals to compatriot cricketer Phil Hughes.

The fleet in the men’s 49er race compete at the Breakwater in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI // Australian Mathew Belcher dedicated his labours on Day 1 of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Finals to compatriot Phil Hughes, who passed away two days after being hit in the head by a cricket ball during a first-class match in Australia.

It was a sombre day for the Australian sailors after they took the honours in two of the 10 championship races in yesterday’s opening day on the Corniche.

“I was aware of the incident but didn’t know of his death until I had completed the first day’s sailing,” said Belcher, who topped the 470 class with Will Ryan as his crew.

“Sometimes such unfortunate incidents happen not only in cricket but in all sports and all over the world. It is a very sad day and in this time of difficulty, our thoughts are with his family members.”

Belcher, the London Olympic Games gold medallist in the 470 Dinghy, and Ryan edged out Panagiotis Mantis and crew Pavlos Kagialis of Greece and Austrians David Bargehr and Lukas Mahr to take an early lead.

“It was quite a good for us today,” Belcher said.

“We finished with a two and a four. So it was a good start for us but we want to be more consistent.

“We have to try and perform every day in this shorter compressed format of the competition. The quality of the field is phenomenal. You really need to be on top of your game.”

Having won the past four of the five championship races and winning the gold at the Olympic Games in London certainly has put the pressure on them to come out tops in Abu Dhabi. “The expectation is certainly for us to win,” Belcher said.

“Here the competition is strong but we are relishing the challenge. That’s why we are here.”

Tom Burton was the other Australian go on top in the Laser class at the end of the day’s competition.

The Chinese pair Shasha Chen and Haiyan Gao led the women’s 470 class from Lara Vadlau, the Austrian World and European champion, with her crew Jolanta Ogar, and the Americans Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha. Tomasz Januszewski and Jacek Nowak of Poland led the 18-boat 49er fleet from Britons Dyland Fletcher-Scott and Alain Singh and the Swedes Carl Sylvan and Otto Hamel.

Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech topped the women’s division followed by Italians Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich, and Swedish pair Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga.

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