Light winds and postponements forced excited sailors to maintain their discipline on the opening day of the 2018 World Championships in Denmark. And, when racing finally began it became “a game of snakes and ladders” for defending Champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan.

Australia’s world No.1 470 crew managed to fight back from 14^th to 3^rd in the opening race of their class’s split fleet qualifying series to end up 5^th overall. Sweden’s reigning European Champions, Anton Dahlberg and Frederik Bergstrom, hold the early lead, alongside Greece’s Rio Olympic bronze medallists, Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis, who won the other fleet.

“We started well, but it just felt like we fell out of the wind a little,” Ryan said before last night’s Opening Ceremony.

Belcher and Ryan did their best in the light conditions. PHOTO: World Sailing

“It was a game of snakes and ladders and Mat got us in some nice lanes and back into the game. Fortunately we managed to recover from the first upwind.

“Tomorrow looks quite light still … It was marginal racing at best today…”.

Belcher said he and Ryan had to keep "chipping away" to get a decent result.

“As a sailor trying to race in those conditions, you’ve got to be a bit lucky and you also have got to just try and be patient," Belcher said.

"We had a great start, tried to consolidate and then found ourselves at the back in 15th or 16th at the top mark. But I guess the strength of our partnership is that we just keep chipping away. We’re stoked to finish third. It’s an awesome, challenging venue and I guess that’s part of being at the Worlds right, it’s supposed to be a test."

Australia’s other 470 representatives, Chris Charlwood and Josh Dawson, came 19^th in the same fleet as Belcher and Ryan, and are 37^thoverall.

Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries had a good results in their second race. PHOTO: World Sailing

Two races were possible in the 470 women’s class. Dana Tavener and Katherine Shannon scored 27 and 41 to be 36^th in the 47-boat fleet, while Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries started with a 35 but snared 16 in the second race to be 28^th at the close.

Oli Tweddell is equal with Tom Slingsby. PHOTO: World Sailing

Light conditions didn’t suit Australia’s Finn sailors, who have plenty of work to do over the coming days. Oliver Tweddell and Tom Slingsby (non-AST) each came 11^th in their fleet to be 21^st overall.

The Laser Standard and Laser Radial classes start their campaigns tomorrow, which is expected to be another day of light weather conditions.

FAST FACTS

• Approximately 1500 sailors from 100 countries are competing at Aarhus in 1100 boats.
• This is the fifth edition of the Sailing World Championships. The event is held every four years.
• The previous World Championships were held at Cadiz, Spain (2003), Cascais, Portugal (2007), Perth, Australia (2011) and Santander, Spain (2014).
• Australia won four medals at Santander: Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (gold 470M), Tom Burton (silver, Laser), Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (bronze, 49er) and Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (bronze, Nacra 17).
• At the past three Olympic Games Australian sailors won five gold medals and four silver medals.

HOST SITE - www.aarhus2018.com

RESULTS

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• The Australian Sailing Team will have daily coverage, including video highlights, interviews, photographs and stories on our website and social media channels. See addresses below.
• Photos of sailors and crews available upon request.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM AND SQUAD RESULTS

Finn

Oliver Tweddell – 11 – 21st

(Tom Slingsby) – 11 – 21st

Jake Lilley – 20 – 39th

Lewis Brake – 34 – 67th

Jock Calvert – 44 – 87th

470M

Mat Belcher/Will Ryan – 3 – 5th

Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson – 19 – 37th

470W

Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries – 35, 16 – 28th

Dana Tavener/Katherine Shannon – 27, 41 – 36th

Laser

Tom Burton

Matt Wearn

Mitch Kennedy

Luke Elliott

Finn Alexander

Laser Radial

Mara Stransky

Elyse Ainsworth

Zoe Thomson

49er

David Gilmour/Joel Turner

Will Phillips/Iain Jensen

Lachy Gilmour/Ryan Donaldson

Kurt Hansen/Harry Morton

49erFX

Tess Lloyd/Jaime Ryan

Amelia Stabback/Ella Clark

Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot

Nacra 17

Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin

Nathan Outteridge/Haylee Outteridge

Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland

Conor Nicholas/Hayley Clark

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