BRITAIN DUO WIN NACRA 17 WC

Britain’s duo of Ben Saxton and Katie Dabson has won the Nacra 17 World Championship. The pair defeated fierce rivals Fernando Echavarri and Tara Pacheco in the final race of the tournament. The British team began the final race with a four point lead and came secondin the medal race to secure the overall title.

The Spanish contingent’s third place finish took them to overall second place. The Italian team represented by RuggeroTita and CaterinaBanti placed third overall, ahead of the New Zealand side that had Jason Sauners and Gemma Jones. Paul Kohlhoff and AlicaStuhlemmer finished overall fifth, despite winning the medal race.

The medal race had a brief disruption when the Italian and Spain’s Olga Maslivets and Iker Martinez collided. Other than that it was all smooth sailing in the final race.

The mixed gender crew sailing race debuted at the last Olympics in Rio 2016. The Nacra ’17 event was modeled after it.

For Britain it is yet another pleasant news in the sailing sport. Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign, who finished in the top six at Rio 2016,came out tops in the 49er in Kiel. The duo finished ahead of another British pair James Peter and FynnSterritt.

Charlotte Dobson and SaskiaTidey claimed the silver medal in the 49er FX but the failed to win gold as the poor weather conditions stopped the final race.