Olympic champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen miss 49er skiff medal

OLYMPIC sailing champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen will go into the Rio Games minus a world championship title and with their major rivals for gold boasting 24 straight victories.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères . Men’s Skiff – 49er Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen

OLYMPIC sailing champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen will go into the Rio Games minus a world championship title and with their major rivals for gold boasting an extraordinary record of 24 straight victories.

The Australian duo broke the start of their final race at the world 49er skiff championships in Clearwater, Florida, on Monday to lose their grip on the silver medal at the event won by New Zealand guns, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.

The Australians ended up a disappointing sixth as training partners Burling and Tuke raced off with their fourth consecutive world crown.

“This is not really what we’re looking for, we need to do better and we can’t make mistakes like we are,’’ Outteridge said.

“There’s lot of promise but there’s still a lot of hard work to still do.’’

Nathan Outteridge, pictured, and crewmate Iain Jensen are chasing Olympic gold in Rio. Waide Maguire.

Outteridge and Jensen beat Burling and Blake to the gold medal at the London Olympics but since the New Zealanders have won every regatta they have entered — including four world titles.’’

Fellow Rio bound sailors Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin also suffered disappointment at their world Nacra 17 championships.

The cousins, who will make their Olympic debut at the Rio games, were in contention for a medal earlier in the regatta but ended up fifth.

Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse will make their Olympic debut in Rio.

“We had one really costly day and a few costly races, which was disappointing, but in the end we’re training for a gold medal in Rio and we’ve learnt a lot of lessons this week,’’ skipper Waterhouse said.

“It was a tough event, we’re still pretty stoked with fifth and our eyes are still on the prize.”

The next world sailing event will be the race for the 470 crown in Argentina next week.

Australians Mat Belcher and Will Ryan are defending world champions in this class and favourites for gold at the Rio Olympics.