Olympic champion Mat Belcher and crew Will Ryan record perfect day in defence of world sailing crown

SKIPPER Mat Belcher and crew Will Ryan have produced a sailing masterclass to show why they are Australia’s leading hope of a gold at the Rio Olympics

Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2015 is the second sailing test event in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Held out of Marina da Gloria from 15-22 August, the Olympic test event welcomes more than 330 sailors from 52 nations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy

SKIPPER Mat Belcher and crew Will Ryan have produced a sailing masterclass to show why they are Australia’s leading hope of a gold medal — in any sport — at the Rio Olympcs with a perfect start to their world championship campaign in Israel.

Belcher, a five-time world champions and Olympic gold medallist, and crewmate Ryan won all three of their opening day races at the world 470 dinghy championships on Haifa Bay.

The duo excelled in the perfect 13-15 knot winds and bumby seas to end the day with an unblemished scorecard.

The triple of wins is a good omen for the pair who have achieved the same feat at every previous world championships they have contested.

“Mat had to remind me it is a bit of his tradition,’’ said Ryan of the trifecta. “That is a good omen I suppose.

“We are happy as it was pretty tricky out there today, with very variable pressure which was really challenging.”

Mat Belcher, left, and Will Ryan, right, after winning the Rio Test event.

The Belcher/Ryan combination formed in the wake of Belcher’s gold in London with the pair now chasing their third consecutive world crown as a team.

But individually, victory in Israel would secure Belcher an unbelievable sixth world crown in the Olympic class dinghy.

This was a great way to start our defence” said father-of-two Belcher who a gold medal at the London Olympics with his former crew, Mal Page.

“There are still a lot of races to go but it certainly gives us confidence in the way we are sailing.”

Originally published as Olympic champion Mat Belcher and crew Will Ryan record perfect day in defence of world sailing crown