Rio Olympics 2016: Chase for all-female sailing spot heats up with Caitlin Elks, Tess Lloyd 49erFX top guns

THE Australian battle for the historic all-female 49erFX spot at the Rio Olympics is heating up with the youngest and newest teams making an impact in a major European lead-up regatta.

THE Australian battle for the historic all-female 49erFX spot at the Rio Olympics is heating up with the youngest and newest teams making an impact in a major European lead-up regatta.

The 49er FX is making its debut at the Rio Olympics after being added to the programs to improve women’s participation numbers on the sailing program.

Young guns Caitlin Elks and Tess Lloyd finished fifth on the weekend in the opening Olympic classes regatta of the year — the Princess Sofia in Mallorca — in an impressive performance reminding selectors they are building form ahead of the Rio Games.

Tess Lloyd and Caitlin Elks in action on the new women’s class.

The pair were the only Australian women’s crew to finish inside the top 10.

But next placed were the new team of Haylee Outteridge and Nina Curtis who only formed their FX skiff partnership this year.

Curtis, a silver medallist in London in match-racing, became available when she and multiple Olympic medallist Darren Bundock failed to make the cut for the Nacra 17 spot at the Rio Games.

This position is being filled by cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin.

London Olympic match racing silver medallist Olivia Price and cremate Eliza Solly finished 19th at the princess Sofia. The pair broke a mast early in the regatta.

Nina Curtis and Haylee Outteridge battling for the Rio selection.

Australian sailors won two medals at the event courtesy of champion 470 sailors Mat Belcher and Will Ryan and London Olympic 49er skiff champions Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen who finished second.

Belcher and Ryan won six of their 11 races for the title with two capsizes relegating Outteridge and Jensen to second overall.

Jake Lilley was the next best performed with his fourth place in the single-handed Finn class.

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Originally published as Rio Olympics 2016: Chase for all-female sailing spot heats up with Caitlin Elks, Tess Lloyd 49erFX top guns