Rio Olympic favourite Mat Belcher sails into history as he and crew Will Ryan win world 470 championship

AUSSIE Olympic champion Mat Belcher owns a piece of sailing history as he and crew will Ryan race off with world 470 title.

Defending World Champions and World #1 Mat Belcher (QLD) and Will Ryan (QLD) have claimed their third successive World Championship title after a fourth place in the medal race at the 2015 470 World Championships in Haifa, Israel over night. Photographer: Ronen Topelberg

IN the highly superstitious world of sailing the omens were right for Australia’s newest world champion Mat Belcher to rewrite history from the very start.

After day one of the world 470 sailing championships in Israel last week, the Olympic gold medallist and father ticked off a very important box — three straight wins in the regatta.

The feat — achieved during every one of his past five world championships _ had been racked up on day one and paved the way for Belcher to sail into history yesterday morning.

Belcher, who raced to victory with three-time world champion Will Ryan, now owns a piece of sailing history as the first sailor in the world to win six consecutive world titles in a current Olympic class boat.

And he is just one victory away from equalling the highest Australian record of two-time Games catamaran medallist Daren Bundock in winning seven world titles _ not consecutive _ in an Olympic class.

“It’s cool, very cool. There is no better feeling than to cross the finish line and pump your fist,’’ Belcher told the Daily Telegraph after he and Ryan held off their nearest rivals, Croatians Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic for a narrow five-point win.

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“This is a really big confidence booster for us ahead of Rio. It was very important.’’

“It’s a special feeling to defend your championship title.’’

Mat Belcher and Will Ryan won the Rio test event in the lead-up to the world 470 championships.

Belcher, who is set to become a father for teh second time in december, and Ryan lead the 470 world championship regatta early before falling to third overall after one particularly bad day on the water. But the duo, favourite for gold in Rio, worked their way back up into the lead the day just a day before yesterday’s final, double points Medal race.

“I never thought I would be able to achieve six world titles in a row, but everything for us is about next year,’’ said Belcher who could became the first Australian skipper to defend an Olympic title if he and Ryan win in Rio next year.

“Obviously Will and I are really happy. We are really proud to be able to perform under this pressure and it will help us come next year.’’

To come away with a win here is pretty special. It was close and a nice battle.”

Belcher and Ryan are coached by Victor Kovalenko who has now mentoree crews to 18 world championship crowns during his extraordinary career.

Belcher and Ryan formed their partnership and Belcher and his old crewmate Mal Page won gold at the London Olympics. The pair also won three world titles together before Ryan stepped into the boat for the retired Page.

Originally published as Rio Olympic favourite Mat Belcher sails into history as he and crew Will Ryan win world 470 championship