Australian world No.1 pair Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby have firmed as favourites to take out the Tornado world championship after winning gold at the lead-in regatta, Sail Auckland.
The Australians finished on top at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) grade one event, continuing a solid run through the summer in the run-up to the world titles next week and the Beijing Olympics in August.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing at the Auckland Olympic classes regatta, with shifty conditions throughout ensuring a testing time for competitors.
“It was really shifty southerlies all week,” Bundock said.
“Races were never really over until you crossed the finish line.
“Even when you had a comfortable lead you never knew where you would finish.”
Bundock and Ashby - who will contest the Tornado class at the Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao in August - clinched victory after overtaking early medal race leaders Roland Gaebler and Gunnar Struckmann from Germany.
Defending Spanish world champions Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz finished with the bronze medal.
The Australian pair’s Sail Auckland result comes off the back of wins at the ISAF Grade One Sydney International Regatta, the Tornado Asia Pacific Championship and the Asia Pacific Series at Sail Melbourne last month.
Racing at the world championships begins next Monday.
Source : AAP