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Results in bold on the table to the right indicate Medal Race completion. Meanwhile the table on the left links to in depth reviews of each Medal Race.

Spanish Sail Through

A win in the Final Medal race in convincing style just served to confirm the superior sailing skill of Iker MARTINEZ and Xavier FERNANDEZ (ESP).

Starting in the middle of the fleet, they were packed on either side by Pietro SIBELLO and Gianfranco SIBELLO (ITA), and Jonas WARRER and Martin KIRTETERP (DEN) the third and fourth placed crews to port, with Nathan OUTTERIDGE and Ben AUSTIN to starboard.

With the possibility of converting their bronze medal to a silver medal if they could secure a good result, Pietro SIBELLO and Gianfranco SIBELLO (ITA) were keen for a fast start. But they were early off the line and called OCS, and not re-crossing the line had to leave the course at the windard mark.

Bronze Medal Possibility

This gave a glimmer of hope to two teams, Jonas WARRER and Martin KIRKETERP (DEN) and the OUTTERIDGE and AUSTIN , who could claim the bronze medal if the could sweep to victory in the Medal Race.

Joining the Italians with an OCS were Marcin CZAJLOWSKI and Krzysztof KIERKOWSKI (POL) and Jorge LIMA and Francisco ANDRADE (POR).

So, down to a seven boat race, after the first rounding of the windward mark, and the Danish pairing of Jonas WARRER and Martin KIRKETERP were off down to the leeward gate first, chased by MARTINEZ and FERNANDEZ (ESP), with Rodion LUKA and Georgiy LEONCHUK (UKR) in third and Emmauel DYEN and Yann ROCHERIEUX (FRA) in fourth.

l-r: 49er Silver Medallists Rodion LUKA and Georgiy LEONCHUK (UKR) Gold Medallists Iker MARTINEZ and Xavier FERNANDEZ (ESP) © ISAF GEIGER

The Danish held their lead through the gate, and with it the bronze medal in their grasp, with the Spanish close on their tail. The dominating Australian pair from the qualification series OUTTERIDGE and AUSTIN had climbed into third with DYEN and ROCHERIEUX close behind, whilst and LUKA and LEONCHUK had dropped back to fifth.

Bullet Secured

Through the gate and the Spanish headed to the right of the course - a decisive tactical move which effectively secured them the bullet, whilst the chasing pack went left. Alberto PADRON and Francisco Javier DE LA PLAZA (ESP) and Alaxandre MONTEAU and Damien GUILLOU (FRA) the last two boats through the gate, were the only two who chose to follow the Spanish to the right.

With the breeze increasing as the boats headed for the last rounding of the windward mark, the Spanish steamed in fast, with a thirty second advantage over PADRON and DE LA PLAZA (ESP). The Danish who had led through the gate, but gone to the left of the course, rounded the mark third having lost any hope of the bronze medal, with OUTTERIDGE and AUSTIN in fourth.

Down to the finish, which saw OUTTERIDGE and AUSTIN find some pace to pass WARRER and KIRKETERP to finish in third.

Relief from the Italians who were watching from the shore, as the bronze medal was effectively delivered back into their hands.

With the medals won by the invited sailors - the world's best proved a point here in Austria.

49er Top Ten Results

For all the news on the 2006 ISAF World Sailing Games CLICK HERE.