Big Aussie presence at Holland Regatta

2:13 AM Mon 25 May 2009 GMT

'AST 49er crew Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen in Holland' Yachting Australia

The Australian Sailing Team is in the final stages of preparation for the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, Holland, with racing set to begin on Wednesday morning.

The fifth round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup will see Australian athletes hit the water in the 470 men's and women's, 49er, Laser, RS:X women's and Women's Match Racing classes.

Reigning 49er World Champion skipper Nathan Outteridge will be competing with new crew Iain Jensen for the first time and says that the pair have spent a lot of time on the water in recent weeks.

'We've done a fair amount of training with the Aussies back home, learning about the new 49er rigs which has all gone quite well,' he said.

'Part of sailing here is to check our speed and so far we seem to be the same or better than those around us, Iain and I haven't sailed together in a regatta yet so we're also looking to get as much experience in racing conditions as possible,' said Outteridge.

Joining Outteridge and Jensen in the 49er fleet will be fellow AST members Darren Bundock and Ben Austin, who are continuing to develop as they spend more time together, and Australian Sailing Development Squad members Euan McNicol and Sam Newton.

Beijing Olympic Games Gold medallist Malcolm Page is sailing in his first European regatta with new skipper Mathew Belcher and the two are looking forward to challenge of competing in a strong fleet in Holland.

'We're very excited to be sailing against the world's best, all the top men's teams are here so we're going to be able to benchmark ourselves against them,' said Page. 'We've been training down in Australia by ourselves where we don't have the privilege of constantly being in large fleets.'

'Here in Holland we're not looking for results we've set out to develop ourselves and our equipment for the upcoming 470 World Championships,' he said.

The men's 470 fleet will also include the ASDS crews of Shane Hughes and Felix Paterson and Sam Kivell and Will Ryan with Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall sailing in the women's fleet.

Dual Laser World Champion Tom Slingsby continues his 2009 Europe campaign in Holland and has been training on the water alongside ASDS members Ashley Brunning, Tom Burton and Ben Gunther in Medemblik over the last few days with the four Australians taking on a huge Laser fleet.

Jessica Crisp will be the sole Australian campaigning an RS:X in Holland with the three-time Olympian looking forward to sailing in a competitive RS:X women's fleet.

Women's Match Racing is making its debut in the ISAF Sailing World Cup and the ASDS crew of Lucinda Whitty, Amanda Scrivenor and Nina Curtis will be sailing in one of 24 Yngling's.

Racing is set to get underway on Wednesday 27 May with medal races to be held on the evening of Saturday 30 May and during the day of Sunday 31 May.

www.australiansailingteam.com.au/

by Craig Heydon

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Big Aussie presence at Holland Regatta

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