Multiple world champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan successfully defended their men’s 470 class title at the 2015 Sailing World Cup final in Abu Dhabi. The Queenslanders, who are anticipated to be the team to defeat at the Rio Olympics next year, took a 7-point lead into the final race and offered no one a scope by guiding the fleet home.

Ryan and Belcher have ended on the podium at every major meet they have taken part since teaming up following the London Olympics in 2012, where Belcher won gold with ex crewmate Malcolm Page. They would now direct their concentration just to prepare for the Rio Olympics, beginning with next month’s Copa Brazil de Vela meet in Rio.

Tom Burton, his fellow Australian, also snatched gold in Abu Dhabi, taking out the laser class. Tom held a 3-point lead ahead of the final race, as well as a 3rd spot finish which was enough to get a gold ahead of 5-time Olympic medallist Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, who was fresh from setting up his Greece yacht charters venture.