Australian duo seek to continue winning streak in SKUD18 fleet at 2015 Para World Sailing Championships

Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesel Tesch are hoping to defend their world title in Melbourne ©Australian Sailing Team

Australia’s Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesel Tesch are targeting success in front of their home crowd at the 2015 Para World Sailing Championships as the reigning Paralympic champions build towards defending their title at Rio 2016.

The pair are part of the 18-boat SKUD18 fleet which is due to take to the water in Melbourne from November 27 to December 3 and have been in stunning form over the last 12 months, since claiming the world title in Nova Scotia, Canada.

They have since earned gold at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Cup events in Melbourne and Miami, as well as the Delta Lloyd Regatta in The Netherlands.

Tesch is hopeful their success will continue in the Championships and believes the competition will aid pursuit of back-to-back titles at the Paralympic Games.

"Melbourne is one of our favourite waterways in the world and the event will be another great positive step in our Paralympic preparation,” she said.

"It's absolutely fantastic to have the Worlds Championships here in Australia and it's quite an honour to have it on beautiful Port Phillip, it will be the chance for Australians to have a look at top level, fantastic racing.

"Hopefully we'll get some fans to come out and see some great Paralympic sailing out here for the first time.

“It would be nice to get some Melburnians to come out on the accessible boats, to come and have a look and hopefully also to get some Paralympians from other sports out, to come and see one of the best sports.”

London 2012 bronze medallists Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell will be be among the favourites to earn podium finishes ©Getty Images

Britain’s Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell are expected to pose the biggest threat to the Australian pairing having won five consecutive world titles from 2009 to 2013, while Italy's Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti are also among the favourites to earn a podium place.

Following their sailors performance at the 2014 World Championships Australia, Canada, Britain, Italy and the United States have all qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympic competition and with Brazil having been guaranteed a place as hosts, five remaining places will be up for grabs in Melbourne.

It will be the first World Championships to be held since sailing was removed from the programme for Tokyo 2020 by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The IPC opted to cut the sport from the Games in the Japanese capital in January after claiming it did not fulfil their handbook's minimum criteria for worldwide reach.

Despite a long campaign to try and get the sport reinstated, which included an appeal to the IPC’s General Assembly, Para-sailing will not be a part of Tokyo 2020.