Croatian pair leapfrog defending champions at ISAF 470 World Championships

Croatia's Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic lead the men's 470 World Championships standings ©Getty Images

Croatian duo Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic replaced defending champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan of Australia at the top of the men's leaderboard at the 2015 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) 470 World Championships with two second-place finishes on the third day of action in Haifa Bay, Israel.

Fantela and Marenic, who have claimed a podium place at every 470 Worlds they have contested since 2009, with the exception of the 2013 edition, now have an 11-point lead over the Australians, who suffered a catastrophic first race of the day which saw them finish down in 21st.

They followed that performance up with 15th in the second and last race, leaving them with a tough ask if they are to retain their crown.

The Croatians, the 2009 world champions, who have already secured their spot at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, have a strong advantage ahead of their nearest rivals with a further two races scheduled for tomorrow.

“I don’t remember these conditions we have had ever,” Fantela said.

“The Europeans was tough, but this feels like one level more up.

“It is a game that you need to fight to the end, to the finish line and then you are sure.”

Teams from Argentina, Turkey, South Korea and Russia all remain in contention for the one and only available Olympic qualification berth, with German and Finnish boats both also well-placed inside the top ten.

In the women’s competition, 2014 gold medallists Lara Vadlau and Jola Ogar of Austria stole the lead from British duo Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark, who won silver at London 2012, thanks to a superb run in race six.

London 2012 silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark won the first race of the day but are second overall ©Getty Images

Mills and Clark had surged into an overall lead after victory in race five but the Austrian pair hit back to climb above the Britons and they have a slender one-point lead going into day four.

Americans Annie Haegar and Briana Provancha were in solid form and have managed to shift up to third.

“We know what our potential is here and we are looking to perform,” Provancha said.

“However, anything can happen in our sport and there are a lot of teams who could easily win this event so we will take it a day at a time and enjoy the competition at this great venue.”

There are 13 women’s teams gunning for just three Olympic qualification places , with Australia, Canada, Chile, Spain, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey all harbouring hopes of sealing their spot at Rio 2016.