AUSTRALIANS Will Ryan and Mat Belcher won gold in the men's 470 at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event in Japan on Thursday.
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Ryan, the grandson of well-known doctors the late Bill and Pat Ryan, and Belcher combined to take the gold after the final day of racing was cancelled due to lack of winds - with the competition's outcome already decided.
These results, fresh off the back of successive wins in their respective World Championships, show promising form for the Australian Sailing Team in its quest for Olympic sold at the Tokyo Olympics less than a year away.
A running repair to a broken vang at the last moment right on the start line prior to race seven was arguably the difference between gold and silver for the 470 champs - in a field of 22 boats.
Battling around the course to gain a vital eighth Belcher and Ryan demonstrated the ingenuity, resilience and self-reliance which have long been the hallmark of Australian sailors.
"Will and I click and we are happy," Belcher said.
"It is a unique partnership, and we are pretty hungry for more.
"We are ready. It is all about next year, but it does give you a lot of confidence, and confirms what you are doing."
Glowing with pride, revered 470 coach, Victor Kovalenko spoke immediately after the results were declared, "We have just had two top events in the waters that will be used for the 2020 Olympic Games, and have won both. It is an amazing confirmation of where we are at.
"This was one more practice to get used to the conditions, and we were using our spare equipment.
"The win is really amazing.
"What is incredible is just how ready for the medal race Mat and Will were.
"They were like a loaded spring, ready to unfold."