Gold for Kiwi sailors at World Cup

Blair Tuke (front) and Peter Burling.

Kerikeri's Blair Tuke has asserted his dominance in the 49er class, winning the gold medal at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma in Mallorca, Spain.

Tuke and partner Peter Burling secured the 49er gold with ease, meaning they have now won every major 49er regatta they've contested since winning Olympic silver in 2012, including the 2013 World and Europeans Championships.

Despite an average first day on the water at this opening regatta on the European circuit, Burling and Tuke hit the lead in the 49er skiff class on day three and only extended it from there.

After racing, Tuke said: "It was really fun. We sailed really well and did what we had to do in the first race after the lead we'd created throughout racing this week."

Burling echoed his teammate: "We obviously went into the medal race with a pretty comfortable margin but we still had a bit of work to do just to finish it off. We managed to do that in the first race and then we just had a bit of fun," he said.

Also winning gold at the event were Kiwis Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, who came from behind to topple the French leaders and take the Women's 470 gold on the final day.

"It took us a while to fire, we were a bit slow at the beginning but we've come right by the end," Aleh said.

Another three Kiwi crews also finished in the top ten including fellow Kerikeri sailor Andy Maloney, Sam Meech (Laser) and Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (men's 470).