Yachting: Aleh and Powrie chase world title

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie. Photo / onEdition

Olympic champions Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie are one of four Kiwi crews getting set to contest the 470 world championships in La Rochelle, France, next week.

With the international 470 class marking its 50th anniversary this year, next week's regatta has attracted a huge entry list. More than 200 boats will go into battle for the men's world title with 70 entered in the women's division. The regatta will also feature the junior and masters world championships and the Legends' Trophy.

Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox are New Zealand's best hopes at medalling of the three men's crews. The other two Kiwi crews in the men's lineup are Francisco Lardies (Glendowie Boating Club) and Luke Stevenson (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) and Manly Sailing Club's Richard and John Power.

Aleh and Powrie have both won world championship and World Cup medals but they haven't yet won a world championship in the 470 class - they came close in 2010, claiming silver, and collected bronze in 2011.

The pair have their sights on the 2016 Olympics in Rio and since getting back in the boat early in 2013 have taken out Sail Auckland and the Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup in Garda and Delta Lloyd Regatta.

Most recently they won silver at the 470 European championships, missing out on the gold to French pair Camille Lecointre and Mathilde Geron who will be among their rivals again in La Rochelle next week. London Olympic silver medalists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark are also in La Rochelle, as is Beijing gold medalist Elise Rechichi of Australia, now campaigning with Sarah Cook.

Snow-Hansen, who along with Jason Saunders placed fifth at last year's Olympics, joined forces with Willcox this year for a tilt at the Rio Games. The pair have produced encouraging results in their early outings, including eighth at the recent 470 European championships, a silver at Delta Lloyd Regatta and bronze at International 470 Spring Cup.

In the 206-strong men's fleet, the crews to watch include the formidable Matt Belcher (2012 Olympic gold medallist) and Will Ryan of Australia, Britain's Luke Patience (2012 Olympic silver medallist) and Adam Wagner as well as Lucas Calabrese and Juan de la Fuente of Argentina.