July 16, 2010 (Scheveningen, Netherlands) – Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) extended their lead in the Gold Fleet of the Final Series of the 2010 Delta Lloyd 470 World Championship on Friday having posted an 7,7,1 in breezy conditions, a lot of current and “tricky waves” as Belcher referred to them.  Australia’s Golden Boys have 23 points. Low point in the Gold Fleet was shared by three teams today – Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell (GBR), locals Sven and Calle Coster (NED) and Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE).  They sit in second, third and fourth place overall with 29,30 and 31 points, respectively.
Today was the first day that the top 40 Men’s 470 teams in the world raced against each other in the Gold Fleet. It’s harder to rebound from a bad start and more difficult to stay in the lead. The course was further from shore than it has been throughout the week and there were fewer variables. Picking wind over current or vice versa resulted in big separations. Belcher/Page displayed determination and awesome downwind technique to pass competitors in each race and reach their stride in on the final downwind of the day to capture the lead and win the last race. 
Said Belcher, “Everybody is going really well.  The Greeks, the Costers, the young Brits, even the Croatians had a very good day today.  We focus on our performance and don’t let the others distract us.  The difference in performance in these conditions with this fleet is may be a few seconds and one bad decision.”
“The intensity is higher and the quality is higher in the Gold Fleet.  We’re starting okay and not getting the first beat quite right, and we are fighting hard because every point counts,” said Page.
“The more we sail, the more we’re getting used to each other.  Upwind there are a lot of factors associated with tuning the boat.  Downwind it’s more about technique.  Mal and I really haven’t changed our style and he has great technique.  It makes things easier knowing that we have good downwind speed,” commented Belcher.
“With the current against the wind it made the downwind longer and exaggerated our downwind advantage.  It saved our bacon,” joked the veteran Page.The team is happy to be in the lead, but as far as Belcher is concerned, “We have three more fleet races and a medal race, so six points is nothing.”
The Final Series racing is scheduled to conclude on July 17th, when up to three races will be sailed. The forecast is for moderate winds.  A Medal Race finale is planned on July 18th.