Burling takes out 2015 Moth worlds title

Emirates Team New Zealand’s Peter Burling has won the 2015 International Moth World Championship title.

Burling’s nine wins from a possible 14 was extraordinary, considering the fragile nature of the Moths in the big conditions and the quality of the fleet, which included several sailors from other America’s Cup syndicates.

“The boat’s been going really well this week, no problems,” he said.

Burling attributed his nine race wins to, “You get on a winning roll and just keep going. Nathan (Outteridge) and I spent a lot of time working on our boats and nothing broke.

“All the time I have put in to this campaign paid off,” he said amid cheers and pats on the back from fellow Emirates Team New Zealand team mates, including his 49er crew Blair Tuke, who finished sixth overall.

Burling will have little time to celebrate. It is pack up time and then off to the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami for an Olympic class 49er event with Tuke.

On the final day, Burling finished sixth in Race 13, the first of the day on the windy and bumpy course on Port Phillip. Initially delayed, racing did get underway on time at 1100am in 15 -18 knots on a choppy sea. But competitors were brought ashore after it, while race officials reassessed conditions.

Around half the Gold fleet headed out for Race 14 shortly after 1.45pm. In gusty 22-25 knot winds, Burling finished the Worlds in the style he started, with a win. Outteridge was second.

Defending world champion Outteridge finished second overall. Josh McKnight, Moth world champion in 2012 and third last year, again finished third.

Placings for the other Emirates Team New Zealand sailing crew were: Glenn Ashby 16, Ray Davies 18 and Dean Barker 31.