18 Oct 2015

Aleh and Powrie finish 4th in Israel

1:41 pm on 18 October 2015

The New Zealand sailors Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie have finished fourth at the 470 World Championships in Israel.

Polly Powrie, left, and Jo Aleh after winning the Rio Test Event, August, 2014.

Polly Powrie, left, and Jo Aleh after winning the Rio Test Event, August, 2014. Photo: Getty Images

The Olympic champions, who won the event in 2013 and finished runners up last year, were unable to climb onto the podium after placing fourth in Sunday's medal race.

The women's title was won by Austria's Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar and the men's crowns was awarded to Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan from Australia.

The Austrian duo are the defending champions while the Australian pair has now won the title three years in a row.

Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan of Australia celebrate winning the Rio Test Event, August, 2015

Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan of Australia celebrate winning the Rio Test Event, August, 2015 Photo: Getty Images

Belcher has stood on the top step of the dais every year since 2010 having formerly competed with Malcolm Page.

"I never thought I would be able to achieve six world titles in a row, but everything for us is about next year," Belcher said.

New Zealand's Paul Snow - Hansen and Daniel Willcox placed 12th in Israel.

Meanwhile, light winds in Bermuda forced the cancellation of the first day of sailing at the Americas Cup World Series.