Australia's Mat Belcher and Will Ryan will look to extend their unbeaten streak in the Men's 470 when racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami commences on 27 January 2014. Running through to 1 February over 550 sailors from 50 nations will race at the third of five 2013-2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, USA.

Belcher, the 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, made it 18 consecutive wins in a row when he took gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and it was his tenth in a row with Ryan.

Belcher's run stems from November 2011 and as the victories have continued to flow the Australian has coped well with the weight of expectation, "The pressure has been difficult at times with it accumulating over the years," said Belcher. "But we are in the business of sport. Our job is to perform under pressure. It is something you just have to manage."

The pressure will be back on Belcher and Ryan in Miami with a highly competitive and experienced 31-boat fleet.

Joining the Australians in the fleet is 2013 470 world championship silver and bronze medallists Pierre Leboucher and Nicolas Le Berre (FRA) and Greece's Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis. World #3 pair Sime Fantela and Ignor Marenic (CRO) pushed the Australians at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and Britons Luke Patience and Joe Glanfield will also prove a stern test.

With several leading crews sailing, Belcher knows it won't be easy, "Miami is a strong event and it shows by all of last year's world medallists being there. For us, this is why we are coming over, to get good racing.

"We, like the others, need the practice to continually learn and develop as a team. It's not about the result but our development. We are pretty comfortable with where things are at especially coming off the back of our 2013 season.

"The fleet have a lot of respect for us and we for them. I expect them to race and fight hard for every place. I wouldn't expect anything less from them. We are really looking forward to racing the other guys and starting 2014 off well."

In the Women's 470, three of the World's top five crews are set to face off in the 10-boat fleet. World #1 Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar (AUT) will meet World #3 Sophie Weguelin and Eilidh McIntyre (GBR) and World #4 Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA).

More Information:
ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami website