British match racers top of rankings after Miami silver

GREAT Britain's match racing trio of Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ally Martin have reached world number one for the first time after their impressive start to the season in Miami.

SMOOTH SAILING: Lucy Macgregor reaches the top of the ISAF world match racing rankings for the first time (Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR)

The trio reached the final of the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta World Cup event with a perfect record from their 18 races in the Elliot 6m keelboat.

And despite falling at the last hurdle to home favourite Anna Tunnicliffe, the Brits brought an end to French sailor Claire Leroy's four and a half year reign at the top of the ISAF rankings.

Having lifted the World Cup match racing series in 2009, 23-year old Macgregor admits the achievement is a fitting tribute to their hard work over the past 12 months.

"Reaching the number one spot is a great feeling," said Macgregor. "It's good to know that our training programme is taking us in the right direction and that we're confident in the areas we need to improve on long term.

"We were delighted with our performance in Miami.

"I think the match racing event out there was a great success with some new teams, plus some old teams from the match racing circuit as well as former Yngling, 470 and Radial sailors coming through and racing in the new Elliot 6m boats.

"There were lots of people out watching, and a demanding schedule but it was great with everyone getting to race so much.

"It's all looking quite promising for this year's World Cup series."

The women's match racing is the newest Olympic class, replacing the Yngling for London 2012.

And having competed in a number of different match racing boats in the past 12 months, Lush insists the trio have taken to the Elliot 6m like ducks to water.

"We're really enjoying the Elliot 6's," said Lush. "They're really physical boats and are producing some close, exciting races.

"The teams who are sailing the boats well are rewarded, but all the gains you make are small and hard to achieve."

The World Cup series continues in Palma de Majorca on March 27.