Reigning champion Wright enjoys winning start in Miami

ED Wright started the defence of his ISAF World Cup title as he led home a British 1-2 in the competitive Finn class in Miami.

WINNING START: Ed Wright, last year's overall World Cup champion, started the season with a confident victory in Miami (onEdition for Skandia Team GBR)

Only team-mate Giles Scott started the decisive medal race with a chance of overhauling Wright's points advantage.

Wright duly placed fourth to secure gold while Scott held off the challenge of medal rival, American Zach Railey, to secure his spot on the second tier of the podium.

"It's been a really tough week, I find the venue pretty difficult with some tricky conditions but I'm really happy - it's a great start to the year," said Wright.  

"It's just a shame the breeze that was forecast didn't appear, so we haven't had much of a chance to stretch our legs this week."

British sailors bagged a total of six medals in Miami but there was disappointment for the match racing trio of Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ally Martin, who had to settle for silver after a week of dominance in the newest Olympic sailing discipline.

Unbeaten until the final, they lost out to the USA's British-born skipper Anna Tunnicliffe.

Up and coming Laser Radial sailor Alison Young exceeded expectations to claim her first ever podium finish at a major senior international event with a bronze.

But there was disappointment for men's 470 pair Nic Asher and Elliot Willis and Nick Dempsey, in the men's windsurfing, who both finished fourth.

Britain claimed two medals on the penultimate day of action with Nick Thompson winning the Laser title while John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas took silver in the Paralympic Sonar class.

And it left British Olympic manager Stephen Park to reflect on a mixed start to the season.

"After such a strong week and a fantastic battle in the match racing final, it was disappointing for Lucy's team that they didn't come away with gold, but Anna Tunnicliffe sailed really well," he said. 

"In the single-handed classes we've had some outstanding results. Nick Thompson picked up  a huge lead in the Laser fleet with Ed Wright also dominant in the Finn, so in terms of our performance overall in those classes we're in pretty good shape.

"Alison Young has shown great promise in the Radial - she's made a big jump this week to win her first ever World Cup medal so I'm really pleased for her and hopefully it's a sign of more things to come."