Countdown to ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami

 

Bigger than ever in 2015, with an atmosphere crackling with adrenaline, the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami was ground zero on Sunday as competitors from 63 countries made their final preparations. US Sailing’s premiere event brings together a who’s who of Olympic and Paralympic talent. Six days of racing will test them and leave them judged. Australia’s silver-medalist 470 skipper of last year, Mat Belcher, summed up that experience by saying simply that being on that racecourse, with that fleet, “was essential.” Essential, that is, to anyone who hopes to be standing on a podium in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympic Games.

With as many as 800 sailors entered, the 26th year of this event sets a record for participation. The ISAF Sailing World Cup, presented by Sunbrella, is the only U.S. stop on the 2014-2015 SWC series. Melbourne, Australia kicked off the first of six events, with successful sailors earning qualification spots and ranking points toward a finale in Abu Dhabi late in 2015.

All 10 Olympic and three Paralympic classes named to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games are racing here. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), 49er FX (women), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, and Nacra 17 catamaran (mixed). Paralympic classes included are: 2.4mR, SKUD-18 and Sonar.

ISAF medals, gold, silver and bronze, will be awarded to the top three boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class based on Medal Races on Saturday, January 31. Competitors in the Paralympic classes will have five days of fleet racing (Monday-Friday) with no Medal Race.

Antonio González de la Madrid, ISAF Technical Delegate, is pleased, he said, “To see so many sailors from South America and the Caribbean. These are countries that are not represented so much in racing in Europe. Looking ahead, the forecast for breeze is good; much better than the extreme light air we had last year; so we face fewer challenges there. We do have challenges on the Laser course because we have a wealth of entries, and we have to split the fleet. But we have the best race officials in the world working on behalf  of the best sailors in the world and we’ll be fine.”

Reflecting upon the decision some years ago to locate an Olympic Training Site here, Josh Adams, Managing Director of US Olympic Sailing, observed, “A turnout this large and this competitive confirms that Miami is a preferred venue for Olympic and Paralympic competition. The heat is rising as we come closer to the 2016 Games in Rio, and we’ll see the evidence on the water this week.”

The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami is presented by Sunbrella, with gold sponsors Beneteau, Jenneau and Lagoon Catamarans. Silver sponsors are Sperry, Chubb Personal Insurance and the City of Miami. Supplier sponsors are Harken, McLube, CRSA, the University of Miami Health Sports Medicine, Vetus Maxwell and Adventure Sports.

Editors Notes:

Video

Rights free news feeds containing interviews and b-roll of sailing action will be available from Wednesday 28 January through to Saturday 31 January on the ISAF FTP. A log Sheet will be attached. In addition, fully-produced highlight packages will be available from 26 to 31 January. These will contain interviews, action and results, including event graphics. For FTP login details, specific requests and native language interviews please contact ISAF TV using the following address –isaf.tv@isaf.com

 

Images
High resolution, free-for-editorial-use images will be available to download. View US Sailing’s Flickr account here. For specific requests please contact the ISAF Communications Department below.

 

Results
Results are available here – www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php

 

Live Tracking
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking.

Click here to view live tracking.

Live Tracking via the Sailviewer-3D Tablet App will be available for devices with 7″ or greater screens.

Click here to download the iOS Application.
Click here to download the Android Application.

Follow
ISAF Sailing World Cup website
ISAF Sailing World Cup Facebook
ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami Facebook

@ISAFupdates@SailingWCMiami and  #SWCMiami15) Twitter accounts will be following the action throughout the week.

Contact – Press Room Communications

kimball.livingston@gmail.com

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