The Skandia Sail For Gold regatta promises to offer a fitting finale to the ISAF Sailing World Cup season with an official entry of over 700 boats and almost 1000 sailors from 57 nations all challenging to claim the ultimate prize of the Sailing World Cup in each of the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.
At least 10 of these nations come from the Asian/Pacific region with a large entry from China, the largest team to compete from this nation since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. There is also a big entry from the Americas region including eight South American nations. These are joined by a growing list of participating Caribbean nation sailors who have been gaining valuable experience in youth regattas around the world.
Based upon feedback, ISAF’s Executive Committee approved the recommendation to modify the World Cup scoring system for 2009-2010. For the overall Sailing World Cup series score, five out of seven events would be counted; at least one of the discarded events being a European Sailing World Cup event.
This decision has resulted in a mouth watering final regatta in Weymouth with almost all classes going down to the wire to decide the overall Sailing World Cup champions.
The Women’s Match Racing event is billed to be one of the closest competitions in the final stage of the 2009-10 ISAF Sailing World Cup. All the key top teams will fight it out for the Sailing World Cup in the Elliott 6m, the equipment chosen for the 2012 Olympic Games competition to be sailed in Weymouth..
Leader in the SWC standings Lucy Macgregor (GBR) has competed in all SWC regattas but reached the final twice without winning. Macgregor goes into the final event with a single point lead over arch rival Anna Tunnicliffe (USA). The two teams have clashed regularly throughout the season particularly in Miami where Tunnicliffe beat Macgregor in the final by three flights to two.
On equal points with Tunnicliffe is Claire Leroy of France, who has finished third at two SWC regattas and runner-up in Kiel. The chasing pack of Nicky Souter (AUS), Silke Hahlbrock (GER) and Renee Groeneveld (NED) all have an outside chance of SWC success but will have to depend on the leading three teams having a bad regatta.
The overall nation medal table is also very close with Great Britain, France and Australia all with nine gold medals to date in this season’s ISAF Sailing World Cup. In overall medals won, Great Britain holds a slender advantage with 25 medals won followed by France on 23 medals and Australia on 19 medals.
Schedule of Events
Friday 6th August Event Office opens for registration
Saturday 7th August - Women’s Match Racing Practice Sessions
Sunday 8th August Women’s Match Racing Practice Sessions and Briefing for coaches and team leaders
Monday 9th August Racing day 1
Tuesday 10th August Racing day 2
Wednesday 11th August Racing day 3
Thursday 12th August Racing day 4
Friday 13th August Racing day 5
Saturday 14th August Medal Races and Women’s Match Racing Finals (no warning signal after 1530)
For the latest news, to enter online and for media accreditation go to: www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk
For the latest news, photos and videos, as well as Standings, event details and more, visit the ISAF Sailing World Cup website at www.sailing.org/worldcup.
