7:11 PM Wed 14 Jan 2009 GMT
It could pay competitors to Start Early at the ISAF World Sailing Cup . . .
Competitors at the ISAF World Sailing Cup more far flung events, from a European perspective, have the chance to pile up some points at what could prove to be less competitive events, compared with the local competition they will face once the mainstream season starts in Europe.
Of the seven event circuit only two, Melbourne and Miami are outside of Europe. So racking up a possible 40 points will be money in the bank (is that such a good thing now?) for the European competitors. Only the first 20 event finishers are given points at each event, so getting some good places now could be a winner at the end of the season.
The second event on the revamped international circuit for the Olympic and Paralympic classes gets underway 25 January, in the USA with US Sailing's 2009 Rolex Miami OCR. Many sailors plan to compete at all seven of the ISAF Sailing World Cup events and are looking to pile up the cumulative Sailing World Cup points before they move to Europe.
After winning a gold medal in the Laser Radial class at the 2008 Olympic Regatta, Anna Tunnicliffe added more gold to her collection by winning the first Sailing World Cup event, Sail Melbourne, in December. Her gold medal earned her 20 points for her Sailing World Cup series score.
'It's a great opportunity to get back in the water and start the year off seeing where everyone is in their training,' said Tunnicliffe, 'I'll pick out some good goals to work on throughout the year. I'm also looking forward to getting back in the water for the experience of the regatta.'
Her US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics teammates Stu McNay and Graham Biehl also won a silver medal in the Men's 470 class, earning 19 series points.
The Miami event is also a crucial event for American sailors who wish to make the 2009 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, which will select the top three sailors/boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class.
Zach Railey, who won a silver medal in the Finn class at the 2008 Olympic Games in China; 'My first and foremost goal is to qualify for the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. Secondly, I want to put myself in contention going into the medal race, so I can finish on the podium. That's all I can ask for. If I can do that, I'll be happy with my performance.'
Railey, who has spent the last week training with American and international Finn sailors, including Olympians Chris Cook of Canada and Rafael Trujillo of Spain, is looking forward to the intense competition of the regatta. 'I have a competitive nature, so it's exciting to get back on the race course,' he said. 'Racing is a lot of fun. My competitors are also my friends. It's good to see them -- and see who I can beat at OCR.'
Other Sail Melbourne medalists who have already registered for the Rolex Miami OCR include Spain?s Blanca Manchon in the Women's RS:X class, Britain?s Andrea Brewster in the Laser Radial and Paul Campbell-James in the 49er, and Matias del Solar of Chile in the Laser.
Sailors and their coaches must register online before 19 January 2009 at the event web site www.rolexmiamiocr.org
There will be no on-site registration this year.
US Sailing's 2009 Rolex Miami OCR is open to the classes chosen by ISAF for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions, except for the equipment used for women's match racing. While ISAF has chosen the Elliott 6m for the 2012 Olympic Games, Rolex Miami OCR will use the SB3 Laser.
The 10 Olympic classes competing at US Sailing's 2009 Rolex Miami OCR are: Laser Radial, Laser, Finn, RS:X Men, RS:X Women, 49ers, 470 Men, 470 Women, Star and SB3 Laser. The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR, SKUD-18 and Sonar.
The newly invented ISAF World Sailing Cup was launched in Australia in December 2008 at Sail Melbourne, and after the US Miami event in January 2009 will switch to Europe in April for the Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE in Spain.
Further events in the World Sailing Cup will be Semaine Olympique Hy?res in France in April and then Medemblik, Holland in May for the Delta Lloyd Regatta, then the Kiel Regetta in Germany in June and the series will finish in Weymouth, UK in September 2009 with the Skandia Sail for Gold event.
In addition to title sponsor Rolex Watch U.S.A., US Sailing's 2009 Rolex Miami OCR is also sponsored by AlphaGraphics, Nautica, LaserPerformance, Harken, New England Ropes, Sperry Top-Sider and Team McLube.
by Rolex/Sail-World.com/uk
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