WORLD CUP TITLES ON THE LINE IN KIEL
From 18-22 June Kiel, Germany will host the final ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta where the World Cup titles will be decided.
The 2010-2011 series has served up some excellent competition as sailors prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition to be held in Weymouth and Portland, Great Britain.
Of the top ten in the 49er only Nico Delle-Karth and Nikolaus Resch (AUT) and Peter Kruger-Andersen and Nicolai Thorsell (DEN) will sail in Kiel.
Delle-Karth and Resch, who are currently third in the 49er Standings, know that a 14th place finish or better will hand them the 49er title. The Austrians won gold at Sail Melbourne before claiming bronze at Trofeo S.A.R. Princess Sofia MAPFRE. However in recent competitions they have faired less well finishing 12th at Semaine Olympique Française and 13th at Skandia Sail for Gold so they will be hoping to end on a high in Kiel.
With the Austrian duo likely to pick up the 49er title Kruger-Andersen and Thorsell may have to settle as runners up. The Danes need to finish eighth or better to ensure second place.
Germany’s Simon Grotelueschen came close to finishing on the podium at Semaine Olympique Française and Skandia Sail for Gold. The German Laser sailor came fourth at both regattas but he will be in familiar territory in Kiel and with several of the top Laser sailors not attending he will no doubt be the favourite. A fifth place finish or better will move the German to second place after Tom Slingsby (AUS) wrapped up the Laser title following victory at Skandia Sail for Gold.
Paige Railey (USA), ranked #3 in the world, will claim third place in the Laser Radial Standings if she finishes fifth or higher in Kiel. World #1 Marit Bouwmeester clinched the Laser Radial title following Skandia Sail for Gold closely followed by World #2 Evi Van Acker (BEL). The duo won’t be sailing Kiel so like Grotelueschen, Railey will be the favoured sailor in Kiel.
In the Women’s RS:X, ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Blanca Manchon (ESP) will lead the 28-boat fleet and she will be the favourite to take the Women’s RS:X title with Jessica Crisp (AUS) the only other top ten Standings sailor. Manchon currently sits second in the Standings on 63 points, to overhaul Charline Picon (FRA) the Spaniard requires a 13th place finish or better.
With none of the top ten Men’s RS:X sailors competing in Kiel, the top three in the Standings have been finalised with Dorian Van Rijsselberge (NED) securing the title after two regatta wins and a third place finish. Skandia Sail for Gold winner Nick Dempsey (GBR) finished one point behind the Dutchman in second and Nimrod Mashich (ISR) came third.
Of the top 25 only Delta Lloyd Regatta winner Taehoon Lee (KOR) and Thomas Goyard (FRA) are sailing in Kiel so the pair will look to climb up the Standings.
