Beijing gold medallist and the world #1 ranked skipper in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA), will make her second appearance at Sail Melbourne following a fantastic experience in Melbourne earlier this year.

"Last year was my first time there, and besides the shocking fact that summer temperatures are not what they seem to be on TV, well on the water at least, I had a great time," TUNNICLIFFE said from the USA.

"The sailing was fantastic - the conditions were the same all week long and allowed us to get some really good racing in.

"It will be my first Radial competition since the Olympic Games, so I am very much looking forward to doing some Radial racing again - Sail Melbourne is a great way to kick off the season," she added enthusiastically.

TUNNICLIFFE will join Aussie Olympic sailor Krystal WEIR and world ranked Kiwi Sara WINTHER and Brit Alison YOUNG in the women's Laser Radial class which is shaping up to be a fantastic event.

Sail Melbourne will be the first leg of the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup, a new annual series for Olympic sailing.

It will be staged at Sandringham Yacht Club from 16-21 December this year and is the Oceania stage of the ISAF Sailing World Cup.

Find out more about Sail Melbourne and enter online at www.sailmelbourne.com.au.

ISAF Sailing World Cup - www.sailing.org/isafsailingworldcup