Sailors arrive ahead of ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final 2015

In anticipation of the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final 2015 in Vladivostok, Russia, the 14 qualified teams, from all continents, and the international umpire team have arrived ready for the start of the regatta

Each crew had the opportunity to try the Platu 25 boats they would be using and test the water area of Amurskiy Bay, however, the winds were very light after the Typhoon that blew in from China. There is better news for the regatta ahead with the wind speed building up considerably, and up to 20 knot winds expected for the first day of racing.

2013 Nations Cup winner, Brazilian Juliana Senfft is looking forward to the regatta and said, “We hope that we can maintain our status [as champions]. So, we are here for it, to defend that. Platu 25 are very fast boats, very sharp and powerful ones. We have to be strong to sail them.”

After the first skippers meeting and press-conference, there was an opening ceremony where the teams had a chance to meet the other competitors and talk in a warm friendly atmosphere before the heat of competition starts.

There is a double round-robin planned for the Open Division, with a multi-round robin for the five Women’s teams. The teams that progress from the round-robin qualification will contest the semi-finals and finals on Saturday and Sunday.

Results
http://nationscup2015.ru/?page_id=1100

Event Website
http://nationscup2015.ru/

ISAF Event Microsite
http://www.sailing.org/events/nationscup/index.php

Past Results
http://www.sailing.org/events/nationscup/past_results.php

The ISAF Nations Cup was first introduced to the world in 1991. Open and Women’s contests are run and it is based on a series of Regional Finals with the top crews meeting at the Grand Final.

Racing at the Regional Finals is preceded by an ISAF Match Racing Clinic, aimed to help develop match racing skills and officiating in that region. The winners of each Regional Final progress to the Grand Final, where they are joined by the defending nation and the host nation.

The aim of the event is to broaden the availability of match racing and provide international match racing competition for national authorities and sailors at a reasonable cost, whilst acting as an incentive for national match racing programmes.

Find out more on the history of the event here
http://www.sailing.org/events/nationscup/about.php