What's at stake at ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao?

ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao is the fifth regatta of the 2015 series and with more than 240 sailors from 37 nations competing across the Olympic classes, there is plenty at stake to attract strong competition.

Olympic Qualification

At the start of 2014, the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition qualification system was published with new criteria.

ISAF introduced a Continental Qualification system to give a pathway and opportunity for sailing to develop around the world as well as reflecting the International Olympic Committee’s Qualification System Principles. Key requirements of these Principles are to ensure the participation of the best athletes and ensure universality through continental representation.

After the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships 50% of the Olympic places were awarded and attention has now turned to continental qualification regattas and the class world championships where the remaining 50% of spots will be snapped up.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao acts as the Asian Rio 2016 qualification regatta for the Men’s and Women’s 470, Finn and Nacra 17 and sees many new nations, who wouldn’t have usually campaigned in the classes, gunning for an Olympic spot.

The nations vying for Olympic qualification are:

Men’s 470 – China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand
Women’s 470 – Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand
Finn – China and Iran
Nacra 17 – China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Thailand

Qingdao will be the final chance for Asian Nacra 17 sailors to qualify for Rio 2016 after 13 spots were distributed at the 2014 ISAF Worlds and 2015 Nacra 17 Worlds. The 470 and Finn sailors will have another opportunity later on in the year at their respective World Championships.

Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final

At each ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta, the winning sailor and the best ranked continental sailor book their ticket to the Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final, the centrepiece of the series.

Held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 27 October to 1 November 2015, the World Cup regatta qualifiers and those invited via the ISAF World Sailing Rankings will fight for the title in 20-boat fleets.

In Qingdao, sailors who have not yet qualified will be aiming to book their spot on the startline by winning the regatta outright. Those behind the winning sailors will be aiming for a high finish in order to obtain a good haul of points at the 200-point regatta. Competitors within the World #10 will receive the first invitations to the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final so sailors will be fighting for places and points to progress up the rankings.

See who has qualified so far here – http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/2015SWCFinalQualifiedSailors-%5B19024%5D.pdf

Click here to view the qualification system here.

ISAF World Sailing Rankings – http://www.sailing.org/rankings/fleet/index.php

ISAF Sailing World Cup Medals

Since the ISAF Sailing World Cup was introduced in 2008, 43 nations have claimed a share of 1,456 medals after 486 series of races at 43 regattas.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao offers sailors another opportunity to claim a coveted World Cup medal.

Great Britain’s sailors have been the most successful at ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas, amassing 232 medals that includes 83 gold. Australia follows on 196 with France in third.

Great Britain also tops the medal table for the 2015 series, holding 34 medals, 14 of which are gold. However, Australian sailors have picked up the most medals, 39, but have one less gold than Great Britain.

View the medal table here – http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/history/index.php

Prize Money

A combined 150,000 Euros was distributed between the Olympic and Paralympic medallists at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres and Weymouth and Portland.

In Qingdao, a total of 150,000 Euros will be distributed amongst the podium finishers.

Racing across the Olympic fleets is scheduled to commence on 16 September with Medal Races bringing the regatta to a close on 20 September.

ISAF Sailing World Cup
The ISAF Sailing World Cup is a world-class annual series for Olympic sailing. It is open to the sailing events chosen for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Its centre piece is the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup will consist of five regattas for all ten Olympic events and where possible, Formula Kite Racing. Qualification places for the ISAF Sailing World Cup final are up for grabs at each event. The final will bring together the top 20 boats in each Olympic event and an Open Kiteboarding event where the World Cup Champions will be crowned

2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup
Melbourne – 7-14 December 2014
Miami – 25-31 January 2015
Hyères – 20-26 April 2015
Weymouth and Portland – 8-14 June 2015
Qingdao – 14-20 September 2015
2015 Final Abu Dhabi – 27 October to 1 November 2015