ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao Opens
Sailors and officials were
welcomed to the 2015 edition of ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao at the opening
ceremony on Tuesday 15 September.
More than 300 sailors from 32 nations have completed registration and are ready
to race out of the venue of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao is the fifth regatta of the 2015 series and is
the final qualification regatta in the build up to the 2015 Abu Dhabi ISAF
Sailing World Cup Final. Whoever wins in each fleet will book their spot on
the Abu Dhabi start line and the competition is set to be fierce over four
days of fleet racing and Sunday's Medal Race.
Alongside Abu Dhabi qualification spots, sailors will be gunning for a share
of the 150,000 Euro prize fund as well as an ISAF Sailing World Cup medal.
For Asian sailors in the Men's and Women's 470, Finn and Nacra 17, Qingdao
holds extra significance as it is the qualifier for Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing
Competition. Across the four fleets, sailors from China, Hong Kong, India,
Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will all be
aiming to book a Rio 2016 spot.
Ahead of racing, sailors had a few final moments of relaxation at the opening
ceremony and were treated to a cultural dance, traditional song from a local
children's choir as well as local cuisine.
During the opening ceremony ISAF Technical Delegate, Antonio González de la
Madrid said, "On
behalf of ISAF I would like to thank the city of Qingdao for the incredible
welcome that you have shown all the sailors and officials who have come here.
"It is the third time
Qingdao has hosted an ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta and it is very important
for ISAF to continue our strong relationship with the Chinese Yachting
Association and the Qingdao Municipal Government.
"The organizing
committee have done an outstanding job in preparation for ISAF Sailing World
Cup Qingdao and we have more than 230 sailors from 32 nations in attendance,
highlighting the strength of the event as it continues to grow.
"This week, the
sailors will be aiming to qualify for the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu
Dhabi, claim a share of the prize fund as well as sealing an ISAF Sailing
World Cup medal.
"Alongside this, ISAF
Sailing World Cup Qingdao is an important step on the road to the Rio 2016
Olympic Games. Asian sailors in the Men's and Women's 470, Finn and Nacra 17
will be aiming to qualify their nation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
"The Olympic Games
can leave an amazing legacy within each host nation and it's excellent to see
the legacy of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games lives strong here, in Qingdao,
China's Sailing City.”
With the forecast set to be fair for the opening day of racing on Wednesday
16 September sailors will take to the water from 10:30 onwards in preparation
for a 12:00 local time start.
RESULTS / ENTRIES
Entries for ISAF Sailing World Cup are available to view on the World Cup
website here - http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/entrylist.php and results will be available throughout when racing commences on 16
September here - http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php