St Kilda Boat Sales - Get Swept Up In The Action-ISAF Sailing World Cup

The first leg of the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup, Sail Melbourne is shaping up to be a ‘clash of the titans’ as Australia’s best sailors prepare to compete alongside a host of formidable international challengers.

From December 12 – 18, 2010 the state-of-the art surroundings of Sandringham Yacht Club will play host to top sailing talent including Ben Ainslie, triple Olympic gold and silver medallist, three times ISAF World Sailor of the Year and Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor of all time. He will battle it out in the Finn class with fellow Brits Ed Wright and Giles Scott, rivalry stemming from the fact that only one of them will ultimately win the right to represent the UK at the London Olympics.

Joining them on the water will be Australia’s own world No. 1 Laser sailor Tom Slingsby, who will be hoping a win will top off a magnificent 2010. This year Tom became the first Australian ever to be named ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, as well as being part of the winning Etchell championship team and taking his third Laser World Championships title. At Sail Melbourne Tom is set to come face to face with nemesis and current World No 2, Britain’s Paul Goodison.

Beijing Olympic gold medallist and multiple World and European Championship title winner Malcolm Page will be back in Melbourne looking to defend his title, having won in his class alongside partner Mathew Belcher at last year’s ISAF Sailing World Cup.

Sail Melbourne chairman Bruce Griffiths said: “Sail Melbourne is becoming an increasingly important regatta as competitors prepare for London 2012. Australia has some of the best sailing talent in the world and with international competitors descending in droves we can look forward to an exceptional week of sailing and some thrilling on-the-water action.”

Malcolm Page said: “I always look forward to coming home to compete in Australia, and Port Phillip Bay is a world class sailing destination. There are some fantastic names competing this year and I want to ensure Mathew and I retain our title.”

Australian sailing legend and event ambassador John Bertrand said: “We are delighted with the calibre of world class Olympic sailors set to compete at Sail Melbourne this year. This list of big names is a credit to the reputation of the event itself and of Port Phillip Bay as one of the finest racing venues in the world.”

CEO of Yachting Victoria Ross Kilburn said: “We were delighted with the success of Sail Melbourne in 2009 and the excellent platform this provides for the event to grow into one of Victoria’s signature events. We are looking forward to giving the event the warm welcome back it deserves this year as it cements its place in the State’s action packed summer of top-class sport.”

Sail Melbourne will once again be the first stop of the prestigious ISAF Sailing World Cup with teams then heading off to Miami, Palma, Hyeres, Medemblik and Weymouth, England - the London 2012 Olympic venue - before finishing at Kiel in June.

For more info, go to: http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/