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ISAF Sailing World Cup Final show comes to Abu Dhabi

ISAF Sailing World Cup Final show comes to Abu Dhabi

Some of the world’s finest sailors will be on show at the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup Final beginning today (Thursday) in Abu Dhabi.

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As well as witnessing the action free at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club or along the Corniche near Marina Mall, you can even have a chance to get up close to some of the top sailors.

A whole bunch of world and Olympic champions will be com­peting in the high-profile event featuring 10 Olympic classes as well as an open kiteboarding event.

And given it’s the final and with a total prize money of $200,000 (Dh734,605) up for grabs, the com­petition, that will see 11 champions crowned on Sunday, will provide some thrilling action for the spec­tators during the four-day event.

“It is the first event of its kind and for sure all the sailors are ex­cited to be here,” said John Craig, head of the ISAF World Cup.

“The fact that we have been able to get all these Olympians and world champion athletes to come to Abu Dhabi and take part in the event speaks volumes on how big the competition is.”

And besides watching the action, there will be even an opportunity to meet some of the sailors.

Craig said: “After the race con­cludes, people can get to see the sailors and even have their photos taken with them. We want to make sure the event is as attractive as possible to fans.”

A total of 197 teams have entered the competition and the Men’s and Women’s RS:X Fleets look set to be the most thrilling.

In the women’s field, France’s Charline Picon has won all the key regattas in 2014 and will be looking to continue that form in the UAE.

“It’s important because it’s the final,” said the 29-year-old.

“I have won everything this year so I hope to do well in Abu Dhabi. I’ve been training in Oman before Abu Dhabi because our worlds will be there next year and the condi­tions are similar so it will be nice for me to get some training in.”

Picon can expect a stiff battle especially with all three London 2012 medalists; Spain’s Marina Alabau (gold), Finland’s Tuuli Petaja (silver) and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka (bronze), competing.

The men’s event is full of tal­ent with all 20 sailors capable of clinching gold on Sunday.

Byron Kokkalanis arrives in Abu Dhabi in top form. The Greek sailor started the year by winning gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami in January and followed it up with silver in Mallorca.

Top six finishes followed at the RS:X Europeans, Olympic Test Event and the 2014 ISAF Worlds before he took last month’s World Cup Qingdao title.

And he’ll be looking to conclude 2014 the way he started it. “It’s the first time we are going to have a World Cup Final with the top 20 athletes,” he said. “It’s going to be a really high level with all of the world’s top athletes there. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Greek duo Sofia Bekatoru and Konstantinos Trigo­nis, who between them have two Olympic medals, seven Olympic appearances and 11 world cham­pionships will be competing in the Nacra 17 discipline. And Australia’s Mat Belcher will be looking to add to his collection in the men’s 470, having won his fifth world title.


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