Countdown to 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami

(January 3, 2014) – With less than a month away from the start of US Sailing’s premier racing event, racing at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami will take place on January 27 through February 1 on Biscayne Bay. This world class regatta is the only North American regatta to be included in the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) 2013-14 Sailing World Cup series.

The 25th anniversary of this world class international regatta will feature elite-level competition in the sailing events selected for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5-21 and September 7-18, respectively. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X, 49er (men), Men’s 470, Women’s 470, Nacra 17 (mixed) and 49er FX (women). Paralympic classes included are: 2.4mR (open, able and disabled), SKUD-18 (mixed crew, disabled) and Sonar (open, disabled).

ISAF medals will be awarded to the top three boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class on Saturday, February 1. Competitors in the Paralympic classes will have five days of fleet racing (Monday-Friday) and no medal race.

The regatta marks the third of five events slated for the 2013-14 series. Approximately 500-plus sailors are expected to compete at the event. The first two ISAF Sailing World Cup series regattas of 2013-14 took place in Melbourne, Australia (December 1-8, 2013) and Qingdao, China (October 12-19, 2013).

Regatta Headquarters will be located at the US Sailing Center Miami, an official Olympic training center, in the Coconut Grove section of Miami, Fla. Event organizers have partnered with the City of Miami to provide world-class venues for competition. Additional hosts for the event include Miami Rowing Club, Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, Shake-a-Leg Miami, and Coral Reef Yacht Club. Most of these sailing organizations host classes onshore, as well as help run the on-the-water racing. The Coral Reef Yacht Club hosts the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Competitors and coaches are required to register online by Monday, January 6, 2014. On-site registration will not be available. Additional fees will apply for entries received after the cutoff date.

Press Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing