World Cup Series Miami: US Preview

Miami, FL (January 24th, 2019) – In five days, racing will begin at the 2019 Hempel World Cup Series Miami (HWCSM). This year marks the 30th anniversary of elite-level Olympic class sailing on Biscayne Bay. Over 600 sailors representing 62 nations will be competing for the second of four regattas in the 2019 Hempel World Cup Series. The United States has a large and talented collection of sailors competing at the second World Cup event of the 2019 series, including 57 entries and 85 total sailors.

The top eligible U.S. athlete(s) who finish in 10th place or higher in their class at the HWCSM will also qualify for selection to the 2019 US Sailing Team. Athletes Charlie Buckingham (Laser), Paige Railey (Laser Radial), Erika Reineke (Laser Radial), Caleb Paine (Finn), Stu McNay (Men’s 470), and Dave Hughes (Men’s 470) have already qualified to the 2019 US Sailing Team by placing in the top 20 at the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018. All of these individuals were members of the 2018 US Sailing Team.

The qualification procedures for the 2019 US Sailing Team also allow for discretionary selection. Athletes may earn selection after HWCSM based on the following criteria:

• Regatta results, with consideration to finishing position at the 2019 pre-regattas held January 19 – 21, 2019 (prior to the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami) and finishing position at the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami
• Recent results in international Olympic-level competition
• Athlete/team plan for training and racing in 2019 with a goal of Tokyo 2020, as approved by the Chief of Olympic Sailing, Malcolm Page.

The event is also a country and athlete qualifier for the Pan American Games. The seven Olympic classes that will be represented at the Pan American Games will have the opportunity to qualify their country at HWCSM. This includes the 49er class, which has recently been announced as an addition to the 2019 Pan American Games. The 2019 Hempel World Cup Series Miami is only a Pan American Games athlete qualifier for the Laser, Laser Radial, RS:X Men’s and RS:X Women’s classes.

For details about qualification for the 2019 Pan American Games, click here.

To learn more about selection to the 2019 US Sailing Team, click here.

The 2019 Hempel World Cup Series Miami is one of four stops on World Sailing’s World Cup Series tour, the premiere competitive circuit for sailors with aspirations of representing their country at the Tokyo Games in 2020. With racing planned for January 29 to February 3, all 10 Olympic events will be competing on Biscayne Bay.

Competition details – Entry list – Facebook

The World Cup Series is an annual circuit of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors, and a key touchpoint for fans and media to connect to the sport of sailing and develop support for athletes on their road to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond. Over 2,000 of the world’s leading sailors, representing 75 nations, have competed in the World Cup Series since its inception in 2008.

2018-19 World Cup Series
Enoshima Round: 9-16 September 2018
Miami Round: 27 January-3 February 2019
Genoa Round: 15-21 April 2019
Marseille Final: 2-9 June 2019

About the US Sailing Team
The US Sailing Team is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. US Sailing names the top Olympic class athletes to the team annually, through both event qualification and at the discretion of team leadership. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing, and communications support. US Sailing Team sponsors include partners Helly Hansen, Harken, McLube, and Groupe Beneteau, and Marlow Ropes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

About World Sailing
World Sailing is the world governing body for the sport of sailing, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Founded in 1907, World Sailing’s vision is for a world in which millions more people fall in love with sailing; inspired by the unique relationship between sport, technology and the forces of nature; we all work to protect the waters of the world.

World Sailing is made up of 145 Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world and 114 World Sailing Class Associations. For more information about World Sailing please go to sailing.org.

Source: US Sailing