World Cup Series Miami goes offshore

In anticipation of the new Mixed Two-Person Offshore Keelboat event that will be on the program at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition, the 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami is partnering with the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race to host a doublehanded offshore event.

The doublehanded class event is also new for the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race and the racing format for this class will simulate the offshore event planned for the 2024 Games.

“As we look towards the 2024 Games, and learn more about the new discipline, we are looking forward to welcoming offshore athletes into the U.S. Olympic program,” said Meredith Brody, US Sailing Olympic Director and Chair of Hempel World Cup Series Miami.

Doublehanded offshore teams will start south of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on January 23, with the course to Key West having an expected length of approximately 160 miles. Racing is open to ocean racing and cruising monohull boats who comply with the ORC Requirement of having an offshore long-distance time on time rating factor of 0.880 and lower.

The Lauderdale Yacht Club and Storm Trysail Club are the Organizing Authorities for the event, managed by the SORC. The entry deadline is January 17, 2020. The early entry deadline is Sunday, December 8, 2019. For racing information, click here.

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.

The 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami will be the 31st year of Olympic racing on Biscayne Bay. As the only North American regatta to be included in World Sailing’s 2020 Hempel World Cup Series, the regatta is a mainstay on the winter circuit for sailors campaigning for the next Olympic Games. Qualifying racing is from January 20 to 24 with Medal racing on January 25. Regatta Headquarters will be located at the US Sailing Center – Miami, in Coconut Grove, FL.

2019-20 Hempel World Cup Series
Aug 27-Sep 1, 2019 – Enoshima, Japan
January 20-25, 2020 – Miami, USA
April 14-19, 2020 – Genoa, Italy
June 16-21, 2020 – Enoshima, Japan

Source: US Sailing