Final Call for Entries

Entries close at 1800hrs local time on Monday 13 June 2011.

The competition is set to be fiercer than ever when the cream of the world’s Paralympic classes sailing talent arrives in Weymouth and Portland for the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships 2011.

More than 115 sailors, from 22 nations, across the three Paralympic classes – 2.4mR one-person keelboat, SKUD18 two-person keelboat and Sonar three-person keelboat - have already signed up to ensure they can take their place on the start line, when racing gets underway at the six-day event on Sunday 3 July.

Any competitors still to enter the event must do by 1800hrs local time on Monday 13 June 2011.

The IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships is always a keenly-contented event, providing the pinnacle of the Paralympic classes sailing season. The season also includes the seven-event ISAF Sailing World Cup Series, which many of the sailors travel all over the world to take part in.

However with London 2012 looming large, this year’s IFDS World Championships are set to take on even greater significance as  the sailors not only look to lay down a marker on the 2012 racetrack but many sailors will also be trying to show their country’s selectors why they should be chosen to represent their nation at next year’s Games.

The IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships 2011 are being organised, and run, by the RYA, supported by UK Sport.

The event comes just three weeks after the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta, also at Weymouth and Portland, which is currently providing the Paralympic classes sailors with the perfect Worlds warm-up, with medals being decided for all Paralympic classes on Friday (10 June).

Tim Hall, RYA Competitions Manager and IFDS Worlds Event Director, said: “The number of entries already received for the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships 2011 is very encouraging and we hope there may still be one or more two to come after Sail for Gold. It is great for the sailors having both events so close together as not only do they get to experience plenty of racing on the 2012 Paralympic racetrack but they also have the chance to train between the events and become increasing familiar with a venue they will all hope they will be returning to for the Big One next year.”
 

Article Author Karenza Morton 8/6/2011 07:40