World Cup golden ticket the prize at Delta Lloyd Regatta

by RYA on 24 May 2015 The third leg of the Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup gets underway next week (26-30 May), with the Delta Lloyd Regatta in the Netherlands seeing sailors battle it out for an all-important qualification spot for the ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland (8-14 June).

Some 49 athletes will represent the British Sailing Team in Medemblik, with the wider contingent of British entries including some up and coming talent from British Youth Sailing.

A skilled group of Laser and Laser Radial sailors will take on the Dutch challenge, many hoping to secure themselves a spot at the Sailing World Cup. Finishing in 19th last year, Henry Wetherell will want to upgrade this to a top ten finish to lock in his place to race in Weymouth and Portland. Lorenzo Chiavarini, currently ranked 34th in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings will also be hoping to secure a top ten finish to give him the much needed jump onto the invitation list.

Also on the hunt for qualification to Weymouth and Portland are Podium Potential sailors Martin Evans, Elliot Hanson, Jack Wetherell, and Alex Mills-Barton. In the Laser Radial fleet, Rhiannon Massey, Karyna Manuel and Hannah Snellgrove will be striving for a World Cup spot.

British Sailing Team Podium sailors Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign will head up the British 49er teams as they aim to defend their 2014 title. For James Peters-Fynn Sterritt a recent seventh place finish at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres catapulted them into the top 20 ranked sailors and a good result this week will cement their position at the top end of the fleet.

A team of British Sailing Team Podium Potential sailors will compete in the RS:X, Joe Bennett and Samuel Sills will all be hoping to win themselves a place at the Weymouth and Portland World Cup. Noelle Finch, Emily Hall and Saskia Sills will compete in the RS:X women’s fleet.

Four teams will race in the Nacra 17 fleet, with Podium sailors Ben Saxton-Nicola Groves alongside John Gimson-Hannah Diamond, and Podium Potential sailors Tom Phipps-Nicola Boniface. Sophie Weguelin-Eilidh McIntyre finished just outside the medals at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma, the first Eurosaf round, and will be pushing hard to finish on the 470 podium this time.

Vikki Payne-Stephanie Orton recently won the RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series and will be in attendance as well as Anna Burnet-Katie Tomsett who are teaming up in the 49erFX for the first time. James Hadden is the only British representative in the Finn, and Helena Lucas who was recently selected for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will race in the 2.4mR.

Defending their 2014 gold medal are Alexandra Rickham-Niki Birrell in the SKUD, fighting off challenges from an 18 strong fleet including fellow Brits Sally and Carol Dugdale. Megan Pascoe, who has won the Delta Lloyd twice in the 2.4mR, is continuing her new challenge in the SKUD with Will Street.

Both British Sailing Team Sonar teams are entered to race for the second consecutive year in the 12 boat fleet, John Robertson, Hannah Stodel-Steve Thomas finished second last year while Craig Wood, Liam Cattermole-Steven Palmer finished in ninth.

British Sailing Team Entry

- 49er Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign; James Peters-Fynn Sterritt; Rory Hunter-Neil Hunter; Jack Hawkins-Christopher Thomas
- 470 Women Sophie Weguelin-Eilidh McIntyre; Amy Seabright-Anna Carpenter
- Nacra 17 John Gimson-Hannah Diamond; Ben Saxton-Nicola Groves; Tom Phipps-Nicola Boniface Finn James Hadden
- Laser Alex Mills-Barton, Martin Evans, Elliot Hanson, Lorenzo Chiavarini, Jack Wetherell, Henry Wetherell, Anthony Parke, Harry Blowers
- 49erFX Anna Burnet-Katie Tomsett, Vikki Payne-Stephanie Orton
- RSX Men Tom Squires, Joe Bennett, Samuel Sills
- RSX Women Saskia Sills, Noelle Finch
- 2.4mR Helena Lucas
- SKUD Alexandra Rickham-Niki Birrell; Sally-Carol Dugdale; Megan Pascoe-Will Street
- Sonar John Robertson, Hannah Stodel-Steve Thomas; Craig Wood, Liam Cattermole-Steven Palmer