The regattas keep coming thick and fast on the Road to Rio 2016
by World Sailing on 13 Apr 2016
470 Europeans World Sailing
Last week we confirmed that the country qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games had finished, well this week there has been some 'in-fighting' as sailors try to claim those confirmed spots and be given the chance to represent their country in the summer showpiece.
Palma da Mallorca, fresh from the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, played out as a national selection regatta for the home nation Spain and the USA in the 470 as the Europeans came to a close. Young guns Jordi Xammar and Joan Herp will compete at their first Olympic Games in the Men's 470 for Spain, and they will be racing against USA's Stu Mcnay and Dave Hughes who also confirmed their selection in Palma. Compatriots and US Yachtswoman of the Year Annie Haeger and crew Briana Provancha have the chance to upgrade their 2015 Aquece Rio Test Event gold medal in to a full blown Olympic 470 gold as they came out on top of the USA women selection.
Let's not forget, that there were also European Champions to be crowned at that same event. Australia's Mat Belcher and Will Ryan made up for the World title they let slip through their fingers in Argentina to get back to winning ways in the hope of securing a Rio gold in the men's, while Austria's Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar added another title capitalising on their recent run of form which includes the 2015 World Championship, form they hope will carry them through to South America in August.
Staying in Spain, but moving classes, the Barcelona International Sailing Center is in the midst of the 49er and 49erFX Europeans, where, surprise, surprise, current Rolex World Sailors of the Year, New Zealand's Peter Burling and Blair Tuke lead the way in the men's section. In the women's Netherlands' Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz started at a great pace to edge out in front in the early stages.
The regattas keep coming thick and fast on the Road to Rio. The Laser Radial's begin their Worlds in Mexico today and back in Europe the Sailing World Cup touches down in Hyères, France before it crosses the English Channel to give us a little throwback to the last Olympics, London 2012, sailing out of Weymouth and Portland.
You can find out the latest from Barcelona
here.
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