Bi-annual Nations Cup - Former and Emerging winners to compete

by ISAF media on 8 Aug 2013 The Bi-annual Nations Cup is the showcase event for emerging match racing talent and former winners include Ed Baird, the 2007 America’s Cup winning helmsman.

Every second year, the International Sailing Federation ISAF organises the Nations Cup match race. The races start Wednesday, August seventh and the finals are held Saturday, August tenth

Across the world, 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams qualify for the Grand Final by ranking among the best in qualifying races from February to June in the year of the Nations Cup. The contest culminates in the Grand Final and the races take place on the strait of Fænøsund, off Middelfart Marina. Approximately 200 active participants will attend.

The teams differ vastly. The local top team around the confident Nicolai Sehested (age 23) whose goal is to finish on the podium are even set up to challenge His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark on August eighth. But before getting to the podium he has to beat teams like the one of Maximilian Soh (Singapore) and his crew. Soh (age 24) and crew are true amateurs who live a love affair with the sport even though they only get seldomly to train together. Soh and crew got first in the Singapore Match Racing Champs in 2011.

August seventh and eighth will see the round Robin races where the crews have to qualify for the final stages of the race August ninth and tenth. It will also show if the team from Singapore will have a chance against the local danish sailors.

Location: Middelfart will doubtless be a good challenge and all the crews will have to adapt quickly to the conditions in this part of the Triangle Region. The Fænøsund out of Middelfart Marina, with its narrow waters, different and strong currents and localised winds make it unique and exciting for the match race crews and overlooking spectators.