RYA Olympic Classes National Ranker at WPNSA

by Matt Carter on 30 Aug 2012 The RYA Olympic Classes National Ranker 2012 is set to get underway at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the 22 and 23 September and the RYA is urging interested sailors - whether current Skandia Team GBR sailors or future Olympic classes hopefuls – to get their entries in before the late entry fee deadline kicks in after Monday 17 September.

The event provides a great opportunity for aspiring stars of the future, as well as keen club sailors, to test their skills against Great Britain’s top sailors whilst competing on the world class 2012 waters of Weymouth and Portland.

The National Ranker compromises two weekends of racing, providing a highly-competitive and exciting racing environment with the second weekend being held from 13 and14 October. The event is compulsory for all Skandia Team GBR Development and Transition Squad members.

Both weekends will welcome boats from across six of the Olympic Classes - 470 men and women, Finn, 49er, plus the new Olympic women’s 49er FX skiff class and a new kiteboarding event, which have both been introduced for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The kiteboarding will see an invited fleet of kiteboards contest a demonstration/test event. The second weekend will also see the three Paralympic classes in action - 2.4mR, Sonar and SKUD.

Unfortunately there will not be the opportunity for the new mixed multihull event at these events due to equipment not being available in time. It is hoped that multihulls will be included in the 2013 Spring Series events once equipment is available.

Any interested sailors wishing to participate in the Kiteboarding demonstration/test event must apply to Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager barrie.edgington(at)rya.org.uk with supporting evidence, such as previous results and proof of competency.

Edgington said: 'For this autumn’s two national rankers I am sure that the effect of the successful home Games will inspire a good number of our young talent to make the leap and pit themselves against the existing classes sailors, up and coming Olympic classes sailors and a number of our Olympic heroes.

'With two new events joining the action, Kiteboards and the Women’s Skiff, it should make for a great spectacle and an exciting addition to the multi-class weekends.'

Entries are now being accepted online for the RYA Olympic Classes National Ranker events at the RYA Racing Event Website. The Notice of Race for the series can also be found on the event website.

To avoid a higher late entry fee, entries must be made by Monday 17 September for the first weekend and Monday 8 October for the second weekend.

The recently updated 2012 RYA Olympic Classes Handbook now includes information on the three new Olympic classes, plus regatta details for all Olympic and Paralympic Classes, grant eligibility for both squad and non-squad sailors, and squad selection criteria for Skandia Team Skandia Team GBR website