ISAF Sailing World Championships 2018 to be hosted in Aarhus, Denmark

by International Sailing Federation on 10 May 2014 Aarhus, Denmark has been selected to host the 2018 ISAF Sailing World Championships, the International Sailing Federation is pleased to announce.

Held every four years, the ISAF Worlds is a key event for sailors campaigning for the Olympic Sailing Competition, bringing together past and future World and Olympic Champions across the ten Olympic classes.

The second largest city in Denmark, Aarhus is situated on the eastern side of the peninsula of Jutland. With a history extending back to the Viking Age, Aarhus has sailing imprinted in its DNA.

Bid partners, the Danish Sailing Association, Sport Event Denmark, Sport Aarhus Events (City of Aarhus) and Sailing Aarhus bring together proven regatta organization skills in a venue offering world-class racing conditions.

The competition venue will be established at a new Aarhus International Sailing Centre in Aarhus Yachting Harbour. Easily accessible and within walking distance of downtown Aarhus, the area is a favourite destination for residents and tourists alike who enjoy the restaurants and shops as well as clean bathing waters, fishing and fresh air.

Aarhus has welcomed several world class sailing events in recent years including the 2008 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, 2010 505 World Championship, 2011 A-Cat World Championship and the 2013 49er and 49erFX European Championships.

In March 2014 an Evaluation Commission appointed by ISAF received presentations by the following cities in their bid to host the event:

Aarhus, Denmark
Busan, Korea
Gdynia, Poland
The Hague, Netherlands

The Commission made their recommendation to the ISAF Executive Committee who unanimously endorsed the recommendation.

Jerome Pels, ISAF Chief Executive Officer said, 'The bids ISAF received were of exceptional quality and we are grateful for their commitment to the sport. All four venues demonstrated passion and commitment to host the 2018 ISAF Worlds which made ISAF's decision a difficult one to make.

'In recent years Aarhus has demonstrated its expertise in hosting high calibre sailing events featuring the finest sailors on the planet. We look forward to working closely with the organizing authority to deliver a world class event for sailors, spectators and those watching from home.'

About the ISAF Worlds
The ISAF Sailing World Championships is the principal qualification event for the Olympic Sailing Competition.

The largest congregation of Olympic sailors converged on Cadiz in southwest Spain for the first ISAF World Championships from 11-24 September 2003.

From 28 June-13 July 2007, Cascais, Portugal hosted the second edition of the ISAF Sailing World Championships. Building on the success of Cadiz four years earlier, 1,350 sailors and 900 boats represented 76 nations in the biggest Olympic sailing event yet.

Perth, Australia hosted the third ISAF Worlds in December 2011. 1,200 sailors from 79 nations took part, racing for world championship glory and Olympic qualification. As the principal qualification event for the London 2012 Olympic Games, 75% of all national places were decided.

Santander, Spain will host the 2014 ISAF Worlds from 8-21 September 2014. The 2014 ISAF Worlds will serve as the first Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition qualifier with 50% of Rio 2016 places available.

About Aarhus
Aarhus is a lively and young city bustling with energy and innovation as well as a sense of history. A rich and multifaceted cultural life flourishes with small, experimental theatre groups, art galleries, offbeat shops and trendy cafes. The scale of the city makes it easy and quick to get around and the atmosphere will make you feel welcome.

The Competition Venue will be established at the existing Aarhus Yachting Harbour and at the neighbouring city quarter, Aarhus Ø. Aarhus Yachting Harbour is an extensive recreational area which is home to numerous leisure organisations, with diving, rowing, kayaking, yachting and motorboat clubs as well as angling associations. The Harbour is ideally situated within easy walking distance of downtown Aarhus and has several thousand daily users.

The harbour is also a favourite leisure destination for many Aarhus citizens, who enjoy the restaurants and shops or simply the atmosphere, natural setting, clean bathing waters, fishing and the fresh air.