Top 20 sailors invited to compete at 2016 Sailing World Cup Melbourne

by Kate Lathouras on 20 Jun 2016 World Sailing has announced that 20 of the top performing athletes in the world, based on current World Sailing rankings, have been invited to the 2016 Sailing World Cup Final, held in Melbourne.

Melbourne, recently crowned the Sporting Capital of the World, secured the Sailing World Cup Grand Final in May this year. This is also the first time the Final has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Medallists from the Rio 2016 Games will each receive a travel grant and logistical support to attend this regatta. That, along with the $200, 000 AUD in prize money shared across the various events, aims to attract Olympians wanting to not only claim the Olympic podium but also that of the penultimate fleet racing dinghy event.

2016 also begins the new Olympic Cycle for those campaigning for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Following the aftermath of Rio a new wave of athletes will begin to emerge. Event organisers hope to attract these athletes with the incentive of starting a new campaign with some extra financial support. Event Director, Mark Turnbull, Gold Medallist for Sydney 2000 Olympics, is an advocate for this incentive:

“This prize money can go along way for athletes; if not for our Olympians wanting to complete their Rio 2016 campaign on an added high, then for the athletes starting their four year campaign to Tokyo 2020.”

With only a few days left for invitees to secure their spot, eager young athletes are lining up to secure their piece of the pie and of history. The Sailing World Cup - Final, Melbourne, kicks off from the 4 – 11 December, 2016 at the St Kilda Sailing Precinct.