VIII Open de España world's top ranked match racers compete

by Real Club Naútico Calpe on 4 May 2011 VIII Open de España is being held in Calpe, Alicante, Spain from 3rd to 14th May and is hosted by Real Club Naútico Calpe.

The event will see some of the world's top ranked match racers compete, four of whom are within the top ten Match Racing ranking list.

Real Club Náutico Calpe will hold the Grade 1 VIII Open de España from 3rd to 7th May and XIII International Women Match Race Criterium from 4th to 8th May.

Both regattas are qualified by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) as Grade 1. Real Club Náutico Calpe is the only yacht club in Europe that organises two Grade 1 events, one for men and another for women, with the highest qualification given by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

VIII Open de España de Match Race will see the best sailors of the World Match Race Ranking, including the presence of Ian Williams and Björn Hansen, placed fifth and sixth in the World Match Race Ranking, and the Spanish skipper Manu Weiller.

XIII Criterium Internacional Femenino is considered as the best event in the Match Race international circuit.

This discipline of womens competition has been classified as an Olympic Sport, therefore, all the participants will work for achieving enough position to join the Olympics Games that will be held in London in 2012. Real Club Náutico Calpe website