The first ISAF Sailing World Cup is set to begin at the end of 2008 bringing a new annual series of sailing to the international sports calendar.

 

The World Cup will be open to the sailing events chosen for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing competitions, which are due to be held in Weymouth.

 

Incorporating existing major events, the series will kick off with Sail Melbourne, Australia in December 2008, followed by the Rolex Miami OCR, USA; the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, Palma, Spain; Semaine Olympique Francaise, Hyeres, France; the Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, the Netherlands; Kiel Week, Germany; and Skandia Sail for Gold in Weymouth.

 

Additional events may join the series in future years.

 

The launch of the series comes as there is debate within the sport over its continued inclusion on the Olympic programme.

 

ISAF president, Göran Petersson warned in November 2006 that the sport needed to change with the times to ensure its popularity.

 

He said: "The traditionalists might be shocked, but we have to accept that sailing needs to change to ensure its place as an Olympic sport."

 

Petersson is hoping that this new series will help give sailing a boost.

 

He said: “The ISAF Sailing World Cup will bring a new focus to Olympic sailing, demonstrating the excitement, skill and passion of the sport.

 

"It will give Olympic sailors a clear annual competition structure, the media a definitive series to feature and sponsors exposure across a host of top quality events that will be at the forefront of the sailing calendar. “

 

The ISAF are now seeking a title sponsor for the event through Lymington-based Force10 Marketing.