PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (November 2, 2015) – Online entry to Sailing World Cup Miami 2016 Presented by Sunbrella is open. US Sailing’s premier event is set to return to Miami, Fla. for top-level Olympic and Paralympic class racing. The event is the only North American regatta to be included in World Sailing’s 2015-16 Sailing World Cup series. The regatta is a mainstay on the winter circuit for sailors campaigning for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The deadline for priority entries with regards to quotas is December 4, 2015. Entries must be received by January 4, 2016 to qualify for early entry fee and will not be accepted after January 24, 2016. Competitors and coaches are required to register online, as on-site registration will not be available. Additional fees will apply for entries received after the deadline.

Competitors in the Olympic and Paralympic classes will have five days of fleet racing from Monday, January 25 to Friday, January 29. Medal Races across the 10 Olympic classes will bring the regatta to a close on Saturday, January 30 where medals will be awarded to the top three boats.

Regatta Headquarters will be located at the US Sailing Center Miami, a U.S. Olympic Training Site, in Coconut Grove, Miami, Fla. Additional hosts for the event include the City of Miami’s Regatta Park, Coconut Grove Sailing Club and Shake-A-Leg Miami. These sailing organizations host classes onshore, as well as help run the on-the-water racing. The Coral Reef Yacht Club hosts the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and is the site for the Regatta Village throughout the week.

Event winners in each Olympic class from Sailing World Cup Miami will qualify for the 2016 Sailing World Cup Final, while the best placed ‘home continent’ sailor will also qualify.

Several countries will use Sailing World Cup Miami as an Olympic and Paralympic Selection event, including the United States, with the results in nine classes contributing towards Rio 2016 selection for American sailors. The event is also an Olympic Qualifier for countries in North America and South America.

The regatta has significant ranking implications for sailors hoping to qualify for the US Sailing Team Sperry, the U.S. National Team, which annually distinguishes the top American sailors in each Olympic and Paralympic class.

Sailing World Cup Miami is presented by Sunbrella, and sponsored by Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Sperry, Chubb Personal Insurance, City of Miami, Harken, McLube, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, UMiami Health Sports Medicine, Switlik, Sturgis Boatworks, and Vetus-Maxwell.

Registration

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Press Contacts: Jake Fish, US Sailing, jakefish@ussailing.org

About Sailing World Cup Miami Presented by Sunbrella
Established in 1990 by US Sailing, Sailing World Cup Miami Presented by Sunbrella annually draws elite sailors, including Olympic and Paralympic medalists and hopefuls from around the world. The regatta is open to boats competing in events chosen for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition and the 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition. The 10 Olympic classes are: Laser Radial (women), Laser (men), Finn (men), Men’s and Women’s Windsurfing, 49er (men), 49er FX (women), Men’s and Women’s 470, and Nacra 17 (mixed). The three Paralympic classes are: 2.4mR (open, disabled), SKUD-18 (mixed, disabled) and Sonar (open, disabled). In addition to being a Sailing World Cup ranking event, the regatta also will aid in selecting members of the 2016US Sailing Team Sperry.

About US Sailing
Sailing World Cup Miami Presented by Sunbrella is organized by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, which provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry. For more information, please visit us at www.ussailing.org.