SWC Miami Day 1 Morning Brief: Light wind start to 2016
Sailing World Cup Miami presented by Sunbrella, the first big Olympic sailing battle of the Olympic year, will see its opening day on played out across Biscayne Bay in light winds.
A mixed bag of conditions on Miami’s waters were prevalent in the build to the regatta and that trend does not look like changing with ups and downs in wind strength, wind direction and temperature predicted this the week.
As sailors arrived at the venues – US Sailing Center Miami, City of Miami’s Regatta Park, Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club and Shake-A-Leg Miami – a slight flutter of flags and palm trees could be seen.
A north easterly 4 knot flicker will kick off the morning. As the day progresses the direction will shift to the east and pick up later in the afternoon to 8-11 knots. The 470 and 49er fleets are due to start first at 10:00 local time. The remainder of the fleets will follow as the day advances.
The day’s schedule is available below:
| Class | Course | # of Races | Start time |
| Men’s RS:X | Delta | 3 | 11:00 |
| Women’s RS:X | Delta | 3 | 13:30 |
| Laser Blue | Echo | 2 | 11:00 |
| Laser Yellow | Echo | 2 | 11:10 |
| Laser Radial Blue | Echo | 2 | 13:00 |
| Laser Radial Yellow | Echo | 2 | 13:10 |
| Finn | Foxtrot | 2 | 13:00 |
| 49er Blue | Charlie | 3 | 10:00 |
| 49er Yellow | Alpha | 3 | 10:20 |
| 49erFX | Alpha | 3 | 13:20 |
| Men’s 470 | Foxtrot | 2 | 10:00 |
| Women’s 470 | Foxtrot | 2 | 10:10 |
| Nacra 17 | Charlie | 3 | 13:00 |
| 2.4mR | Bravo | 2 | 13:00 |
| Sonar | Bravo | 2 | 11:00 |
A confirmed number of 711 sailors from 64 nations in 514 boats will race across the ten Olympic and two Paralympic fleets throughout the week.
As well as World Cup glory being on the line, a number of North and South American nations will by vying for an Olympic berth. One spot in each of the fleets for both continents will be up for grabs with two available in the Men’s RS:X.
The nations aiming for Olympic qualification are:
Nacra 17
North – Canada, Puerto Rico
South – Guatemala, Uruguay, Venezuela
RS:X Men
North – Aruba, Canada, USA
South – Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
RS:X Women
North – Canada
South – Argentina, Peru, Venezuela
Laser
North – Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico
South – Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela
Laser Radial
North – Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cuba, St. Lucia, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago
South – Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, Venezuela
470 Men
North – Canada, Mexico
South – Chile, Ecuador
470 Women
North – Canada
South – Argentina, Chile
49er
North – Canada, British Virgin Islands, USA
South – Chile, Uruguay
49erFX
North – Aruba, US Virgin Islands, USA
South – Chile
Finn
North – Canada
South – Argentina, Chile
—Daniel Smith, World Sailing