FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIAMI, Fla. (January 24th, 2019) – In five days, racing will begin at the 2019 Hempel World Cup Series Miami (HWCSM). This year marks the 30th anniversary of elite-level Olympic class sailing on Biscayne Bay. Over 600 sailors representing 62 nations will be competing in Miami, Fla. for the second of four regattas in the 2019 Hempel World Cup Series. The United States has a large and talented collection of sailors competing at the second World Cup event of the 2019 series, including 57 entries and 85 total sailors.
The top eligible U.S. athlete(s) who finish in 10th place or higher in their class at the HWCSM will also qualify for selection to the 2019 US Sailing Team. Athletes Charlie Buckingham (Laser), Paige Railey (Laser Radial), Erika Reineke (Laser Radial), Caleb Paine (Finn), Stu McNay (Men’s 470), and Dave Hughes (Men’s 470) have already qualified to the 2019 US Sailing Team by placing in the top 20 at the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018. All of the individuals above were members of the 2018 US Sailing Team.
The qualification procedures for the 2019 US Sailing Team also allow for discretionary selection. Athletes may earn selection after HWCSM based on the following criteria:
- Regatta results, with consideration to finishing position at the 2019 pre-regattas held January 19 – 21, 2019 (prior to the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami) and finishing position at the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami
- Recent results in international Olympic-level competition
- Athlete/team plan for training and racing in 2019 with a goal of Tokyo 2020, as approved by the Chief of Olympic Sailing, Malcolm Page.
The event is also a country and athlete* qualifier for the Pan American Games. The seven Olympic classes that will be represented at the Pan American Games will have the opportunity to qualify their country at HWCSM. This includes the 49er class, which has recently been announced as an addition to the 2019 Pan American Games.
For details about qualification for the 2019 Pan American Games, click here. To learn more about selection to the 2019 US Sailing Team, click here.
Learn more about US Sailing, the US Sailing Team, and Hempel World Cup Series Maimi.
*The 2019 Hempel World Cup Series Miami is only a Pan American Games athlete qualifier for the Laser, Laser Radial, RS:X Men’s and RS:X Women’s classes.
About the US Sailing Team
The US Sailing Team is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. US Sailing names the top Olympic class athletes to the team annually, through both event qualification and at the discretion of team leadership. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing, and communications support. US Sailing Team sponsors include partners Helly Hansen, Harken, McLube, and Groupe Beneteau, and Marlow Ropes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, 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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.