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Olympic Level Sailing Competition Comes to Clearwater

Sailing | Sail Boat Race | Sails

This will be the first, and one of the largest, Olympic-class sailing world championships held in the U.S. since 2010. More than 400 sailors are expected.

CLEARWATER – The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra17 Olympic sailing classes will be setting sail in the waters off Clearwater Beach  starting Monday (Feb. 8) and going through Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) for their world championships. Some of the world’s best athletes will be competing in the fastest two-person boats to be used at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, showcasing high-performance sailing at its best. Sailing starts at noon everyday except Feb. 14, medal races begin at 10 a.m.

This will be the first, and one of the largest, Olympic-class sailing world championships held in the United States since 2010. There will be three competing classes, and more than 400 sailors are expected to compete for world titles. Selection for the 2016 Olympic Games will be determined from the championships. These championships are taking place just six months before the Olympics, and will feature Rio-bound sailors in the final stages as they prep to compete in Rio de Jeneiro. Spectators will be able to watch the sailors battle it out from Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach, as the race courses will be set up close to the pier.

Competing boats will be stored and launched from the Clearwater Community Sailing Center and North Beach. The sailing center currently serves as a training center for the U.S. Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, the U.S. national sailing team, and features ideal launching facilities.

For more information about the event, go to saillife.com.

Clearwater | Sailing | Sailing Championship | Olympics | Rio de Janeiro | Sail Life | TB Reporter

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