Poland takes number two spot

Australia maintain their position at the top of the ISAF World Rankings

Australia hold onto their three world number one spots and best-nation standing in the latest release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings on 30 April.

As the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition in Qingdao, China draws ever closer, the cream is rising to the top and during April there were few surprises as the favourites lived up to their billing at the Star Worlds in Miami and the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères. As a result there are no changes amongst the 11 leaders in this release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, although several changes in the crews occupying the number two and three slots has resulting in a revised national standing.

Australia strengthen their position as best-performing nation in the rankings, with Sarah Blanck (AUS) moves up one place to number two in the Laser Radial in additional to their three world number one spots. Great Britain also continue to count four top-three places (one number one, two number twos, one numer three), but have been knocked back into third position in the national standings by a terrific Polish performance. Spearheaded by Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki's (POL) win at the Star World Championship in Miami, it's been a fantastic month for the Polish Olympic sailing team who now hold two world number one spots along with one number two and one number three. Together with the Star duo, it's the formidable Polish windsurfing team who boost their nation's standing.

Italy and Spain also continue to perform well, although a disappointing French performance in Hyères, returning just one podium position, has seen them fall back from third to sixth in the national standings.

Whilst the big names continue to dominate the leading Ranking positions, many nations have seen their top crews make considerable progress as their selected Olympic teams increase the intensity of their preparations. Although the top-three Ranking positions are only currently spread across 15 nations, recent performances by the likes of Norway's Yngling trio Sundby, Fredriksen and Koefoed, Slovenia's Gasper Vincec in the Finn, China's Lijia Xu in the Laser Radial and Star World Championship bronze medallists Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada of Brazil, indicate that the battle for medals in Qingdao is set to be spread far wider.

The next release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings will next be on 28 May 2008, including results from the ISAF Grade 1 Delta Lloyd Regatta (formerly Holland Regatta) in the Netherlands.

Visit the ISAF World Sailing Rankings homepage at www.sailing.org/rankings for more on the latest Ranking release.