Laser sailors head for Oman

46 of the ISAF top 50 set to compete next month

Almost all of Britain, France, Germany and Italy’s top world ranked sailors will be among the the crack 126 strong fleet gunning for gold when the 2013 Laser Standard Men’s World Championships organised by the Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Sail gets underway in Oman on 16 November.

Almost all of the top world ranked sailors will be among the the 126 strong fleet competing at the Laser Standard Men’s World Championships organised by the Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Sail when the event gets underway in Oman on 16 November.

But they will be hard pressed to get past the world’s best four as of the latest ISAF rankings from 21 October 2013 - Australia’s Tom Burton, Croatia’s Tonci Stipanović, Brazil’s Bruno Fontes and Sweden’s Jesper Stalheim - in the star-studded fleet that will feature 46 of the world's top 50 ISAF ranked Laser Standard Men’s sailors including Olympic, World and National champions from 48 countries.

Australian national champion Tom Burton is world number one going in to this first ever sailing world championship to be held in the Sultanate of Oman having won the gold at this year’s ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, France and silver at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma in Majorca, Spain.

Number two in the world is Croatian Tonci Stipanović who shot up the rankings from 14th to 2nd after winning the ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao in China earlier this month. Stipanovic also won gold at the Mediterranean Games in Turkey in June and the Split Olympic Sailing Week in Croatia in March. He was third in Hyeres and 4th in Palma.

Bruno Fontes of Brazil also jumped the rankings from 9th to 3rd after winning the Central & South American Laser Championships Higuerillas in Chile in September. Fontes finished 5th at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami and also in Palma. He was 6th in Hyeres.

Sweden’s Jesper Stalheim winner of the recent ISAF Sailing World Cup Test Event in Santander, the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami and the Laser Europa Cup – Sweden is ranked 4th.

Issa bin Sultan Al Ismaili, championship director and head of the events committee for the 2013 Laser World Championship said Oman looked forward to hosting the event and welcoming one of the best international fleets from around the globe to its shores.

“Together with the Oman Ministry of Sport Affairs, our title sponsor Omantel and our media partners Oman Daily and Oman Observer, we relish this exceptional opportunity to showcase our world class marine industry for competitive and leisure sailing plus a myriad high-end natural and cultural tourist attractions," he said.

“Mussanah Sports City is a dedicated sailing facility purpose built to Olympic standards with good steady winds, warm water and ideal sailing conditions while Oman itself is a top ranked tourism destination offering a rare mix of magnificent deserts, mountains and seas complemented by a treasured heritage that ensures authentically rich experiences.

“We can thank these champion sailors for honouring us by coming to Oman as their presence will help inspire and develop the sailing talent of our Omani youth and ultimately assist us with creating a lasting sailing legacy in the country."