Britain's winners and loosers......

...in the latest ISAF World Sailing Rankings

The latest ISAF World Sailing Rankings highlight the beginning of campaigns by the British teams for the Olympic Games in 2004. With the competitors from the highly successful Sydney team now sliding out of the rankings, new faces are making an appearance.
Big moves in the Finn where the top three stay the same but Britain's Andrew 'Bart' Simpson jumps twelve places to number six and the two flying juniors, Charlie Cumbley and Chris Brittle move to 12 and 17 respectively.

The British Finn fleet is a hotbed of activity and determined to retain Iain Percy's Gold at the next Games
In the Laser the top three positions are 'as was' with Gustavo Lima of Portugal in first place and Robert Scheidt still firmly in second place after claiming a fifth World title.

Gold medallist Ben Ainslie is now dropping down the rankings as he concentrates on the America's Cup and taking up the challenge to replace him are a hot pack with Paul Goodison moving up to fourth place.

Also moving in the right direction are Ed Wright (14) Jim Taylor (17) and Mark Howard (25).

In the men's 470 Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield, who took silver at the recent Worlds in Slovenia, remain at number two ahead of the new World Champions, Eugeniy Braslavets and Igor Matviyenko.

Graham Vials and Dan Newman make a big improvement, moving up from 31 to 12.

In the women's 470, which Britain failed to qualify for at the last Olympics, Josie Gibson and Saskia Clark are improving despite being knocked back at the Worlds by Saskias injury, they have still improved from 19 to 11.

In the Europe class, another Gold medal event for Britain, Debbie Winstanley is the leading Brit, moving up to 28 and Sarah Ayton is at 30, both moving in the right direction.

The 49er has seen a lot of action by new British teams and Olympic Silver medalist, Ian Barker, now sailing with Hilary Harvey heads the list in fourth place. Paul Brotherton and Simon Hiscocks move into a new high of sixth place, while Alister Richardson and Peter Greenhalgh are up at eleventh and Chris Draper and Mark Asquith at 32.

The Tornado in its new rig format has two British teams knocking at the door for that top spot.

High Styles and Adam May have moved into number two behind New European Champions, Roman Hagara and Hans Steinacher, and Rob Wilson and Will Howden right there in fourth.

Leigh McMillan and Mark Bulkeley are our third team at number ten.

The Star class has still to get going from a British perspective. Ian Walker and Nick Williams are listed at number six but a number of new campaigns are being prepared and should start to have an effect on the rankings next season. Olympic Finn Gold medallist Iain Percy has teamed up with former Etchells World Champion Stevie Mitchell for a Star campaign and they will be training through the winter ready for the new season. 49er Silver medalist, Ian Barker is another looking at a Star campaign if he can drag himself away from the 49er.

The new Olympic keelboat class for women, the Yngling, has only registered two events so far with Britain's Lizzie Edwards at 11 and Nicole Johnson at 12. Expect to see Europe class Olympic Gold Medalist, Shirley Robertson making moves in this direction.

On the boards Britain's Nick Dempsey remains at number four and Dominic Tidey moves from 16 to 12. In the women, Lai Shan Lee of Hong Kong regained the number one spot while Britain's Natasha Sturges comes up from 22 to 12 after her Bronze at the Worlds and Bryony Shaw jumped fifteen places to 40

Leading rankings on page 2......