Allianz Regatta set to offer perfect tune-up for World Championships

The first of two major sailing regattas in Dutch waters begins in Almere and Lelystad this week with the Allianz Regatta — the second Sailing World Cup of the season. Two months out from the World Championships in The Hague, there will be six classes competing from 31 May to 4 June.

Ad There will be a total of 280 athletes from 44 countries participating in the event, which is part of Dutch Water Week, being overseen by Arno van Gerven, the CEO of Dutch National Watersports. The Ocean Race'Super special we broke it' — Kuiper on smashing 24-hour distance recordYESTERDAY AT 14:36 As well as the high quality of sailing expected all week, there has also been a focus on improved sustainability and quality of water with all additional power supplies run on hydrogen generators, while there has been an increase in the number of robot buoys that use GPS technology to stay in position.

Van Gerven also explained that the introduction of an international race director (or Principal Race Officer, PRO) for the first time should have a huge impact of the quality of race management. He said: «David Brookes comes from Australia and is directing all the race courses this year.

Then we also have a representative of that PRO at each track. »This is what all coaches have been asking for, for a long time and what we have now realized together with World Sailing.

This should also become the new standard for all World Cup races. In short, we are doing the maximum as a sport to get it right." Here's a rundown of the six events set to be contested over the coming week: 49er The 49er class looks particularly open following the retirement of Olympic champions Stuart Bithell and Dylan Fletcher from GB, with Kiwi silver medallists Peter Burling and