Paralympic medallists to compete at World Sailing Championships

A host of Paralympic and world medallists are expected to compete in the 2.4mR class at the upcoming ISAF Para World Sailing Championships ©ISAF/Martin Allen

A host of Paralympic and world medallists are expected to compete in the 2.4mR class at the upcoming International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Para World Sailing Championships, due to get underway on Saturday (November 28).

World sailing’s governing body claim the start list for the event, due to be held at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Melbourne, represents “one of the most decorated Paralympic fleets in history”.

It will be the first World Championships to be held since sailing was removed from the programme for Tokyo 2020 by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The IPC opted to cut the sport from the Games in the Japanese capital in January after claiming it did not fulfil their handbook's minimum criteria for worldwide reach.

Despite a long campaign to try and get the sport reinstated, which included an appeal to the IPC’s General Assembly, Para-sailing will not be a part of Tokyo 2020.

The ISAF Disabled Sailing Committee are likely to try to have the sport reinstated for 2024 Paralympics.

A total of 56 boats from 21 countries will battle it out in the 2.4mR competition, with crucial Rio 2016 Paralympic Games spots on offer to those who have not already qualified.

Sailors from Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Britain, Norway and the United States secured their place at next year’s Games at the 2014 IFDS Combined World Championships and a further seven will be available in Melbourne, an event scheduled to last until December 4.

Defending champion Heiko Kroeger of Germany will come into the competition as favourite to retain his title following another impressive run of form.

Germany's efending champion Heiko Kroeger comes into the event in Melbourne as favourite ©Getty Images

The Sydney 2000 gold medallist has finished on the podium at every regatta he has sailed at since his silver-medal winning performance at London 2012 before he sealed his sixth title at the World Championships in Nova Scotia, Canada.

He also earned bronze at this year’s ISAF World Cup in Hyères, France, before he was second at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, The Netherlands.

France's Damien Seguin looks likely to be the strongest challenger to the German after he beat Kroeger in Hyères and in Medemblik and the two are set to go head-to-head at the competition in Melbourne.

Britain’s Helena Lucas, gold medallist at London 2012, will bid to secure her maiden World Championships gold while other sailors who will harbour hopes of taking home the crown include Norway's Bjornar Erikstad, Australia's Matt Bugg, Finland's Niko Salomaa and Lucas’ team-mate Megan Pascoe.

The competition comes after the ISAF held a Paralympic Development Programme in Weymouth and Portland, aimed at increasing the amount of countries who participate in the sport worldwide.