Comment by the editor:
The ISAF rankings system continues to throw up anomalies and downright farcical results. In two classes where Australia is ranked #1, the Laser and Mens 470, there can be no arguments. However the 49er continues to amaze.
World champions and Olympic silver medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) have moved up from 14th to 6th and Olympic champions and obviously second best in the world to Burling and Tuke at present, Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS), are ranked 20th, nine places behind compatriots David Gilmour and Rhys Mara. That's nonsense.
For what they're worth, here are the latest:
Women's RS:X
Bryony Shaw (GBR) was unable to dislodge Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) from World #1 in the Women's RS:X despite taking the honours at the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The World Cup Final was a 100-point regatta and whilst Shaw took maximum points, Tartaglini's eighth was enough for her to hold on to World #1 heading into 2015. Shaw remains at World #2 with Laura Linares (ITA) at World #3 and 2014 World Champion Charline Picon (FRA) at World #4.
The big mover in the Women's RS:X is Russia's Stefania Elfutina. The Russian claimed the spoils at the 200-point ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne, the first regatta of the 2015 World Cup series, and as a result climbs up to World #13 from World #29.
Elfutina was exceptional in Melbourne, dominating the field and as well as World Cup glory she secured the first invitation to the 2014 Abu Dhabi. Maria Aadland Mollestad (NOR) finished second behind the Russian and moves to World #21. Bronze medallist Joanna Sterling (AUS) claimed the second Abu Dhabi spot as the top Oceanic competitor. She sits at World #17, a personal best.
Men's RS:X
France's Louis Giard claimed gold at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi and as well as picking up $10,000USD in prize money he received the full 100-points on offer at the regatta.
Giard currently counts four regattas to his points total and with Abu Dhabi points he moves up 12 places to World #22.
Byron Kokkalanis (GRE) finished second in Abu Dhabi after winning the 200-point ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao in advance of the Emirati competition. He retains World #1 with a healthy points margin over Ricardo Santos (BRA) and Max Oberemko (RUS).
Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came through in 15th in Abu Dhabi and then put in a professional performance at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne, claiming the title and an invitation to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final. Bernotas is a big mover in the Men's RS:X rankings, moving up to a personal best of World #7 from World #25.
Dmitrii Polishchuk (RUS) came through in second in Melbourne and climbs up to World #20.
Laser
Tom Burton (AUS) is the current King of the Laser fleet, retaining World #1 following victories at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.
Burton's compatriot Matt Wearn finished second to the World #1 in Melbourne and is positioned at World #10. Michael Bullot (NZL) completed the Melbourne podium and as a result is one of the biggest climbers of the month, advancing from World #59 to World #21.
Following top ten results at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne Sam Meech (NZL), Nicholas Heiner (NED) and Andy Maloney (NZL) move back into the top ten.
Laser Radial
2014 World Champion Marit Bouwmeester (NED) retains World #1 following an exceptional year of competition.
Evi Van Acker (BEL) took gold at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and reduced the gap on Bouwmeester but ultimately the Dutch sailor's consistency throughout the year ensures she goes into 2015 at the top of the tree.
Alison Young (GBR) claimed gold at the 100-point Sail Sydney, the 200 point ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and finished fourth at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi. With points aplenty coming her way, Young leaps up the rankings to World #36 from World #111.
Canada's Isabella Bertold is another big mover. Bertold finished second in Sydney and fifth in Melbourne and climbs from World #42 to World #12.
Finn
Ed Wright (GBR) is the mover of the month in the Finn rankings following a seventh at the 100-point ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and victory at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne, a 200-point regatta.
Wright was always in control in Melbourne and finished in the top two in every race throughout the series. He took gold and with it, the first 2015 Abu Dhabi, ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spot. With a good haul of points the Briton has advanced to World #10 from World #36.
Slovenia's Vasilij Zbogar took out the honours at the World Cup Final with a controlled performance. As a result he moves up to World #15.
Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) finished behind Zbogar at the World Cup Final but with a good points haul he moves up to World #1, dislodging Bjorn Allansson (SWE) who drops to World #3.
Nacra 17
Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri (ITA) will take the World #1 Nacra 17 spot into 2015 after a solid year. The Italians have consistently been at the top of the pack and ended their year with an eighth at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.
Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) added World Cup Final gold to their 2014 World Championship title and sit at World #5.
Australia's Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin move to a personal best of World #3 after they took the ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne honours.
49erFX
New Zealand's Alex Maloney and Molly Meech had a superb November, securing victories at the 100-point ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and the 49erFX South American Championship. They finished second at the 50-point Intergalactic Championship and push up the 49erFX rankings to World #7 from World #13.
Lisa Ericson and Hanna Klinga (SWE) took second at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and hit the top ten for the first time.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne victors Ragna and Maia Agerup (NOR) move up to World #24 whilst runners up Helene Naess and Marie Ronningen (NOR) sit two places ahead at World #22.
49er
Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (NZL) pushed up the 49er rankings following top five finishes at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. They advance up to World #8, a personal best, from World #38.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Final winners Tomasz Januszewski and Jacek Nowak (POL) are at World #22 whilst Melbourne victors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) are at World #20.
Jonas Warrer and Peter Lang (DEN) take the World #1 spot into 2015 following a solid year of skiff racing.
Men's 470
There is minimal movement in the Men's 470 rankings following the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final and ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.
There is no change in the top 16 as the World Cup Final near enough went to form. World #1 Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) claimed the honours whilst World #2 Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE) claimed silver. World #4 Stu McNay and Dave Hughes (USA) snapped up bronze but it was not enough to remove Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) from World #3.
Alexander and Patrick Conway (AUS) took the World Cup Melbourne title and with the full 200 points coming their way they move up ten spots to World #24.
Women's 470
Camille Lecointre and Helene Defrance (FRA) will go into 2015 as World #1 in the Women's 470. There is no change in the top four of the rankings with Anne Haeger and Briana Provancha (USA), Tina Mrak and Veronica Macarol (SLO) and Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) following.
Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar (AUT) added ISAF Sailing World Cup Final gold to their 2014 World and European honours and sit at World #5 heading into the new year.
World Cup Final silver medallists Sophie Weguelin and Eilidh McIntyre (GBR) move to World #8 from World #14.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne winners Sasha Ryan and Amelia Catt (AUS) move up three spots to World #26.
Events Included
For more details on the new events included and events not included in this Ranking release please click on the link below.
The full ISAF World Sailing Ranking lists, results from all ISAF Graded events, lists of Graded events throughout the year, Ranking release dates and the method of calculation for the Rankings can be found on the ISAF website at www.sailing.org/rankings
ISAF World Sailing Rankings – www.sailing.org/rankings
