Before the dust can even settle on Ready Steady Tokyo, the Olympic test event, sailors have been officially welcomed to Hempel World Cup Series Enoshima, the first event of the 2020 series. Hempel World Cup Series Enoshima is expected to be harder to win than the Olympic test event, based on larger fleets and nations having more than one entry who are capable of winning.
Across the ten Olympic fleets, 534 sailors from 55 nations will race. At last week’s Ready Steady Tokyo, 363 sailors from 47 nations took to the start line. As the sun set over the iconic Enoshima sea candle that keeps a watchful eye over Sagami Bay, sailors received a traditional Japanese welcome.
Local parishioners of Ejima Jinja, Enoshima Island guardian deity, marched into the venue holding a traditional mikoshi, a portable miniature shrine. Sailors and officials had a unique opportunity to carry the mikoshi, wear national dress and they all embraced the opportunity. The local parishioners prayed for good luck and safe sailing for all the sailors.
Guests were then treated to a traditional Bonodori dance to music that was composed for the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. To conclude the evening, Taiko Group Fuji, a wadaiko drum band from the Fujisawa area, played to guests.
Alongside the welcome, traditional matcha green tea and local food was served. Sailors also received souvenirs from local businesses.
Speeches were delivered by the Mayor of Fujisawa, the Vice Governor of the Kanagawa Prefecture, Hirofumi Kawano, President of the Japanese Sailing Federation and Alastair Fox, Director of Events at World Sailing.
Monday, August 26, will be a day of training for the competitors and will allow them one final chance to prepare and fine tune their equipment. Racing will occur August 26 – September 1, 2019.
Event details – Entry list – YouTube – Facebook
North American Entries (Canada, Mexico, and USA):
• Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser: Charlie Buckingham (USA), Chris Barnard (USA)
• Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial: Erika Reineke (USA)
• Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470: Joshua Yale/ Michael Montagnese (CAN), Stu McNay/ Dave Hughes (USA), Trevor Bornarth/ Trevor Davis (USA)
• Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470: Nikole Barnes/ Lara Dallman-Weiss (USA), Rachel Bryer/ Laura Slovensky (USA), Carmen Cowles/ Emma Cowles (USA), Atlantic Brugman/ Nora Brugman (USA)
• Men’s Skiff – 49er: Judge Ryan/ Hans Henken (USA), Andrew Mollerus/ Ian MacDiarmid (USA)
• Women’s Skiff – 49erFx: Stephanie Roble/ Maggie Shea (USA), Paris Henken/ Anna Tobias (USA)
• Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn: Tom Ramshaw (CAN), Caleb Paine (USA), Luke Muller (USA)
• Men’s Windsurfing – RS:X: Pedro Pascual (USA)
• Women’s Windsurfing – RS:X: No entry
• Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17: Riley Gibbs/ Anna Weis (USA), Ravi Parent/ Charlotte Mack (USA), Sarah Newberry/ David Liebenberg (USA)
The World Cup Series is an annual circuit of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors, and a key touchpoint for fans and media to connect to the sport of sailing and develop support for athletes on their road to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond. Over 2,000 of the world’s leading sailors, representing 75 nations, have competed in the World Cup Series since its inception in 2008.
2019-20 Hempel World Cup Series
Aug 27-Sep 1, 2019 – Enoshima, Japan
January 21-26, 2020 – Miami, USA
April 14-19, 2020 – Genoa, Italy
June 16-21, 2020 – Enoshima, Japan
Source: World Sailing
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