Another dress rehearsal for the Tokyo 2020 Games comes this week, this time for the men’s Laser Standard class with the 2018 World Championship getting ready off Sakaiminiati-City.
Two races are planned – weather permitting – on 4-5-6-7-8-9 July. A total of 159 boats from 57 countries have entered, with an excellent field, including all three medals winners from Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Sailing Championships. The headline entries:
● Tom Burton (AUS) ~ 2016 Olympic Champion; 2014-17 Worlds silver
● Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) ~ 2016 Olympic silver; 2012 Worlds silver
● Sam Meech (NZL) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze medalist
● Robert Scheidt (BRA) ~ 1996-2004 Olympic Champion; 9-time World Champion
● Pavlos Kontides (CYP) ~ 2017-18 Worlds golds; 2012 Olympic silver; 2013 Worlds silver
● Matthew Wearn (AUS) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist
● Philipp Buhl (GER) ~ 2018 Worlds bronze; 2015 Wolds silver medalist
● Nick Thompson (GBR) ~ 2014 Worlds bronze medalist; 2015-16 World Champion
● Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) ~ 2016 Worlds silver medalist
The amazing Scheidt is now 46 and has won a career total of 12 World Championships medals in this class, with his last world title coming in 2013. Great Britain’s Thompson has tied for the second-most medals in the Laser Worlds, with six (2-2-2). Look for results here.
