Medemblik, Netherlands: Thirty Olympic medallists are ready for the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2010. This 5th event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup has attracted a very talented field with numerous World Champions. The 2010 edition has set record high pre-entries in all classes including the 2.4, with a total of 707 boats from 53 countries. As usual, the largest fleets are in the Laser, RS:X men and 470 men. Racing will start on Wednesday May 26th and will conclude with the Medal race on Sunday May 30th.
The Dutch team will be present in all classes with many chances for medals. Dorian Van Rijsselberge (RS:X) and Thierry Schmitter (2.4) will defend their titles at home. Marit Bouwmeester who is leading the standings after a victory in Melbourne will try to add another SWC title. She will face 2009 winner Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR) or 2010 Palma winner Tina Mihelic (CRO), among a talented field in the laser radial.
2009 Champions will be back to defend their title in ten out of the eleven Olympic and Paralympic classes competing in the Delta Lloyd Regatta, with the exception of the Star class. Blanca Manchon (ESP) in the RS:X and Ed Wright in the Finns will also aim to retain their 2009 World Cup title.
The Delta Lloyd Regatta will mark the come back to international competition this year for Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) in the Finn class, for Polish duo Matesz Kusznierewicz (2 Olympic medals) and Dominic Zycki in the Star or Double world Laser champion, Australian Tom Slingsby.
After claiming a Finn bronze medal in Atlanta in 1996, Roy Heiner (NED) had turned to match racing, Soling and Ocean racing. A recent and successful comeback to the Finn scene during the Dutch Open championship last September has motivated Heiner for more! He will participate in this year Delta Lloyd regatta in the Finns, fourteen years after his medal and retirement from the Finn scene.
As of Friday May 28, the Dutch company Mylaps will take care of the live 3D online tracing & tracking of the 470 competition and the Medal Races. The Medal Races will also be broadcast live from various camera angles. --
