Allianz Sailing World Championships 2023: Key contenders

iQFOiL Men: 15-19 August – 11 Olympic quota places

This is the first appearance of the new Olympic windsurfing class at a Sailing World Championships.

Germany’s Sebastian Kördel has led the way as the most consistent performer in recent times, building on the 2022 world title with a stellar 2023 season that featured gold at Kieler Woche and a series of silvers at big competitions.

Enter Nicolas Goyard of France who dominated the Paris 2024 Test Event and will hope to recapture the form of 18 months ago on less familiar waters.

Kördel and Goyard set to battle again on Dutch waters

iQFOiL Women: 15-19 August – 11 Olympic quota places

Israel’s sailing success has traditionally come on the men’s side but in Sharon Kantor they now have a bona fide female star with high hopes for the next year.

Victory at the Paris 2024 Test Event was a big breakout for an athlete who graduated into the senior ranks right at the time that iQFOiL was introduced on to the Olympic programme.

By contrast, Olympic bronze medallist Emma Wilson has successfully transitioned from RS:X and expect her to be challenging for medals once again.

Formula Kite Men: 14-19 August – Eight Olympic quota places

Axel Mazella is running hot right now. He comes to the Hague on the back of wins at the Test Event, Allianz Regatta and French Olympic Week.

With three French riders in the top eight of the world rankings, he’ll be well supported.

The task of the rest is to find a way to beat the Toulon native and Singapore’s Max Maeder and Britain’s Connor Bainbridge may well be the best placed to do so.

Formula Kite Women: 14-19 August – Eight Olympic quota places

The competitiveness in the female Kite fleet has risen sharply in this Olympic cycle and we can expect the most competitive ever Sailing World Championships.

American standout Daniela Moroz had an air of invincibility around her at the start of the campaign with back-to-back world titles in 2021 and 2022.

That has been challenged by the likes of Britain’s Ellie Aldridge and French star Lauriane Nolot, coming in on the back of three big wins and hoping to upgrade last year’s silver.

ILCA 7: 13-15, 17-18, 20 August – 16 Olympic quota places

Rivalries are the lifeblood of sport and it will be special to see a rematch between Australia’s Matt Wearn and Michael Beckett of Great Britain in The Hague.

Beckett congratulates Wearn after their championship battle in Marseille

A brilliant medal race display saw Wearn pip Beckett to gold at the Paris 2024 Test Event.

It’s far from a two-horse race, however, with 2012 Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus and the double Olympic silver medallist, Croatia’s Tonči Stipanović, among those poised to strike.

ILCA 6: 13-15, 17-18, 20 August – 16 Olympic quota places

For many, Marit Bouwmeester will be the face of this World Championships.

The Dutch star is hoping to secure her legacy in the sport with global gold on home waters and then success in Paris next summer, which could make her the most decorated female Olympic sailor of all time.

Her long-time adversary, Olympic champion Anne-Marie Rindom from Denmark, may have something to say about all that.

49er: 11-13, 15-16, 18 August – Ten Olympic quota places

Another fine chance of home gold lies in this class and with Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken.

The dynamic duo will hope to wrap up Olympic qualification and a third world title on the trot at this landmark home regatta.

Out to stop them will be Spain’s Diego Botin and Florian Trittel, as well as Kiwi pairs hoping to continue the legacy of the legendary Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.

49erFX: 11-13, 15-16, 18 August – Ten Olympic quota places

Dutch dominance of the skiff classes could be cemented by Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz.

They could become the first pair to win three straight world titles in the event although Duetz is working hard to return to full fitness after a recent knee injury.

The 2016 and 2020 Olympic Champions, Brazil’s Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze have all of the experience to challenge.

470: 11-12, 14-17 August – Eight Olympic quota places

Making its debut as a mixed class at the Allianz Sailing World Championships, it’s fitting that this is one of the most open events on the programme.

Spain’s Jordi Xammar and Nora Brugman have been quick to master the new format and are rarely out of the medals, silver medallists at the 2022 World and European Championships.

Close at hand and vying for top prizes will be double Olympic bronze medallist Camille Lecointre and former men’s world champion Jérémie Mion of France, along with a squad of strong German teams.

Nacra 17: 11-14, 16-17 August – Nine Olympic quota places

Italy have strong in depth in this boat class.

Olympic champions Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti will hope to pick up where they left off with another global title, but recent winners of the Paris 2024 Test Event, Gigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei, and Vittorio Bissaro and Maelle Frascari are both world-class domestic rivals who will push them hard.

That being said, you can never count out Britain’s Olympic silver medallists John Gimson and Anna Burnet.

Hansa 303 Men: 11-14, 16 August

Youth and experience will go head-to-head in this exciting para class.

Germany’s Jens Kroker is a five-time Paralympic champion and he will hope to dictate things at the front of the fleet alongside fellow seasoned performer, Poland’s Piotr Chichocki.

The 21-year-old British contender, Rory McKinna, will hope to catch them cold and make a raid on the podium in the Netherlands.

Hansa 303 Women: 11-14, 16 August

Finy Teitsma of the Netherlands will be hoping for a strong run on home waters with a number of potential medallists in this event.

They include Poland’s Olga Gornas-Grudzien, who has been working closely with Piotr Cichocki in training, and the inspirational American Betsy Alison who will join the competition despite a very recent battle with cancer.

RS Venture Keel: 11-13, 15-16 August

Oman are reigning world champions in the event having won gold in 2022 thanks to Sultan Al Wahaibi and Ahmed Al Balushi.

This time, they’ll be represented by Sami Al Sulaimi and Ghaliya Al Jabri who will hope to emulate their compatriots’ success.

Also likely to be strong are Germany’s Tim Tromer and Nadine Loschke.

2.4m OD: 11-13, 15-16 August

Hot favourite in the 2.4 Norlin OD singlehanded keelboat is Germany’s Heiko Kröger, a nine-time world champion and double Paralympic medallist.

Italy has some strong contenders in the fleet as well as Finland’s Niko Salomaa and John Seepe from the USA.