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Whilst only one of the leaders has changed across the 11 Rankings lists, just behind the top spots there has been plenty of movement. With the British team focussing on their preparations for Cascais, they have fallen back from the top nation spot, with six sailors in top three positions, to equal sixth, with just one #1 and one #2 spot. Germany now head up the top nation table with #1 spots in the 49er and Yngling, and top three crews in the Women's RS:X and Tornado Rankings.

Following on from the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week and European Championships in the Laser, 470, RS:X and Finn fleets, the Olympic Classes are now fully focussed and ready to go for the start of the ISAF Sailing World Championships. The Championships take place in Cascais, Portugal from 28 June-13 July, with the opening races on Tuesday 3 July.

The Brits will be defending the President of the IOC Cup for best nation and looking for a strong performance to ensure their Olympic places in Qingdao and regain their standing in the Rankings. The German team will line up in confident mood after their success at Kiel and in the Rankings, whilst Australia and France are also flying high. The Aussies in particular are sure to be looking forward to the windy conditions expected and the host nation Portugal will be looking to maximize home advantage, especially with many of their top sailors now coming into their peak form.

After a fascinating season of sailing in Oceania, North America and Europe, the Olympic Classes hit Cascais and the serious business begins…

About The Rankings

The ISAF World Sailing Rankings rate skippers based on their performances over the last two years. Skippers score points by competing in ISAF Graded events. The top finishers at all ISAF Graded events score Rankings points, with the highest points awarded to the event winner and then decreasing down relative to position. The most points are up for grabs at World Championship events, followed by ISAF Grade C1 events, Grade 1, Grade 2 etc. For more on how the Rankings work CLICK HERE.

The tables on the right hand side show the new events included in this Ranking release. The next Rankings release will be on 18 July 2007, following the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal.

1. Men's Windsurfer - RS:X
2. Women's Windsurfer - RS:X
3. Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser
4. Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
5. Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
6. Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
7. Skiff - 49er
8. Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn
9. Multihull - Tornado
10. Women's Keelboat - Yngling
11. Men's Keelboat - Star

1. Men's Windsurfer - RS:X

Przemek MIARCZYNSKI (POL) stays at #1 in the latest Men's RS:X Rankings, buoyed by victory at the recent Europeans in Cyprus. Despite a shaky Medal Race, MIARCZYNSKI held on to take the title from his team mate Piotr MYSZKA (POL).

Behind the leader, Joao RODRIGUES (POR) climbs up two places to #2 on the back of a fifth place finish in Cyprus, whilst Ivan PASTOR (ESP) also gains two places to #3. MYSZKA's silver medal at the Europeans helps him rise up to #5 and the bronze medallist in Cyprus, Nicolas LE GAL (FRA), is also on the up, going from #9 to #7. On the back of an impressive sixth place at the Europeans, Israeli youngster Shahar ZUBARI (ISR) in new into the top 20 at #20.

Outside of the top 20, Max WOJCIK (POL) gains five places to #25 after victory in Kiel. At #158, Asulin RON (ISR) is the highest of six new entries to join the Rankings, lifting the total number of sailors Ranked over 200. Just behind him at #160, Mike GEBHARDT (USA), Olympic medallist in 1992 and 1988, makes his debut on the RS:X Rankings.

Men's Windsurfer ISAF World Sailing Rankings

2. Women's Windsurfer - RS:X

Marina ALABAU © Ntina Halla

Newly crowned European Champion Marina ALABAU (ESP) stays top in the Women's RS:X Rankings, after recording her third victory of the year in Cyprus. Bryony SHAW (GBR) falls from #2 to #4 after pulling out early from the Europeans. Romy KINZL (GER) consequently moves up one place to #2, whilst Zofia KLEPACKA (POL), fourth in Cyprus, goes up to #3.

Olympic Champion Faustine MERRET (FRA) is new into the top ten this month, gaining five places to #8 after making the Medal Race at the Europeans. Two more Olympic gold medallists are also on the move up in this Ranking release. Sydney gold medallist and reigning World Champion Alessandra SENSINI (ITA) moves up from #40 to #29 after winning the silver medal at the Europeans, whilst Barcelona gold medallist Barbara KENDALL (NZL) gains from #36 to #28.

Agata BRYGOLA (POL) won amongst a small fleet at Kiel Week and is at #34 in the Rankings.

Women's Windsurfer ISAF World Sailing Rankings

3. Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Tom SLINGSBY © Tomek Ignatowicz

Paul GOODISON (GBR) holds onto the #1 spot in the Laser Rankings, although Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) has closed the gap to the leader to double figures. The world #1 and #2 were the leading lights at the recent Laser Europeans in Hyères, with SLINGSBY leading from start to finish and GOODISON coming in second overall to win his third consecutive European title.

Canadian young gun Michael LEIGH (CAN) came in third overall at Hyères to move one place up the Rankings to #3. His team mate Bernard LUTTMER (CAN) also posted a strong finish at the Europeans and consequently climbs up three places to #6, one ahead of World Champion and recent Kiel Week winner Michael BLACKBURN (AUS). Just outside the top 10, Mate ARAPOV (CRO) gains ten places up to #12 after a fourth place finish in Kiel, whilst Kiel silver medallist Deniss KARPAK (EST) moves up 12 places to #17. Brad FUNK (USA) ais lso new into the world top 20 at #18 after coming in eighth at the Europeans.

Further back, Thomas BARROWS (ISV) climbs up from #134 to #93 after victory at the Laser North Americans. Algeria's Taher SALMAN and Pakistan's Ashfaq IQBAL are both new into the Rankings at #724 and #731 respectively after finishing on the podium at the Al Bareh International Regatta in Bahrain. Regatta winner Sami AL KOOHEJI (BRN) climbs up from #778 to #717.

Men's One Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

4. Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

Jo ALEH © Photo: OKpress

Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) stays top in the Laser Radial Rankings and will line up for the start of racing at the ISAF Sailing World Championships as the world #1. World Championship bronze medallist Tania ELIAS CALLES (MEX) moves up one place to #2. ELIAS CALLES replaces Evi VAN ACKER (BEL), who drops into a tie for #3 with Krystal WEIR (AUS), with WEIR gaining four places after a silver medal finish at Kiel Week.

The other significant moves in the top ten see Jo ALEH (NZL) climb two places to #7 after an emphatic win in Kiel, and Katarlyna SZOTYNSKA (POL) move up two places to #9. A little further back Sarah STEYAERT (FRA) gains from #23 to #16 after coming in fourth at Kiel.

Outside the top 20 Sarah LIHAN (USA) gains nine place to #39 after winning the Radial event at the Laser North Americans, whilst Genola GRIFFIN (USA) goes up six places to #51 after victory at the Laser Canadians. Sixteen year old Victoria CHAN (SIN) is the other event winner this month, taking the title at the Singapore Laser Trophy.

Women's One Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

5. Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470

Alvaro MARINHO and Miguel NUNES © Foto TPYWANHΣ

Nicolas CHARBONNIER and Olivier BAUSSET (FRA) hold on to the #1 position for another release and their preparation for the Worlds was further boosted by the silver medal at the Europeans in Greece. Like many of the top teams Sven and Kalle COSTER (NED) did not compete at the Europeans or in Kiel and their Ranking position suffers with a drop of six places to 8.

Moving up to the world #2 spot are Nathan WILMOT and Malcolm PAGE (AUS), with the 2005 World Champions climbing back ahead of their fellow Australians Mathew BELCHER and Nick BEHRENS, who fall down three places to #6. The battle between these two Australian teams is fierce and they finished Kiel Week on equal points. BELCHER and BEHRENS just clinched the silver medal as they had posted two bullets in the series. Finishing off the top five are Gabrio ZANDONA and Andrea TRANI (ITA) at #3 with Gidi KLIGER and Udi GAL (ISR) at #4 and Nick ROGERS and Joe GLANFIELD (GBR) holding their position at #5.

Alvaro MARINHO and Miguel NUNES (POR) claimed the European crown in Thessaloniki and move up to #9 in the Rankings whilst the gold medal in Kiel was won by ZANDONA and TRANI.

The biggest movers in the top 20 are Gustavo MARTINEZ DORESTE and Dimas WOOD (ESP), who now count results from seven events and shoot up 16 places to #14 following a solid seventh at the Europeans. Further down the Ranking list it is the young Kiwi team of Carl EVANS and Peter BURLING who are making the biggest splash. The double 420 World Champions have only recently made the switch to the 470 circuit and are now counting three results to their Ranking points total. Sixth at the Europeans and 11th in Kiel boosts them 149 places up to #80 and they are certainly a pair to watch for the future.

Men's Two Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

6. Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470

European Champions Stefanie ROTHWEILER and Vivien KUSSATZ © Foto TPYWANHΣ

Marcelien DE KONING and Lobke BERKHOUT (NED) may not have taken part in the ISAF Grade C1 470 Europeans or the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week 2007, but they hold strong at the top spot in the Rankings for the third consecutive release and go into the World Championships as strong contenders to defend their title. Behind them, long-time leaders Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR), who have also focussed on training for the Worlds in Cascais, finally slip out of the top five. Taking their place behind DE KONING and BERKHOUT are Ingrid PETITJEAN and Nadege DOUROUX (FRA) who climb two places to #2, despite a slightly disappointing 14th place at the Europeans.

Sylvia VOGL and Carolina FLATSCHER (AUT) hold firm at the #3 spot after a strong performance at Kiel Week, where they took the gold medal a clear 10 points ahead of second placed Elise RECHICHI and Tessa PARKINSON (AUS). Behind the Austrian team, Giulia CONTI and Giovanna MICOL (ITA) continue their excellent preparation for the Worlds and move up a further two places to make their debut in the world top five at #4. The silver medal at the Europeans will be a further boost to this talented young team. Finishing off the top five are Lenka SMIDOVA and Veronika FENCLOVA (CZE).

European Champions for the second year running are Stefanie ROTHWEILER and Vivien KUSSATZ (GER) and their Ranking position improves by two places to #11. Ahead of them climb RECHICHI and PARKINSON, who have taken a podium position at both of the regattas counting toward this Ranking release, bronze at the Europeans and silver in Kiel. RECHICHI, a double ISAF Youth Worlds gold medallist, moves up to #9 and will certainly be aiming for the podium in Cascais.

Japan's rising stars Ai KONDO and Kamata NAOKO have also made their debut in the world top ten at #8 after claiming the bronze medal in Kiel and seventh at the Europeans, but they have increasing competition from their countrywomen, Yuka YOSHISAKO and Noriko OOKUMA. They make their debut in the top 20 at #15.

Women's Two Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

7. Skiff - 49er

Kiel winners Marcus BAUR and Hannes BAUMANN © Kasch/Segler-Zeitung freuen

Jan-Peter PECKOLT and Hannes PECKHOLT (GER) stay top in the 49er Rankings despite missing out on their home regatta at Kiel. Stevie MORRISON and Ben RHODES (GBR) are also unmoved at #2, whilst Rodion LUKA and George LEONCHUK (UKR) gain one place up to #3.

Kiel winners Marcus BAUR and Hannes BAUMANN (GER) remain unchanged at #7, whilst silver medallists Pavale KOSTOV and Petar CUPAC (CRO) gain 12 places up to #60. After switching from the 470 at the start of this year, the Croatian pair have posted some impressive results on the skiff and could well be a team to watch in Cascais.

After coming in fourth at Kiel, Christoph SIEBER and Clemens KRUSE (AUT) move up from #32 to #29 in this Ranking release. SIEBER, a gold medallist at the 2000 Olympic Games on the Mistral, and KRUSE have been hovering around the 30 mark for over a year now, and will be hoping for a strong result in Cascais to propel them towards the world top 20.

Skiff ISAF World Sailing Rankings

8. Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn

Finn European Champion Eduard SKORNYAKOV © Robert Deaves,IFA

The top two sailors in the Finn remain the same, with defending World Champion Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN (DEN) staying at the top for the tenth consecutive release and clinch a full calendar year at the # 1 position. Dan SLATER (NZL) continues his reign at #2 Ed WRIGHT (GBR) stays at #3 but closes the gap on SLATER to just 36 points.

The Finn fleet are counting points from three events to this Ranking release including their ISAF Grade C1 Europeans. It has been 21 years since a Russian sailor won this event, but after a week of challenging and intense sailing Eduard SKORNYAKOV (RUS) came out with the title. SKORNYAKOV has been sailing the Finn for less than 10 months after moving out of 49ers, but has clearly stamped his mark on the fleet and is rewarded by a further rise up the Rankings to #66, counting just three events.

After a tactical Medal Race, Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPER (CRO) had to settle for the silver medal but uses the points to claim his highest ever Ranking position at #3. Bronze medallist Emilios PAPATHANASIOU (GRE) also moves up, climbing five places to #4 whilst Ed WRIGHT (GBR) ducks out of the top three for the first time since August 2006.

The other changes in the top 20 are relatively small with Gasper VINCEC (SLO) using his gold medal from Kiel to help him climb eight places to #8 whilst Anthony NOSSITER (AUS) bounces back into the top 20 with a 14 place climb up to #13.

There are 15 new sailors on the Finn rankings, the highest being Thomas REGER (GER) who finished 15th in Kiel to enter the Rankings at #129.

Heavyweight Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

9. Multihull - Tornado

Johannes POLGAR © www.segel-bilder.de

No change at the top on the Tornado Rankings, with Darren BUNDOCK and Glenn ASHBY (AUS) holding firm in the world #1 spot. Fernando ECHAVARRI and Anton PAZ (ESP) stay second, whilst victory at Kiel lifts Johannes POLGAR and Florian SPALTEHOLZ (GER) up one place to #3.

In winning Kiel, POLGAR and SPALTEHOLZ emphasized their claim as the on form German team, getting the better of their principal challengers for the Beijing Olympic spot, Helge SACH and Christian SACH (GER) and Roland GAEBLER and Gunnar STRUCKMANN (GER).

The SACH brothers were impressive on their return to the ISAF Graded circuit in Kiel. Helge and Christian, aged 50 and 48 respectively, are one of the most experienced crews in the Tornado fleet, although they had not competed on the ISAF Graded circuit since Kiel in 2004. A strong start and consistent finishes thereafter saw them take the silver medal at Kiel. Bronze medallists in Kiel, Thomas ZAJAC and Thomas CZAJKA (AUT) move two places up the Rankings to #23.

Multihull ISAF World Sailing Rankings

10. Women's Keelboat - Yngling

With no new events counting it is no surprise that the world top ten remains unchanged in the latest release of the Yngling Rankings. This means Ulrike SCHUEMANN, Ute HOEPFNER and Julia BLECK (GER) will line up at the start of the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais as the world #1 crew.

Sally BARKOW, Carrie HOWE and Debbie CAPOZZI (USA) hold onto their #2 spot ahead of Anna BASALKINA, Ekaterina MAXIMOVA and Vlada UKRAINSTSERA (RUS), who at #3 are the highest of three Russian crews in the world top ten.

The only changes of note sees two new entries into the top 20. Japan's Yumiko SHIGE, Mayumi HORIUCHI and Fukie AKIYAMA and Hannah SWETT, Liz FILTER and Melissa PURDY (USA) both climb up three places, to #18 and #19 respectively.

Women's Keelboat ISAF World Sailing Rankings

11. Men's Keelboat - Star

Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU © Erik Simonsen/ www.h2oshots.com

Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU (FRA) are back at the top of the Star Rankings, bringing to an end the brief reign of Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI (POL). ROHART and RAMBEAU are rewarded for their consistency this year as they jump up from #4 to #1.

KUSZNIEREWICZ and ZYCKI only fall back one place to #2, remaining ahead of Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA (BRA), who are now at #3. After a poor Medal Race cost Marc PICKEL and Ingo BORKOWSKI (GER) the gold medal at the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week, the German crew remain at #5. Eventual Kiel winners Hans SPITZAUER and Christian NEHAMMER (AUT) are also unmoved back at #17.

The other big changes in the top 20 sees Eivind MELLEBY and Petter Morland PEDERSEN (NOR) make a steep climb of 12 places up to #13 and Rick MERRIMAN and Rick PETERS (USA) also up 12 places to #18, both on the back of strong finishes in Kiel. Bermuda's Peter BROMBY and Bill MCNIVEN also continue their rise up the Rankings, gaining five places to #35.

Men's Keelboat ISAF World Sailing Rankings

The next Rankings release will be on 18 July 2007, following the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal.

To take a look at all of the Rankings' releases of the past twelve months CLICK HERE.