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Less than three months remains until the start of the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal and the first of the years major European regattas brought all the top stars of the Olympic Classes to Hyres. Light conditions through the early part of the regatta made for tricky conditions and threw up a number of surprises before the easterly breeze arrived for the last two days of racing, providing perfect conditions for the Medal Races.

The shifty breeze through the early part of the regatta left many of the pre-regatta favourites languishing down the leaderboard, including world #1 crew Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR) and double World Champions Marcelien DE KONING and Lobke BERKHOUT (NED) in the Womens 470 fleet. Whilst the World Champs were able to fight back, the Brits could not and consequently the two trade places at the top of the Rankings, the one change across the eleven world #1 spots.

The other British world #1 Paul GOODISON (GBR) does hold on to his top spot and is the Rankings longest leader, having been at the summit of the Laser Rankings for nine consecutive Ranking releases. The Brits also have one other #2 spot and two #3s giving them top nation in the Rankings ahead of Germany, who together with Australia and Spain, hold two top spots.

There is now a short break until the ISAF Grade 1 Holland Regatta from 23-27 May.

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 27 June 2007, following the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week.

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

The RS:X fleets in Medemblik Thom Touw

There is a new leader of the Men's RS:X Rankings and it is a sailor no stranger to the leading his fleet! Przemek MIARCZYNSKI (POL) did not compete in Medemblik but the rolling points calculation system puts him in the #1 position. Previous leader Ivan PASTOR (ESP) also did not compete but he slides down to #5 leaving Nicolas HUGUET (FRA) to shift up one place to #2 and Nick DEMPSEY (GBR) to return to the #3 spot.

There were no Medal Races for the RS:X fleets at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta in Medemblik due to the wind dying away completely, marking a difficult end to a difficult regatta. The gold medal was clinched by Ricardo SANTOS (BRA) and he climbs two places up to #10 whilst silver medallist Chi Ho HO (HKG) moves up one place to #24. Third overall was DEMPSEY.

Ertugrul ICINGIR (TUR) sailed his best regatta of the season to finish fourth overall and move up four places to #14 and 2006 ISAF Youth Worlds silver medallist Fabian HEIDEGGER (ITA) rounded out the top five. HEIDEGGER now teeters on the edge of the world top 20 at #21.

Men's Windsurfer ISAF World Sailing Rankings

2. Women's Windsurfer - RS:X

Carol BORGES Thom Touw

The top three are unchanged in the latest release of the Womens RS:X Rankings, with Marina ALABAU (ESP) still leading the way from Bryony SHAW (GBR) and Romy KINZL (GER). With ALABAU and SHAW both taking a break from racing at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta, Jannicke STALSTROM (NOR) took centre stage, posting five bullets on her way to the gold medal. STALSTROMs first ISAF Graded event victory since 1994 boosts her up two places in the Rankings to #6, whilst runner up in Medemblik and another of the RS:X fleets veteran competitors, Jessica CRISP (AUS), also climbs up two places from #51 to #49.

Back in the top 20, Olympic Champion Faustine MERRET (FRA) is rapidly making a return to the top of the windsurfing world and climbs up eight places to #13 after picking up the bronze medal in Medemblik. A little further back Japans Yasuko KOSUGE also make good gains moving from #37 to #27 and Carol BORGES (BRA) climbs from #45 to #37 after both posted strong finishes at the Breitling Regatta.

Despite a small fleet of just 26 competitors in the Netherlands, the Womens RS:X Rankings gains another two sailors in this release to make a total of 91. With the ISAF Sailing World Championships to come, that number looks set to hit three figures before the year is out.

Women's Windsurfer ISAF World Sailing Rankings

3. Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Rutger VAN SCHAARDENBURG impressed on his home waters Thom Touw

There is no shifting Paul GOODISON (GBR) from the top of the Laser Rankings, with the British star holding the world #1 spot for the tenth consecutive Ranking release. GOODISON came in a solid fourth at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta, but still saw his lead shrink as world #2 Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) again proved himself master of Medemblik, winning his third consecutive gold medal on the IJsselmeer.

With SLINGSBY winning by a country mile, Gustavo LIMA (POR) proved himself best of the rest to take second place, a result which lifts him up five places to the world #3 spot. With less than a month remaining until the ISAF Sailing World Championships on his home waters in Cascais, LIMA appears to be coming into his top form at just the right time.

Apart from LIMAs climb up, the other major move in the top 20 sees Michael BULLOT (NZL) gain eight place up to #14. With David WEAVER (NZL) also gaining one place up to #20, New Zealand and Croatia both hold the distinction of having three skippers in the world top 20. A little further back 19 year old Rutger VAN SCHAARDENBURG (NED) climbs up from #93 to #60 after an impressive ninth in Medemblik and a sixth place at the ISAF Grade 2 Europa Cup in Hoorn, won by Alexander SCHLONSKI (GER).

The top 29 nations at ISAF Sailing World Championships will qualify for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition. Impressive performances in Cascais from Allan JULIE (SEY) and Kemal MUSLUBAS (TUR) bode well for their prospects in Cascais.

Men's One Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

4. Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

The Radials at the start in France Guilain Grenier/FFV

Despite winning her fifth event of the year at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta Evi VAN ACKER (BEL) drops from the top spot in the Laser Radial Rankings, replaced by Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA). Whilst the two sailors enjoyed contrasting fortunes in Medemblik VAN ACKER winning overall and TUNNICLIFFE failing to make the top ten the American takes the top spot thanks to her consistency over the two-year Ranking period. Tania ELIAS CALLES (MEX) is at #3, with Breitling Regatta runner up Petra NIEMANN (GER) moving up two places to #4.

Behind VAN ACKER and NIEMANN, the Brits monopolized the rest of the top places, taking third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Penny CLARK (GBR) led the way and move up one place to #15, but the honour of top Ranked Brits goes to Andrea BREWSTER (GBR), whose fifth in Medemblik helps her climb up four places to #6. Other movs in the top 20 see Sari MULTALA (FIN) climb three places to hit the top 10 for the first time and Tina MIHELIC (CRO) climb seven places up to #16.

Looking ahead to the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais and the battle for Olympic qualification, up and coming Swiss star Nathalie BRUGGER impressed in Medemblik and consequently climbs up from #53 to #41 in the Rankings, whilst Singapores 19 year old Manyi LO also posted a promising result and gains 13 places up to #69.

Women's One Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

5. Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470

Gabrio ZANDONA and Andrea TRANI dominated in Medemblik Thom Touw

Nicolas CHARBONNIER and Olivier BAUSSET (FRA) move into pole position in the Mens 470 Rankings, following a fantastic start to their European season. After victory at Hyres in April the pair put in a bronze medal performance at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta to hit the world #1 spot. Despite missing the Medal Race in Medemblik, Sven COSTER and Kalle COSTER (NED) move up to #2, reward for their consistent performances over the past two years. Former leaders Mathew BELCHER and Nick BEHRENS (AUS) gave Medemblik a miss and consequently drop down to #3.

Behind the leading three crews there is plenty of movement in the rest of the top ten, with Medemblik runners up Benjamin BONNAUD and Romain BONNAUD (FRA) climbing up three places to #4 and Athens silver medallists Nick ROGERS and Joe GLANFIELD (GBR) also gaining three places to #5. Despite an emphatic 35-point win in the Netherlands Gabrio ZANDONA and Andrea TRANI (ITA) actually fall one place to #6.

Francisco SANCHEZ and Alejandro RAMOS (ESP) and Tomaz COPI and Luka VERZEL (SLO) are both new into the top 20, with the Slovenians in particular impressing in Medemblik. Despite a poor Medal Race they finished in sixth place overall to move up eight Ranking places to #19.

Takaaki KAWATA and Yugo YOSHIDA (JPN) completed a fantastic shwoing for the Japanese 470 crews at the Breitling Regatta, finishing 12th overall in their first ISAF Graded event. They are the highest of four new entries in the this Ranking release at #130.

Men's Two Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

6. Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470

Surprise winners Wakako TABATA and Naomi KURITA Thom Touw

There is little change at the top of the Womens 470 Rankings, with Marcelien DE KONING and Lobke BERKHOUT (NED) holding on to the world #1 spot despite a disappointing performance on their home waters at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta. Along with several of the other top crews their series was plagued by starting troubles, but their early season performances are enough to keep them ahead of the game in the Rankings.

Their closest challengers Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR) were on form in Medemblik, although they just missed out on the medals in fourth spot overall. Austrias Sylvia VOGL and Carolina FLATSCHER elected to pass on Medemblik, but their world #3 Ranking remains unchanged. The big movers in the top 20 are Fernanda OLIVEIRA and Isabel SWAN (BRA), who gain eight places up to #15 after placing seventh overall in Medemblik.

The big surprise in the Netherlands saw Wakako TABATA and Naomi KURITA (JPN) win the Medal Race to take the gold medal a fantastic result for the young crew which sees them climb up six places to #34. Medemblik silver medallists Elisabetta SACCHEGGIANI and Elisa CECCONI (ITA) also climb up six places to #31. Of the three new entries in this Ranking release, Belarus Aliaksandra OZIORNAYA and Ala VERNIKOVICH make the biggest impact, going in straight in a 89 after a top 20 finish at the Breitling Regatta.

Women's Two Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

7. Skiff - 49er

The PECKOLT brothers hold on to the world #1 spot Thom Touw

Jan-Peter PECKOLT and Hannes PECKHOLT (GER) make it five-in-a-row at the top of the 49er Rankings, with the Germans again demonstrating their trademark consistency at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta. A great Medal Race in Medemblik lifted Stevie MORRISON and Ben RHODES (GBR) onto the podium, helping them climb up two places in the Rankings to #2, just ahead of regatta winners Petro SIBELLO and Gianfranco SIBELLO (ITA).

The silver medallists in Medemblik will have caught the eye of the entire 49er fleet. Three-time ISAF Youth Worlds winner Nathan OUTTERIDGE, still just 21, and crew Ben AUSTIN (AUS) served notice of their potential with a sixth place at last years worlds. Second overall in Medemblik is their best result yet in Europe and perfect preparation for the young Aussies as they head to the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais.

The top 13 nations in Cascais will qualify for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition. Looking at the results from Medemblik and taking into consideration the absence of the top crews from Finland, Norway, Japan and Austria hovering around this top 13 mark and looking set for a big battle for the Olympic spots were Poland, Brazil, Greece, Canada and the hosts Portugal.

Skiff ISAF World Sailing Rankings

8. Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn

Dan SLATER comes to the mark just ahead of Pieter-Jan POSTMA Thom Touw

Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN (DEN) is rapidly approaching a year at the top of the Finn World Rankings as his sixth place at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta is enough to keep him at the #1 position for another release. Snapping at his heels is Dan SLATER (NZL) who continued the display of Kiwi strength by cruising home in second place in the Medal Race in Medemblik to take the gold medal. SLATER closes the gap on HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN but stays in the #2 position just ahead of Medemblik bronze medallist Ed WRIGHT (GBR).

Beneath the top three it is all change. Pieter-Jan POSTMA (NED) picked up the silver medal in Medemblik and this boosts him three places up the Rankings to a career best #4 position, whilst Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPER (CRO) leapfrogs fellow Croatian Marin MISURA into the #5 position. Despite a disastrous Medal Race for Chris COOK (CAN), in which he dropped the overnight lead to finish fourth overall, he stills fairs well in this Ranking release, climbing three places up to #6.

There are two new entries to the top 20 - Ed GREIG (GBR) up four places to #19 and Wietze ZETZEMA (NED) up one place to #20. Further down the list there are numerous minor movements. Some of the bigger climbers include Brendan CASEY (AUS) who climbs back up 13 places to #39 whilst Brazil's 2004 Olympic representative Joao SIGNORNI continues his return to Olympic competition following his involvement in the Volvo Ocean Race onboard Brasil 1. Now counting results from three events, including eighth in Medemblik to match his eighth from Hyres, SIGNORNI climbs a further 19 places up to #65.

The Volvo Ocean Race yesterday announced a Russian entry and there are movements from Russian sailors in today's Finn Rankings. The highest ranked Russian is Vladimir KRUTSKIKH at #48 but the 13th place finish for Eduard SKORNYAKOV (RUS) in Medemblik gives him two results to count and a 44 place rise since he joined the Rankings earlier this month, up to #81.

Heavyweight Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

9. Multihull - Tornado

Johannes POLGAR and Florian SPALTEHOLZ Thom Touw

Darren BUNDOCK and Glenn ASHBY (AUS) blotted their copy book at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta in Medemblik, finishing tenth in the Medal Race and losing out on a medal position to Yann GUICHARD and Alexander GUYADER (FRA), but their position at the top of the Rankings is secure. The gap is closed slightly by Fernando ECHAVARRI and Anton PAZ (ESP) who finished sixth in Medemblik.

The top six teams remain in the same position for this Ranking release and the first change comes where #7 and #8 swap places - Jordanis PASCHALIDES and Kontantinos TRIGONIS (GRE) use their seventh place in Medemblik to move above Leigh MCMILLAN and Will HOWDEN (GBR).

Xavier REVIL and Christophe ESPAGNON (FRA) defended their title in Medemblik and remain at #5 whilst second placed Johannes POLGAR and Florian SPALTEHOLZ (GER) remain at #4. Just outside the medals were Francesco MARCOLINI and Edoardo BIANCHI (ITA), who continue their successful European season, adding this result to their second place at the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Franaise in Hyres and climbing a further four places up the Rankings to #21.

Multihull ISAF World Sailing Rankings

10. Women's Keelboat - Yngling

The Brits lead the way at the start of the Yngling Medal Race Thom Touw

Ulrike SCHUEMANN, Ute HOEPFNER and Julia BLECK (GER) hold on to the world #1 spot in the Yngling Rankings for the fifth consecutive release, despite a below-par performance at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta. Still there consistency over the two-year Ranking period keeps them in the top spot, with Sally BARKOW, Carrie HOWE and Debbie CAPOZZI (USA) moving up to #2 behind them following on from wins earlier in the year at Palma and Miami. With the Americans on the rise, Anna BASALKINA, Ekaterina MAXIMOVA and Vlada UKRAINSTSERA (RUS) drop back one place to #3.

The stars of the show in Medemblik were the British crew Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON (GBR). Once again AYTON and WEBB outshone their former helm Shirley ROBERTSON (GBR) to pick up their second gold medal from Medemblik in three years. AYTON and co lie at #4 in the Rankings.

The racing in Medemblik demonstrated the rapid progress of some of then newer faces in the class. 2004 Olympic gold medallist in the 470, Sofia BEKATOROU (GRE) posted an impressive eight place overall with her new crew Sofia PAPADOPOULOU and Christina HARAMOUNTA, whilst Europe gold medallist from Athens Siren SUNDBY and crew Lise FREDERIKSEN and Alexandra KOEFOED (NOR) posted a series of strong scores after missing the opening three races.

Women's Keelboat ISAF World Sailing Rankings

11. Men's Keelboat - Star

Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA climb to #2 Ruben Ballester/ www.nicomartinez.com

Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI (POL) hit the top of the Star Rankings for the first time, with the Polish pairs silver medal performance at the ISAF Grade 1 Breitling Regatta enough to boost them up into the world #1 spot. After picking up gold and bronze medals in the Finn at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, KUSZNIEREWICZ made the switch to the keelboat and teamed up with ZYCKI for his Beijing campaign and the team have been a near-constant presence at front of the Star fleet ever since.

Like KUSZNIEREWICZ, Robert SCHEIDT (BRA) is new to the Star fleet in this quadrennial and together with Bruno PRADA has been the form team of the season so far. However, the Brazils struggled early on in the tricky conditions in Medemblik, but a double bullet finish saw them sneak into the Medal Race and hold on to their #2 Rankings. Hamish PEPPER and Brad NICHOL (NZL), who did not compete in the Netherlands, complete the top three.

Behind the leaders Diego NEGRI and Luigi VALE (ITA) move up one place to #6 after winning one of three gold medals for Italy in Medemblik, whilst Afonso DOMINGOS and Bernardo SANTOS (POR) climb up from #12 to #8 following their bronze medal performance. Iain PERCY and his new crew Andrew SIMPSON (GBR) also put in a good performance, finishing ninth overall to help boost their Ranking from #45 to #36.

Men's Keelboat ISAF World Sailing Rankings

The next Rankings release will be on 27 June 2007, following the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week.

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