Sailor of the Year Annalise Murphy Leads the Charge for Moth Womens' World Championship Honours

3rd February 2017

Oympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy was crowned Sailor of the Year at the RDS last week. The 26–year–old Dubliner goes in search of the Women's World Moth title in July Credit: Inpho

Afloat.ie's Sailor of the Year, Annalise Murphy, the 2016 Laser Radial Olympic Silver Medallist and 2014 Women's Moth World Champion, leads the charge in the growing women's fleet of this year's Moth World Championships scheduled for Malcesine, Italy.

Murphy's Rio performance was rewarded at home last Friday in a packed gathering at the RDS, Dublin. See photos and report here.

Murphy will be up against reigning champion Wakako Tabata (JPN) and 2013 Women's Champion Emma Gravare (SWE). With 6 months remaining, the 2017 Moth Worlds has already attracted a record number of entrants. Earlybird entries closed on Tuesday with 190 competitors from 25 countries registered for the event to be held at the Fraglia vela Malcesine on Lake Garda in late July.

The record line–up features a daunting who's who of top sailors.

At the top of the list is the Olympic Laser shoot out, with reigning Moth World Champion, 2008 Gold Medallist and Artemis Racing helmsman Paul Goodison (GBR) going up against 2012 Gold Medallist and Oracle Team USA tactician Tom Slingsby (AUS) and 2016 Gold Medallist Tom Burton (AUS).

Among the past champions, 2009 & 2013 Moth World Champion Bora Gulari (USA) makes a comeback to the class after taking time out to compete in the Nacra 17 at the Rio Olympics. Also making a return after Olympic and Americas Cup commitments, dual medallist Iain Jensen (AUS) will be looking to improve on his top 10 result in 2015.

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