It’s been a week full of movement on the SSL Global Skipper Ranking, with a host of Olympic class stars moving up the charts.
Near the top, Great Britain’s Nacra 17 Tokyo 2020 Silver Medallist John Gimson (SSL Skipper Rank #4) has jumped up one place thanks to the 750 SSL Ranking points accrued for finishing third at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Test Event in Marseille.
Australia’s Tokyo 2020 Gold Medallist Matthew Wearn (SSL Skipper Rank #10) gained a valuable 1000 SSL Ranking points in the Men’s ILCA 7 class at the Test Event, which has lifted his ranking two places. He had an epic battle throughout the week with Micky Beckett but used all his experience to win and show he’s on track to defend his Olympic title next year.
There was a huge rise of five places for France’s Camille Lecointre (SSL Skipper Rank #15) after her win in the Mixed 470 Dinghy Class in Marseille with crew Jeremie Mion. The home nation had a superb Test Event and will go into the Olympics with much confidence.
Italy’s Gianluigi Ugolini (SSL Skipper Rank #17) also jumped up five places after collecting the full 1000 SSL Ranking points with a win in the Nacra 17 class at the Test Event with crewmate Maria Giubilei.
The Netherlands Marit Bouwmeester (SSL Skipper Rank #21) absolutely dominated the Women’s ILCA 6 class in Marseille, winning Gold before the Medal Race even began. Bouwmeester has the chance to overtake Hannah Mills (GBR) as the most decorated female Olympic sailor of all time at Paris 2024.
There were some huge gains outside the top 25 as well.
Denmark’s Anna Livbjerg (SSL Skipper Rank #27) won the Europe dinghy World Championship, held in Vallensbaek, Denmark, moving up a massive sixteen places.
Germany’s Paul Kohlhoff (SSL Skipper Rank #30), sailing with crew Alica Stuhlemmer, finished just outside the medals at the Paris 2024 Test Event, gaining 625 SSL Ranking points, which moved him up ten places.
The other big mover in the top 50 was Finland’s Sinem Kurtbay (SSL Skipper Rank #38). Sailing with crew Akseli Keskinen, she finished second in the Nacra 17 class at the Test Event, where the 875 Ranking points were enough to move her up ten places.
The SSL Rankings are updated every Tuesday and include 113,000 sailors (67,000 skippers and 47,000 crew), highlighting the world’s top inshore sailors across a huge range of classes. The SSL Global Ranking does not replace the rankings specific to each class but completes them, to offer a simple and attractive overview of inshore sailing to the general public.
Visit https://www.starsailors.com/ranking to view the full latest rankings.
Mark has been managing sailing websites since 1996, always being at the forefront of technology, and now manages the combined Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com network. He has covered events such as the International Moth World Championship and Cowes Week, focusing on the sailors' thoughts and words. Mark has been European Champion in the Farr 30 & J/24 class and has won numerous UK titles, and competes regularly in local and national events in dinghies and sportsboats.