ABU Dhabi stages the first-ever ISAF Sailing World Cup Final, starting off Lulu Island today.

Some 27 British sailors are set to compete across 10 events at the inaugural season-ending World Cup Final, introduced by ISAF to provide a greater showcase of the annual elite Olympic Classes series.

The British contingent will join invited competitors from 38 other nations battling it out in the 10 Olympic classes, with an open kiteboarding event also forming part of the World Cup spectacle.

Sailors have qualified for the event via positions at the Santander World Championships, world ranking positions or via last month’s leg of the World Cup series in China.

While a number of British Sailing Team stars, including Portland-based Giles Scott and 470 pairings Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark and Luke Patience and Elliot Willis, have opted not to take up their invitations this time around, there will still be a heavy-hitting British cast in attendance.

All are going to be aiming for the podium spots and a share of the US $200,000 prize purse.

Weymouth’s double Olympic medallist and double world champion Nick Dempsey lines up in the RS:X men’s windsurfing event, joined by Podium Potential talent Tom Squires.

Portland-based Sophie Weguelin makes her competitive comeback with Eilidh McIntyre in the women’s 470 having been cleared to return after treatment for deep vein thrombosis.

Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves will be making their first foray into international competition together after joining forces in the Nacra 17 last month, with Lucy Macgregor and Andy Walsh also vying for British Sailing Team honours in the mixed multihull event.

Four-time world medallist Nick Thompson is in action in the hotly-contested Laser class, while Bryony Shaw, who trains at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, and Izzy Hamilton feature in the RS:X women’s windsurfing.

Four British 49er crews will be in attendance, with Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign, John Pink-Stuart Bithell, Dave Evans-Ed Powys and Stevie Morrison-Chris Grube all in the men’s skiff event.

Alison Young, Chloe Martin and Hannah Snellgrove complete the British line up in the Olympic classes, taking part in the women’s Laser Radial. The final medal races are scheduled for Sunday.