BRITISH sailors will be out in force at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, starting today.

Some 34 British boats and 52 sailors will contest the French regatta, as the World Cup format moves from open entry to a smaller, more elite series of 40 boats in each of the 10 Olympic classes.

Portland-based Giles Scott, pictured, will be attempting to acquire one regatta title that’s missing from an otherwise impressive CV in the Finn class. Weymouth windsurfer Nick Dempsey is confirmed for the RS:X men’s event.

Bryony Shaw, who trains at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, and the 470 Men’s pairing of Portland-based Luke Patience and Elliot Willis will be aiming for consecutive World Cup victories. Shaw is part of the RS:X women’s line up.

The 49er class will also see a four-boat British entry including world number two pairing John Pink and Stuart Bithell.

The women’s double-handed events will see Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark, Sophie Weguelin and Eilidh McIntyre, and Amy Seabright and Anna Carpenter on the 470 women’s start line, with Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth alongside Kate Macgregor and Mary Rook in the 49erFX skiff event.

In the Paralympic classes, Helena Lucas, Portland’s Megan Pascoe and Will Street will be fighting it out in the 2.4mR.