KEY POINTS:
The race for the world title will be one of many battles happening on the water off Takapuna in the RS:X World Championships, which get under way this weekend.
200 of the world's best windsurfers have descended on Auckland for the regatta which will also double as Olympic trials for many competing countries.
Secretary of the International RS:X class Rory Ramsden said being an Olympic year there will be a number of "competitions within competitions" at the worlds.
With 25 per cent of spots left to be determined, several nations are still battling to qualify the class for the Olympics.
Meanwhile, for some countries who have already qualified there are several close contenders battling it out for the one spot to represent their country. Other countries may have earned a spot in the Olympic Games but have to finish in the top eight nations or in the top 10 places for their country to send them to Beijing.
"This isn't just a competition for the World Champs - we must be mindful of the fact that there is a lot going on at this regatta.
"A worlds like this truly only happens every four years. The results of this regatta will determine the fate of many sailors' Olympic dreams," Ramsden said.
In the men's competition, nine more countries will earn national qualification for this year's Olympics Games at this event. There are 21 countries represented at this World Championship that are yet to qualify for an entry. In total, 35 sailors will be on the start line in Qingdao.
In the women's competition, 13 nations are yet to qualify the class for the Games. They're battling it out for one of the seven spots that still remain in the 28-strong fleet at the Olympics.
Ramsden said with the limited spots remaining, there will be some interesting mid-fleet battles amongst those sailors fighting to qualify their country.
"A lot of the real action for qualification will be at the back of the gold fleet and towards the front of the silver fleet."
Thankfully, such complex equations don't apply for the New Zealand sailors at the regatta. Both the Kiwi representatives for Beijing have already been found with Tom Ashley in the men's and Barbara Kendall in the women's having won selection for New Zealand.
The pair's main brief this year is to concentrate on a strong result at the Olympics, but that has not lessened their drive to perform well at the worlds - particularly when the regatta is on their home turf.
The regatta gets under way proper on Sunday and will feature a maximum of 11 races over the seven days.
