The athletes from 39 nations will compete across 10 Olympic disciplines, along with an open kiteboarding event, in the United Arab Emirates capital from November 26 to 30 in the hope of becoming a World Cup champion and claiming a share of the $200,000 (£127,000/€160,000) total prize kitty.

Among the stars of the show will be this year's Female World Sailors of the Year Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze of Brazil, who have only finished off of the 49erFX podium once in the last 18 months.

They will, however, have to fight off the challenge presented by last year's world champions Alex Maloney and Molly Meech of New Zealand and Denmark's current European Champions Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen to taste glory.

Spain's London 2012 Olympic match racing gold medallist Támara Echegoyen and 2011 470 world champion Berta Betanzos will also compete within the 19-boat 49erFX fleet.

Charline Picon will be going for gold in the women's RS:X ©ISAF


World Sailor of the Year nominee Charline Picon of France will be one to watch in the women's RS:X as she looks to make it five regatta victories in a row while competing against the likes of Spanish Olympic champion Marina Alabau, London 2012 silver medallist Tuuli Petäjä of Finland and Polish Olympic bronze medallist Zofia Klepacka.

Volvo Ocean Race winner Franck Cammas of France will sail in the Nacra 17 fleet as he battles against compatriots Billy Besson and Marie Riou, who took the 2013 and 2014 world titles.

Also in the 17-boat fleet for the class will be the world number one pairing of Italy's Vittorio Bissaro and Silvia Sicouri.

Elsewhere, there will be 20 49er teams going for gold in Abu Dhabi, with strong contenders including Austria's Nico Delle-Karth and Nikolaus Resch, and Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis of France.

Franck Cammas is one of the big names in the Nacra 17 fleet ©ISAF


The world's top three ranked Finn racers, namely Björn Allansson of Sweden, Croatian Ivan Kljaković Gašpić and Jake Lilley of Australia respectively, will go against each other for the top spot in the class, which also features Slovenian two-time Olympic medallist Vasilij Žbogar.

Finally, reigning world champions Maxime Nocher of France and Briton Steph Bridge will be aiming for gold in the kite competition, where Bridge's son and current European champion Oliver Bridge will be among the field.

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