Competitor numbers are predicted to reach 800 in the 10 Olympic fleets and the 2.4 Norlin One Design competition in a bid to be crowned 2016 Sailing World Cup champion.

Australia out-performed the rest of the world in sailing at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and three of their four medal winning teams are due to in action on home water next week.

Laser gold medallist Tom Burton, 470 silver medallists Mat Belcher and Will Ryan and Nacra 17 silver medallists Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin lead the hosts' charge.

In addition, the event will see over a dozen Olympic medallists from Rio 2016 compete, including Olympic Laser Radial gold medallist Marit Bouwmeester of The Netherlands and Laser Men's silver medallist Tonci Stipanovic of Croatia.

The Sailing World Cup Final officially opens tomorrow with a host of on and off-water activities planned for locals, while racing is scheduled to get underway on Tuesday (December 6) and last until December 11.

Perhaps the most interesting battle in Melbourne will be between Burton and Stipanovic in the laser competition.

A heated match race at a 2015 World Cup event in France saw Stipanovic suffer a decisive disqualification that ultimately handed Burton the overall victory.

The squabble also led to a feud between the pair that only calmed in the months leading up to Rio 2016. 

Burton once again came out on top in the Brazilian city, this time after a stunning move on Stipanovic before the start line of the medal race forced his opponent to make a crippling penalty turn.

"He's definitely not someone I would go hang out with generally," said Burton.

"I think it's because we have more of a rivalry than other people I might hang out with normally.

"We have had some situations in the past where we've both been battling for regatta wins and we did have a bit of a falling out.

"But we got over that just before the Olympics. 

"There's definitely a mutual respect there that's quite healthy now and we both know each other's abilities quite well."

On the concluding weekend of the final the public and those who missed out on a finals place can watch the deciding race of every class free of charge.

There will also be live entertainment on December 11 before the medal presentations on the main stage will bring the event to a close.

Trophies and AUD$200,000 (£117,000/$149,000/€139,000) in prize money will be divided up and presented to the Sailing World Cup Final and overall series winners.