Peter Burling and Blair Tuke will defend their 49er crown ©Getty Images

Sailing spots at Rio 2016 will be up for grabs at the Nacra 17, 49er and 49erFX World Championships which begin in Clearwater Beach in Florida tomorrow.

With countries entitled to just a single spot in Olympic competitions in Rio, many countries have opted to send their best performers on American water over the next few days to Brazil.

Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United States will all use this system in the men's 49er, with Denmark, Germany, the US, Australia, France and Canada doing the same in the women's 49erFX.

In the mixed Nacra, France, the US and Italy will be among the countries using the event to select their Rio representatives.

World titles will, of course, be on offer as well with New Zealand's defending champions Peter Burling and Blair Tuke set to defend their 49er crown.

Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen will also be contenders in the 49er class
Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen will also be contenders in the 49er class ©Getty Images

The 2014 World Sailors of the Year will battle against London 2012 gold medallists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen of Australia.

Both of these teams are helmsman and trimmers for America’s Cup teams - Team New Zealand and Artemis Racing respectively.

The 49erFX class is new to the Olympics with New Zealand's world Champions Alex Maloney and Molly Meech among the crews in good form.

Rio will also see the Games debut of the Nacra, with the French crew of Billy Besson and Marie Riou the reigning world champions.

The World Championships will run until February 14, with more than 120 teams competing.