Buhl is one of seven competitors from Germany taking part in the Spanish city, having triumphed by 12 points when the competition was last staged in Melbourne in Australia in February 2020.

Australia's Tokyo 2020 champion Matthew Wearn has claimed a silver medal at the last three ILCA Standard Men's Championships, but will be absent from Barcelona along with his compatriot Tom Burton, the 2019 World Championship and Rio 2016 Olympics gold medallist.

His country's hopes rest on the shoulders of four members of the squad who finished in the top 15 at last month's European Championships in Varna in Bulgaria, including the under-21 world champion Zac Littlewood.

Cypriot Pavlos Kontides won back-to-back world titles in 2017 and 2018, and was an Olympic silver medallist at London 2012.

Tonči Stipanović of Croatia is likely to be another contender.

After securing a bronze at the World Championship in Melbourne last year, Stipanović earned silver for the second consecutive Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020.

His compatriot Filip Jurišić finished second at the European Championships, an event won by Michael Beckett of Britain with Hungary's Jonatán Vadnai claiming the bronze medal.

Joining Stipanović on the podium in the Japanese capital was Hermann Tomasgaard, who will aim to build on his bronze from the Olympics as one of seven Norwegian sailors in Barcelona.

A total of 139 sailors from 44 countries have entered the Championship, which features 12 races and is scheduled to last until next Wednesday (November 10).

The Championship is due to be followed by the ILCA Masters World Championships in Barcelona from November 11 to 20.