An unnamed Asian city is also interested in bidding but missed the deadline.

Candidates had until March 1 to formally declare their interest in staging the Championships although it is believed the ISAF may be set to consider the late bid.

It is due discuss the matter at a meeting of the ISAF 2018 World Championships Evaluation Panel, scheduled to take place this week.

Of the three Championships to date, two have been held in Europe and one in Australia while this year's event is due to take place in Santander in September.

All three cities that have expressed an interest in the 2018 World Championships lost out to Santander three years ago when the ISAF awarded hosting rights to the Spanish city.

ISAF vice-president Chris Atkins is expected to chair a meeting of the Evaluation Panel on March 25 at the governing body's headquarters in Southampton where all the candidates will present their plans.

The Panel will then produce a report, and is expected to recommend the host city to the ISAF Executive Committee at its mid-year meeting on May 10, when the Committee will either accept the recommendation or ask the Panel to review its decision.

Speaking after submitting the Aarhus bid, President of the Danish Sailing Association, Hans Natorp claimed the construction of the new Aarhus International Sailing Centre, due to be completed by the middle of 2016, the perfect way to inaugurate the new facilities would be by hosting the World Championships.

The last edition of the ISAF Sailing World Championships took place in Perth in 2011 ©Getty Images



"The 2018 ISAF Worlds will be a hugely important event for Olympic sailing and we believe that Aarhus can give this great event the stage it deserves," said Natorp.

"Denmark is a sailing nation, sailing has won more Olympic medals than any other sport in Denmark.

"Aarhus, with the coming Sailing Centre and its beautiful bay is the ultimate arena for the World Championships.

"We look forward to presenting our bid in Southampton."

Aarhus has previously held a number of major international sailing events, including the 2008 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships and the 49er & 49erFX European Championships last year.

In 2010, the Hague hosted the 470 World Championships, while last year the 49er and 49er FX World Youth Championships took place in Gdynia which is also set to host this year's 420 Junior Sailing World Championships.

The ISAF World Championships were launched in 2003 when Cadiz staged the inaugural event which was followed by Iberian neighbour Cascais, Portugal in 2007.

The 2011 edition was held in Perth and this year's event is expected to attract more than 1,400 sailors from over 80 countries to the north coast of Spain.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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