More output than you can shake a stick at

Details of next week's ambitious Skandia Sail for Gold Olympic classes regatta

With less than a week to go until the second edition of the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta kicks off, entry numbers are already up from last year. 292 competitors from 15 different nations are entered to compete in the nine classes. More International entries are anticipated before the entry deadline on Monday 17th September.

Top international entrants include Spain’s Rafael Trujillo, current ISAF Finn World Champion and Swede Daniel Birgmark, ranked 4th in the world. The RSX women’s fleet will be highly competitive, with five out of the worlds top ten windsurfers competing.

Skandia Team GBR sailors who will be looking to show they are hard to beat on home waters and add to their current tally of medals include; 49er World, European and Pre-Olympic Champions Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes; Laser European and Pre-Olympic Champion Paul Goodison; 470 pre-Olympic silver medallists Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield and RS:X 8.5 pre-Olympic gold medallist Bryony Shaw.

Nine Olympic classes are competing in this year’s event, on four courses in Weymouth Bay. Paralympics classes have not been included in this year’s event due to the clash with their World Championships in Rochester, USA. There will also be no racing for the Yngling or Star keelboats this year. All the classes will be incorporated into future event.

To watch, hear and read about the action as it happens, a new event website with interactive multimedia content has been launched. Features include, a free daily podcast service, up to the minute breaking news and live event radio.

The medal races on Sunday 23rd will see a live TV broadcast with 3D animation and tracking, available both online and at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Plus visitors to the Southampton Boat Show will be able to catch up with the daily news on the big screen. The onscreen animation will allow viewers to know instantly who is in the medal positions. Expert commentators will include BBC’s sailing commentator Richard Simmonds, journalist Matt Sheahan and Americas Cup sailor Andy Green.

Live radio commentary will be available on the site from Thursday 20th September and broadcast locally on 87.7 FM for the Weymouth and Portland residents.

Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta 2007 website: http://www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk

Schedule
Tuesday 18th Sept Event Office opens for registration
Wednesday 19th Sept Racing all classes (1st race not before 1100)
Thursday 20th Sept Racing for all classes, Qualification races
Friday 21st Sept Racing for all classes, Qualification races
Saturday 22nd Sept Racing for all classes Qualification races
Sunday 23rd Sept Finals Races