Melges head for Marstrand

Fiona Brown previews this week's World Championship

This week 83 Melges 24 crews from 14 nations and three continents are making their way to Marstrand, Sweden to compete in the 2004 International Melges 24 World Championship from 9-13 August. Crews from as far a field as Australia and California will join the top European teams for what promises to be another very closely fought regatta.

Reigning World Champion Shark Kahn, who turns 15 today, will be back with his victorious 2003 crew of Richard Clarke, Mark Christensen, Brian Hutchinson and Brian Lee to defend his title. Among those leading the charge to divest Shark of his crown are 2001 World Champion Flavio Favini, reigning European Champion Luca Santella, 2001 European Champion Cedric Pouligny, Sebastien Col, Keith Musto, Rob Smith, Stuart Rix, Kristoffer Spone and Shark's father Philippe Kahn.

Five time Finnish Open Champion Kenneth Thelen has his sites set on winning a record third Corinthian (amateur) World title whilst Norwegian Kristian Nergaard will be equally keen to pip him to the post to take a second Corinthian win.

Ten races are scheduled over five days on windward leeward courses just to the West of Marstrand Island. The championship is being hosted by the Marstrands Segelsällskap from their amazing clubhouse located in a fort at the entrance to the harbour. Crews will receive a generous Scandinavian welcome with plenty of opportunities to sample Marstrand's legendary apres sailing opportunities each evening.

Entries

AUT531	Michael Schineis
BA152	Marc Ryan
ESP212	Sven Lindahl
FIN214	Esa Harjulahti
FIN236	Kenneth Thelen
FIN253	Jaakko Perimaa
FIN262	Risto Ajanko
FIN316	Johan Neovius
FIN328	Sam Öhman
FIN425	Samuel Thesleff
FIN434	Petri Karto
FIN437	Mathias Dahlman
FIN476	Peter von Koskull
FIN529	Sami Ekblad
FRA170	Follin Adrien
FRA173	Jossier Nikolas
FRA193	Ronan Treussart
FRA252	Jean Paul Douchy
FRA321	Cedric de Kervenael
FRA369	Jermo Aubert
FRA375	Francois Le bourdais
FRA387	Vincent Sauleau
FRA422	Rémy Arnaud
FRA461	Dennis Infanti
FRA470	Sebastian Renault
FRA472	Jourdren Bruno
FRA503	Bernard Reynier
FRA571	Philippe Ligot
GBR190	Robert Corbally
GBR340	Simon Henning
GBR359	Keith Musto
GBR406	Stuart Simpson
GBR431	Quentin Strauss
GBR496	Joe Woods
GBR527	Simon Dobson
GBR554	Richard Thompson
GBR580	Paul Lovejoy
GER325	Jörn Petry
GER465	Christoff Nielsen
GER474	Günter Tzeschlock
GER537	Dietrich Scheder
GER582	Albert Batzill
ITA139	Nicola Celon
ITA409	Maurizio Abbà
ITA438	Enzo Bonini
ITA475	Zanchi Giulio
ITA490	Gianni Giordo
ITA550	Luca Santella
ITA562	Riccardo Diamanti
ITA564	Nicolò Sadelli
ITA579	Andrea Felci
ITA581	Luca Stefanini
MON429	Sogeti Isg
NED112	Razzle Dazzle
NOR249	Kristoffer Spone
NOR279	Jakob Nordenström
NOR307	Peder Bröndmo
NOR341	Erik Arthur
NOR343	Terje Kjaer
NOR349	Jens A. Wathne
NOR357	Carolina Toll
NOR366	Eivind Melleby
NOR374	Bjorn Mörland Pedersen
NOR402	Jörgen G Heje
NOR418	Herman Horn-Johannessen
NOR506	Geir Dahl Andersen
NOR560	Kristian Nergaard
SUI336	Jürgen Wittich
SUI382	Michael Good
SUI521	Franco Rossini
SUI578	Ruedi Huber
SWE145	Jakob Gustafsson
SWE172	Torsten Bergh
SWE230	Fredrik Rege
SWE235	Martin Alvefjord
SWE282	Gustaf Öhrn
SWE283	Jonas Nyqvist
SWE454	Fredrik Wenehult
SWE508	Claes Röjning
SWE532	Ingmar Sundstedt
USA???	Samuel
USA???	Philippe Kahn
USA525	Tim Fay