43 campaigns from 18 nations

The Soling Worlds to begin soon in Scarlino, Italy

43 crews from 18 nations and 3 continents will race in Maremma at La Marina di Scarlino, Italy at this year's Soling World Championship.

Measurement procedures have begun. These are being coordinated by Swiss Jean Pierre Marmier and Italians Tafuro and Pasquesi, with the aid of the volunteers of the Club Nautico Scarlino. Following three days of measurement five days of racing are scheduled.

The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday in the majestic medieval castle of Scarlino and Alessandra Sensini, Italian windsurf Olympic champion will preside over the inauguration. This outstanding athlete born and raised in Maremma has just won Olympic silver in Qingdao, China - her fourth Olympic medal.

43 teams from 18 different nations and three continents will be facing off on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Gulf of Follonica over 14-18 September: Germany, Austria, United States of America, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Hungary, Slovenia, Great Britain, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Nederland, Norway and Italy will be represented. A total of 130 competitors plus spouses and friends will be enjoying the last days of summer on the Tuscan coast.

The Race Committee presided by Luigi Cuccotti and by the director of the Club Nautico Scarlino Carlo Tosi will fire the start gun for race 1 on Sunday 14 Sept at 1300. Nine races are scheduled.

The International Jury is presided by the Italian Pasquale Teri and its members are Joao Pedro Cascais (Portugal), Rudi Durrer (Switzerland), Svet Tenev (Bulgaria) and Giuseppe Lallai (Italy).

On the eve of the event the odds seem to favour Brazilian Georges Nehm, current World Champion after having won the title in Buenos Aires in 2007, Argentinean champion Martin Busch, Hungarian Gyorgy Wossala, German Roman Koch (World Champion in 2005 in Castiglione della Pescaia, Maremma) and Slovenian Antoncic (2007 European Champion)

The Soling World Championship has been organised by the Club Nautico Scarlino, in collaboration with the International Soling Association, the International Sailing Federation, the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) and the committee Circoli Velici della Costa Etrusca.

The event has the patronage and support of the Province of Grosseto, the Municipality of Scarlino, La Marina di Scarlino and Consorzio Etruria.