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Several of the international sailors are not used to Perth's infamous strong winds - a city renowned for being one of the windiest in the world. Back home some of the athletes sail on lakes and two come from landlocked countries - Moldova and Paraguay.

Friends and ENP participants Anna Aile, of Latvia, and Rohini Rau, of India, had to work together to rig their boats with their sails fiercely flapping in the breeze (as pictured). ENP Head Coach Arthur Brett said the RS:X and Laser sailors today were practising starts and line-ups for competition.

After an intensive practice session on the water, the sailors attended the Retravision Warriors WA versus NSW Ford Ranger Cup Match, at the WACA Ground. The ENP athletes and Head Coaches were invited guests of the Western Australian Cricket Association.

Three of the athletes, Rohini Rau, of India, Qasim Abbas Rahtore, of Pakistan and silver medallist from the RPYC Mini Series on the weekend, Serbia's Dany Stanisic, yesterday spoke to television crews about their experiences at the Perth 2011 Emerging Nations Programme.

This formed part of a media conference, which Perth 2011 called to announce its second Perth 2011 ENP Intensive Training Session. During this conference, the three international athletes had the opportunity to speak with Retravision Warriors Coach Tom Moody, who showed strong support for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships Emerging Nations Programme.

Rau and Rahtore, from India and Pakistan respectively, come from cricket-loving nations. Rohini Rau spoke to cricket coach Tom Moody about her experiences with the sport in India. "Cricket is like a religion back home!" she said. "You guys are worshiped over there!"

Perth 2011 is grateful to the Western Australian Cricket Association for their support of the popular ENP Initiative.

About The Emerging Nations Programme

The Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) is designed to encourage and assist developing and emerging sailing nations to participate in the Olympic Sailing Competition, increase the number of participating ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) and subsequently the number of competitors at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. From this World Championship, it is hoped 'emerging' talent identified during the ENP will qualify to represent their country in sailing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Seven ENP intensive training camps to be held in WA between July 2009 and the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships in December 2011. Acclaimed Australian Olympic sailing coach Arthur Brett and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games gold medallist in the women's 470 class Belinda Stowell are guiding the athletes, sharing the knowledge and skill that has seen the pair help spearhead modern Australian Olympic sailing success.

Over the course of the seven ENP intensive training camps, up to 40 athletes from as many nations (not represented in any sailing discipline at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games), will be invited to Perth to improve their chances of earning a place in the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships through their involvement with the ENP.

The Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships Emerging Nations Programme is proudly supported by the Australian Federal Government and the Western Australian State Government.

Click here for further information on the Emerging Nations Programme.

The athletes taking part in the second ENP intensive training camp are:

Event	Event	Country	Class	Gender
Qasim Abbas Rahtore	Men's Windsurfer	Pakistan	RS:X	Male
Alexander Prakash	Men's Windsurfer	India	RS:X	Male
Alex Jones	Men's Windsurfer	Bermuda	RS:X	Male
Nicolas Lozano	Men's Windsurfer	Colombia	RS:X	Male
Dany Stanisic	Men's One Person Dinghy	Serbia	Laser	Male
Alexandr Denisiuc	Men's One Person Dinghy	Moldova	Laser	Male
Nik Azizan	Men's One Person Dinghy	Malaysia	Laser	Male
Andrew Lewis	Men's One Person Dinghy	Trinidad and Tobago	Laser	Male
Anna Aile	Women's One Person Dinghy	Latvia	Laser Radial	Female
Rohini Rau	Women's One Person Dinghy	India	Laser Radial	Female
Ivana Charbonnier	Women's One Person Dinghy	Paraguay	Laser Radial	Female

Find out more about the ISAF Sailing World Championships at www.sailing.org/isafworlds.