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Up to Monday 19 May, the organization of the Delta Lloyd Regatta (former Holland Regatta) received 566 pre-entries. This annual ISAF Grade 1 event for sailors in the Olympic events starts on Wednesday 21 May with the final Medal Races to be sailed on Sunday 25 May. Over one thousand sailors, representing 58 countries, will battle it out on the IJsselmeer off the coast of Medemblik. The Laser lines up with the biggest fleet including 144 competitors, followed by the Laser Radial with 85 women. Except for the Finn and RS:X Men, all leaders of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings will start in Medemblik. The weather forecast looks positively with a moderate northeast breeze, which is expected to shift to the east.

"It is a strong fleet", said organizer Frans HIN. "Most of the qualified crews for Beijing are present, among which many top 20 ranked teams." Especially the 49er, Laser Radial and Tornado classes welcome their highest qualified sailors. In total, five current World Champions, eight European title holders and five Olympic gold medallists will line up for the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2008.

This year, people onshore can follow the competition in several ways. Starting times, early starts (OCS), finish times and top three results will be published continuously on the regatta website www.deltalloydregatta.org and on several indoor screens and a video wall in the harbour. During the Medal Races, ChampionChip Sailing will provide the Yngling and Finn classes with X5 Tracker devices that have to be carried onboard. The positions of those participants will be displayed online and on all screens. Those monitors, video wall and the event website also display daily video reports, produced by Topzeilen TV and during the Medal Races mark roundings and expected rankings will be updated directly from the water. Another new feature is the possibility to receive required results from a particular participant. This data will be sent by email after online registration.

Besides from title sponsor Delta Lloyd, the regatta 2008 is also sponsored by Volvo Cars Netherlands, Infotec, Provincie Noord-Holland, AD Sportwereld Pro, Heuvelman Sound & Vision, WeerOnline, Spa mineral water and ARMA Verhuur.

Delta Lloyd Regatta - www.deltalloydregatta.org