149 Entries From 33 Countries

Tuesday sees first qualification races underway.

The 2001 470 Class World Championship sees 149 entries from 33 countries, exceeding the preliminary registrations, with 102 men’s and 47 womens entries.

On the start line will be many of the 2000 Olympic contenders and medallists, and no doubt this first World Championship since the Olympic Regatta will see pegging positions being established.

Whilst the 2000 Olympic and defending Champions King/Turnbull (AUS) and their major competition Foerster/Merricks (USA) are not competing, the other leading sailors are present, including the Olympic Bronze winner Conte/de la Fuente (ARG) who are currently placed 17th on the World Rankings, Rogers/Glanfield (GBR), Braslavets/Matvienko (UKR), and the current top ranked pairing of Kosmatopoulos/Trigonis (GRE.

In the women’s fleet, both Olympic Gold medalist Armstrong/Stowell (AUS) and defender of the title Bekatorou/Tsoulfa (GRE) are participating at the Championship.

As the first Worlds event since the 2000 Olympics, the 470 World Championship will no doubt be a starting point yardstick for many Athens 2004 campaigns.

Sadly, the local favourites, the twin sisters Janja and Alenka Orel, who are currently ranked 14th in the world, have had their hopes of a successful event scuppered as Janja has broken her right hand during a jybe whilst training.

The men will sail qualification races prior to being split into Gold, Silver and Bronze Fleets for the final series commencing on Thursday, whilst the women have started immediately into their series, with two races scheduled today.