Australians set for Chicago Etchells Worlds 2008
Ten Australian skippers and their crews are among a huge fleet of 84 boats contesting the 2008 Etchells World Championship in Chicago, starting this coming Friday, 21 June. 
'Peter McNeill - 2004 Etchells World Champion'
Peter Campbell ©
The weeklong Worlds have attracted a star-studded international fleet from Australia, Bermuda, Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and from fleets throughout the United States.
Among the entrants are four past World Champions, Andy Beadsworth (2007) from Cowes, England, Jud Smith (2006) from Oriental, USA, Peter McNeill (2004) from Lake Macquarie, Australia, and Vince Brun (2000) from San Diego, USA.
In addition to Peter McNeill, other Australians competing are Stephen Ingate, Matt Whitnall and Jan Muysken from the Sydney fleet, Steve O'Rourke from the Botany Bay fleet, Terence (Bill) Steele, Michael Manford and Rob Bird from the Swan River fleet, Jake Gunther from the Melbourne fleet and Bryon Ehrhart from the Geelong fleet.
Melbourne will host the 2009 Etchells World Championship on Port Phillip in 2009.
World Sport Chicago, an arm of the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid, is presenting the 2008 Worlds at the Chicago Yacht Club's Belmont Station as part of its campaign to bring world-class Olympic sporting events to Chicago.
by Peter Campbell 
Turners Beach, TAS
