Inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup series -Melbourne
Sail Melbourne International Regatta ©
Hot off the heels of sensational Australian sailing success in Qingdao (2 gold and 1 silver), the International Sailing Federation has announced it will stage an inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup series - its first port of call, the prestigious Sail Melbourne Regatta in December this year.
International and Olympic sailors from all over the world will converge on Melbourne for the first leg of the series in its new timeslot - December 16-21.
The series will incorporate existing major sailing events all over the world, kicking off in Melbourne, followed by the Rolex Miami OCR, USA; the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, in Spain; the Semaine Olympique Francaise, in France; the Delta Lloyd Regatta, in the Netherlands and culminating at Kiel Week in Germany.
ISAF President G?ran PETERSSON is extremely excited about the inaugural World Cup Series, designed to attract Olympic Class sailors headed for the 2012 London Games.
'The ISAF Sailing World Cup will bring a new focus to Olympic sailing, demonstrating the excitement, skill and passion of the sport. It will give Olympic sailors a clear annual competition structure, the media a definitive series to feature and sponsors exposure across a host of top quality events that will be at the forefront of the sailing calendar,' Petersson said.
Yachting Victoria CEO Ross Kilborn is equally excited about Melbourne's World Cup coup.
'The opportunity to host a round of the Sailing World Cup is a huge compliment to the clubs, volunteers and supporters of Sail Melbourne, who in just a decade have built its reputation to equal that of the famous, century old events that are also part of this exciting new ISAF series.,' Kilborn said.
Also attached is a Sail Melbourne flyer further explaining the event to be held at Sandringham Yacht Club from December 16-21 this year.
Major sponsors: Victorian State Government, Parks Victoria, Bayside City Council, Helly Hansen, Yachting Australia
For more information on the event please visit www.sailmelbourne.com.au.
by Jodi Kelly 
sunrise beach, QLD
