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3:40 AM Fri 9 Jan 2009 GMT
Great Britain's Ben Ainslie, one of the world's most decorated Olympic sailors, has signed on to join America's Cup winning skipper John Bertrand and Beijing Olympian Andrew Palfrey for an assault on the Audi Etchells Worlds to be sailed off Melbourne from 5-14 March.
Bertrand thinks the trio should make for a good team at the Worlds, even though Ainslie has not sailed the class before. They will get together for the first time just prior to the Etchells Nationals starting in Adelaide this coming Monday.
'Both Ben and I have been Olympic Finn sailors and we know each other. When she realised I had not decided on crew, Rasa, my wife, said to me: 'You've put so much time and effort into this campaign, why don't you ask Ben to sail with you?' So I rang Ben and he said yes, very positively.
'Then I rang Andrew Palfrey. He's a very focussed guy and he's an Olympic Star sailor and Etchells sailor,' says Bertrand who goes on to say: 'This is a terrific opportunity for me to learn from recent Olympic sailors - I look forward to learning from both of them.
'Obviously Olympic sailing has come a long way since my participation, so Andrew and Ben will have a lot they can teach me.'
Bertrand represented Australia at two Olympic Games in the Finn class, winning bronze at his second Games in Montreal in 1976, while Ainslie has so far won four Olympic medals; Laser Silver and Gold at the 1996 and 2000 Games respectively, then Finn Gold at both the 2004 and 2008 Games.
Although Palfrey did not medal in Beijing, he represented Australia at those Games as crew to Iain Murray in the Star class. This after just missing selection to the 1996 team in the Soling keelboat in which he won the 1997 Worlds.
The former Melbourne sailor, who has known Bertrand for years through upgrading Etchells, has also coached two Australian one-design yacht teams to title wins at the 2005 Farr 40 Worlds and the 2008 Mumm 30 Worlds.
Originally, the Nationals were not part of Ainslie's plans; however, as he will compete at the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series for America's Cup in February, Ainslie was able to fit the Etchells Nationals, from 9-16 January, into his program.
'It's been a breakthrough to get Ben to the Nationals in Adelaide, as it gives the three of us a week of hard sailing to prepare for the Worlds,' Bertrand remarks.
Andrew Palfrey says it's a great opportunity for the three of them. 'John's put a lot of time and effort in these Worlds, including ordering a new yacht from Ontario yachts in Canada.
'I've known him for a few years now. He rang and asked me to sail and I said 'done'. He's been a friend and mentor of sorts to Ben since just before the '99 Worlds in Melbourne where the two met.
On paper, it is a winning formula, but Bertrand, who has contested multiple major Etchells events, including multiple World Championships, knows they will face the 'Whose Who' of sailing at the Audi Etchells Worlds.
Commenting on the calibre of talent for the event, Joerg Hofmann, Managing Director of Audi Australia said: 'We absolutely encourage fierce competition at all of our sailing events.
'To be successful at any high level sport requires training and preparation - physical and mental - and the right strategy can make or break a team. This team of Bertrand, Ainslie and Palfrey looks hard to beat, but anything can happen out on the water and we look forward to seeing the battle unfold in Brighton.'
In the field are former and current America's Cup sailors, match racers and one-design champions, not to mention previous Etchells Worlds champions such as defending champion Andy Beadsworth from Great Britain, Judd Smith from the USA and Australians Peter McNeil (NSW) and John Savage (Vic).
America's Cup sailor Mark Bradford (Qld) and Skip Lissiman (WA), a crew member of Bertrand's winning America's Cup team in 1983, are amongst other strong contenders for the title.
The Audi Etchells World Championship, to be sailed on Port Phillip, is organised by the Melbourne Etchells Fleet in conjunction with the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, host of many Etchells championships including the Nationals in 2006.
Nine races are scheduled on windward/leeward courses commencing on March 9 and finishing on March 14.
Continuing its involvement with major Etchells regattas, SLAM is the Official Clothing Supplier for the 2009 Audi Etchells Worlds.
Follow the action at: www.audietchellsworlds2009.com.au/
by Di Pearson
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