www.SPINNAKERWEB.net - ETCHELLS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2007 Etchells World Championship will be held in England on the Solent and will be hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club from its Cowes, Isle of Wight club house between 25 and 30 June. Crews must qualify for this regatta so only the very best teams from across the globe will compete and currently an entry of some 70 boats from eleven nations is anticipated.

The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club hosted the highly successful 2006 Etchells European Championship and its reputation for excellence in race management and outstanding hospitality made it the obvious choice to host the 2007 Worlds. PRO Tony Lovell, one of the UK's foremost race officers, will head up the race committee and the International Jury will be chaired by

Canada's Andy Wardle.

One man who doesn't have to face the selection procedure is current World Champion Jud Smith, from Marblehead, Massachusetts, who is automatically eligible to defend his title. One of North America's top sailors, Jud is a long time supporter of the Etchells and has won many previous titles including three Etchells North American Championships. Jud will be chartering a boat from Cowes based Etchells builder David Heritage and plans to spend time practising on the Solent in advance of the

Championship.

Another international competitor who has already qualified for the championship is New Zealand's rising star Alastair Gair and his young crew from Auckland, who came a close second to Jud at the 2006 Worlds in Perth and are the current New Zealand Etchells National Champions.

Although the UK qualifying trials have yet to be completed those hoping to be part of the strong British home team include Nils and Ante Razmilovic, whose brotherly rivalry in the class is legendary. Ante was top performing Brit at the 2006 Worlds finishing in third place and will be hoping for even greater glory in 2007. Nils wasn't able to attend the '06 Worlds so
definitely has something to prove this time around. Former Olympian Andy Beadsworth, who came fourth at the '06 Worlds, is another leading British candidate. Andy came to prominence as a youth in the Laser before going on to represent Britain in the Soling at the Savannah and Sydney Olympics and win no less than five British National

Match Racing Championships.

The Etchells World Championship racing will take place on the world renowned sailing waters of the central Solent on windward leeward courses. Immediately prior to the World Championship the Solent will also host the Etchells British National Championship, hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble. Racing will run from 16-18 June and although the boats will be based in Hamble they will race on the World Championship waters giving the crews ample opportunity for practise.

http://www.etchellsworlds2007.org

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