On Friday the World Championships of the Star sailing class commenced in Miami, Florida. The event has additional importance as it is the 2nd and final opportunity foe qualification for the 2008 Olympic Games. 4 nation spots are available and there are three crews competing to secure one spot for Ireland.
Video @ http://www.sailing-tv.tv/sailingtv.html
Miami, April 11 to April 17 (scheduled to finish Thursday)
Irish campaign begins with encourging performances
4 Olympic Places up for graps in Florida in 6 Race Championships
On Friday the World Championships of the Star sailing class commenced in Miami, Florida. The event has additional importance as it is the 2nd and final opportunity foe qualification for the 2008 Olympic Games. 4 nation spots are available and there are three crews competing to secure one spot for Ireland.
The first race in a six race programme saw excellent performances by all three Irish crews. Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks finsihed 7th in the 104 boat regatta. This outstanding performance left the Irish crew in the 3rd of the 4 nation qualification spots behind Bermuda and Switzerland. It is early in the week long regatta but demonstrates what a competitive
Olympic qualification this will be.
Max Treacy & Anthony Shanks, 7th
Peter O'Leary & Stephen Milne, 19th
Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell & Ben Cooke, 30th
12 Nations qualified already in the Star class for 2008 Olympics.
11 from 2007 worlds in Portugal, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, USA and the host China.
Ireland has already secured 3 nation places in 11 of the competition categories for the 2008 Olympci regatta: Finn, Laser Radial and 470.
More information at
http://www.starworlds2008.com/
