| MOOLOOLABE, AUSTRALIA-(5-7-2004) The Sydney Etchells fleet's allocation for next month's Etchells World
Championship at Mooloolaba on the Queensland Sunshine Coast has been
increased to 11 boats, with the team now also including Sir James Hardy.
Sir James, the former America's Cup, Admiral's Cup, Olympic and World
Champion yachtsman who sails from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron will join
his son David in campaigning Foolhardy in the expected fleet of near 80
boats.
Sir James, Gordon Hinds with One Crowded Hour and Michael Bellingham with
Queen Anne's Revenge are the additional three skippers who will join the
original eight Sydney fleet qualifiers - David Clark (Little G), Michael
Coxon (North Sydney), John Dunn (Bald Eagle), Peter Gardner (Humpback), Rob
Weir (Argha Noah), Neville Wittey/Bruce Hollis (Yandoo XX), Phil Dash (Just
a Dash) and Ray Stone (Razor's Edge).
Entries for the World Championship close today with more than 60 boats
nominated by the weekend. With late entries accepted, the final line-up is
expected to be near 80 boats representing Etchells fleets through Australia
and from the USA, New Zealand, Italy, Hong Kong and Great Britain.
Other entries already received are from 1983 America's Cup protagonists John
Bertrand (Melbourne fleet) and Dennis Conner (San Diego fleet) and former
World champions Iain Murray (Pittwater), Cameron Miles (Pittwater) and John
Savage (Melbourne).
Mooloolaba Yacht Club this coming weekend will conduct the first of three
two-day pre-Worlds Regattas leading up the international event from 1-8
August.
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