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Worlds Preview: Japan to send Full 470 Team
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| 470 World Championships - Worlds Preview: Japan to send Full 470 Team |
SAN FRANSISCO, USA-(24-4-2005) After the outstanding success of Japan's 470 class team at the Athens Olympics, Japan will be sending a full team of 6 Men's teams and 4 Women's Teams to the 2005 Int470 World Championships, St. Francis YC in San Francisco August 19-28 2005.
With Kazuto SEKI and Kenjiro TODOROKI's Bronze Medal in the 470's in Athens, the 400 strong 470 fleet in Japan has found new life. Training has been underway in the Asian 470 Sailing powerhouse since February with a National team formed and under the careful eye of Aiko Saito.
At this early stage entries already include Holland, Australia, Russia and France. Spain's Silver Medallist Women's teams are sure to be starters and there is hope that 2003 ISAF Sailor of the year and Europe Dinghy Gold Medallist Siren Sundby will make an appearance in her new class.
Missing will be 4 times World Champions and 470 Hall of Fame members, Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE), taking a year off after their Gold Medal performance in Athens. In fact their only appearance this year will be the Mediterranean Games in Spain in late June.
Asian Teams will be leaders in San Francisco with China pledging a team.. Another 35 470's are due to be delivered into China this year and excitement is growing ahead of the 2006 470 Worlds that will be held in Rizhou following the 2006 Pre-Olympic test event.
Shipping specialists Schenker have made special arrangements to enable teams to pack following the Intl. 470 European Championship in Poland and arrive in Oakland in time to join the Regatta Schedule that the US 470 Class Association has put together...
Teams can make the most of their trip to the USA with 3 regattas planned..
The 470 US National Championships August 7-10 Santa Cruz Yacht Club, Santa Cruz www.scyc.org
The 470 North American Championships August 12-16 Bay View Boat Club, San Francisco, CA www.bvbc.org
and finally The 470 World Championships August 19-28 St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco www.stfyc.com
150 Teams from 45 Nations contested the last 470 Worlds in Croatia and competition is expected to be just as tough in San Fransisco.
NOR is available at: http://www.470.org/worlds05/index.php
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Source: Darren Dunkley Smith |
