| KIEL, GERMANY-(21-6-2005) For one week in June over 400 Olympic class sailors from 50 countries will descend on Kiel, Germany, for the Kiel Week sailing regatta. Kiel Week marks the last of the major European Olympic Multi-Class Regattas of the year. With Olympians, European Champions and World Champions in the mix, there will be some very tough competition and some tight racing.
Sarah Ayton is certainly one to watch. After winning gold in Athens, Ayton has moved on to helm a Yngling of her own and has quickly moved up the rankings at each event she has attended. Sailing with Annie Lush and Lisa McDonald, Ayton recently took a gold medal at the Holland Regatta and will be looking to do it again during Kiel Week. However, she will have to fight hard as the British Yngling team go up against Ruslana Taran from the Ukraine, who took the silver medal at the Athens Olympics and finished in a close second to Ayton in Holland.
Currently ranked number one in the world, Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks will also be on the water in Kiel. Returning to competition in May, the pair has been sailing well, recently winning the RYA National Ranking Series event at Hayling Island. After a disappointing fifth place finish in Holland, Draper will be hoping to place in the top three at Kiel. Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, who recently placed first at the Holland Regatta, will also be sailing in the 49er fleet.
Both the Laser Radial and the Laser fleets continue to field a high level of competition and will be jam-packed with old and new talent. In the Radials, recently replacing the Europe as the women’s Olympic Class single handed boat, Athens Olympian Laura Baldwin, former Youth Squad member Charlotte Dobson and Lizzie Vickers, who is currently ranked third in the world, will all be sailing in the Kiel Week Regatta. In the men’s Laser, Nick Thompson, the ISAF Youth World Champion will be competing against seasoned sailors such as Athens Olympian Paul Goodison.
Other sailors to note include Ed Wright competing in the Finn and Helen Lucas in the 2.4 meter.
Olympic Manager, Stephen Park commented, “As result of recent 470 and Tornado Championships, we will be sending a reduced team size to the Kiel Regatta. We are sure that Kiel Week will provide a tough test for both our development squad and our old hand sailors.”
The event begins on Wednesday 22 June and continues through to Sunday 26 June.
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