| FORTALEZA, BRAZIL-(2-12-2005) From the 4-9 December, eight of Britain’s top Radial sailors will join in the international fight for the 2005 Laser Radial World Championship title in Fortaleza, Brazil.
This event marks the first Laser Radial World Championships to be held since the Radial gained status as an Olympic Class in November 2004. Replacing the Europe as the women’s single-handed Olympic class boat, the Radial has attracted both experienced and new Olympic campaigners from every continent including 32 nations from around the world.
With all of the world’s top ten Radial sailors registered to compete, the Team GBR sailors, four of which are ranked in the top 15 in the world, will be some of many vying for podium positions.
Team GBR member Lizzie Vickers, ranked number three in the world, presents a strong challenge to the 78 sailors that will be attending the Championships. After finishing second at the Holland Regatta, fourth at Hyeres week and a below par twelfth at the Radial Europeans Vickers will take to the water determined to establish herself among the medal winners.
Also joining the British line up is Athens Olympian Laura Baldwin. Baldwin has been competing in the Radial since the beginning of 2005 and is currently at the top of the Laser Association Radial rankings and ranked eleventh in the world by ISAF.
London 2012 hopefuls, Charlotte Dobson who is currently ranked tenth in the world and 2005 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World medalist Alison Young, have already proved they can manage the challenges of competing on a world level and will attend the Radial Worlds event to prove they can hold their own in senior level competition.
Completing the British team (the largest team at the event) are Andrea Brewster who is ranked fourteenth in the world, Colette Blair, Nicky Muller and Penny Mountford.
Racing begins on 4 December and continues through to 9 December. Further information and results can be found on the event website www.laserinternational.org/wrad2005/WR05index.htm.
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