| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(13-12-2005) There are only four days left until the start of the 2005 Sydney International Regatta (SIR), with plenty of talent ready to hit the water. This year’s event looks to be the most successful ever with over 200 entries from 13 countries received to-date, promising four days of colour and action on the Harbour.
Many of the internationals will be here to appraise the local competition as a prelude to Beijing in 2008, including Anthony ‘Nocka’ Nossiter who will be racing in the Finn class against up-and-coming sailor Josh Beaver and Ed Wright from the UK.
Well known Tornado sailor Darren Bundock is teaming up with Glenn Ashby with world number two, Leigh McMillan and William Howden also from the UK, and Iordanis Paschilidis and Trigonis Koscancinos from Greece also racing. Tornado newcomers Carolijn Brouwer and Sebastien Godefroid will also create some unease after a successful start to their Volvo 40 Extreme campaign.
A strong representation in the Laser fleet has Queenslander Brendan Casey being joined by Gosford sailor Tom Slingsby and Henrik Boguise from Sweden, Marc de Haas from the Netherlands, and Matias Del Solar from Chile.
Krystal Weir fresh from a successful fifth in the recent Laser Radial Worlds in Fortaleza, Brazil, will line up against fellow Victorian Laser Radial sailor Sarah Blanck, along with Nathalie Brugger from Switzerland.
470 hopefuls Mathew Belcher and Nick Behrens in the men’s division and Lauren Jefferies and Rike Ziegelmayer and Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson in the women’s divisions, will be using SIRs as preparation for their ongoing Olympic campaigns.
Number 1 ranked sailboarder Jonathan Bonnitcha will be racing the RS: X Board for the first time in a Sydney regatta.
Australian Athens Olympic representatives will be flying the Australian flag with 470 men’s crew Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page changing classes to race in the 49er class in this prestigious event.
Sydney International Regatta is the Sydney stop of the Sail Down Under series and will be hosted by the Woollahra Sailing Club with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron hosting the keelboat classes.
“This year’s SIRs is shaping up to a regatta full of action with 13 classes on the water for the four days of racing. SIRs is an important regatta for the Australian Olympic campaigners and gives them the ideal opportunity to race against their international colleagues,” commented Regatta Director Sam Crichton.
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