Already 102 entries have been received
for the Laser Worlds, guaranteed to be one of
highlights of ISAF Grade 1 Olympic class regattas to be held
in Australia between December and February.
To be hosted by Gosford Sailing Club and sailed off Terrigal
from 7-13 February, nominations for the Laser Worlds have so
far been received from Austria, Barbados, Canada, Croatia,
Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Great
Britain Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, US Virgin
Islands, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Russia,
Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, USA and Venezuela.
Apart from Tom Slingsby, Australian Sailing Team member for
the Beijing Olympics, current world champion and World
Ranked No. 1, the remainder of the Australian contingent
will not be selected until after the 2008 Australian Laser
Championship at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron from December 27
to January 4 as part of Sail Melbourne.
It is anticipated that the Australian Laser Association
(ALA) will be allocated four places based on current
membership numbers, but as host nation, the ALA may be
allocated a further three to seven additional places as a
result of entry re-allocation.
Amongst those already entered, Slingsby will face off
against Paul Goodison (GBR), Andrew Murdoch (NZL), Michael
Leigh (CAN), Gustavo Lima (POR), Vasilij Zbogar (SLO), Luka
Radelić (CRO) and Deniss Karpak (EST), respectively World
Ranked 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Also entered is China’s Sheng Shen on his first visit to
Australia. Although well down the world rankings in 184,
Shen is China’s top rated Laser sailor. Like others, he will
be vying for a place into his nation’s Olympic team, the
Laser Worlds being final qualifier for selection to the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games.
Some entrants have already arrived in Terrigal and Sydney.
They are training to first compete at the Sydney
International Regatta, to be held from December 15-18 at
Woollahra Sailing Club, where some will also be vying for
places into their Olympic squads.
For all information, including the current entry list go to: http://aus08.laserinternational.org/
Further information:
Di Pearson,
2008 Laser Worlds media manager,
Phone: 0410 792 131
|
