| Australia. Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta kicks off with top sailing cast |
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| Saturday, 04 March 2006 | |
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Di Pearson: Over 200 boats will take to the Harbour today for the inaugural Audi Sydney Harbour due to get underway at 12.00pm. Never before have so many boats raced on the Harbour at one time and this will be a spectacular event, which is the brainchild of Middle Harbour Yacht Club at Mosman. Apart from the bigger boats like Bob Oatley’s 66 ft Wild Oats and Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki, others include former America’s Cup skipper Gordon Ingate steering his Dragon, match racing and world champion Nev Wittey and double Olympian Nicky Bethwaite, both sailing a Yngling and former 18ft skiff champion Peter Sorensen sailing in the fast exciting sportsboat Super 30 Class. A number of star sailors are aboard the 22 entries in the Sydney 38 class, also contesting their National Championship. Olympian and double world champion 470 sailor Nathan Wilmot will sail on Transfusion with his bride of one week, Shona Stewart, as will Paul Montague, his best man and crew member from multihull Geronimo that smashed the around Australia record last year. Triple Olympian and Sydney 2000 Bronze medal winner, Michael Blackburn will call tactics on Estate Master, which also features Nathan Wilmot’s double world winning crew, Malcolm Page. Michael Blackburn’s adversary for Olympic selection to Beijing, 21 year old Tom Slingsby is aboard champion yacht, Shining Sea and multiple Volvo Ocean Race competitor, Alby Pratt, will be aboard Acuity. The ’38 will sail on courses just off Sydney Harbour, either on the Manly Circle or Macquarie Circle. The Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta runs for two days, with more racing tomorrow and is sailed in conjunction with Sydney Harbour Week. Weather experts say to expect south to south-easterly winds in the 10-15 knot range, and although showers are expected this morning, sunshine is the call for the afternoon. www.sydneyharbourregatta.com |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 March 2006 ) |
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