Sunday, October 25, 2009

GBPA is the official 'Gold Sponsor' of International Sailing Championships




The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) and Group of Companies, recently donated $12,000 to the Grand Bahama Sailing Club, becoming official gold sponsors of the upcoming 29er and 49er World Championships. For the first time, the International 49er and 29er Classes are bringing their World Championships to The Bahamas. The 2010 international sailing championships will be held in Grand Bahama, out of the Viva Wyndam Fortuna Resort, January 2 - 9.

Making the presentation on behalf of the Port Group of Companies was Hannes Babak, Chairman of GBPA. "The hosting of this event is a landmark achievement not only for the island of Grand Bahama but the entire Bahamas.

"Once again, our beautiful shores, facilities and people, will be broadcast to the world. Therefore, GBPA is more than happy to assist by providing funding for the hosting of such an event of this magnitude," Babak said.

The world-class event will be sailed under the auspices of The Bahamas Sailing Association and hosted by the Grand Bahama Sailing Club. About 150 boats are expected to participate with some 350 sailors.

The sailors, their families, support crews and race officials will be guests of the Viva Wyndam Fortuna Resort during the week of the races.

Accepting the donation was Joe Thompson, Com-modore, Grand Bahama Sailing Club, who expressed gratitude to GBPA for their support. "We have heard from competitors who are shipping their boats in from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Argentina, to name a few. Some crews are arriving up to a month before the event to train," Thompson added.

According to Grand Bahama Sailing Club officials, The Bahamas expects to field entrants in the 2010 29er World Championship, including International Sailing Federation Youth World participant, Donico Brown.

It is hoped that through sponsorship donations, a number of boats will be able to remain in The Bahamas after the regatta to become part of a strong sailing tradition in the country and to train future Olympic sailing athletes.


Current Entrants

   
Skipper
Boat Name
Sail#
Class
Hometown
Yacht Club
1.
John Pink
Skandia Team GBR
GBR2
49er
Hill Head, Fareham

2.
Tobias Schadewaldt
Knackiges Vergnügen
961
49er
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

3.
Santiago Silveira

URU1084
49er
Montevideo, Montevideo

4.
Lauri Lehtinen
Team Fazerin Sininen
1060
49er
Espoo, Espoo

5.
Nico Luca Marc Delle Karth
Sissi, Hobas, BMW, Tiwag
AUT 5
49er
Innsbruck, Tirol

6.
Will Phillips
Wooden Boat Shop
AUS 15
49er
Sorrento, VIC

7.
Francisco Piccini
ARGENTINA
TBC
49er
Capital Federal, Buenos Aires

8.
Ryan Seaton
wee gem
1032
49er
carrickfergus, Co.Antrim

9.
Allan Noergaard
Team 49er
DEN1123
49er
Christiansfeld, Jylland

10.
Leopold Fricke

915
49er
Rimsting, Bavaria

11.
Dyen Emmanuel
BANQUE POP CAGNES SUR MER
FRA8
49er
AIX LES BAINS, SAVOIE

12.
Stevie Morrison
Stevie Morrison
GBR4
49er
Exmouth, Devon

13.
MARCUS SPILLANE
SEIKO VELATURA
961
49er
ROCHESTOWN, CORK

14.
Andrew Chapman

AUS1142
49er
Sydney, NSW