Freeport, Grand Bahama- Cool temperatures did not dampen the competitive sailing in Freeport, Grand Bahama with Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez of Spain jumping into the lead of the 49ers.
Although the mercury was low, the winds were up averaging 16-18 knots on the race course. The Spaniards reveled in the conditions posting 3-2-3 finishes with the Italian Sibello brothers stepping up to finish second in the qualifying with a 4-1-4. The British teams had a tough day with Stevie Morrision and Ben Rhodes slipping to third in the series after being caught under a black flag while John Pink and Rick Peacock received a DSQ in an altercation with Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen.
Conditions of shifty winds at the weather mark caused a few upsets in the days racing, mixing up the results. With the fleet now entering the finals on Thursday, the heat is on both on the water and in the expected increase in the air temperature.
Results at www.49erworlds.org as well as the Facebook: 49er World Championship page and Twitter. Int49er. Channel 49er, the latest video link for the 49er Class has video and interviews.
Seiko is the official sponsor of the 49er Class and title sponsor of the 2010 World Championships.
Freeport, Grand Bahama- The 2010 World Championships for the 49er and 29er Classes will be held in Grand Bahama, January 2nd - 9th. The event is hosted by the Grand Bahama Sailing Club. Races will be sailed off the Viva Fortuna beaches within the reef. Over 186 world class sailors will be here from around the world, from 29 countries so far, plus their supporters, coaches and officials. Skiff races are fast with the average race lasting 30 minutes. Typically 3-4 races are scheduled per class per day. Viewing will be easy from the Taino or Viva Fortuna Beach, or from Taino Beach.
Racing starts on Monday, January 4th at 10am, and continue through Friday.
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.
