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Included on the event programme for the first time as a mandatory event, the Multihull Open event has attracted 22 of the world's top youth multihull sailors in Gdynia, Poland.

Included on the event programme for the first time as a mandatory event, the Multihull Open event has attracted 22 of the world's top youth multihull sailors in Gydnia, Poland.

Included as an optional Championship event for many years, it is only from 2004 onwards that the Multihull Open event is firmly fixed on the event programme.

A great fan of multihulls, and very much the accessibility offered by the Hobie 16, Paul generously offered to present what will become the perpetual trophy for the Multihull Open event. The Trophy is a traditional Canadian "Inuksuk", created by the native Inuit of Canada.

Speaking on his selection of the Inuksuk as the Multihull Open Trophy, Paul said, "The Trophy is created by the native people in Canada, who are very direct speaking people, which I honour very much. Not only does the Trophy have a spiritual meaning, the Inuksuk also had a practical use. Originally, they were used as a form of lighthouse, assisting the navigation through the Artic. The Inuksuk has a hole in the middle, and if you look through the hole, you will sight the next Inuksuk. It is a unique trophy to present to our youth.

On top of that, I am a great supporter of the multihull, as the sailors can't pump and rock, and it is a great event for the youth."

As well as the honour of holding the perpetual Trophy for a year, the helm and crew will each be given a smaller replica of the Trophy to keep.

Racing will conclude on Friday 16 July 2004, when the Trophy will be presented at the Closing Ceremony.

Inuksuk History
Inuksuit are among the most important objects created by the Inuit who were the first people to inhabit portions of Alaska, Arctic Cqnada, and Greenland. The term Inuksuk (the singular of Inuksuit) means 'to act in the capacity of a human'. It is an extension of Inuk, meaning 'a human being.

These stone figures were placed on the temporal and spiritual landscapes. Among many practical functions, they were employed as hunting and navigation aids, coordination points, indicators, and message centers. The Inuit also constructed a stone figure called an Inunnguaq which means 'in the likeness of a human'. In addition to their earthly functions, certain Inuksuk-like figures had spiritual connotations, and were objects of veneration, often marking the threshold of the spiritual landscape of the Inummariit -- the Inuit who knew how to survive on the land living in their traditional way.

So compelling was the desire of the Inummariit to create Inuksuit that they appear not only on the earthly landscape but in legends and stories, in figures that emerge from the movements of fingers playing string games; and in a winter-sky constellation Inuksuit are among the most important objects created by the Inuit who were the first people to inhabit portions of Alaska, Arctic Canada, and Greenland. The term Inuksuk (the singular of Inuksuit) means 'to act in the capacity of a human'. It is an extension of Inuk, meaning 'a human being'.

These stone figures were placed on the temporal and spiritual landscapes. Among many practical functions, they were employed as hunting and navigation aids, coordination points, indicators, and message centers. The Inuit also constructed a stone figure called an Inunnguaq which means 'in the likeness of a human'. In addition to their earthly functions, certain Inuksuk-like figures had spiritual connotations, and were objects of veneration, often marking the threshold of the spiritual landscape of the Inummariit -- the Inuit who knew how to survive on the land living in their traditional way.

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