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The Official
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www.sailing.org |
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2005 was certainly a special year for ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year Ellen MACARTHUR (GBR) and... © DPPI |
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...Fernando ECHAVARRI and Anton PAZ (ESP) © Jonathan Drake/ Getty Images |
ISAF President Göran PETERSSON's (SWE) first year in the top job has seen him undertake a daunting schedule to stay ahead of the rapidly changing game. As 2005 draws to a close, the dust from the ISAF Annual Conference settles and the sailing calendar winds down, sailors can look ahead to exciting times in the future across the entire spectrum of the sport. For the Olympic Classes, a new format will present new challenges and new excitement at the Olympics in Qingdao, whilst the ISAF World Cup set for a start in 2007 will focus interest in Olympic sailing throughout the Olympic quadrennial.
In the match racing world the introduction of the Louis Vuitton Acts has seen the glitz, glamour and top level sailing talent of the America's Cup travel around Europe to huge audiences. In contrast to the tactical battle of boat versus boat racing, sailing's adrenaline junkies have been pushing the boundaries of speed, breaking records through the year and getting ever closer to the elusive 50 knot barrier.
In the offshore world, the fame garnered by this year's glut of record breakers is drawing the eye not just of the sailing world, but the world at large whilst windsurfers across the globe have been getting to grips with their new Olympic equipment the RS:X.
Exciting times lie ahead, and the events of 2005 have done much to shape them. Over the course of December www.sailing.org will be looking back at the year past, casting an eye over the wide world of sailing and celebrating the many achievements of the past twelve months.
The ISAF Year In Review will be divided into five parts published each Friday in December as detailed below. Each part will be accompanied by a photo gallery illustrating the exploits of all involved with a final Year In Pictures to be published on New Year's Day.
You can subscribe to receive each part of the ISAF Year In Review directly to your inbox via ISAF Sailor.