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18 May 2005, 02:46 pm

Melbourne Prepares

Formula Windsurfing World Championship 2005

Melbourne, Australia

As possibly the most exciting and visually spectacular sailing event to hit Melbourne, Australia for a very long time, the Sail Melbourne Formula Windsurfing 2005 World Championships are bound to be a huge event for both sailor and spectator alike.

With some of the fastest course-racing craft in the world reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots, all within a few hundred metres of the beach, the Formula Windsurfing World Championships looks set to impress. As a closed fleet with many of the world's best formula sailors currently chasing qualification points, the event is likely to attract 100-120 sailors from around the world to the Elwood Sailing Club in inner city Melbourne. The World Championships will be held from 12-17 December 2005 with a pre event warm up immediately beforehand on 10-11 December.

Sailing conditions in this corner of 'the bay' are ideal for formula racing with 15-20 knots cross onshore sea breezes and exciting rolling chop making for an exhilarating ride. Combined with the expanses of grass for rigging, the sweeping Elwood Beach and the popular walking and roller-blading promenade along its length and the event provides a terrific opportunity for the general public to come and watch the action.

A range of support and assistance programmes are being prepared covering anything from getting equipment to Melbourne through to low cost accommodation to make sailors feel welcome.

Sail Melbourne (As Amended By ISAF). Image, Action from last year's Oceanic Championship in Melbourne:© Sport the Library/Sail Melbourne

World Sailing TV

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.