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'The Squadron is turning on a 'carnival for sailors',' says Etchells Sydney fleet captain Peter ALEXANDER, 'and it has drawn the best Etchells sailors in the nation.'

Peter McNEILL, from the Lake Macquarie fleet, won the 2004 World Etchells championship at Mooloolaba last August and this will be his first major competition since that victory.

John BERTRAND, although based in Melbourne, has a special affinity for Sydney Harbour while the Harbour has been the scene of many of Iain MURRAY's sailing triumphs.

Among other Sydney sailors competing will be young match racing champion Michael DUNSTAN at the helm of Sir James HARDY's Foolhardy, while Olympian and Yngling World champion Neville WITTEY is returning to the three-crew Etchells class after an offshore racing stint,

America's Cup sailor Michael COXON and Will McCARTHY have yet to decide who will steer their boat, while other entrants include defending Australian champion Mark BULKA from Mornington in Victoria and Glen COLLINGS, also from Mornington, who finished third in the 2004 World championship.

Among the Queenslanders competing are Mark BRADFORD while Julian PLANTE will be anxious to make up for his luckless fourth in the World championship which saw him lose third place to Collings following a turn-around by the International Jury.