A Real Taste of The Worlds

Not even the most optimistic forecasts by the organisers, Deporte Andaluz and the Mundo Vela Consoritum, regarding the number of boats taking part in the Carnival, hinted at such a high number of entries for the III Carnival Race, which will be held in the Bay of Cadiz, from 6 - 9 of March

The competition, which is considered to be the first real test of the organisational teams that will be involved in the 2003 ISAF World Sailing Championships in September this year, is going to be a real test event, thanks to the presence of teams from twenty two countries and the level of the sailors taking part.

Even though they are still over six months to the ISAF Worlds, which is considered to be the most important sailing event of the year, the waters of the Bay of Cadiz are already a training ground for some of the best sailors in the world, who want to learn every detail of the race areas, where they will be competing for the title of World Champions later this year.

Countries such as Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium, France, the United States, Austria, Greece, Russia, Canada, Poland, Ukraine, Holland, and, of course, Spain will be represented by some of their best sailors. One of the main reasons for taking part is for the sailors to get to know the respective class bases for the 2003 ISAF Worlds from the 11 to 25 September.

The race has attracted sailors such as Laser Sailor Paul Goodison (GBR and Ranked 1 in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings), and ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the year in 2002, Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE), currently leading the ISAF World Sailing Rankings in the 470 Class, without forgetting that some of the best teams in the world in the 49er class will also be taking part.

The twenty-three crews that have already confirmed their presence at the Carnival Race include names such as Iker Martínez/Xavier Fernández (ESP), Luka Rodino/George Leonchuk (UKR), Santi López/Javier de la Plaza (POR ), Paul Brotherton/Mark Asquith (GBR), Chris Draper/Simon Hiscocks (GBR) and Alister Richardson/Peter Greenhalgh (GBR), teams that will ensure a level of competition that is a true taster of the worlds.