Int 14 World Championships 2015 launch new event website

by Jav Greaves on 14 Apr 2014 The Royal Geelong Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Victorian 14 Footer Sailing Council, has launched the 2015 International 14 Class World Championship, to be held in Geelong, Victoria, between 3 - 17 January 2015, with the launch of the event website.

www.i14worlds2015.com

The International 14 Class Association awarded the Royal Geelong Yacht Club this significant World Championship event, which has not been held in Victoria since 1999.

The International 14 is one of the world’s oldest recognised and premier sailing classes. It is a two-person, two-trapeze skiff, with an unlimited area asymmetric spinnaker and 200 square feet of combined mainsail and headsail area. Carbon hulls and carbon rigs, now generally with square-head mainsails, give exceptional performance. While the relatively open class rules leave plenty of room for experimentation in design, encouraging continual innovation and development.

The championship has been programmed to lead into the Southern Hemisphere’s largest sailing event, Geelong’s Festival of Sails.

Royal Geelong Yacht Club Commodore, Ian Murray said, 'The Royal Geelong Yacht Club is delighted to host the 2015 International 14s World Championship. I would like to thank the International and Victorian Associations for showing their support for having the event in Victoria. I look forward to welcoming both National and International competitors to our great club and the City of Geelong. I can assure all participants that they will have great racing on the waters of Corio Bay with an afternoon sea breeze providing exciting conditions for sailing.'

The confirmed support of both State and Local Governments was pivotal in the success of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club bid.

The City of Greater Geelong is accustomed to hosting world stage sporting events, such as the UCI World Championship road cycling held in October 2010.

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons said it was a great coup for Geelong to secure the 2015 International 14 World Championships.

'We’re excited to host this major international event. It comes on the back of the success we’ve had hosting the Melges World 24 Championships and Festival of Sails.'

'Our north facing bay and the natural amphitheatre of Eastern Beach make us the perfect location for events like this. Securing the 2015 International 14 World Championships is certainly an endorsement of our ability to host major events.'

Hosting a second world championship in as many years reaffirms the Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s expertise to manage and deliver significant international sailing events, and Geelong as a premier Australian sailing venue.

The 2015 World Championship is expected to attract upwards of 100 entries from around Australia and the globe. The previous Worlds held in Toronto Canada, attracted entries from seven nations throughout the Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe.

The event website will be the single best source for both regatta and local area information, enabling both sailors and accompanying families and friends to easily source information about Geelong and the regatta.

For all media enquiries please contact:
Jav Greaves – Event Director
media@newtack.com.au or +61 413 704 409