Japan to send full team to 470 Worlds

by Darren Dunkley-Smith on 23 Apr 2005 Following the outstanding success of Japan's 470 class team at the Athens Olympics, Japan will be sending a full team of six Men's and four Women's to the 2005 International 470 World Championships, to be hosted by St. Francis YC in San Francisco from August 19-28.

With Kazuto Seki and Kenjiro Todoroki’s bronze medal in Athens, the 400 strong fleet in Japan has found new life. Training has been underway in the Asian 470 Sailing powerhouse since February, with a national team formed under the careful eye of Aiko Saito.

At this early stage, entries already include Holland, Australia, Russia and France. Spain's silver medallist Women's teams are sure to be starters, and there is hope that 2003 ISAF Sailor of the Year and Europe Dinghy gold medallist, Siren Sundby (NOR), will make an appearance in her new class.

Missing will be four-time world champions and 470 Hall of Fame members, Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE), taking a year off after their gold medal performance in Athens. In fact their only appearance this year will be the Mediterranean Games in Spain in late June.

Asian teams should be leaders in San Francisco, with China pledging a team. Thirty five more 470's are due to be delivered to Olympic host nation, China, this year and excitement is growing already for the 2006 470 Worlds to be held in Rizhou following the 2006 Pre-Olympic test event.

Shipping specialists, Schenker, have made special arrangements to enable teams to pack quickly following the 470 European Championship in Poland, to arrive in Oakland in time to join the Regatta Schedule that the US470 Class Association has put together.

Teams can make the most of their trip to the USA with three regattas planned:

470 US National Championships August 7-10 Santa Cruz Yacht Club, Santa Cruz www.scyc.org

470 North American Championships August 12-16 Bay View Boat Club, San Francisco, CA www.bvbc.org

470 World Championships August 19-28 St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco www.stfyc.com

One hundred and fifty teams from 45 nations contested the last 470 Worlds in Croatia and competition is expected to be just as tough in San Francisco.

Shipping details can be made via Erich.Seifert@schenker.com.

NOR and Entry Form http://www.470.org/worlds05/index.php

Further Details: www.470.org