Today, July 3rd, we could watch the continuation of sailing competition of 13 teams from 10 countries in IV World University Match Racing Championship.
Again it was a beautiful sunny day, although the weather conditions were a little bit more difficult for sailors than yesterday. The wind was blowing with the strength force 5, state of the sea was 2 to 3, temperature was 25°C and water’s temperature was 17°C.
Today, the competitors ended the preliminary rounds. The results will be shown on the website of the Championship. Tomorrow will be the repacharge and the quarter final. |
In the first day of competitions, 2nd July 2008, on the Gdansk Bay’s waters there were set 38 races in IV Word University Match Racing Championship.
The level of participants is balanced. After the first day of competition, there are five standout teams (Australia, Italy, Poland and two teams from New Zealand) on equal points after the first half of the Round Rubin. |
The Opening Ceremony of the 4th World University Match Racing Championship will take place today, 1st July at 07:30 pm in the National Sailing Centre but participants have been registering for the last two days.
On 29 June, the first four competitors from Great Britain, arrived at Walensa’s Airport in Gdansk – Rębiechowo. Although the last competitors should have arrived 2 days ago, three Australian sailors only arrived this morning after being held up in Bangkok Airport for 24 hours.
The Championship Organizing Committee, which amongst others, includes 12 student volunteers from the Acadamy of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk have registered 53 sailors. Everybody who is working and competing in the Championship are staying in the National Sailing Centre and the National Centre of Academic Sport in Gdansk.
The 13 teams competing, represent the following 10 countries:
1. Australia – 4 person (1 woman),
2. France – 4,
3. Germany – 4,
4. Great Britain (2 teams) – 8,
5. Greece – 5 (2 women),
6. Italy – 4,
7. New Zeeland (2 teams) – 8,
8. Poland (2 teams) – 8,
9. Switzerland – 4,
10. United States of America – 4.
A senior member of FISU – Hungarian, Hedi Scaba, was on hand as an International Control Commissioner to positively verify student’s certificates.
The competition is being overseen by an International Jury, headed by Mr. Thierry Poirey from France. Each team is allowed to weigh a maximum of 350kg and every member is weighed on arrival. The competitors were split into 2 groups for training sessions today to allow everybody to get used to the Polish produced ‘Balt 23 – Amor’ yachts they will be sailing in the Championships. The weather has been very kind with 5 knots of wind in the morning, building to 14 knots in the afternoon with clear skies and sun all day.
The overall organization is the responsibility of Roland Galliot, from France, a FISU Executive Committee Delegate and Chairman of the Sailing Technical Commission.
After the opening ceremony, all competitors, committee members, official guests (Governor of Pomorskie, President of Gdansk City, Polish University Sports Association, Academy of Physical Education and Sport, Sport Club AZS AWFiS in Gdansk), sponsors and media representatives will be invited to a BBQ and live music from the Concert Orchestra of the Coast Guard Garrison, directed by Lieutenant Jarosław Rewalski. This will be followed by the concert group ‘Szantymentalni’ (Piotr Słupczyński, Szymon Żurowski, Przemek Zieliński, Henryk Kołodziej). These will be accompanied by additional attractions and on-water demonstrations to add to the spectacle of the Opening Ceremony.
Written by Mirosław Seidel, Press Officer of Organizing Committee
Gdańsk – Górki Zachodnie, 02.07.2008, 05:00 pm |
