TOP SAILORS FOR 2007 EIKOS J22 WORLDS - 13 december 2007

Dit bericht is verspreid door de Zuid Afrikanen, naast de nederlandse competitie dus ook nog een paar HELE serieuse zuidafrikaanse deelnemers.

 

South African Sailing champion Ian Ainslie has issued a challenge to the rest of the entries in the Eikos J22 Worlds taking place in Durban from next Sunday.

Ainslie, 42, has won previous J22 Worlds twice, competed in three Olympics and was strategist in Team Shosholova in the recent Americas Cup. He is currently ranked twelfth in the world in match racing. Trim in Team Eikos is top allround sailor Greg Davis, current Lipton Cup holder and another previous J22 Worlds winner. Bow is 22-year-old Marcello Burricks, a graduate of Ainslie's Izivunguvungu school for disadvantaged youth. Another Team Shosholova member, Burricks has sailed in every major local regatta over the past few years.

On board Eikos Challenger, the team will be sailing under the flag of former Durbanite Ainslie's old club. hosts Point Yacht Club.

Among the fleet challenging for honours during a week of racing are three teams from the Netherlands, one from Zimbabwe, plus 30 other boats from all over South Africa They include local hero Craig Millar, skipper of Durban Clipper, runner-up in last years round the world event, and two all-women crews.

The event starts with a sail-past Wilsons Wharf from 10.30 next Sunday, followed by a practice race, and continues with daily racing until Friday.