2008 WUC Match Racing: Opening Ceremony
July 2nd, 2008
Yesterday, July 1st, the Opening Ceremony of the 4th World University Match Racing Championship took place at 07:30 pm in the National Sailing Centre but participants have been registering for the last two days. On June 29th, the first four competitors from Great Britain, arrived at Walensa’s Airport in Gdansk – Rêbiechowo. Although the last competitors should have arrived 2 days ago, three Australian sailors only arrived yesterday morning after being held up in Bangkok Airport for 24 hours.
The Championship Organizing Committee, which amongst others, includes 12 student volunteers from the Acadeamy 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.
Roland Galliot, the FISU Technical Chair for Sailing
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 to allow everybody to get used to the Polish produced ‘Balt 23 – Amor’ yachts they will be sailing in the Championship. 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, the FISU Technical Chair for Sailing.
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 were invited to a BBQ and live music from the Concert Orchestra of the Coast Guard Garrison, directed by Lieutenant Jaros³aw Rewalski. This was followed by the concert group ‘Szantymentalni’ (Piotr S³upczyñski, Szymon ¯urowski, Przemek Zieliñski, Henryk Ko³odziej). These were accompanied by additional attractions and on-water demonstrations to add to the spectacle of the Opening Ceremony.
Website OC
http://www.matchracing2008.awf.gda.pl
July 1st was a day of practice
Participating Countries
The 13 teams competing, represent the following 10 countries: 1. Australia – 4 persons (1 woman), 2. France – 4, 3. Germany – 4, 4. Great Britain (2 teams) – 8, 5. Greece – 5 (2), 6. Italy – 4, 7. New Zeeland (2 teams) – 8, 8. Poland (2 teams) – 8, 9. Switzerland – 4, 10. United States of America – 4.
