| SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-(27-10-2003) The 2003 Sydney International Regatta will be the 12th year the Yachting Association of NSW has co-ordinated the event. After an extremely successful regatta in 2002, with competitors from 21 countries sailing in the four days of the regatta, SIRs has been granted a Grade one ranking for the Laser class.
This year’s event, which is part of the Sail Down Under series, will be raced from December 18 -21 on Sydney Harbour. The regatta will be used by a number of Olympic hopefuls to train against international competitors. Chris Nicholson, who will represent Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 49'er class will be using SIRs as an important training regatta against the top Spanish 49'er team of Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez. ' SIRs is an important gauge for how our training for Athens 2004 is measuring up' said Nicholson.
The invited classes of the Laser 4.7, 505's, Moth and Ok Dinghy classes will enjoy close competition on the water with the total fleet size expected to be more than120 boats. The Olympic, Paralympic and Youth classes racing at SIRs will include the 49'er, 470, Laser, Europe, Finn, Yngling, Tornado, Mistral, Star, 29'er, 420, Laser Radial, Hobie 16, 2.4mr and Sonar.
Added features of this year's event will include a rules seminar, coaching clinics and a Race Officer’s course. The host venues for this year's regatta will be Woollahra Sailing Club with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron hosting the keelboat classes again this year.
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