| CAPRI, ITALY-(10-5-2003) The fifth edition of the IMS World Championships begins in Capri on Monday May 19, and finishes on May 24, after a week of racing in the waters of the Bay of Naples.
The Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship 2003, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the Associazione dei Circoli Velici del Golfo di Napoli , and the Yacht Club Capri,, makes a welcome return to the isle of Capri, which also hosted the event in 2002 after the editions held at Porto Cervo, Newport and Valencia.
The 2003 Championship has attracted the same large number of entries as previous years. In fact, over 70 boats (divided into two classes) from 10 different nations will be participating, including, of course, a large group of Italian crews.
In fact, the Italians will be the ones to beat this year, thanks to the return to the water of Pasquale Landolfi (racing with the burgee of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda) and the much-decorated “Brava Q8”, winner of the 2002 title, not forgetting Lorenzo Bressani with “Wind”, Gabriele Benussi aboard “X-Sport”, and Manfredo Toninelli (with Marco Perazzo at the helm), winner of the second class at Capri last time out.
On the non-Italian front, there is much excitement about how Joury Calenko aboard “Follow me”, Australian John Kahlbetzer aboard “Bumblebee V”, American George David aboard “Idler”, and Brit Dave Bedford with “Enigma” will perform.
There will also be a host of interesting social events associated with the Championships, starting with gastronomic trails, courtesy of the Municipalities of Capri and Anacapri, the Rolex reception at the magnificent and historical Certosa di San Giacomo on Capri, and ending with the prize-giving ceremony. In between the Regione Sardegna will be bringing a feast of Sardinian food products to the dockside at the end of the first day’s racing, to ensure the crews don’t go hungry.
Journalists who wish to be accredited for the event should contact the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Press Office.
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