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Tornado Asia
Pacific Championship
Somers Yacht
Club 2008
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'Glenn Ashby, left,
world’s number one rated Tornado sailor'. Glenn who is
the current World Champion in three classes of catamaran has just
gained selection in Australia's sailing team for the 2008 Beijing
Olympics, and he is considered a leading prospect to win a Gold
medal |
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Darren Bundock
and Glen Ashby
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Some of
world’s fastest catamaran sailors will race on Westernport Bay this
month when Somers Yacht Club hosts the Tornado Asia Pacific
Championship in tandem with the Australian Championship from 4-9
January as part of the lead up to the 2008 Beijing
Olympics.
A Sail
Melbourne event, it has attracted more than 40 entrants. Crews
are expected from the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Austria, Spain
and Great Britain, as well as Australia’s World Ranked No. 1 pair
of Darren Bundockand Glenn Ashby and others.
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Considered to
be a great hope for a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, the
Aussie pair will evoke added interest for Victorians, as Ashby is a
local from Bendigo,
whilst his NSW skipper is the silver medalist from the Sydney 2000
Games.
Ashby was
named 2007 Victorian Sportsman of the Year in October and has
further shown his world-ranked skills by winning the world A Class
catamaran title held recently in Florida. He also holds a number of
other catamaran world and national titles.
The Tornado
Asia Pacific Championship It is believed to be the first
international event of its type sailed on Westernport
Bay.
John Copeland,
Commodore of Somers Yacht Club, which was named Yacht Club of the
Year in 2004, said: “The event will be a unique opportunity to see
some of the world’s best and fastest sailors competing,” adding:
The club would like to invite all enthusiasts to come along and
enjoy what should prove to be spectacular sailing.”
The event
starts from 2.30pm on 4 January and is expected to draw a big crowd
to see Olympians and Olympic prospects contest back-to-back races
over the six days.
| "It is a great honour for Somers Yacht Club to be able to host this
event and a tribute to the hard work of Andy Griffin, a club member
and president of the Australian Tornado Association,” Copeland
said.
“It is also
recognition that Westernport Bay offers a tremendous challenge for
sailors and that it is a worthy venue for such a high class event,”
he added.
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Andy Griffin
and James Pearse, Pic Will Loads
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Tornados are
the world’s fastest production catamarans and have been clocked at
60 kilometres an hour.
For more
information or to arrange a photo opportunity contact: John
Copeland, Commodore Somers Yacht Club, on 5983 2904, or Tony
Duboudinon 5983 1260 or 0412 551981.
23rd December
2007 |
