World Sport Chicago and the Chicago Yacht Club Present Etchells World Championship Regatta

Top Sailors from Around the Globe to Compete in Chicago

On June 21–28, Chicago’s magnificent lakefront is the venue for the 2008 Etchells World Championship Regatta. The event is presented by World Sport Chicago (WSC), the “living legacy” of Chicago 2016’s Olympic Games bid, and hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club.

This prestigious international sailing event, which will start at Belmont Harbor, is part of a continuing effort by World Sport Chicago to bring world-class Olympic and amateur sporting events to Chicago. Other recent World Sport Chicago events include the 2008 Chicago Cup, an international Olympic wrestling event, the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships and the 2007 Junior Olympic Skills Competition.

The Etchells is a fast, stable 30-foot sloop that can be raced competitively and safely by three or four sailors. To be eligible to race in the Etchells World Championship, each skipper must qualify in his or her home fleet. For the 2008 Worlds, the top 23 percent in each fleet are eligible to enter and race in the championship.

More than 80 yachts with some of the world’s top sailors will compete for the Etchells world title. Countries represented in the race include Australia, Bermuda, Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States. The Chicago Yacht Club has a very active Etchells Fleet (Etchells Fleet 11) that has been competing since 1973.

“World Sport Chicago is excited to bring another high-profile international sporting event to Chicago. Our mission is to share the excitement and passion of Olympic sport with the Chicago community, and this regatta gives the city’s youth the opportunity to learn directly from world-class athletes,” said WSC Chairman William Scherr.

Opening ceremonies will take place the evening of Saturday, June 21, at the Chicago Yacht Club Belmont Harbor Station.

Competing in the Chicago event will be some of the world’s top sailors, including John Kolius of the United States, an Olympic silver medalist, and Jud Smith, who won the 2006 Etchells Worlds and placed second in the 2007 Worlds.

Past Etchells World Champions include Jud Smith, 2006 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and 2006 Etchells World Champion, Dennis Connor, Dave Curtis, Vince Bruin and Ken Read. The International Etchells Class attracts many talented sailors including former Olympians and America’s Cup veterans. Russel Couts, John Bertrand, Gary Jobson and Craig Healy all race their own Etchells.

Additional information on the event, along with a complete race schedule, can be found at www.etchellsworlds2008.com and www.chicagoyachtclub.org.

For additional information about World Sport Chicago and its mission to raise awareness and participation of Olympic, Paralympic and amateur sports, please visit its Web site at www.worldsportchicago.org.

The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Today, the club boasts a membership of nearly 1,500 boating enthusiasts and is one of the preeminent organizers of regattas, races and predicted-log events in the United States. The club offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities, including fine dining and full-service catering at both its Monroe and Belmont stations.

About World Sport Chicago
World Sport Chicago (WSC) is an Illinois not-for-profit working to enhance the image, awareness and participation in Olympic sports across Chicago and to extend Chicago’s international outreach through and for sport and youth. Focused on promoting the development of recreational and competitive sport to the area’s youth, WSC works closely with Chicago 2016 and Chicago’s 2016’s Athlete Advisory Counsel (AAC) to provide sport expertise and athlete insight to the execution of these sporting events. WSC intends to aid Chicago in developing a sustainable, international sporting legacy, as a real agent of social change for the City. Michael Conley, Sr., an Olympic medalist in the triple jump, serves as president and CEO. William Scherr, an Olympic medalist in wrestling, is chairman of the board.