420s gather in Haifa for 50th Anniversary World Championships
160 boats, 320 sailors and a whole host of coaches, team managers, officials – Jury, Race Committee, Measurers, Organisers and staff of the Haifa Sailing Club and the Haifa Municipality…. and a good many supporters too….are gathered on the Hashaket Beach, the ‘quiet beach’ [well hardly with 420s around! (ed)] just between the very large, tertiary referral Rambam Hospital and the Naval Dockyard and Port of Haifa. The sandy beach is covered in 420s and sailors have continued to arrive throughout the day, the first for measurement. With temperatures of 31*C+ and beautiful sunshine, it has been hot work for all concerned in registration, in the measurement tents and around the site. Some teams, not yet scheduled for Measurement, got out on the water for some more training in a good breeze. Others, with lashings of sun protection, kept under the many umbrellas and awnings. Tonight is the Opening Ceremony, a day earlier than is usual to accommodate the Jewish Shabbat that starts on Friday evening, when fireworks are promised to quickly drown the minimal 420 speeches. More of the same tomorrow, and the Practice Race on Saturday, before the racing for the Qualifiers starts in earnest on Sunday. We`expect that Results will be posted first on the Championship Website, where there may be some photos and other bits of news that may not be duplicated here. But we hope to bring you some news of the sailors and coaches on the International Class Website.
