Sail Down Under dates for 2010 announced

Yachting Australia has announced the dates for the 2010 Sail Down Under Series with Australia to be the hub of Olympic class sailing action from the end of November until mid-December. The 2010 Sail Down Under Series will again include three regattas, in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with the series arranged to allow competitors time to travel between regattas. Once again the series kicks off with Sail Brisbane with racing taking place from November 29 until December 2 at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. 2009 was a record year for Sail Brisbane and the new dates will allow those taking part in the Perth International Regatta from November 16-21 time to travel across the country to take part in the opening round of the Sail Down Under Series. Sail Sydney will run from December 6-9 with the 2010 regatta to be held from Monday until Thursday. The shift away from the weekend is designed to allow racing to take place in less congestion, making life easier for competitors, race officials and spectators alike. The final Sail Down Under Series regatta, Sail Melbourne, will again also host the opening round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup with official racing days for the 2010 event being December 13-18 with registration from December 12. In 2009 overall series prizes were awarded for first, second and third in the contested Olympic classes and this year will be extended to include prizes for classes sailed at the Australian Youth Championships, such as the 29er and 420. Sail Brisbane – 29 November – 2 December Sail Sydney – 6 December – 9 December Sail Melbourne – Registration from 12 December Official Racing Days – 13 December – 18 December Craig Heydon, YA