Neustadt/Holstein, Germany: The fourth edition of the Rolex Baltic Week will draw together the elite of two internationally renowned one-design classes - the Farr 40 and the Melges 24. From the 17th to 19th August, on the Baltic Sea off Neustadt/Holstein, Germany the Farr 40 teams will open the race week with an event valid as the fifth and decisive series of the European Circuit - the first time there has been a Farr 40 regatta in Germany since the launch of the very first Farr 40 ten years ago. The Melges 24 holds its European Championship from the 18th to 23rd August.

For the Farr 40s, this regatta provides a useful warm-up before the 2007 Rolex Farr 40 World Championships commence off Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of August. "We have moved the start of the Farr 40 one day forward to make it fit better with the international regatta calendar of the top sailors," explains Knappe in conjunction with the president of the Farr 40 European Fleet, Wolfgang Schaefer from Lueneburg, Germany. The two expect entries from the USA, Japan and Australia for the Rolex Baltic Week.

These non-European entries may sail as guests in the European Circuit, which comprises the Rolex Capri Sailing Week (16th to 19th May), the Rolex Farr 40 European Championship (6th to 9th June in Porto Cervo/Sardinia, Italy), the Farr 40 Open Nordic Championships in Hanko, Norway (5th to 8th July) and the Dexia Farr 40 Skagen race, Denmark (13th to 15th July). All in all, 47 races must be sailed of which the nine worst results may be discarded. "Anyone who wants to win the European Circuit must be racing in Neustadt," believes the former European champion Schaefer, who will enter himself with Struntje Light."Rolex Baltic Week is expecting some 80 to 100 boats and more than 400 sailors," says Torben Knappe from the organizing authority NRV Marketing GmbH. About three quarters of the competitors should be from the Melges 24 class, which is well represented throughout Europe. The top favourites, though, are from Italy, France and Switzerland; and include the current world champion and former Olympian, Nicola Celon, at the helm of Enzo Amadori's Bete (Italy). "The top five from the last Worlds are all planning to come to Neustadt," reports Guenter Tzeschlock from Eigeltingen, head of the German class association, who is delighted with the high degree of interest prior to the regatta.With no restrictions upon who may helm the amateur and professional teams race together on a level playing field for the Giorgio Zuccoli Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the overall Melges 24 European Champion and is named after the Italian sail maker who became the first Melges 24 European Champion in 1992. When Giorgio Zuccoli gained his first Melges 24 World Champion title in 2000, he was severely ill from bone cancer. Sadly, the very popular sportsman lost his hardest battle on 27th March 2001.In addition to the overall trophy the Menno Meyer Trophy is awarded to the top performing Corinthian (all amateur) crew racing in the regatta. This trophy was donated by its namesake, a Dutch jury member in 2005, to acknowledge the impressive degree of professionalism shown by the best Corinthians sailing at the Europeans. This Corinthian Trophy is held currently by the German Melges 24 sailors Albert Batzill (Roeslerhof) and Eddy Eich (Munich), who intend to defend their title at this year's Rolex Baltic Week. Another contender for the title is the NRV member, Dietrich Scheder-Bieschin, from Hamburg, who was instrumental in bringing the Europeans to Neustadt and will take part with his MACS.Another all-but certain entry is Joe Fly, but the question is - in which class? The mad-for-sailing owner Giovanni Maspero from Como, Italy is a two-time Melges 24 European champion and current defender of the title. He is also the owner of a Farr 40 and he plans to sail in the European Circuit. Last year, it was his countryman and America's Cup syndicate head, Vincenzo Onorato with Mascalzone Latino, who won not only the Grand Prix series in Europe but also the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds in Newport, USA. Onorato has snatched this title from the German Farr 40 owner/helmsman, Wolfgang Stolz (Frankfurt) and Opus One on the final leg of the last race.Five months prior to the first start gun and the Notice of Race has just been published. Nine races are scheduled for the Farr 40 and twelve for the Melges 24.

The new event website http://www.rolexbalticweek.com has also been launched, and entries for the regatta may be filed electronically via the Internet.

Neustadt - 16 March 2007 09:38