Falmouth yachtsman officiates ISAF World Championships (From Boating Cornwall)

Falmouth yachtsman officiates ISAF World Championships

9:13am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in News

A member of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth has returned from Australia where he was invited to officiate at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Championships, in Perth.

Neil Andrew was assistant race officer and mark layer for the Finn and Star classes at the competition.

ISAF is the world governing body of the sport of sailing and holds the World Championships every four years, the next major competitive sailing event to the Olympic Games.

Perth 2011 saw 850 boats and 1,200 sailors from 80 countries, supported by 500 officials and over 900 volunteer helpers, competing in 660 races comprising the two-week regatta, which determined the 2011 world champions in each of the ten Olympic sailing events.

Racing took place simultaneously on six course areas.

Neil said: "I especially asked to be involved with the Finns because of the valuable experience it would be for the J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival in Falmouth in 2012.

"Perth provided valuable insights into how a major event is organised, it was also a great honour to be involved in the biggest event outside the Olympics."

As sailing secretary of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth, Neil is closely involved in planning the two regattas that will be held under the auspices of the J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival in Falmouth from May 4 to 18 - the UK Open Finn Nationals and the Finn Gold Cup.

Neil will be senior mark-layer for both Falmouth regattas where he will be able to call on his invaluable experience gained in Perth.

"As well as superb sailing waters and a reputation for hosting top sailing events, we also have highly qualified and respected race officers in Falmouth who are recognised internationally," said Malcolm Bell, Head of VisitCornwall, a Cornwall Development Company.

"The J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival is one of the major events in Cornwall in 2012 and arguably the most prominent and competitive regatta ever to be sailed in Falmouth Bay.

"The regattas will generate global media interest with the opportunity of showcasing the county's unique countryside and coastline."

As the highlight of 2012, Neil is in a team of mark-layers being worked up to run Laser class racing at the 2012 Olympics in Weymouth and Portland in July.