Entries for the 2011 Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta are now open - to enter online or download the Notice of Race visit the event website, which is now live at www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk

Skandia Sail for Gold 2011 takes place between 5th-11th June at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the host venue for London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing regattas.

Already firmly established as one of the world’s top Olympic Classes events, this year’s Skandia Sail for Gold is set to take on an even greater significance as the world’s best sailors battle for supremacy on the 2012 waters.

All 10 Olympic and three Paralympic classes will compete across seven courses in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. This will be the sixth installment of Skandia Sail for Gold and the regatta is taking place earlier than previous years, due to the LOCOG-run Weymouth & Portland International Regatta at the venue in August.

Last year’s Skandia Sail for Gold attracted a record number of entries, with 975 sailors from 57 nations, descending on Weymouth and Portland, officially confirming its place as the biggest regatta of the 2009-2010 ISAF Sailing World Cup Series. This year there will be a limited number of entries for the Laser class, with 150 places available in contrast to 180 in 2010. The Women’s Match Racing will also be restricted to 24 entries and the Laser Radial to 120.

Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta 2011 is also the penultimate event of the 2010-11 ISAF World Cup series, meaning sailors will be looking to consolidate their place in the Series standings before the final showdown takes place in Kiel, Germany, the week after Skandia Sail for Gold.

Skandia remains onboard as title sponsor for the event. The Southampton-based long term investment company is well known for its support of sailing, having been title sponsor since the event’s inception in 2006.

Alongside Skandia, UK Sport continues as an official event partner. Skandia Sail for Gold is part of UK Sport’s World Class Events Programme, which distributes around £3.5 million of Lottery funding each year to support the bidding and staging costs of major events on home soil, as well as providing specialist support to organisers.

All online entries must be received by the 23rd May 2011, other than Women’s Match Racing, for which applications must be received by the 3rd May 2011. Successful applicants for the Match Racing will be informed by 7th May 2011 and online payment must be received no later than 23rd May 2011.

Following its great success last year, Skandia Sail for Gold will again be delivered to a global audience through real-time race tracking, live audio and an interactive event blog.

RYA Event Director Tim Hall commented, “Skandia Sail for Gold has established itself as an integral part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Series, and we are working hard to build and maintain a world class sailing regatta in the UK which will attract a large and high calibre entry for many years to come.”

Esther Nicholls, Major Events Consultant for UK Sport, added: “UK Sport is committed to bringing world class sporting events to the UK ahead of 2012, and this event is part of what we believe to be the most comprehensive pre-Games events programme ever staged by an Olympic and Paralympic host nation.

"Skandia Sail For Gold 2011 will provide an invaluable opportunity for British athletes to experience international competition on home waters, to prepare them for their home Olympic Games, as well as a chance to build on the event staging capabilities of the sport.”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday 3rd June Event Office opens for registration
Sunday 5th June Briefing for coaches and team leaders
Sunday 5th June Opening Ceremony
Monday 6th June Racing day 1
Tuesday 7th June Racing day 2
Wednesday 8th June Racing day 3
Thursday 9th June Racing day 4
Friday 10th June Racing day 5
Saturday 11th June Medal Races (no warning signal after 1530)



For the latest news, to enter online and for media accreditation, go to: www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk