For all the fine performances this year from Ireland's Olympic squad a place on the start line of next year's Olympic regatta is contingent on a result at the next ISAF World championships in 100 days time. It's a do or die event for Annalise Murphy, Peter O'Leary and David Burrows and the rest of the crews who have already shown their Olympic worth at ISAF events this summer but Perth is where 80% of nation places will be dished out.
UK Photographer Ingrid Abery has loaded some excellent breezy weather shots from Weymouth Regatta of Star pairing O'Leary and Burrows onto the Afloat Gallery here.
Perth 2011, the organising committee for the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, will tomorrow (Tuesday 23 August) celebrate a significant milestone with just 100 days to go until the biggest international sailing event of the year.
The World Championships will take place from 3-18 December, with 1200 athletes from 80 nations competing for 10 World Titles in the fresh breezes off Fremantle in Western Australia. The World Championships are also the key qualifier for the sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games, with 75 per cent of places in London being decided in Perth in December.
Perth 2011 Chairman Ian Campbell said that a significant buzz is starting to build around the World Championships.
"Perth and Fremantle provide some of the best conditions for sailing in the world," Campbell said.
"Combine these naturally favourable conditions for the sport with the hospitality and warmth of Fremantle and Western Australia and the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships are poised to be memorable.
"The Worlds Festival programme is shaping up very nicely and North Street Productions are committed to ensuring that there is something for everyone attending the World Championships away from the water as well as on it.
"Perth is set for "grandstand sailing" as the Medal Races for each class will be sailed just metres from the shore on Centre Course, allowing spectators to witness the excitement of the World Championships first hand.
"There's a great team working very hard at Perth 2011 to ensure that when the world turns to Perth in December, we'll be ready to provide a wonderful platform for the best young sailors on the planet to realise their World Championships and Olympic Games dreams," Campbell said.
Running parallel to the sailing competition will be the Worlds Festival, a 16 day cultural programme that will include more than 200 free events. The Worlds Festival will be centred on, but not limited to, the Worlds Village on Esplanade Park in Fremantle, with venues around Perth's port city hosting theatre, art exhibitions and music performances through the 16 days of the Worlds Festival.
