2004-Yava Trophy international sailing regatta opens in Ural region

2004-Yava Trophy world sailing championship opens in the Sverdlovsk region (Urals) on Saturday, July 17.

According to organizers, the competitions will be held on the Verkhneivinskoye reservoir from July 17 to 25.

2004-Yava Trophy is ISAF Grade 1 match racing regatta. Russia will host the match race of the highest category for the first time.

The 2004-Yava Trophy international sailing regatta got the World Championship status for the first time in history and the Ural region was selected as its venue.

Spain, Italy, Switzerland and France bid for hosting the world sailing championship. The decision to hold the competitions in Russia was made at the session of the International and European Sailing Federations in Barcelona on November 10, 2003.

Russia was not selected by chance. ISAF is interested in the expansion of the sailing sports geography in Russia. The Sverdlovsk region has hosted sailing competitions since 1992.

The 2004-Yava Trophy organizing committee is headed by governor of the Sverdlovsk region Eduard Rossel. World's best yachtsmen will participate in the regatta.