All-Russia Lower-Volga Cup 2004 sailing regatta

An all-Russian sailing regatta of cruiser yachts - Lower Volga Cup 2004 - will be held in the Volgograd reservoir from August 7 to 15. It will be officially opened on August 7 in Saratov. The finish and the closing ceremony will take place in the Volgograd region town of Volzhsky on August 15, the Yachting Federation of the Volgograd region said.

The course to be covered by sailers is 400 registered kilometres.

This is an open championship. Applications for participation have been accepted from all classes of yachts, ranging from home-made ones to three-hulled catamarans.

According to the agency's source, this is the first time that the Cup regatta will be held under new rules. Results in groups will be assessed from arrivals, and the absolute winner will be the crew that has gained the maximum number of points on adjusted time (handicap).

In the last race near Volzhsky, the organisers plan to install GPS equipment on the yachts, which will make it possible to watch its progress on the Internet in real time.