Velocitek is the 2008 Contender World Championships Naming Sponsor

The North American Contender Association is pleased to announce that Velocitek, the preeminent maker of performance training tools for dingy and sportboat sailors of all classes, is the 2008 Contender World Championships naming sponsor.

The highly recognizable Velocitek SC-1 is an easy-to-use speedometer/GPS compass, which is helping sailors around the world to push their performance to another level. Compatible with various tracking software programs, the SC-1s help sailors to maximize speed performance during practices, and deconstruct their performance after races.

The Contender is one of the fastest single-handed dinghies on the market, with large and highly competitive fleets around the world, so it was a natural fit for Velocitek to become the naming sponsor of the 2008 Contender World Championships. The 2008 Worlds will be held in Kingston, Ontario, from August 16 to 23, 2008, at the same time as the renowned Canadian Olympic Training Regatta, Kingston (CORK). CORK will welcome hundreds of international sailors in dozens of classes, ranging from dinghies to keelboats, in addition to the 40+ competitors expected at the Contender Worlds – including the 2007 World Champion Marcus Hamilton (AUS), up and comer Cristoph Homeier (GER), and veteran star (and builder) Joachim Schappi (GER).

Velocitek is demonstrating generous support of not only the 2008 Worlds, but of the sport of sailing in general, and the NACA and the International Contender Association are proud to have the 2008 Worlds associated with one of the most well-known racing tools in the sailing world.

See you at the Worlds in August!

What am I going to wear?

Hello all:

I'm sure that all of you will be bringing your finest threads for the off-water fun, but you're probably also wondering what to bring for the on-water portion of the Worlds.

As we noted in our promotional material, August is one of the hottest months of the year. The average high temperature is 75 fahrenheit (24 celsius) and the low is 59 f/15 c. The dominant wind direction is South, and the water temperature (according to the Volvo Youth Worlds website) is around the low 20s (celsius). If you're really interested in the weather history for Kingston, Wunderground lets you see the detailed weather history of each day for the last several years.

Since it's going to be warm, a drysuit is probably overkill, but given that we're going to be quite far away from the sailing centre, I also wouldn't recommended doing the Worlds in shorts and t-shirts or swimsuits. A light wetsuit with a spray top is probably the best compromise.

Of course, you ultimately have to be your own judge of what to wear. If you get cold really easily, bring the drysuit; and if you are your own little nuclear reactor, then we look forward to seeing you racing in just a speedo. Like Neil.

Cheers!

When are you getting here?

Dear competitors:

The Worlds are almost upon us, and we understand several of you are arriving in Toronto and need to figure out how to get to Kingston. If you contact me with your travel details, I will do my best to try and coordinate your transportation. Depending on your date of arrival, you may be able to catch a ride with a local sailor, or you can travel in larger groups to Kingston on a bus, train, car, etc.

I'm at stephanie.mah@gmail.com.

Safe travels!

Vanessa Weedon-Jones (GBR 621)

Name: Vanessa Weedon-Jones
Nickname: Nessa
Sail No: GBR 621
Country: GB
Sailing Club: Oxford SC
Weight: 84kg
Height: 180cm
Age: 46

Number of years sailing (and on what)? Just over 20 years. Started with toppers, then laser 2, fireball, lots of time in a 470 - all crewing. Lots of miscellaneous sailing and I instruct too. Now I have a classic phantom as well as the contender. I've just bought a classic I14 as a restoration project - it came fourth in the POW in 1965 and is a thing of beauty!

Number of years sailing the contender? Not nearly enough - last year was my first time doing the Opens circuit.

Why did you get on the Contender? I wanted to helm, but I also wanted to trapeze. The contender has long been my idea of the perfect boat and I'm lucky enough to be almost the right size.

Number of Worlds? 0 in a contender. I did a 470 worlds but dislocated my shoulder. D'oh!

Favourite Worlds Moment? Yet to come!

Favourite Food? Pizza, veggie stuff

How do you keep in shape? sail, bike, weights - sometimes!

Stupidest thing you've done on the boat? Too many to mention - I'm pretty good at the spectacular wipe out.

Goals for the 2008 Worlds? Finish all the races, learn lots about the boat, have a good time!

What you'd like to do/see at the 2008 Worlds? Get lots of good sailing in, drink beer, eat good food, enjoy my first trip to Canada.

Fort Henry Sunset Ceremony (August 20)

Dear Competitors:

We know many of you are coming from a long way away to compete in the 2008 Worlds, and so we're hoping to make this trip as memorable as possible. So, not only are we promising great racing, but we've lined up some fantastic social events to take place each day after racing.

One of the highlights will be a dinner and show at Fort Henry. The original Fort was built during the War of 1812 when the Brits felt Canada was still worth defending from the Americans. The Fort which now stands was the second one erected to keep the Yankees at bay.

After our second day of racing, we'll all make our way down to Fort Henry where we will be treated to a dinner and then a show:

"The Fort Henry Guard Drums, Drill Squad and Artillery Detachment present an hour and a half interpretive story of 1860s military music, precision drill and big-bang artillery maneuvers, including a mock battle! The show ends with a spectacular fireworks finale!"

It will no doubt be a great night for all!

(*photos poached from the Fort Henry web site)