International Etchells Class Sailboats Staging Their World Championship in Coastal Fairfield County

Norwalk, CT, June 23, 2003 - The Coastal Fairfield County Sports Commission announced today that one of the most prestigious events in sailing, The 2003 MasterCard International Etchells World Championship, will be held in the waters of Long Island Sound off the coast of Greenwich, Connecticut Sept. 18th to Sept. 27th. Hosted by Indian Harbor and Riverside Yacht Clubs, this event promises to be the highest profile sailing event held in the New York Metropolitan area in a decade. Nearly 300 professional and amateur sailors from around the globe are expected to compete, including well known names like Dennis Conner and Russell Coutts – winners of the most recent America’s Cup.

Designed in 1965 by Skip Etchells, a yacht designer from Greenwich, the Etchells sailboat is considered by many to be the most competitive keelboat design in the world. The International Etchells is used as a practice boat for most America’s Cup Teams, and authority Dennis Conner has called the Etchells’ class, “simply the world’s best.” It seems only fitting that after 35 years, this event is coming to the same waters where the boat was conceived.

Sailors all around the world are now competing for a chance to qualify for this fall event. Teams are expected from England, Israel, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and China. Presently, Indian Harbor and Riverside Yacht Clubs are co-hosting qualifying races for local area Etchells sailors who hope to earn the chance to compete in this world class event. Co-hosts Indian Harbor and Riverside Yacht Clubs have strong ties to the Etchells community. Both clubs have a long history of hosting prestigious sailing events on Long Island Sound. Spike Richey of Riverside Yacht Club and co-chair of the event stated, “We’re honored to be the site of this prestigious event and sharing with Indian Harbor the responsibility of hosting the top sailors from around the world.”

In addition to MasterCard, the primary sponsor, other sponsors are Cognizant Technology Solutions, the international IT application outsourcing and enterprise consulting services company, and Vineyard Vines, an up and coming Greenwich-based apparel manufacturer.

The event is free to the public but the best viewing could be done on the water.

For more details, contact either of the 2003 MasterCard International Etchells World Championship Co-Chairs, Spike Richey at (800) 631-0122, extension 7251 or Carolyn Swiggart at (203) 655-8921, or visit the event website at www.etchellsworlds2003.org.

The Coastal Fairfield County Sports Commission, a program of the region’s Convention and Visitor Bureau, represents the thirteen communities of southwestern Connecticut. These communities include the cities of Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and the towns of Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Westport, Weston, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe and Stratford. The Commission’s mission is to increase the economic impact of sporting events in the area, thereby enhancing the region’s quality of life, by coordinating regional sporting event bids, and hosting and marketing these events to raise the stature of, and serve as an advocate for, the area's sports industry