After 21 days of intense training and coaching, sailors from the likes of Moldova, the Cook Islands and Taipei will compete against local talent in the City of Perth Sailing Regatta as part of the preparations for the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships.

The event will be a proud moment for the city, building on the vision "that as the capital of Western Australia, the City of Perth be widely acclaimed as a city of international significance".

Deputy Lord Mayor, John Tognolini, said: "It is an honour for Perth to be the venue for such an important yachting event.

"The location is ideal for spectators to see elite junior sailors up close and showing their skills.

"It will be a taste of what is to come with the ISAF Championships later.

"I urge people to come along and watch this international event here in our great sporting city."

The regatta is the last opportunity for athletes to compete before the Perth 2011 World Championship test event in three weeks' time.

Emerging Nations coach and Australia's Olympic gold medallist Belinda Stowell said: "Each athlete has developed enormously over the five Emerging Nations Camps.

"The training in Australia has given each athlete the experience required to allow them to mature, and gain the confidence and knowledge to compete at a world class standard.

"We have opened our arms to the world and shared Australia's technologies and techniques with them.

"It is now time for each athlete to accept the challenge of competition and use the knowledge we have transferred to perform."

Stowell and fellow coach Arthur Brett will closely follow each athlete's performance and award points towards the prestigious TAG Heuer Rising Star Award which will be presented at the completion of the seventh Emerging Nations Camp next November 2011.

The award recognises the athlete with the best performance and potential to continue their journey towards Olympic success.


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