FORTHCOMING EVENTS PREVIEW FEBRUARY-APRIL

We've got some great international events coming up between now and the end of April. To help you plan your programme here are further details and updates:

The European season really gets underway next weekend (11-13 February) with the Primo Cup at the Yacht Club de Monaco. This is the perfect antidote to those long, cold winter nights and with an anticipated entry of around 40 boats it’s also the perfect warm up for SNIM.

The increasingly popular Lands' End St. Petersburg NOOD will take place between 18 and 20 February. 45 entries are expected for this second event in the North American Ranking Series.

The Italian Volvo Cup Series opens at Andora on 4-6 March and continues in Bari on 22-24 April. The Italian fleet looks set to hit 50 boats this year and with some of the biggest names in Italian yachting now joining the class this series will be hugely competitive.

For the US West Coast Fleet the 2005 season starts with the Spring One Design Regatta at the St Francis YC, San Francisco on 5-6 March.

Event three in the North American Ranking is the Gulf Coast Championship , held this year in Jackson, Mississippi from 11-13 March. The Gulf Coast fleet is growing rapidly and the strong local fleet looks forward to welcoming visitors from across the US.

Acura Miami Race Week , 11-13 March, has now been taken over by Premiere Racing, the team who do such a great job of bringing us Key West Race Week. Premiere has made a number of changes to improve facilities for the Melges 24s including returning to the original, and very popular, Biscayne Bay race area with berthing at the Shake-A-Leg facility. Thirteen crews are already signed up including several of the top European teams. Late entry fee deadline is 11 Feb and berthing slots are on a first come first served basis so sign up asap.

The European Ranking Series opens with the always-impressive SNIM Regatta in Marseille over the Easter weekend (25-28 March). With upwards of 70 crews from all over Europe expected to attend, this year’s SNIM is set to be another classic. The entry deadline is 10 March so sign up now to ensure you are part of this annual spectacular.

The 2005 US National Championships will be held in association with Sailing World Magazine’s Annapolis NOOD Regatta from April 29 – May 1. Annapolis is one of those legendary venues that offer not only superb racing but also great après sailing activities. Traditionally the largest of the NOOD Regattas, this year’s fleet will be further enhanced by the 30 plus Melges 24s expected for the Nationals.