MARK RICHARDS APPOINTED AS AMBASSADOR TO 2017 420 WORLDS
Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards is the 2017 International 420 Class World Championships Ambassador for Fremantle Sailing Club (FSC).
Mark Richards, from Wild Oats XI, has agreed to be the 2017 International 420 Class World Championships Ambassador for Fremantle Sailing Club.
Mark has a long association with the 420 Class and in 2014, after he skippered Wild Oats XI to win the 2014 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race for a record eight times, Mark came to FSC to present the trophies and prizes to sailors for the International 420 Class National Championships.
FCS is delighted to announce Mark Richards as the Club Ambassador, which we hope will form into a formidable partnership for the future of sailing in Perth, Western Australia. As skipper, Richards leads the 20-strong team on Wild Oats XI, the renowned maxi yacht, most famous for being the race record holder and an eight times line honours winner of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
FSC will host the 2017 International 420 Class World, Ladies World and U17 World Championships from15-23 December 2017, in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Prior to the 420 World Championships FSC will host the 420 Class Australian Championships as a warm-up event from 11-14 December 2017. The Australian 420 Association and Western Australian 420 Association will partner with FSC to host this event.
The last time Perth, Western Australia hosted the 420 Class World Championships was in 1995 in Fremantle. That year Australia won both the Mens and Ladies Open Championships. Current FSC Club Member and WAIS Head Coach Belinda Stowell Brett won the Ladies event with Anna Coxon. Belinda went on to sail the 470 boat Class and win Gold for Australia in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Nino Shmueli, President of the International 420 Class Association said “Fremantle has a renowned sailing and event pedigree. Sailors from around the world who descend on Fremantle are guaranteed to enjoy world class racing and a unique opportunity to discover some of Australia’s history and culture.”
Online registrations will open in January 2017 on the 420 World Championships website via 2017worlds.420sailing.org