The Olympic world sailing championship turns up in Aix les Bains

There will be 240 participants, on board 120 boats, representing 30 different countries, and which are going to launch themselves into the running, to try to win this Olympic world sailing championship, organised by the town of Aix les Bains on Lake Bourget, the greatest natural lake in France.
 
Two years only before Pékin Olympic Games, the stake is worth the effort and we can understand the challenge offered to the French team, led by Manu Dyen, a native of Savoie and his co-team member Yann Rocherieux.

They will have the advantage of being at home, and of knowing the site and its conditions very well, and to benefit from the local spectators' support, which is always a real advantage.

To organize this great regatta, Aix les Bains had to triumph over the candidature of some of the most beautiful lakes of the planet. So, the Savoie town succeeds Lake Garda in Italy (2001), Hawaï - Usa (2002), Cadix in Spain (2003), Athens in Greece (2004) and Moscow in Russia (2005).

It is also the first time that an Olympic world sailing championship is organized on internal waters in France. Rush to see it, the show is worth it.

First, you must know, that 49er designates the size in feet of this Australian origin dinghy. Its ultra light hull and the very important sail surface enable it to really take the wind and to rapidly reach high speeds. The crew stays outside of the hull in order to steer it, which gives the impression that they are piloting a windsurfer. Since the ensemble in not very stable, you can expect some reversals during fulgurant accelerations. The unit is very aerien and acrobatic.

In short, a great show and an unique opportunity to discover this amazing and attractive sport.