By: Jessie Monsivais Photo courtesy of: Etchells Worlds 2019 Corpus Christi
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You may have noticed a little more sailboats on the water than usual thisbrpast week. The Etchells World Championship Regatta brings 37 teams to competebrfor the 2019 Etchells World title from June 25 to June 29 with internationalbrteams representing 10 different countries, from Australia and Bermuda tobrNigeria and the U.S. to race right here in the Corpus Christi Bay.
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These regattas are no stranger to the Corpus Christibrarea, last summer the Corpus Christi Yacht Club hosted the Youth World SailingbrChampionships which included over 500 sailors from across the world. Inbrprevious years, Corpus has been the host of seven international sailing events and another prestigious international championship has returned to the city.
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2018 Etchells World Champion Martin Hill (AUS) has setbrout to defend the winning title returning with his crew Julian Plante, MathewbrBelcher, and Sean O’ Rourke. Returning champion skippers, Steve Benjamin (USA),brMarvin Beckmann (USA), Jud Smith (AUS), head crews with several world titlistsbrand Olympians also crewing in the field. In the mix as one of the few femalebrand local skippers is Shannon Bush (USA) racing with her crew, Brad Boston,brNick Ford, Emory Williams. Several teams have been practicing in Corpus forbrthree weeks.
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An impressive group of volunteers from the area andbrcountry have come to aid the event. Local sailor Robert Moreno shares hisbrexperience of volunteering on the water and assisting with setting the racebrcourse. “Being a part of the team that organizes the courses for the EtchellsbrWorld Championship has been a great opportunity to see the boats start thebrrace. The most exciting part of a race occurs at the start. I get to see thebrboats jockey for their space of clean air and to be on the line at Go.”
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Moreno adds, “Being off the water is just as interesting.brWe have socials after the race and get to talk with the sailors that havebrtraveled to our small corner of the world and hear what they think about ourbrwinds and waters.”
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The boats sail out from the L-head on Coopers Alley forbrtheir 12 o’clock start on Corpus Christi Bay. The Lawrence and Peoples T-headbroffer the best views from land for those wishing to catch a glimpse. Tune in to the event from the live broadcastbrprovided on the Corpus Christi Yacht Club’s Facebook and Instagrambr@ccyachtclub.
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For complete daily results, visitbryachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm. To learn more about the Learn to Sail Program andbrother youth sailing opportunities in Corpus Christi, go to ccyc.com or callbr361-883-6518.
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