Mistral World Championships - Opening Ceremony

Official Opening Ceremony of the 2000 World Championship

The Opening Ceremony of the World Windsurf Championship Mar del Plata 2000 took place, at Horizonte del Sol Beach resort.

After the Argentine Navy Band played music, the authorities led by Mar del Plata’s Major Prof. Elio Aprile entered along with Argentine Olympic Committee President, Col. Antonio Rodríguez; Argentine Yachting Federation, Dr. Luis Velasco and Argentine Navy and Guard Coast officials.

The parade of the 47 countries continued later. The countries are: Germany, Andorra, Netherlands Antilles, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Colombia, Cuba, Slovakia, Spain, United States, Finland, France, Greece, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Hungary, Cook Islands, Fiji, Virgin Islands, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Taipei, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Argentina.

The National Anthem was played by the Argentine Navy Band before words by Dr. Velasco, Col. Rodríguez, Rory Ramsden (Mistral Class Organization executive secretary) and Elio Aprile.

Finally, the President of the Argentine Yachting Federation (FAY) officially launched the World Championship.

Regattas Beginning

The World Windsurf Championship Mar del Plata 2000 starts today at 11am with 140 participants (97 men and 43 women).

Two regattas will be held in front of Varese Beach with the top world sailors taking part. However, the women’s world champion Barbara Kendall of New Zealand will be absent as she prefers to train for the Olympics.

Kendall won the world championship, in November last year, at New Caledonian and to try to defend her title here would be a big effort harming her for the Olympic Games to be held in Sydney, Australia, next September.

Meanwhile, the only Argentine competitor in the women’s section will be well-known Virginia Elizalde. Elizalde took part in the last world championship finishing in the penultimate position while she was 45th – among 50 – in the last South American Championship held here in January. Then, the hopes for the Argentine to win an Olympic spot are remote.

The Argentines representing the country will be nine: Marcos Galván, Carlos Mauricio Espínola, Eduardo García Velasco, Mariano Reutemann, Martín Benítez, Víctor Martínez, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, Ezequiel Bonamico and Mariano Benítez. It will be the first world championship experience for Bonamico and Benítez.

Forty-seven countries will participate in the event – Germany, Andorra, Netherlands Antilles, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Colombia, Cuba, Slovakia, Spain, United States, Finland, France, Greece, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Hungary, Cook Islands, Fiji, Virgin Islands, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Taipei, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia.

In the men’s section, 26 countries are qualified for Sydney out of 36 – Fiji, Argentina, Greece, New Zealand, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Israel, Italy, Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Brazil, Hungary, Spain, United States, Sweden, Japan, Poland, China, Indonesia, Australia as host and three wild cards to be decided. Twenty-one countries will fight for the last 10 Olympic spots here: Canada, Venezuela, Turkey, Norway, Slovakia, Hong Kong, Taipei, Mexico, Thailand, Netherlands Antilles, Latvia, Korea, Belgium, Russia, Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Barbados, Colombia, Cuba, Uruguay and Yugoslavia.

Twenty countries have won an Olympic place in the women’s category – France, Australia, Italy, Poland, Hong Kong, Germany, Netherlands, Israel, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, United States, New Zealand, China, Japan, hosts Australia and two will cards still undecided. Fourteen countries will compete for the last eight Olympic spots: Finland, Greece, Korea, Cook Islands, Bulgaria, Latvia, Brazil, Andorra, Argentina, Hungary, Russia, Cuba, Slovakia and Ukraine.

A total of 12 regattas will be held (two per day) with a discard.

After the first three qualifying days (February 14, 15 and 16) the competition will have a reserve or rest day on February 17 with the final series being held on February 18, 19 and 20.

The championship will be validated with only three regattas.

More Information: www.windsurfers.com.ar/mundial2000.htm