ANNAPOLIS, MD — The bars at the Annapolis Yacht Club will be abuzz for the next 10 days with chatter from some of the best Star sailors in the world as that class stages its 78th annual world championships—the 2000 Nautica Star Class Worlds beginning on Sunday. With more than 100 teams representing 28 nations, this is the first time since 1951 that the Star Worlds will be contested on the Chesapeake Bay.
Among the former Star World Champions in the fleet will be local sailor and sailmaker Jim Allsop (1976), San Diegan Vince Brun, along with defending World Champion Eric Doyle. Olympic medalists Mark Reynolds, Colin Beashel, Ross MacDonald, and Bill Buchan will also be on hand, along with class stalwarts John MacCausland, Peter Bromby, Gavin Brady, and Ian Walker.
The competition will be heightened by the fact that this is the final major gathering for the class before this summer's Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Star Class officials have decided that the Annapolis event will determine the final six berths for the 17 slots available in Sydney. Look for periodic updates next week, as well as a full report by SailNet correspondent Dobbs Davis, who will be on-site for the action.