Lagos Sailing Clubs For World Tournament In Brazil

The best three teams from Lagos at the ongoing five-dayAfro-European Lightning Championship will feature at the World Sailing Tournament in July 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Julian Calvin, the Commodore of Lagos Yacht Club told newsmen on Tuesday that the championship which began on Monday in Lagos was to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary.

“This is the first time Nigeria is hosting a sailing competition of this magnitude which has been rotated among continents in Europe, North and South America.

“Sailing as a sport has been on for 60 years and Nigeria got the right to host the tournament this October to mark its 50th independence anniversary,’’ Calvin said.

The Lagos Yacht Club chief said the competition, jointly organised by the Navy Sailing Club, Ojo, and his club would put Nigeria on the world sailing map.

Calvin told Tidesports source that clubs from England, Finland, Switzerland, France and host, Nigeria, would do nine races throughout the championship while the best three teams emerge on Friday.

“We did three races of two miles per race on Monday at the front of the Bar Beach where the water was calm and without ships obstructing the sail as we have at the Yacht Club area,’’ he said.

Calvin expressed gratitude to the management of the Navy Sailing Club Ojo for their support toward the successful hosting of the championship.

He said trophies would be given to the best teams at the closing ceremony on Friday night.