Tony Murray submitted the following report on the 2003 505 World Championships, which were recently sailed in Malmo, Sweden:

"Firstly I would like to thank our sponsors P&O Nedlloyd for their generous support, for their container and shipping of the SA team's boats to the 505 worlds in Sweden. The regatta took place from the 25th of July until the 1st of August. Safcor Panelpina also helped us out with freight forwarding,without them the event would not have been possible.

We initially set ourselves a goal of getting one boat into the top seven and two boats into the top fifteen. We found that although we do compete well in a breeze we failed to do so well in the light airs that were experienced during the regatta. The Europeans where well prepared as were the Americans who had spent the last two months preparing in the conditions they were to experience in Sweden. We also noted that many of those competing had sailed regularly at the venue in the past and knew all about the appropriate wind and current strategy required to get the best results.

On the other hand and the Aussies where literally all at sea and were often caught by the unfavorable bias of each leg and the erratic current, which in fact was the main undoing of any attempt we might have had at glory.

Fourteen nations and eighty-eight competitors, all with their spirits high went out in the pre-worlds to enable themselves to checkout all the equipment and boat speed. These races were sailed on much shorter courses than that we where going to sail in the world champs and also away from the main sailing area. I think it was only then that I realized the level of competition was much harder than expected and although we did have a couple of reasonable results from one or two of our teams they were more of a fluke than anything else as they weren't sustainable and we drifted back to our normal results lower in the fleet. We still had a lot of boats behind us including some Aussies, Finss, Danes, Germans, French & Italians. I'm sure they felt worse than me and I must say I felt pretty bad not just for myself but for the rest of the guys too. Some of them had quite a torrid time sorting their boats out.

Well with the warm up out of the way we had some time off the next day to do some sightseeing. Kobus and I went into the town of Malmo for a day out. We Went by bike, everyone ride bikes there and we were each given one for the duration of the event. It's so flat there and easy to get around. I think it was the highlight of the trip being able to get around with so much freedom and at that time of year the weather is great.

On Saturday the 26th we were to start the event for real after the opening ceremony the night before. I will try to give you as best an idea of what took place during the event from my own point of view as I am able to recollect the detail from my own racing.

The first race started in light air 4-6 knots very much as had happened in the pre worlds and we finished 61st. Kobus and I rethought our race and went into the second race tense knowing we could have done better. We got into much dirty air in the 1st race and were unsure of what the best position to be in off the start line would be. We went left again but not as much in the middle as the first race I realized that the only way to get completely clear wind was to get out in front! Don't we all! Any way we did better in that race getting a 55th. The wind also was a little stronger but not much, 5-7knots.

Clearly these championships were going to be sailed in conditions we weren't prepared for. Most if not all our training had been in very heavy conditions we, much heavier conditions than those experienced so far.

Sunday arrived and so had the wind, at least some of it! 10 to 12, gusting 18 knots. We did the same things as before and went a whole lot better. At one stage hitting the mid 30's only to lose out in the middle leg of the race when one of the ropes was trapped under the boat, which took some time to free. We finished 48th and felt we would now start doing a whole lot better providing the wind prevailed.

It didn't and Monday the wind dropped down to 2 to 5 knots and changed direction to the north. So did the current. We didn't do so well in the first race finishing back in the 60's again. With the current increasing all the time against us we decided to pullout of the second race that day. I didn't feel at all comfortable in a 4 to 5 knot current against me in such little wind and I'm surprised the race officer didn't abandon the race, as it had become a problem to many. There was some discussion by the international jury on that subject and the race officer was called to account for his actions. He explained that it had been a freak occurrence seldom experienced.

Tuesday was a rest day to fiddle with the boat our go shopping for gifts; we did both.

Wednesday came but little wind showed up untill late in the afternoon we went out for a race, if that's what it could be called! At least the current had subsided and we were able to drift around the course again finishing in the 60's.

Well Thursday and Friday weren't much better than Wednesday and the last 3 races turned into more of an ordeal than the rest.

At the end of the regatta we finished in the 60's with more than 20 boats behind us and it was the same for most of the SA team.

Looking at the event itself I we would have preferred stronger conditions and that although we thought we were prepared for the event we clearly weren't. The Europeans were sailing with very light crew weights, some barely weighing in at 120kgs against 175kgs for Kobus and myself. They obviously knew how light the conditions were going to be. These teams found themselves completely over powered when the wind did freshen a bit for the one race. It's not only the weight as there were some other teams of a similar weight to us doing well, but then these guys are pro's and able to practice any where at any time in any condition.

What now? Well, we need to compete internationally if we are to be part of the international community. Should we only go to those events that suite us well? I suppose not so we do have to become well-rounded competitors, good in all conditions. I also think that we as South Africans do a very good P.R. job for our country. It was very important to our Swedish host that we were made to feel welcome it was also very important to them that they were hosting such a large event for the small town of Malmo.

The 2004 505 Worlds will be in California in the USA next August 2004, then on to Germany in 2005 and England in 2006. Hopefully better winds for all these regattas than we had this year. Our attendance at there regattas will of course depend on sponsors backing us. We did get some TV coverage of the event on Swedish television also some magazine articles still to be published apart from the visual effect of the decal on our boats for the spectators at the regatta. I do realise if my name was Ernie Els, Bafana Bafana, Amabokke the problem wouldn't be so great and is yacht racing so important with all the other issues in today's world? Well no, but sport generally seems to be able to transcend boundaries where all other efforts may fail, for example in Finland today there is a South African t-shirt with, "Welcome to South Africa" and the web page address emblazoned on it. And they wanted to beat our team! You cant build good will at Ministerial level, that can only be done by people interacting with each other. We had a friendly international table tennis triangular series between Finland, UK, and ourselves. The jury is still out on that one we think the Finns were using unfair tactics and so do the Brits!"