The RC 44 championship tour is announced.

The RC 44 Class Association introduces an innovative sailing tour for its members. Eight events will make up the 2007 championship with the first regatta scheduled in Portoroz, between March 29 - April 1.

The RC 44 Class moves into a new dimension for its second year of existence, and announces the 2007 RC 44 championship tour.

The 2007 circuit will consist of eight events held in Slovenia, Croatia, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates. The RC 44 regattas include an exciting combination of fleet racing (owner driver rule) and match racing (no helmsman limitation), with two rankings and one overall result. Other features such as direct umpiring for the fleet races, leeward gates during the fleet and match racing series and short courses mixed with some short coastal racing will enhance the level of the competition.

“We want to provide a variety of formats and deliver value to our owners and partners,” comments class manager Julien Di Biase. “We have negotiated a formal agreement with all the venues, in order to deliver the best value to the teams. As a consequence, the Class is able to provide many benefits to its members including free travel lift or crane, dock space and storage, builders and suppliers active assistance, discounted rates for hotels and there are no entry fees to the regattas. During the races, invited guests or media can ride on the boats and enjoy the racing from a unique perspective.”

Seven teams coming out of six nations will start in the Portoroz regatta. The RC 44 is a high performance, strict one design racer created for level racing under tightly controlled Class Rules. Twelve boats have been built to date and there are two licensed building facilities, Pauger Carbon in Budapest and V1 Technologies Dubai.