World Sailing Regatta 2007 Comes to Cascais, Portugal

Today, with more than 400 miles of Atlantic beaches, Portugal offers an amazing array of water sports and recreation. From the best surfing in Europe, to the best whale watching in the world, Portugal ' s vast Atlantic realm stretched from the Mainland to the Azores, and to Madeira. As a result of the heritage, the World Sailing Federation (ISAF) will be holding its centenary celebrations outside of Lisbon in Estoril and Cascais in September 2007.

(PRWeb) March 18, 2007 -- Since its beginnings as a nation in the 12th century, Portugal has always looked out at the ocean. Surrounded by fierce mountains, and inhospitable neighbors, the Portuguese were the first Europe's nation to explore the unknown distance in the 15th century. Today, with more than 400 miles of Atlantic beaches, Portugal offers an amazing array of water sports and recreation. From the best surfing in Europe, to the best whale watching in the world, Portugal ' s vast Atlantic realm stretched from the Mainland to the Azores, and to Madeira. As a result of the heritage, the World Sailing Federation (ISAF) will be holding its centenary celebrations outside of Lisbon in Estoril and Cascais in September 2007.

The Cascais area was selected out of twenty proposals from a wide variety of countries that were submitted. On 1st and 2nd September 2007, Estoril will host the two main events of the ISAF Centenary: the "Sail the World Festival" and the "Sailor of the Century Awards". More than 1,000 people are expected to participate, including the directors of sailing federations and sailing clubs of from all over the world, members of the ISAF and many of the big names in top-class sailing.

In June 2007, two months before the centenary celebrations, the Olympic Class World Sailing Championship will be held on the Estoril Coast . At this event, 75% of the fleet for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will be selected. Cascais is already preparing to welcome about 1,000 boats and 11 different classes from 70 nations, crewed by more than 1,500 sailors. Portugal may be the oldest nation in Europe -in terms of how long its current borders have been defined-but today it is becoming known for its innovation and creativity.

Portugal is home to a thriving culture of fashion, music, food, and art, and the country remains a meeting point for people from around the world. Its new nightclubs are some of the liveliest in Europe, its new bistros blend the pillars of Portuguese food with globally inspired new flavors. Modern designers are bringing bold fashions to the runways, impressive new architecture to blend with the historic ambiance of the cities, and new museums of contemporary art.

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Press Release Source: EMediaWire