March 07, 2008	Friday	Safar 28, 1429

KARACHI, March 6: Four foreign nations have so far confirmed their participation in the inaugural Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) International Open Sailing Regatta being held at the Korangi Creek from April 8 to 15.

The nations who have shown their willingness to compete include Algeria, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and UK. In addition, the organisers are expecting entries from Bangladesh, Singapore and the UAE.

The regatta will be held in Laser Standard (men), Laser Radial (Open), Laser 4.7 (Open), 470 (men), Mistral (Open), and Optimist boys and girls.

The details of the regatta were announced by the Base Commander, PAF Base, Korangi Creek, Air Commodore Khalid Farooq Chishti, at a press conference held at the PAF Yacht Club on Thursday.

He informed the regatta had the blessings of Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood who immensely helped in importing sailing equipments worth millions of rupees.

PAF had recently imported speed boats amounting to some Rs26 million and sailing equipments of approximately Rs9 million. More sailing equipments of around Rs12.5million are on way.

The most significant thing of the regatta is that PAF is not charging a single penny including the air fare and local hospitality from foreign participants.

The regatta is likely to cost some Rs10 million which are to be raised through sponsorships, Wing Commander Munawar Alam Khan, secretary of the PAF Yacht Club, told Dawn.

He said the PAF plans to make it an annual feature and may also approach the world governing body of sport, International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for inclusion in its calendar.

The official said that Capt. (retd) A. R. Arshad will look after the technical aspects of the regatta.

The PAF has produced couple of international yachtsmen including Mohammad Ismail, Mohammad Tanveer, Mohammad Yousuf, Khan Dad and Sajjad Abbasi.