Sailing The ISAF (International Sailing Federation) has announced that the Nations Cup grand final for 2006 will be hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. For good measure Cork will also stage one of the regional finals for the event.

Regional finals will also be hosted by Finland, Portugal, Slovenia, Britain, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, the US Virgin Islands and New Zealand. The ISAF Nations Cup is a match-racing competition between nations.

Each of the regional finals will host an open and a women's event, held over a four-day period, with the winning teams qualifying to represent their nations and their groups at the ISAF Nations Cup grand final - expected to be held in early September, 2006.

Previous ISAF events hosted in Ireland include the Nations Cup North European qualifier in 1995 and the ISAF Team Racing World Championship in 1999.

The Nations Cup grand final will be contested in J/24s on Cork Harbour.

Peter Crowley, admiral of Royal Cork YC, said: "We are delighted at the Royal Cork to be selected to host the ISAF Nations Cup grand final."