The picturesque environments that Marstrand and its surroundings offer has single-handedly attracted a great number of both world-class sailors and spectators to the event throughout the years.

"We have world-class sailors back home and we have a lot of fun."

Plant's reputation as a world-class sailor, including his proven ability to overcome hardships at sea, weighed in the decision to resume a search, the Coast Guard said yesterday.

The most high-profile accident occurred four years ago when Larry Klein, a world-class sailor, died after falling into the water during a yacht race on San Francisco Bay.

So why do world-class sailors keep going back?

Bruno and Loick Peyron, world-class multi-hull sailors from France, know what it is to compete against each other as brothers.

Not only is the 16-foot dinghy fast, it is also so seductive that world-class sailors are abandoning more traditional craft to race it.

As a world-class sailor, Jacques Rogge was an expert at reading the wind and water currents.

"These are world-class sailors," said one Koch insider.

There are world-class sailors who go into raptures about the sailing conditions in the area.