Today begins the 5o5 World Championship 2012 in La Rochelle with a Pre-Worlds series over three days, before the start of the first Championship race next Saturday. 192 teams from 15 nations participate, among them large delegations from France, England and Germany (with the SAP software founder Hasso Plattner). From the USA, 16 boats are present, including veterans Augie Diaz and Howie Hamlin, while two Canadian teams will defend the maple-leaf colors. The event-website and the presentation video.