A new record has been set. The current list of entries for the 2007 Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championship (NAC) has reached a record 47 boats. This year’s race has attracted top name racers from around the country who will all arrive in Buffalo September 5-9 for four action packed days of racing.

The record is a testament to the hard work of the 2007 NAC committee from the Buffalo Yacht Club(BYC). According to Peter Johnson, Fleet Chairman at the hosting BYC, he is pleased with the level of participation for the event. “The event has exceeded our expectations with over 45 boats registered. We anticipated there would be 35 - 40 entries for this race, and that would have been more than twice as many as the 2006 North Americans hosted at the New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI. The 36.7 has shown fantastic popularity in the Great Lakes Region, a reflection of the performance of this yacht as a racer / cruiser. The BYC facilities and the ideal Lake Erie September conditions will make for a great event, attracting boats from as far away as Texas.

This is a great milestone in the history of this growing one-design class. Boats will be traveling from around North America to Buffalo in the upcoming weeks to compete for the title of North American Champion. With close to 250 boats built in North America alone and over 900 worldwide, the Farr Yacht Designed First 36.7 has quickly become the boat that meets the needs of the weekend racer, weekday cruiser. With fleets on the East Coast, West Coast and Great Lakes, one-design racing on the First 36.7 offers great enjoyment on the water.

"The 2007 Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championship hosted by the Buffalo Yacht Club promises to be a fun and exciting regatta drawing competitors from across North America. With 47 boats registered, it demonstrates the momentum and growth of the 36.7 class over the last five years. The class has established fleets in major sailing areas such as Buffalo, Chesapeake Bay, Chicago, San Diego, Toronto and others. As a competitor, I eagerly look forward to sharing in the sportsmanship and camaraderie of this event, " stated Martin Sandoval the President of the First 36.7 One Design Class.

For more information about the event, go to www.beneteaufirst367 or www.buffaloyachtclub.com