This weekend 16 International sailors will compete on an Olympic-sized pool in Lyon for the Trophée Veolia Environnement.

The 16 international competitors will be on an equal footing racing identical monohulls built especially for the event. The boats measure 2.75m long and weigh 140kg. Wind will be generated by six giant ventilators on the Olympic pool at the Nautical Centre on the Rhône.

Despite the disappointment of Loïck Peyron needing to pull out after collecting four broken ribs last week while training for the Transat Jacques Vabre aboard Jean-Luc Nélias? trimaran Belgacom, the event has attracted plenty of other familiar names from across a wide spectrum of competitive windsurf, dinghy, keelboat and yacht racing to provide a tantalising prospect for an audience that will be able to see every nuance of skill around a claustrophobic course.

Here is a list of nations and sailors taking part:

Australia
? Mitch Booth ? Tornado silver medallist (1996) in Atlanta and bronze medallist in Barcelona (1992); nine world championship titles, seven European titles, 13 national titles, 23 victories in catamaran international regattas and championships throughout the world.

Belgium
? Sébastien Godefroid ? Finn World Champion and world top ranked (2001), Finn European champion and world top ranked as well as leader of the European ranking (1998), more than 60 victories in international regattas and championships throughout the world.

Denmark
? Dorte O Jensen ? bronze medallist at the Yngling World championship (2003), women?s match racing three-time world champion (1999-2001), four-time J22 ISAF world champion (1998-1999), J22 European Champion (1990 and 1993), Europe European Champion (1993).

France
? Christine Briand ? double ISAF J 22 World Champion (2002 and 1994), 470 World champion (1983). Four-time winner of Dinghy French Championships.

? Michel Desjoyeaux ? double winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine (2003 and 2001), winner of the single handed Route du Rhum (2002), winner of the Vendée Globe (2001), double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (1998 et 1992),winner of the French single-handed championship (1998), winner of the double-handed Transat AG2R (1992), winner of the double-handed Transat Twostar (1990).

? Philippe Presti ? double French match-racing champion (2001 and 1999), Runner-up at the Soling World Championships (2000), double Finn World Champion (1996 and 1993), winner of the Finn French Championship (1994) and Finn world top ranked (1993); 11 victories in international regattas and championships throughout the world.

? Xavier Rohart ? Star World champion (2003), ISAF World Champion (2002), Star bronze medallist at the world championships (2002), runner-up at the Finn world championships (2002). Rohart replaces Loïck Peyron.

Germany
? Jochen Krauth ? first man to have broken the sailing speed record by reaching 40 knots; top speed windsurfing world champion in a professional circuit (1996), top speed runner-up windsurfing world champion (1991).

Great Britain
? Paul Brotherton ? silver medallist at the pre-Olympic week in Athens in 49er (2003), bronze medallist at the 49ner world championships (2002), 49ner European champion (1998), winner of the two international pre-Olympic weeks (2001), runner-up at 505 world championships (1994), seven- time 49ner and 470 Great Britain champion.

Israel
? Yogev Yosef ? ISAF 470 world champion (2002), runner-up at the World Youth Championship in 470 (2001), runner-up at the European Youth World Championships in 470 (1999), runner-up at the ISAF world championships in 420 (1998), 420 European Champion (1997).

Italy
? Larissa Nevierov ? gold medallist at the Mediterranean Games and runner-up at the Laser World Championship (2001), University World Champion in Laser (2001), double Laser World Champion (1998 and 1996), four-time European Champion (2000, 1995, 1993, 1989), 16 victories at international regattas and championships throughout the world.

Netherlands
? Carolijn Brouwer ? runner-up at the Europe World Championship (2001), double Europe World Champion (1998 and 1996), ISAF Sailing Champion of the Year (1998), World Champion in Laser Radial (1993), Youth World Champion in Laser Radial (1991), 27 victories at international regattas and championships throughout the world.

Spain
? Monica Azon ? Yngling World Champion (2003), seven-time Spanish Champion in 420, 470 and Yngling (2003, 1996, 1993, 1990, 1989), Spain?s champion in Women?s match racing (1999).

Sweden
? Johan Molund ? bronze medallist at the 420 European Championship (2003), 470 European Champion (1999), runner-up at 470 World Championship (1999), silver medallist at the 470 World Championship (1998), Europe World Champion (1996).

Switzerland
? Yvan Bourgnon ? winner of the Formula 18 French championship (2003), holder of the record across the channel (2001) and holder of the record of the greatest distance covered in 24 hours on a 60ft multihull (635,34 miles in 2000), winner of the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre (1997), winner of the single-handed Mini Transat (1995).

Ukraine
? Evgeniy Braslavets ? gold medallist in 470 at the Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996), 470 European and World Champion (2001), bronze medallist at the 470 World Championship (2000), winner of the five pre-Olympic regattas in 470.