Practising for the Grolsch 505 Worlds at Fremantle.
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Mark Stowell puts his newly built "Fremantle 505" throughits paces at Fremantle.
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Monday December 2nd, 2002 -- Fremantle Sailing Club, Fremantle, Western Australia

Today has been slightly different from previous days in that there were a few small clouds in the sky this morning. The weather system that gave us very strong winds all yesterday and last night has gone, and it was a lighter seabreeze today, perhaps 18-22 knots at noon, somewhat stronger in the late afternoon.

Measurement and registration were going "Great Guns" all day. A number of teams were out practicing. Pip Pearson and I finally made it out for a sail. It is a little interesting getting in and out of the harbour as it is SO shifty and puffy behind the high breakwater. Once out into the Indian Ocean, the sailing is fabulous... the colour of the water varies with the depth, and is very reminiscent of Bermuda's Great Sound.

We saw three flying fish -- the first I have ever seen -- pop out of the water just in front of our bow and glide to windward before diving back in. WOW!

We planed around for awhile, threw in some tacks, hoists and gybes and lined up with a couple of Australian boats to check out speed and height; so far so good.

It seems to me that we have all the pieces necessary to have an extraordinary 505 World Championship. Fremantle is terrific, the beaches marvelous, the water warm, very clear and beautiful. The organisers seem to have thought of just about everything, and it looks like we're going to have 20 knots or more each afternoon, and it could be quite a bit higher. We have 107 competitors so far, with an exceptional entry list including:

Two time 505 world champion Chris Nicholson, racing 505s again with his brother Darren. Chris has also had a rather good run in some skiff classes including winning something like 3 49er world championships and two 18 footer Grand Prix championships.

Past 505 World Champion (he also won a silver medal in the 49ers in Sydney) Ian Barker, racing with Danny Cripps.

Five time 505 world champion Krister Bergstrom with long time crew Thomas Moss.

Multi-class world champion (but not 505s as yet) and multi-time 505 UK National Champion Ian Pinnell, racing again with Steve Hunt.

Simon Payne racing with 1995 505 World Champion Bill "Billy Boy" Masterman.

Past 505 World Champions Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin, who are also two of the three man team that won the Australian 18 footer Worlds -- the JJ Giltinan.

Other strong "Team Tuesday" teams who practice every Tuesday afternoon with Hamlin/Martin are here too; Andy Beekman/Ben Benjamin (2nd at the 1999 Worlds) and Danny Thompson/Andy Zinn.

We are waiting to see if top Swedish sailor Johan Barne can make it here in time for the Worlds. He is currently in Auckland with the Swedish Victory Challenge America's Cup team, which was recently eliminated, but it is not clear Victory Challenge will release him in time to make it here. The rumour is that 2001 World Champion 505 crew Holger Jess is the alternate crew for skipper Tom Swift if Johan cannot make it.

Well known naval architect, AC boat designer, and 18 footer champion Iain Murray, crewing for his wife Alex Murray.

This list does not even start to show the depth of the Australian contingent, with many of the best known names in Australian dinghy sailing here.

It looks like we have ten countries represented so far (AUS, GBR, ZIM, USA, GER, FRA, NZL, SWE, DEN, CAN).

We'll have to see how the racing goes, but so far, I'm wondering how soon the Western Australians would be willing to host another 505 World Championship.

Alexander "Ali" Meller
President, International 505 Class Yacht Racing Association