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This is shaping up to be the best 505 World Championship ever, with a terrific venue, all 505 World Champions from the last ten years in attendence, and competitors like Australian Gran Prix 18 circuit winner Chris Nicholson, other 18 sailors Darren Nicholson, Ian Murray (of Colour 7 and One Australia fame) crewing for his wife Alex, also an 18 foot skiff sailor, and Matt Owen. The British team includes reigning World Champions Jeremy Robinson and Bill Masterman, Ian Barker, Daniel Cripps, Mark Upton-Brown, and Paul Towers. From the United States, Cam Lewis (Pete Melvin was supposed to be racing, but suffered a sailing injury just a few days before he was to depart), and many other world class sailors. 106 505s, the maximum allowed at the World Championship, are expected on the start line for the World Championship.
The Swedish team was the strongest in the pre-worlds, putting all four boats in the top eight overall. The Swedes were unable to practice before the event at home, as Sweden was frozen solid! However, most of the Swedish 505 sailors have 15-20 years of 505 experience. Four time world champion Krister Bergstrom, with crew Martin Westerdahl, won the pre-worlds with two bullets and a 7th. Ebbe Rosen/Olle Wenrup were 4th, with the other Swedish boats 7th and 8th overall.
The Townsville venue is incredible with warm water, 360 days of sunshine a year, a reliable sea breeze, a short sail from the beach to the racing area, great parties and social events, and of course trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Each race was full trapezing at least part of the time, with planing upwind and down.
The '92 and '94 World Champions Chris and Darren Nicholson - household names in Australia - won the Australian-only Australian Championships, but faltered in the lighter air of the last three races which were also scored as the pre-worlds, dropping to 11th overall in the pre-worlds. They responded by having a new mainsail more optimized for light air made for them, and acquiring a gybing centerboard similar to what the Europeans and Americans use. The Nicholson's hope this helps their light air speed for the World Championship which starts on the 12th. Chris was very happy to be back in the 505 after racing 18s and Tornados, "its nice to be able to tack on every shift and puff", and "the same speed sensation as an 18 footer".
1981 and '82 505 World Champion crew Cam Lewis said "Its great to be back in the 505 class; the depth is better and the gear is more hi-tech". About half the fleet are using Technora, Kevlar or spectra sails. Prototype Ronstan cleats are being tested by some of the Australians, many boats have substituted spectra for flexible wire in running rigging, and many hulls are all or partly carbon fiber and Kevlar. Different masts, centerboards and sails are popular in the 18 countries were 505s are actively raced, and it is interesting to see how different the boats can be despite all meeting the 505 class's tight class rules. Despite the technological advances some boats over 16 years of age were competitive in the Australian Championship and pre-worlds.
Results from the Australian Championship and the pre-worlds suggest that the Australian boats are more optimized for the heavy airs prevalent elsewhere in Australia, while the European and North American rigs are better rounded, providing good speed in a wide range of conditions.
Most of the competitors are very enthusiastic about the venue and the racing so far. Sweden's Ebbe Rosen said this, his 15th 505 World Championship Event, was "probably the best yet".
The first race of the World Championship is April 12th, with one race a day for seven days.
Pre-worlds top teams:
1. Krister Bergstrom/Martin Westerdahl, SWE 1,1,7
2. Ian Barker/Daniel Cripps, GBR 2,3,5
3. Howard Hamlin/Cam Lewis, USA, 8,2, 9
4. Ebbe Rosen, Olle Wenrup, SWE, 6, 21, 2
5. Mark Upton-Brown/Nigel Vooght, GBR 12, 7, 6
6. S. Higgins/D. Wilson AUS 11,4,18
7. D. Scheder/Johan Arvedson, SWE 16, 20, 4
8. Kalle Nilsson/Mikael Ahrbom, SWE 32, 9, 3
9. Jeff Miller/Mike Martin, USA 3, 27, 14
10. H. Stodart/A. Baker AUS 5,13, 25
11. Chris Nicholson/Darren Nicholson, AUS 10, 15, 22Australian Championship top teams:
1. Chris Nicholson/Darren Nicholson 2,1,1,4,9,7
2. S. Higgins/D. Wilsdon 10,4,5,5,1,4
3. H. Stodart/A. Baker 3,8,2,2,7,10
4. G. Serant/K. Sinclair 1, 74,4,8,4,8
5. D. Blatchford/J. Field 4,2,12,12,2,14
6. P. Hewson/T. Blatchford 15,3,9,7,12,1
7. J. Schoenherr/C. Spense 25,13,7,1,20,6
8. N. Long/D. Williams 5,28,18,10,10,3Australian Junior Champions:
Brett Whitbread/Jamie Pirret
