US Sailing One-Design Service Award
John H. Gardiner, Jr. Trophy

As the Secretary of the International 505 Yacht Racing Association, American Section, it is my privilege to nominate Alexander ‘Ali’ Meller for the John H. Gardiner, Jr. Trophy. Ali Meller has demonstrated the highest qualities of class leadership in his tireless efforts to promote the International 505 at the fleet, national and international levels. I hope that the following accounts of Ali’s work in the 505 class is sufficient testament to his dedication of promoting the finest one-design sailing anywhere.

Ali Meller truly embodies the enthusiasm which has propelled the 505 into a new era of prosperity. In the past few years the class has seen an unprecedented rebirth, and it is without question that Ali is responsible for much of this success. Ali has established a national used boat sales network that has seen the sale of over 100 used 505’s in the past two years. His expert use of modern communications such as the internet and electronic mail has facilitated these efforts, but Ali has also been known to spend long hours on the phone with prospective buyers to accommodate their questions. Ali also has a long history of helping new people in the class get their boats up to speed. Whether it be in boat refurbishment, tuning or fleet building, Ali is there to see to it that these people get the information that they need. Ali’s enthusiasm can really be seen on the 505 internet web site (https://www.int505.org/) which he played a major role in creating. Any sailor would be hard pressed to locate a class web site with more detail and so thoroughly organized. In addition, the 505 email list which Ali helped create is among the most active and boasts over 350 subscribers around the world.

Ali has also been involved with regatta management and support. He was instrumental in building participation in the 505 Midwinters over the past few years. Ali even took it upon himself to trailer three 505’s to Florida for the event in each of the past two years.

Ali has served in an official capacity both in the national and international 505 class organizations. For the past few years Ali has served as the 505 American Section Vice President. In that position, Ali was primarily responsible for growth and promotion. Ali organized and attended three Sail Expo’s. He arranged for shipment of the display boat, designed and built the class booth and remained available to prospective class members during the event. Ali has also been the largest contributor to Tank Talk, the 505 American Section newsletter during his tenure as Vice President. His efforts in the class have been recognized by the International 505 YRA at the World Championships in Townsville, Australia when he was given a service award. The International 505 YRA also appointed Ali to the office of International Publicity Officer, and most recently to a Vice Presidential position in preparation for assuming the class Presidency. Simply put, Ali is everywhere in the 505 class. Upon resigning from his American Section VP position at the 1997 North American Annual General Meeting, Ali received a standing ovation from the membership. Many of the participants were present at the 1997 NA’s because of Ali’s involvement, and many others remain in the class because Ali is a catalyst for enthusiasm.

Throughout his extensive involvement in class administration over the past year, Ali has somehow managed to remain the top east coast skipper by repeating a win at the 505 East Coast Championships, dominating local regattas, consistently placing in the top three at the North American’s, and recently placing seventh at the 1997 505 Worlds.

Ali Meller exudes the energy that the 505 has become famous for. He has accomplished so much while remaining completely selfless. This trait is perhaps the most telling of his contributions to the 505 class, and this is why the 505 class is proud to call Ali Meller one of our own.

Sincerely,

-Jesse Falsone
Secretary, International 505 YRA, American Section
 

 

Many days I have sat on the shore waiting for Ali to bring a prospect back in. Many of our practice sessions have been nullified by a stream of gung-ho sailors sitting on the dock waiting for a ride when other class members were not available to help. Once those people have gotten into the class, Ali's dedication does not stop. He will work with those people, sharing everything he knows about the boat, until they can beat him around the race course. The result is a local active fleet with the skills to match class champions.

-Allan Johnson (Ali’s crew for the last 4 years)

www.int505.org

Clearly, Ali merits recognition at this level. If it weren't for him, the 505 would be all but dead on the east coast. Ali was instrumental in getting me into the class. He loaned his boat to me several times for local regattas.
After I bought a 505 - #7772 - Ali continued to help and assist with tuning, boat handling, crew finding, etc. The key factor in my decision to join the 505 class was the intense, cult-like, monothematic enthusiasm exhibited by Ali and others. Three years later, I am hooked - - I now work so that I have money to buy sails - and masts...

-Barney Harris

 

As Ali Meller's crew in the 505 class for many years, I have a unique perspective regarding his merits, influence and promotion of the 505 class. I think his energy and untiring promotion for the International 505 comes from his genuine love for the boat and the class itself.

On the fleet level: Ali and I have been campaigning our 505 with a goal of winning the major championships and the World Championship. This put us out practicing in the boat often, but also provided an avenue for 505 prospects to come out and go for a sail. Many days I have sat on the shore waiting for Ali to bring a prospect back in. Many of our practice sessions have been nullified by a stream of gung-ho sailors sitting on the dock waiting for a ride when other class members were not available to help. Once those people have gotten into the class, Ali's dedication does not stop. He will work with those people, sharing everything he knows about the boat, until they can beat him around the race course. The result is a local active fleet with the skills to match class champions.

On the National Level: The web page and e-mail list have been tremendous, but what really shows about Ali's commitment is his making sure that regattas are well attended. One Midwinters, he was personally responsible for getting 14 of the twenty boats at the regatta. He did this with Crew and skipper matches, driving boats himself and arranging charters. This same effort happens at Coastal championships and North Americans. At the 1997 North Americans, Ali spent a large amount of his free time, updating the Regatta web page. This gave the sailing community instant results and commentary on the racing in a daily format. The ISAF picked up some his information and posted it on their Web Page.

At the International Level: for the last several years Ali has held the position of International Communications Director. He has done an excellent job of getting national fleets talking to eachother. At the 1997 world championship, he was elected to Vice Presidency, a newly created position in the class. Ali probably does not have the time or the resources to take on this role, but with the membership behind him, he could not refuse. He will give this role his upmost attention, even if it means neglecting personal matters.

On a personal level: Ali took me to my first Midwinters. After we won the event, he must have thought that I was not all that bad, and we have continued to compete as team for most of the last 4 years. He has taught me much about the class and given me personal experience, I could have never imagined. As a result, I will always be a 505 sailor.

I can't think of a better candidate for this award.

-Allan Johnson