Recent 505 News - December '97 1997 Sailing SeasonInternational 505 World ChampionshipUpdated December 17, 1997 The 42nd International 505 Class World Championship was hosted by the Gilleleje Sejlklub in Gilleleje, Denmark. There were 79 teams from Europe, Australia and North America competing. Four different countries were represented in the top five finishers; five in the top ten. Mark Upton-Brown/Ian Mitchell (39.4 points) from the UK won by a very narrow margin from Ebbe Rosén/Olle Wenrup (39.7 points) of Sweden. Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin from the USA were 3rd with 43.7 points. Remaining top ten finishes were:
Several articles and the results from the worlds and pre-worlds are available at various 505 web sites. Here is a good starting point. The Annual Meeting voted to make the 505 World Championships an OPEN event, with no pre-qualification necessary. Anyone who joins the 505 class association can race in future 505 World Championships. Germany is now the largest 505 countryThe German 505 Class Association is now the largest within the International 505 Class, as they have passed the UK association in total membership. They have 230 full members and 110 associate members. The German 505 class continues to grow rapidly. Germany had more 505s at the recent World Championship than any other nation. Congratulations to Holger Jess and the German 505 class association! For more information on the German 505 scene, check out their web site at URL: http://www.int505.de/. Recent ChampionshipsT.R. Fastenings UK National ChampionshipThe 1997 UK National Championships were held at Brighton, July 19th-25th. A colourful venue, nine race series, a choice of five different courses, the option of gate or line starts and on the last day the most exhilarating 'Race of the Year' in recent memory, made the T.R. Fastenings 505 Nationals one to be remembered. Brighton Marina Yacht Club were hosts to their first major championships, and under the guidance of Race officer Paul Gardner and Kay coped with the new course formats. Results (top 5):
Scottish 505 ChampionshipsThe 1997 Scottish Championships were held over the weekend of 20th-21st September at Prestwick Sailing Club. The weekend was notable for a few things, the lack of wind, the abundance of huge jellyfish with a magnetic attraction for 505 CBs and Gordon McGeorge not winning every race in light weather! Results (top 3):
For a complete report check URL: http://old.int505.org/old_site/97sctrep.htm Belgium 505 ChampionshipsOn September 27th-28th we had the Belgian Open Championship at SNEH on the Eau d'Heure Lake. Forty two boats attended the regatta. Results (top 11):
Zimbabwe 505 ChampionshipsTen 5o's, three from South Africa and the rest locals. The format of the Nationals has changed in keeping with pressure to keep abreast of world trends. We thus had scheduled 12 races of which 6 were to be short races. In the event we only sailed 11 races, 6 short and 5 long. The short races consisted of a 6 minute, 3 minute, go start sequence, a 1000 meter beat, 1 to port, a 1000 meter marginal spinnaker reach, round 2 to Starboard, an 800 meter beat to number 3 to Port and a 1000 meter run to the finish. From the finish straight back to the start where, once the whole class had arrived the next start sequence for that particular class was commenced. This meant no waiting around for the Optimists etc. to finish before you could get going. On some occasions if you went slow on the one short race you would only just get back to the start area with 3 minutes to go to the next start. Results (top five):
The winning boat, Margi's Magic 7640, was built in Zimbabwe with a wood hull by Jeremy O'Conner, as was Absolutely 4th St, and two others in the fleet. Margi's Magic defeated a late model Rondar to win. Canadian ChampionshipThe 505 Canadian Championship was held June 13-15, at the Wabamun Sailing Club, near Edmonton Alberta. Thirteen 505 teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ontario, and Colorado participated. Edmonton being four to five days drive from the larger 505 fleets in Eastern Canada, the Ontario representatives flew out and raced a borrowed boat. Top three finishers were:
Europe Cup Series 1997The '97 Europe Cup series consisted of the following events:
Overall results will be in a later Recent 505 News.. USA NewsThe International 505 Class American Section continues to prosper, with a number of new boats delivered in the past two years, along with lots of used boats being bought/sold, and used 505s being brought in from the UK. Membership is increasing, and we are seeing lots of new faces at regattas. Regatta turnout is up at East Coast events and was up at the North American Championship. We are expecting over 30 teams for the upcoming Florida Midwinter championship, the largest midwinters since the mid '70s. More new boats are on order, and more used UK boats are being bought. SeaLand North American ChampionshipsThe 1997 SeaLand International 505 North American Championship, held at ABYC in Long Beach July 6th-10th, was the largest North American Championship in some time. Support from SeaLand meant that 10 5o5s from the East Coast were at the event, the largest "other coast" turnout in years. Three teams went into the last race essentially tied, but Mike Zani/Peter Alarie did the job, winning the event. Howard Hamlin/Mike Martin were 2nd, while Nick Trotman/Mike Mills were 3rd. Perhaps indicative of the longevity of North American 505s and also of the recent influx of new boats, Zani/Alarie raced Lindsay 7318, a 17 year old boat that they recently rebuilt, Hamlin/Martin raced 7771, a 12 year old Waterat, while Trotman/Mills raced 8610, a one year old Rondar. Top five at the NA Championship:
The top Canadian team were Robin Brown/Rich Mondell in 8th. International 505 Class at SailEXPO Atlantic CityThe International 505 Class American Section is returning to SailEXPO Atlantic City. The show is Feburary 4-8, in the new Atlantic City exhibition building. The 505 stand is being organized by American Section VP, Nick Trotman, and Peter Alarie of Guck, Inc. (Guck, Inc. recently became a dealer/agent in North America for Rondar Raceboats). 505 Class on the InternetThe International 505 Class probably makes more use of the Internet than any other class association [to my knowledge, and from what I can see] There are over 360 people on the 505world e-mail listserver, and there are 9 national 505 web sites, 7 fleet sites, and 3 other web sites, as I write this. New sites are frequently being added. Some of these have extensive information about the 505 and the 505 class. A number of people who have recently joined the class have cited the support and information available by e-mail and the web sites as key reasons for joining the class. The 505 North American web site continues to draw attention. We passed 25,000 "hits" since August 15th 1996, on October 27th, 1997. Looking Ahead to 1998Florida Midwinters, January 2nd-4th, St. Petersburg, FLThe amazing growth of the Midwinter (North American) Championships appears to be continuing! In 1994, the first year the 505 class went to the St. Petersburg Yacht club, we had 9 teams. The next year we had 12, then 20, then 23 for the 1997 event. A week after the first e-mail notice went out, 31 teams had committed to the 1998 event, with a significant number more likel, including a possible team from the UK shipping their boat across. At 31 teams this will already be the largest 505 Midwinter Championship since the late '70s. The event is January 2-4, at the St. Petersburg Sailing Center, in St. Petersburg Florida. A skipper/crew/boat matching service is being provided. For more information contact Ethan Bixby at [email protected]. Grolsch Australian Championships, April 4th-11th, Fremantle, WAThe next Australian Nationals are at Fremantle WA from 4th-11th April (Easter) '98. As you may have guessed Grolsch Brewery are sponsoring it, and providing the odd refreshment or two. A 9 race series is planned, with short and long races, and a trip to Rottnest Island on the spare day. Freo is not a bad place, and has plenty of entertainment, restaurants, girls etc. a short walk from the club. Charter boats can be arranged, and billeting if required. For further information contact: Mark Stowell. European Championship, May 9th-16th, Damp, GermanyThe 1998 5o5 European Championship will be in Damp Germany, near Keil, May 9th - 16th. As the largest 505 class national association, the Germans can be expected to put on an outstanding event. See you there. Lots of information about the event is available on the German 505web site. Europa Cup SeriesThe International 505 Class Europa Cup Series is most probably the largest International Race Series in sailing. Five Europa Cup events are held in five different countries and the results scored overall. The total number of 505s participating (in one or more of the Europa Cup events) in any given year can be over 300. For 1998 the Europa Cup events are:
World Championships, September 12th-15th - Preparations in HyannisPreparations for the 1998 International 505 World Championship, in Hyannis MA, USA, September 12th - 25th (including the North American Championships as the pre-worlds) are continuing. Unlike previous 505 World Championships, this is an OPEN event! No pre-qualification is necessary. If you own, or can get your hands on a 505 and are a member of a national 505 Class Association or the International 505 Class Association, you can race in the World Championship. For further information contact Tom Kivney. Major Event Summary
Dates for the following National Championships will be included in a future Recent 505 News…: Zimbabwe National Championship Hong Kong National Championship There are several 505 1998 schedules on the web: 1999 and beyondInternational 505 Class 41st Australian Championships27 December, 1998 to 4th January, 1999 (to be confirmed) Toronto Amateur Sailing Club, New South Wales 1999 5o5 World Championship in Quiberon, France, early JulyThe French Association reports that preparations for the 1999 Worlds are well in hand. Quiberon is in the south of Britany on the west coast of France. It is a few miles away from La Trinite, one of the most famous yachting area in Europe. 2000 5o5 World ChampionshipA proposal to hold the International 505 2000 World Championship in Durban, Republic of South Africa, was made at the 1997 Annual Meeting. The proposal was well received, but a decision was delayed until the Hyannis Annual Meeting in 1998. Two other possibilities for a 2000 worlds venue were discussed at the '97 AGM, Perth Australia, and Bermuda. At this time there appears to be interest from the Bermuda Yachting Association and 505 contacts in Bermuda, and from the Perth 505 fleet, in holding a 505 World Championship. The International VP is working with the Bermuda contacts, and expects a proposal to be forthcoming. Should the Bermudians choose to propose for the 2000 Worlds, attendees at the 1998 AGM will presumably have a choice between Durban and Bermuda. Should Perth also submit a proposal for 2000, this could become a three-way decision. The International 505:With over 1200 members in 18 countries, the International 505 class is the largest and most active two person high performance dinghy class in the world, providing the highest level of non Olympic racing available. Despite its exceptional performance, the 505 is relatively easy to sail; but a challenge to sail well! It is raced by Olympic medalists and club sailors, men and women, juniors and seniors, on lakes and on oceans, in drifters and in 35+ knots. Many of the best known names in International Sailing have raced, or currently race 505s. For further information on the International 505 or the International 505 Class, contact: Ali Meller and point your browser to http://old.int505.org/old_site/
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