First of all I wish you all a very good X-mas and a happy New year.
The northern hemisphere is dark and cold these days and the boats are stored away - well some of them are, at least here where I'm sitting right now people are moving the snow away from the boats to prepare for the yearly X-mas regatta.
Downunder the activity is high with a lot of newcomers to the class (and no snow!!!).
So what is new?
First I want to go back some months - to Santa Cruz, we had a very good worlds there and Morgan & Trevor really showed us how to sail the boat. I read some days ago that Morgan was nominated for the Rolex Award - hope he wins!
A regatta like this can only come to life if there are some very dedicated people onboard, and without Bob Simpkins and his magnificent team this worlds wouldn't have been what is was.
In Europe the class had the pleasure of having a European Championship which saw a significant growth in number of participants - even when it was hosted in a non-505 country - Croatia!
I whish to thank Petra Kliba Schmidt and the German 505 class for their efforts in making this event a success.
Future Worlds
Warnemunde 2005
130 pre-entries - do I need to say more?
The Germans are excellent organizers - the sponsors are found - the beer is cold - be there to participate in what has a good chance to be the biggest 505 worlds ever!!!!!!
Hayling Island 2006
The Brits and French are working on it - I hope it will help bringing the British class back on track.
Adelaide 2007
As you can see on links from the int505.org website the Aussies have already come a long way in their planning.
New 505 countries
I believe that we will see entries to the worlds in Warnemunde from Poland and maybe even Austria, and who knows, hopefully we will see Croatian 505's some day, for sure they have talent - the best Croatian came second at the Europeans in a borrowed boat!
Rules
As you know, we are, within the rules, trying to change the way how we manage our class rules. One thing that many have complained about is the lack of speed if we want to change something. But in these days with email and Internet we can improve here, so we can have a rule change from start to end in less than 12 months - even including the ISAF approval - ISAF have also changed to e-mail!
I encourage you all to respond to the questionnaire from the IRC as soon as possible so we can have the best possibilities to make the class develop in the directions that the memberships wants.
Personally I believe that we should look in a way to have fewer options in our boat to make the racing cheaper.
Outside the 505 class
I attended the yearly ISAF meeting this year. It was Paul Henderson's last meeting as ISAF president and at his "farewell" speach at the ISAF Classes meeting he mentioned three classes among the 50 ISAF classes - the Tornado, the FD and the 505! He mentioned his good experience when he visited our worlds in France in 99 as a good sample for other classes.
Our new ISAF president Goran Petersson is actually an old 505 sailor.
In general it seems like sailing is struggling a bit, in some countries more than others, we need to be very active in our recruitment - so pick up the youngsters and get them on the wire!!!!
Hope to see you all in 2005 in Warnemunde (and for those who can't wait, the start goes on Sunday at 11.00 in my local club!)
Tom Bojland
President
International 505 Yacht Racing Association
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