NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

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The 41st Annual International 505 North American Championship is being held from July 7th to the 11th, at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, in Long Beach California.

Fact Sheet

RACE:
41st International 505 Class North American Championship

DATE:
Warmup Event
Competition - July 5-6, 1997

North American Championship
Registration & Boat Measurement- July 7, 1997
Competition - July 8-12, 1997

TIME:
1:30PM each race day (weather permitting)

CLASS:
International 505 - The premier high performance two person racing dinghy around the world. One of the most widespread - if not the most widespread - high performance dinghy classes. The largest and most active two person high performance dinghy classes in North America. The boat preferred by many of the World's top dinghy racers.

SPONSORS:
SeaLand
Mocean
Ronstan
West Marine
Ullman Sails
Team McLube

COURSE:
Location - off Long Beach, California, USA
Length - 14 miles
505 World Championship-style course minus the last leg, with eight legs - gate start, windward, reach, reach, windward, leeward, windward, reach, reach, finish
course diagram

FORMAT:
Eight races with each team's worst race finish discarded.

RACE HEADQUARTERS:
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club,
7201 Ocean Blvd.,
Long Beach, California 90803,
562 434 9955

PARTICIPANTS:
Thirty-five two-person teams from the USA and Canada. An Entry list is available.

TEAMS TO WATCH:
Team McLube - Mike Martin (crew) and Howard Hamlin (driver) (Long Beach) - Mike and Howard won the 1996 505 North American Championship in Kingston, Ontario, and have won most west coast 505 events in 1997. Howard was 2nd, while Mike was 4th at the 1996 International 505 World Championship. Howard is a three time NA champion.

Scott Ikle (crew) and Tyler Moore (driver) (Hyannis, MA) - Scott and Tyler were 2nd at the 1996 505 North American Championship. Tyler was college sailor of the year 1995, Scott is a sailing coach.

Mike Mills (crew) and Nick Trotman (driver) (Boston, MA) - Mike and Nick have been the fastest New England 505 in 1997 practice sessions, but have managed to miss most of the regattas.

Peter Alarie (crew) and Mike Zani (driver) (Newport, RI) - Peter and Mike won the 1997 Midwinter Championship, and have several other top finishes in spring 1997 events.

Bruce Heckman (crew) and Jeff Miller (driver) (Santa Cruz, CA) - Bruce and Jeff have many years experience in the 505, with several top five finishes at World Championships. They are one of the very fastest 505 teams on the West Coast. Jeff is a three time NA champion.

More detailed competitor profiles of these and other competitors are available on this web site.

CONTACT:
Mike Martin
President, International 505 Class American Section
Phone: (H) 562-493-2061 (voice and fax)
Phone: (O) 714-433-8822
(Fax): (O) 714 433 8134
E-mail: mmartin@cbm.canon.com

PHOTOGRAPER:
Chuck Hashbarger
213-626-3940
E-mail: cdhfoto@pipeline.com

A Closer Look at the International 505 Dinghy

History
The 505 was designed by John Westell in the early 1950s. The 505s flared sides, long spinnaker pole, large spinnaker, and use of the trapeze from the beginning, made it quite unique. The boat quickly became popular in many countries, and became an IYRU International Class. The 505 is a one design class, as boats must meet a strict set of measurement rules to race as International 505s. No significant changes have been made to the 505 measurement rules, as John Westell clearly "Got it right the first time!". A more detailed 505 history is available.
Technology
The 505 is a leader in technology and construction. It has evolved from moulded plywood construction to honeycomb and foam cored Kevlar, carbon fiber, and glass cloth, using epoxy resin. The 505 class pioneered the use of the spinnaker launcher.
Longevity
The use of hi-tech construction materials allows builders to build very strong, light and stiff 505s that have extremely long competitive lives. Many fifteen to twenty year old boats are completely competitive at a North American and World Championship level, almost unheard of in high performance dinghies.
Adjustable Rig and Wide Crew Weight Range
The 505 has a very adjustable rig, and sailors can use whatever mast and sails they want, provided they meet the 505 measurement rules. This has allowed 505 sailors to set up their boats to suit a very wide weight range. Top teams at a World Championship frequently range in weight by 100 pounds! This wide optimum crew weight range encourages women as well as large men to race 505s. Women have had considerable success racing with the men in the 505, with several top ten finishes at World Championships, and two North American Championship titles.
Raced by Top Sailors
A list of past and current top 505 sailors reads like a "Who's Who" of International Yachting. The famous Danish sailor, Paul Elvstrom raced the 505 extensively - it is his favorite boat - and won the 1958 and 1959 World Championship, and finished a close 2nd in 1966. He was still racing 505s as recently as the 1985 World Championship! The man who defeated the Great Dane at the '66 Worlds was Jim Hardy - now Sir Jim Hardy - of Australian America's Cup Challenge fame. French America's Cup campaigner Yves Pajot was a long time 505 racer, winning the 1974 World Championship with his brother. Other America's Cup sailors with 505 backgrounds include Paul Cayard, Cam Lewis and John Marshall. Other well known International sailing stars and Olympians include: Steve Taylor, Steve Benjamin, Gary Knapp, Dick Deaver, Debbie Jarvis, Carl and Carol Buchan, Jonathan, Charlie and Bates McKee, Sally Lindsay, and Allison Jolly.
Raced in Extreme Conditions
The 505 is virtually unique in the wide range of conditions it can handle. Races may be cancelled for too little wind, but rarely for too much! The 505 Class Rules allow races to be started in up to 35 knots! If the wind strength exceeds that during a race, the race continues at the discretion of the Race Committee. Races may also be postponed or cancelled due to bad fog.

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. 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:

Alexander Meller
VP International 505 Class American Section &
International 505 Class Communications Officer
alimeller@aol.com
703 414 4010 (o)
301 963 0159 (h)

and point your browser to http://www.sailing.org/int505