505 North American Championship

The 44th Annual International 505 North American Championship is being held from August 9th to the 13th, at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club in Santa Cruz, California.

Fact Sheet

RACE:
44th Annual International 505 Class North American Championship

DATES:
Registration & Boat Measurement - August 9 12:00 to 14:30 and from 17:00 to 19:00
Practice Race - August 9 15:00
Sailors Meeting - August 10 09:30
Competition - August 10-13, 2000

TIME:
12:50 noon each day of competition (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.

COURSE:
Location - Monterey Bay
Either a nine leg 505 Worlds Course, or an eight leg shortened version of the 505 Worlds Course.

505 Worlds Course

 

 

 

Modified 505 Worlds Course

RACE HEADQUARTERS:
Santa Cruz Yacht Club,
244 Fourth Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 425-0690
scyc@scyc.org

PARTICIPANTS:
A number of two-person teams from California, the MidAtlantic region, New England, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and Canada are expected. An Entry list is available.

TEAMS TO WATCH:

Peter Alarie (crew) and Howard Hamlin Howard (with then crew Mike Martin) won the 1999 505 World Championship. Peter Alarie has won the 505 North American championship multiple times, and has won most other major 505 events, with different skippers.

Steve Bourdow (crew) and Mike Martin Steve is a top Laser and past FD Olympian who recently teamed up with 1999 505 World Champion crew (now driving) Mike Martin. This pits the crew and driver of the 1999 World Championship team against each other, both driving.

Bill Smith (crew) and Tim Collins (driver) (Rhode Island) - Bill and Tim won the 1998 East Coast Championship in Hyannis and the 1999 East Coast Championship in Annapolis.

Jesse Falsone (crew) and Barney Harris (driver) Annapolis and Arlington - Jesse and Barney have been the top team in the MidAtlantic Region for several years.

Some typical 505 sailors

CONTACT:
Bruce Edwards
Event Chairman
E-mail: BruceEdw@aol.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 (now ISAF) 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 and included a trapeze from the beginning.
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. A number of older 505s are racing this North American Championship.
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 or postponed 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:

Ben Benjamin
VP International 505 Class American Section
(h) 949 675-2008
(o) 949 500-1973
E-mail: Bengravy@aol.com

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