IMCA World Council Agrees On Major Event Schedule Through 2011
One of the key responsibilities of the IMCA World Council AGM is to agree the schedule for Melges 24 World and Continental Championships. At the 2008 AGM, held in Munich on 11 October, proposals were accepted for and events agreed through until 2011 with provisional plans also being confirmed for the 2012 World Championship.
In order to give sufficient time for planning the IMCA World Council works three years in advance where possible to agree venues and outline dates for its championship events. At this year's meeting formal proposals had been submitted for the 2010 North American Championship (note the 2010 World Championship having been awarded to Tallinn, Estonia at last year's AGM), the 2011 World and European Championships and the 2012 World Championships.
For the 2010 North American and 2011 World Championship proposals were presented by the USMCA from Rochester Yacht Club, New York State, and from Corpus Christi Yacht Club, Texas. Both clubs submitted proposals to host either one or both events as in recent years the class has elected to place the North Americans and US based Worlds in the same location on consecutive years (in 06 and 07 in Santa Cruze and in 08 and 09 in Annapolis). Although it was agreed that placing the events with the same club in consecutive years has some benefits in enabling smaller clubs to gain experience in the run up to hosting a Worlds, this system does have the disadvantage of focusing attention on only one region for two years. Bearing in mind that both proposed host clubs have extensive experience of running major regattas for large fleets the USMCA requested that for the next cycle of events the IMCA placed them separately rather than with the same venue.
Following discussion on the merits of each club and the benefits that can be brought to each of these regions by hosting an international championship the meeting agreed that Rochester Yacht Club will host the 2010 North American Championship and Corpus Christi Yacht Club will host the 2011 World Championship.
For the 2011 European Championship the only formal proposal presented was from the Norwegian Class to host the event at the Hagesund Yacht Club in Hagesund, Norway. The Italian Class indicated that it too would like to bid to host the European Championships in 2011, but unfortunately was not able to present a defined proposal or specify which club it would like to have host the event and since the IMCA Regatta Regulations direct that events should be confirmed 3 years in advance where ever possible it was agreed that the Norwegian option be accepted. The Italian Class was asked to bring firm proposals to the next AGM to host a major event at the next available opportunity in 2012.
The meeting then discussed the question of a venue for the 2012 Worlds. The Australian Class had requested the opportunity to host a World Championship at the earliest possible opportunity and had declared its initial interest at the 2007 AGM. For this year's AGM the Australian class submitted a formal proposal to host the 2012 World Championship at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Pittwater (an hour north of Sydney), Australia. The meeting discussed the question of whether the Australian Class will have gained sufficient momentum by 2012 and the suitability of the venue proposed (where sailing conditions are excellent but there is an extremely long sail from the club to the race area). The Italian Class also indicated that it would like to host the 2012 World Championship and would be able to submit a formal proposal to the 2009 AGM.
Following discussion it was agreed that the 2012 World Championship be provisionally awarded to Australia subject to confirmation at the 2009 AGM that the class was showing good existing and potential growth at that time and subject to a review of the venue. Should Australia be unable to meet the requirements to host a Worlds in 2012 it was proposed that Italy be considered as an alternative venue for this event and the Italian Class was asked to submit a formal proposal to host either the 2012 World or European Championship.
The question of whether Australia will automatically be awarded a World Championship every
three years was discussed and the meeting agreed that at the present time this would not be appropriate. Initially Australia and other emerging Asia/Pacific countries will have the right to bid to host a World Championship at any point but that each bid will be reviewed on an individual basis. It was also confirmed that in years when the Worlds are held in Australasia/Asia there will be both a North American and a European Championship so that each continent continues to have one major international event per year. In addition Australasia will have the right to host a continental championship in those years when it is not hosting the Worlds.
The event programme for the coming 4 years was therefore agreed as follows:
Europeans 2009 - Hyeres, France - 20 to 29 August
Worlds 2009 - Annapolis, MD, USA - 27 October to 7 November
Worlds 2010 - Tallinn, Estonia - 2 to 12 August
North Americnas 2010 - Rochester, NY, USA - TBC Septebmer
Worlds 2011 - Corpus Christi, TX, USA - TBC May
Europeans 2011 - Hagesund, Norway - TBC 30 July to 7 August
Worlds 2012 - Australia subject to confirmation at 09 AGM - Dates TBC