From IMCA Technical Advisor David Chivers - Many of you are aware of the ongoing discussion on hiking in the class. There have been many views expressed in emails and on the Scuttlebutt forum, both for and against the various methods we use.
The 2006 edition of the M24 yearbook has now been published and sent to the National Class Secretaries for distribution. This year's edition is better than ever before with great articles from guest writers including Justin Chisholm as well as all our usual features.
From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - Congratulations to Eric Nerlinger, from Chicago, Illinois helming Inside Voice is the 2006 Melges 24 St. Petersburg NOOD Champion. Nerlinger was surrounded onboarded by some of the greatest talent in the Melges 24 fleet.
From the Norgwegian Class - Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus have each purchased a Melges 24. "The Dream Team" from the international alpine circus will retire after the Olympics in Torino. Between them they have 12 Olympic and 23 World Champion titles.
From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - Just shy of a three hour long postponement that honestly, had everyone worried and wondering if the sailing gods were going to turn their backs on the fleet two days in a row, lifted just before noon.
As part of the Finnish class campaign to aggressively increase ownership and attract new boat and sailors, the Finnish / Estonian class are at the present moment taking a stand at the Helsinki International Boat Show (11-19 February 2006) to present the Melges 24 and the Class Association.
From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - The 2006 St. Petersburg NOOD is officially underway with thirty-two Melges 24s slated to be on the starting line. The day got off to an extremely slow start and didn't get any faster as the day progressed.
Racing gets underway today at this weekend's Lands' End St Petersburg NOOD Regatta in Florida. With 30 entries already confirmed the Melges 24 will be the biggest class by far at the event and the crews are looking forward to three great days of racing and partying.
The record breaking 37 strong fleet of Melges 24s, many of whom are starting their preparations for the Melges 24 Worlds in Hyeres at the end of August, enjoyed an outstanding weekend's racing at the Primo Cup in Monaco.
From Christelle Durand of the French Class - The sun rose on a beautiful shining day in Monaco for this second racing day. Just the wind was not invited which led the 37 competitors to wait on water for about 2 hours.
