Dutch Open Added To 2011 World & European Ranking

The IMCA Executive Committee is delighted to announce that the 2011 Dutch Open, to be held at Medemblik from 23-25 September 2011, will be part of the 2011 World and European Ranking Series. Medemblik has been confirmed at the location for the 2013 Melges 24 European Championship and with the Dutch Fleet on a rapid growth path at the moment the Executive Committee felt that adding this event to the Ranking would help to support the Dutch teams in their bid to establish the fleet in the Netherlands and also encourage teams from outside the Netherlands to become familiar with the Europeans 13 venue.

As well as making the event part of the Ranking the IMCA will be sending photographer Pierrick Contin to cover the regatta. Medemblik is a hugely accessible venue for teams from across Europe with outstanding road, air, ferry and rail links and with many crews keen to start familiarising themselves with the race area ready for the 2013 Europeans we anticipate a big turnout. Pierrick's always fantastic photographs will help us to promote both the growing Dutch fleet and the forthcoming Europeans.

Also attending the event will be IMCA Administrator Fiona Brown who will be there to conduct a pre event site visit to review the facilities for the 2013 Europeans. Fi will be working in close conjunction with IMCA Vice Chairman Guenter Tzeschlock, who has been appointed as Executive Committee Liaison Officer for this event, and also with representatives of the Dutch Class and the Royal Yacht Club Hollandia. Fi and Guenter will be keen to receive feedback from the sailors about all aspects of this year's event and look forward to speaking with as many of the competitors as possible during the regatta.

Further details about this event are available from Jeroen Baggerman at jeroen@melges24klasse.nl and via http://www.melges24klasse.nl/home.aspx