Melges 24 European Championship - Competitor Update No 2

Welcome to our second competitor update.  We're now only a week out from the start of registration so here are a few useful reminders of things you need to think about in the run up to and during registration.

LAUNCHING DEADLINE 1800 HOURS ON SATURDAY 23 AUGUST

Please remember that, as per the Notice of Race, all boats must be launched by 1800 hours on Saturday 23 August.  Registration will continue on Sunday 24 August alongside the practice racing but no launching is permitted on Sunday.  

Anyone arriving late and requiring special permission to launch after 1800 on Saturday 23 will need to apply in advance to to the Jury and Race Committee for special permission.  Please E-mail COYCH@wanadoo.fr if you need to request a late launching or have any questions regarding launching.  

CLASS MEMBERSHIP

Please don't forget that the CLASS RULES require the owner of the boat to be a full member and the helm (if they are not the owner) to be an associate member of the Melges 24 class.  

We do still have a number of teams who have not yet paid their full and/or associate membership fees so if you are one of these teams please urgently contact your NATIONAL CLASS and pay your fees.

If you are experiencing any difficulties in paying your membership please contact IMCA Administrator Fiona Brown on E-mail fiona.brown@melges24.com.  

If you are not certain whether you have paid please check the online membership list atwww.melges24.com - if you name is not visible on the list you need to take action.

CORINTHIAN ENTRIES & CLASSIFICATION INTERVIEWS

We are delighted that we have 43 Corinthian teams entered - a record for a Europeans.  Check out the CORINTHIAN ENTRY LIST.

Any crew changes to Corinthian teams must now be formally approved by the Jury and Race Committee so if you need to change a crew member you must immediately inform the organisers via E-mail COYCH@wanadoo.fr advising which crew member is no longer available to take part in the regatta and giving the details of the proposed replacement crew member including their ISAF ID, Classification and expiry date (please ensure that you check their classification listing on www.sailing.org to ensure that they classification details are correctly listed before you submit your request.

ISAF Sailor Classification Commission Chairman Antony Matusch will once again be present to conduct Classification interviews during registration.  These crew interviews are mandatory and failure to attend will result in disqualification from the Corinthian Division. The initial list of interviewees has now been published at www.melges24.com.  Please note that additional names may be added to the list at any time up until the close of registration.

EQUIPMENT INSPECTION AND MEASUREMENT REMINDERS

Our usual equipment inspection and measurement procedures will be in place for this regatta.  IMCA International Measurer Jean Louis Conti will be in attendance to oversee proceedings and the Chief Equipment Inspector will be Daniel Belot.  They will be supported by a team of volunteer equipment inspectors and registration staff who will help you through the registration and measurement checks as efficiently as possible. 

As per the Notice of Race all boats will undergo key equipment inspection checks and in addition approximately 25 boats will be selected for more intensive measurement checks.  Upon arrival please check the official notice board to see if your boat is one of those required for the additional checks (remember that additional checks are likely to involve detailed inspections of your rig and foils so do not step your rig or launch until you are certain that the Equipment Inspectors have completed all their checks).

Please also remember that only sails which have already been fully measured can be accepted and that no fundamental sail measurement will be possible during registration.  

YOUR EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

In addition to those already mentioned above there will be a large team working to ensure that the event meets our usual high standards.  Some of the other names to note are:-

Sophie Barrue - COYCH Administrator - many of you will remember Sophie from our last visit to Hyeres in 2006.  Sophie has been working on the event throughout and will head up the Registration and Administration Team looking after you.

Regis Berenguier - COYCH Manager - again many of you will remember Regis from the 2006 Worlds in Hyeres.  Regis is again in overall charge of the event for COYCH.

Bastien Berenguier - COYCH Press Officer - Bastien also worked with us on the 2006 Worlds as Press Officer and we are very pleased to be working with him again this time around.  Bastien is also running the Event Website as well as looking after all the French Media for us.

Pierre Lemaire - Principle Race Officer - Pierre is one of France's top race officers and heads up your Race Committee.  His experience includes numerous major championships for a wide range of classes.

Tony O'Gorman - Jury Chairman - Ireland's Tony has been heading up Melges 24 Jurys since our first World Championship in Torquay in 1998 and we are delighted to have him with us again for this event. 

Hank Stuart - IMCA Championship Co-ordinator - Hank has been PRO for three Melges 24 Worlds (Ocean Reef 06, Santa Cruz 07 and Porto Cervo 08), the Santa Cruz North Americans in 06 and many other major championships.  For this event he will be working with the Race Committee to ensure everything is run as per our regatta regulations.  Hank's wife Mary will be traveling with him and will also be joining the Race Committee.

Justin Chisholm - IMCA Press Officer - We're delighted to once again have Justin with us as Event Press Officer and as well as the usual daily reports Justin will also be hard at work blogging from the race course and bringing us lots of post race interviews, etc. 

Pierrick Contin - IMCA Photographer - Pierrick has been working with the Melges 24 Class for over a decade now and we are thrilled to have him back with us for the 2009 Europeans.  As always he'll be bringing us great photos each day.

David Chivers - IMCA Technical Advisor - David Chivers will be in Hyeres during the registration weekend and will be walking the docks and taking the opportunity to speak with you about technical matters.  

Fiona Brown - IMCA Administrator - As always Fi will be in Hyeres throughout the event handling all administrative questions, supporting the media team, taking photos, providing a point of contact for anyone who needs IMCA help and generally being your Go To Person if you have any problems or queries.  Fi's phone number is +44 7711 719470 and she will be based in the Media Centre.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration for the regatta will open on Friday 21 August, there will be practice racing on Sunday 23 August and Championship racing will run from Monday 24 to Friday 28 August. The social programme will include an official opening ceremony, après sailing gatherings, a gala dinner and prize giving ceremony. Hyeres is famous for its hospitality and looks forward once again to welcoming the Melges 24 teams.

The Notice of Race, Entry Form, accommodation and logistical information are all available from the official event web site www.m24european2009.com. 

The event is most generously supported by official sponsors Vile d’Hyeres, Conseil General du Var, Conseil Regional PACA, Office du Tourisme d’Hyeres, Eurovoiles, Quantum Sail Design Group, Brasserie Le Tocco, X Voiles – Russo and Ricoh.  The IMCA's media coverage of the event will be sponsored by TackTick.

For further information about the 2009 International Melges 24 European Championship please visit the event web site atwww.m24european2009.com or E-mail COYCH - coych@wanadoo.fr or IMCA – fiona.brown@melges24.com