Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 Worlds - Competitor Update No 2
Dear Competitors - Welcome to competitor update No 2 for the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship! We're now just three days out from the start of registration which opens this Friday 23 October at 10am at Annapolis Sailing School. We've got some further important information for you below so please read this message carefully. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact:-
EYC - Regatta Chair Liz Filter - emfilter@verizon.net
IMCA - Administrator Fiona Brown – fiona.brown@melges24.com
CLASS MEMBERSHIP
We've still got a lot of boats and helms who have not yet paid their class memberships. You are not legal to race unless the owner of the boat is a Full Member of the Melges 24 Class and any non-owner helmsmen are also members of the Class.
US Class Members are reminded that the USMCA membership year runs from 15 October to 14 October meaning that all USMCA members must renew their membership to be eligible to compete in the regatta. You can RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP ONLINE or if you have queries please contact USMCA Exec Secretary Joy Dunigan Tel (912) 756-6706. E-mail communications@usmelges24.com who will help you.
If your name and sail number does not appear on the membership list for your country at WWW.MELGES24.COM please immediately contact your NATIONAL CLASS ADMINISTRATOR to get your membership updated.
LOGISTICS AND MEASUREMENT INSTRUCTIONS
If you haven't already done so please check out the LOGISTICS AND MEASUREMENT INSTRUCTIONS which will explain everything you need to know about arriving in Annapolis and getting through registration with minimal hassle.
SAIL MEASUREMENT FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CHIEF EQUIPMENT INSPECTOR TIM WINGER
Chief Equipment Inspector Tim Winger has issued a formal statement reminding competitors that sails must be presented in a fully measured state for registration and that no fundamental measurment will be undertaken by his team during registration. If you are in any doubt at all about the measurement status of your sails please read THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
FREE WEATHER FORECASTS DIRECT TO YOU
Those lovely people at North Sails and Sailing Weather Service have teamed up to provide you with a free weather forecast service for the regatta. To sign up to receive the e-mail forecasts simple CLICK HERE.
CRSA & GILL ON STAND BY TO MEET YOUR SAILING CLOTHING NEEDS
George Cannon and his fantastic team from CORAL REEF SAILING APPAREL will be ready and waiting for you at Annapolis Sailing School from Friday morning to hand over your pre-ordered GILL event clothing and to supply any last minute sailing clothing needs you might have during registration. On Sunday they will move across to City Dock where they will set up shop for the duration of the event.
ZIP LUFF JIBS - NOW MANDATORY
Please don't forget that under IMCA Class Rules if you jib was measured after 1 November 2008 it is mandatory for the sail to be fitted with a zip luff. CLICK HERE for further information about this as you will not be permitted to use an illegal jib at the championship.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN FOLLOW THE WORLDS ACTION LIVE ON THE BLOG
Remind your friends and family that they can follow the action live on the IMCA Blog where Justin Chisholm will be bringing you all the latest from the race course plus dockside interviews and lots more. You can follow the blog at at the EVENT WEB SITE or on BLOG.MELGES24.COM.
WHO'S WHO ON THE REGATTA TEAM
We've got a great team running this event so here's a quick who's who.
Regatta Chair - Liz Filter. As well as being the Eastport Yacht Club Regatta Chair for this event Liz is also a long standing member of the Melges 24 family and she and her team have done a truly fantastic job of putting this regatta together.
Principal Race Officer - Jeff Borland. Many of you will remember Jeff from last year's North Americans and we're delighted to have him heading up the race management team again this year.
Jury Chairman - Charlotte Greppe. Following on from the sterling work the did for the class at the 08 North Americans International Judge Charlotte Greppe and her jury team will be out on the water each day and hard at work in the protest room each evening ensuring fair play.
Chief Equipment Inspector - Tim Winger. Tim is an ISAF International Measurer and one of the most highly regarded Event Equipment Inspectors in North America. Earlier this year Tim oversaw registration for the 2009 J24 Worlds, also held in Annapolis, and he's looking forward to overseeing his first Melges 24 World Championship.
EYC Photographers - Sara Proctor and Cindy Cady. Both highly regarded professional photographers, Sarah and Cindy will be covering this event for the EYC so keep an eye open for them both ashore and afloat and make sure they get your team picture at some point during the week. When not out shooting they will be located at their booth in the main Regatta Tent on City Dock.
IMCA Championship Coordinator - Hank Stuart. The legendary Hank "Break Break" Stuart is back in his role overseeing race management issues on behalf of the IMCA. As always he will be around on the dock and in the regatta tent before and after sailing should you have any queries you'd like to raise with him.
IMCA International Measurer - Dave La Mere. Dave is by now a familiar face to most of you as the man who keeps a close eye on registration and measurement procedures on behalf of the IMCA at all our North American and US based World Championships.
IMCA Event Press Officer - Justin Chisholm. This event marks the start of Justin's second year with the IMCA Media Team and once again he will bring his unique insight as a top Melges 24 crew of many years standing to our live blog coverage and daily event reports.
IMCA Photographer - Pierrick Contin. We're delighted to welcome back Pierrick Contin as our official IMCA photographer for this event. Pierrick has been working with the class for many years and we're thrilled to have him back aboard for this event bringing his truly exceptional artistic flair to our event photography. Pierrick will be based in the Media Centre at City Dock.
IMCA Administrator - Fiona Brown. And finally rounding out our IMCA team it's yours truly who will, as usual, be taking care of all the backroom stuff, answering queries, providing help when ever you need it and supporting Justin with the blog and race reports.
Backing up this group is a huge pool of volunteer helpers who have given up many hours of their time to make your experience of atttending the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship as smooth, efficient and enjoyable as possible. Very many thanks to each and every one of the volunteers supporting the regatta - it just wouldn't be possible without you.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information about the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 International Melges 24 World Championship please visit the EVENT WEB SITE or contact EYC - Regatta Chair Liz Filter - emfilter@verizon.net or IMCA - Administrator Fiona Brown – fiona.brown@melges24.com