News

YFA, the company that brings us the Czech Melges 24 Tour, has confirmd that two of their fleet of 9 Melges 24s (hull numbers from 692 to 712) are still available for charter for the 2008 Volvo Melges 24 World Championship 2008. The boats were built during 2007 and are well maintained.

There's some great video footage of the racing action at the first Volvo Cup event in Scarlino together with interviews with many of the sailors (in Italian) now available on the SAILING REVOLUTION web site.

MOST URGENT - Please note that the dates for the 2008 North American Championship and the 2009 World Championship, to be hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD, USA, have been changed as follows: 2008 North Americans - 27 Oct to 2 Nov 2008 2009 World Championship - 26 Oct to 5 Nov 2009 The

Karel Samsula from Devoti Sailing updates us on their plans for European event support in 2008 and on the latest sales news from the company. As in recent seasons, Devoti Sailing is organising service support with parts available for some of the key European Melges 24 events in 2008.

The electronic instruments available to sailors have greatly improved over the last few years and often reduced in size and power requirements. I am often asked whether a certain device is legal in the class. Recently I have been asked about handheld GPS units and speed recorders.

Hungary has been the scene of much exciting Melges 24 activity in the past few weeks. Firstly the Melges 24 was displayed at the Pannon Boat Show in Budapest and was a real success; the Melges 24 received the Best Racing Boat in the Show award.