2016 505 North American Championship Form Guide - Craig Thompson

Next week we begin the 2016 505 North American Championship, hosted by Bellingham Yacht Club. Learn more about what to watch for during the event below:

Event Website: http://sailfleet.byc.org/505-na/

This regatta will be the largest 505 turnout on US waters since the 2009 pre-worlds in San Fransisco. With the US hosting the Worlds in 2017, it is great to see the growing numbers of sailors who are jointing the US 505 class. This year, 51 teams from across the continent are registered to compete next week, below is a preview of the notable entries that will likely be vying for the top spots:

Dalton Bergan / Fritz Lanzinger - Seattle, WA: Dalton and Frtiz have not sailed together at the NA's in a few years, but these two are always at the front of the fleet, regardless of the class they are competing in or who they are sailing with. Neither competitor has won this event in the past and these two will be hungry for the win.

Mike and Adam rounding a leeward mark at the 2014 NA's

Mike Martin / Adam Lowry - San Francisco, CA: After a kiteboarding accident prior to the 2015 NA's, Mike was unable to race. Mike and Adam narrowly missed the 2014 title in Santa Cruz, finishing 1 point back from winners Howie and Andy. If the breeze is up, they will definitely be setting the pace. But don't be surprised to see the in front across the wind range.

Carol Buchan / Carl Buchan - Seattle, WA: The Buchans, who have sailed 505's since the late 1970's, have not been very active in the class since the 2004 Worlds in Santa Cruz, where they had a very strong event in a mix of conditions. I guess it always helps to have an Olympic Gold Medalist in the front of the boat. This will be a particularly strong team in light to moderate breeze. Be sure to check out the simplicity of the rigging on their Rondar. I have seen few control lines on a Laser.

Mark Zagol / Drew Buttner - Westwood, MA / Stonnington, CT: Mark and Drew won the 2013 NA's in Kingston, ON and are eager to win another title. These guys are fresh off a dominant victory at the 2016 Florida Midwinters at the end of February. Drew has been doing double time this year, sailing with Tyler Moore in the international events and Mark in the US events. Look out for a strong performance from Mark and Drew.

Riley Gibbs / Reeve Dunne - Long Beach, CA / San Francisco, CA: Riley and Reeve stormed onto the scene last year at the NA's by finishing an amazing 5th place overall. Reeve has relocated to San Francisco, but that hasn't stopped them from putting the band back together for this event. After spending a few nights sailing with the guys in Long Beach, there is no mystery as to why Riley has been able to get up to form so quickly.

Riley and Andy Zinn put on a clinic at the recent "Thrilla at Cabrillo"

Howie Hamlin / Jeff Nelson - Long Beach, CA: Howie Hamlin will again the defending his North American Championship, this year with crew Jeff Nelson. They are one of the favorites to win this event; especially if there is a variety of conditions which we are expecting to see in Bellingham. Howie has been sailing his new Waterat and it is going quite nicely. Jeff has held the NA's trophy 4 times, but never when sailing with Howie.

Mike Holt / Carl Smit - (Soquel, CA / Annapolis, MD): Mike and Carl are the defending World Champions, and will be defending the world title later this summer in Weymouth. Mike has won the past 2 Worlds, winning in 2014 with Rob Woelfel, and Carl in 2015. These two recently won the 2016 Euro Cup in Hyeres. Not many people have been competitive at as many International Events as these guys have over the past decade. Mike and Carl will be contending for the Championship on Sunday.

Parker Shinn / Paul Von Grey- (San Fransisco, CA / Oak Harbor, WA): Class Vice President Paul Von Grey (or "PVG", has he is commonly referred to) has been the spark-plug that is driving the massive fleet growth in the Pacific Northwest. Parker is always competitive and these two have had some notable events together int he past few years. These two could be fighting for a top 5 finish.

Tyler and Rob rounding a leeward mark at the 2012 NA's.

Tyler Moore / Rob Woelfel - (Hampton, VA / Reno, NV): Tyler and Rob won the NA's together back in 2012. Rob has since won the 2014 Worlds crewing for Mike Holt in Germany. Tyler and Rob will be sailing a chartered boat, which may be a challenge. However, these guys don't make a lot of tactical mistakes, so if they have solid boat speed they will be a safe bet to finish in the top 3.

JB Turney / Tommy Fink - (San Francisco, CA): JB has been a strong contender in the class for over 10 years. JB and Tommy have been training with Mike/Adam on Tuesday nights on the City Front, so look for them to be sharp and ready to contend for the top slots. They will be particularly strong in a mix of conditions.

Notable scratches:

Ethan Bixby: After contending for the North American Title in 2015 and finishing a close second, Ethan will not be attending this year.
Augie Diaz: Augie recently won a Star World Title, but has had to miss the NA's two years running. He will surely be at the 2017 Worlds in Annapolis next year.
Keith Davids / Jesse Falsone: After a solid 4th place at last year's event, these two could not make it. Rumor has it that Jesse may be upgrading to a Hillary sticker for this year.
Thomas Barrows/Matt Barry: Thomas is in the middle of a 49er Olympic bid, and Matt Barry and his friends have been too busy sunbathing off the southern coast of St. Bart's with spider monkeys

2016 North Americans Website, Bellingham WA

The website an online registration for the 2016 North Americans in Bellingham, WA are now live. Please visit the website and make plans to be there. How can you not enjoy racing 505's with snow capped mountains in view from the race course? The event is scheduled for June 2-5 2016.

http://sailfleet.byc.org/505-na/

Photo courtesy of Jan’s Marine Photography

Capital Gazette NA's Article

A nice article on the 505 NA's was featured last week in the Capital Gazette: http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/sailing_boating/ph-ac-cs-505-north-americans-092715-20150925-story.html

Other than their faulty wind instruments (common in this area), this is a great article!

2015 505 North American Championship Preview - Craig Thompson

Less than one week remains before the start of the 2015 505 North American Championship, hosted by Severn Sailing Association and Eastport Yacht Club. Learn more about what to watch for during the event.

Event Website: http://www.usa505.org/2015na

The fleet after a start at the 2007 NA's hosted by SSA.

This regatta is a dress rehearsal for the World Championship which will be hosted by the same clubs at the same time in 2017. 40 teams from across the continent are registered to compete next week, below is a preview of the notable entries that will likely be vying for the top spots:

Jeff Boyd / Gordy Carruthers - Kingston, ON: Jeff has been infrequent at events in recent years, but he is usually steering the top Canadian entry at the NA's. Jeff is a former America's Cup Tactician that literally wrote the book on the 1983 America's Cup. A great sailor and a great guy, count on Jeff and Gordy to put together some solid finishes.

Ethan Bixby / Chris Brady - St. Petersburg, FL / Annapolis, MD: Ethan won the NA's in 2007 sailing with Erik Boothe the last time the event was sailing in Annapolis. The most seasoned veteran in the competition, Ethan has sailed 505's for over 45 years and is always in the hunt. Chris and Ethan have some recent experience together at the 2013 Worlds in Barbados.

Craig Thompson / Carson Turowski - Rye, NH / Newport, RI: Craig is fresh off a win at the 2015 ECC's in August sailing with Mike Curtin. Mike just started graduate school and was unable to attend, but Carson Turowski is stepping in as guest crew. Craig and Carson finished 5th at the ECC's last year in Annapolis. Look for this team to do well if the breeze is up.

Mark Zagol / Drew Buttner - Westwood, MA / Stonnington, CT: Mark and Drew won the 2013 NA's in Kingston, ON. These guys have extremely versatile skills and will be at the top of the fleet regardless of the wind conditions. Dont be surprised if you see an orange boat rounding a lot of marks in 1st place.

Mark and Drew holding the hardware in 2013

Macy Nelson / Eric Anderson - Baltimore, MD / Seattle, WA: Macy is another crafty 505 vet that is usually at the top of the fleet. Macy has stepped up his game in recent years, running a 3 boat 505 program and sailing more events than most of us could dream of. Macy and Eric had a solid showing at the Buzzards Bay Regatta in August, dominating the first day of racing. Macy is hungry for another North American crown to go with his other three ('83, '93, '94).

Howie Hamlin / Andy Zinn - Long Beach, CA: Howie and Andy are the defending North American and Pacific Coast Champions. They are one of the favorites to win this event; especially if there is a variety of conditions. Howie has been sailing with several other crews in Europe this summer, finishing 2nd at the UK Nationals with Jeff Nelson in Weymouth. Howie and Andy are the real deal.

Howie and Andy are a safe bet to be in the top 3

Mike Holt / Carl Smit - (Soquel, CA / Annapolis, MD): Mike and Carl are the defending World Champions. Mike has won the past 2 Worlds, winning in 2014 with Rob Woelfel. If the breeze is up, this is the boat to beat; even more so because Mike Martin and Adam Lowry will be missing the event due to an injury. Mike and Carl will be contending for the Championship on Sunday.

Mike and Carl cant think of a better venue than Annapolis

Keith Davids / Jesse Falsone - (Annapolis, MD): Keith Davids is a badass. Jesse is one of those guys who can crew for anyone and make the boat competitive. Jesse is the regatta chairman, but that wont keep these two from being in the hunt. Local knowledge along with pure athleticism and optimal weight for the Annapolis venue all add up to a winning recipie for Davids and Falsone.

Tyler Moore / Rob Woelfel - (Hampton, VA / Reno, NV): Tyler and Rob won the NA's together back in 2012. Rob has since won the 2014 Worlds crewing for Mike Holt in Germany. Tyler and Rob are always contenders and this event should be no exception. And if you plan on going to Lake Tahoe this winter for a weekend bender, make sure you keep Rob's number handy.

Ryan Cox / Stuart Park - (Moraga, CA): Ryan Cox is as talented a sailor as you will find in the fleet. Stuart Park continues to defy the laws of aging by being one of the oldest forward hands in this year's competition. Don't let his age fool you though, this guy is one of the best crews on the course, especially when the wind is up and he can stretch his legs.

Speaking of Tyler Moore and Ryan Cox, I think I count 8 sailors on this list who are regular or were regular 505 sailors. It would be great to see some young college studs get into the 505 for a campaign leading up to the 2017 Worlds. Anyone remember who won the last East Coast US Worlds?

Notable scratches:

Mike Martin: Kitesurfing accident causing injury. We wish him a speedy recovery but the timing sounds suspicious considering Annapolis as a venue.
Augie Diaz: Sailing the Snipe worlds. Must be nice to sail a dinghy where you can tack standing up and not hit your head.
Thomas Barrows/Matt Barry: Still developing their next generation gasket rubber that wont be ready until 2016.
JB Turney: Blew his entire Stimulus Package on house renovations in San Fran. Will save up for next year.
Newport, RI Fleet: Still thinking of a good excuse for not being there.
Tom Hurwitch: Currently holds the record for the most number of 505 events registered for and not sailed in. Will this be the year the streak is broken? No.

North American's Article Spinsheet Magazine

A preview of the 505 NA's is featured on page 84 of the September 2015 issue of Spinsheet Magazine. See below or follow THIS LINK to read the full issue.

2015 Membership Dues, North Americans and ECC's Registration

We were a little late with the dues mailing this year, but you should be receiving it soon if you have not already. As with the past few years, we are offering multiple ways to pay; either by check and mail or our online payment system at www.usa505.org/membership Please pay your dues promptly to help support our great class.

The 2015 PCC's are behind us, but the ECC's and North Americans are coming up quick. Please make plans to attend and register now if you plan to come. Early registration greatly helps organizers put on the best event possible. Below are the details for the two remaining American Section Championships for the season:

2015 East Coast Championship - Wianno Yacht Club - August 21-23

Registration by mail only: LINK TO REGATTA DOCUMENTS

2015 North American Championship - Severn Sailing Association and Eastport Yacht Club - September 16-20

Event Poster Below

Online registration open now: LINK TO EVENT WEBSITE

Please contact me directly if you have any questions about dues payments or the American Section Championships.

___

Craig Thompson

USA 8854
webmaster@usa505.org

2015 East Coast Championship - Register Now

This year's International 505 East Coast Championship is being hosted by Wianno Yacht Club on Cape Cod August 21-23. Registrations for this event need to be mailed in. Below is a link to download the NOR and the entry form. Please make plans to attend and register as soon as you can so the organizers can get an accurate head count. This is a fantastic venue.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD REGATTA DOCUMENTS

We make best efforts to help any an all out-of-town teams with logistical and housing accommodations in order to maximize participation. Please email webmaster@usa505.org if you need additional information.

Howie Hamlin finishes 3rd at 2015 J.J. Giltinan Championship

Reigning 505 NA Champion Howard Hamlin sailing with his crew of Daniel Phillips and Skip McCormack have finished in third place at the 2015 J.J. Giltinan Championship. This is Howie's first podium finish since he won the event two years in a row in 2002 and 2003. Howie continues to show the world that he has no intention of slowing down his winning was in his 60's; he continues to sail at a very high level in a variety of classes which is an inspiration to us all.

The coverage of this event was absolutely spectacular; all races were broadcast live and the video/commentary was fantastic. If you have some free time, I suggest you watch some of the race replays to see for yourself: http://www.18footers.com.au/sailing/_route-v2/jj-giltinan/2014-15.html

Below is an interview with the team following their Race 6 win.

Full results: http://www.18footers.com.au/pdf/race-results-2014-2015/20150222%20series%20points.pdf

505 Rudder Fittings 101

Have you ever broken a set of rudder fittings on your 505? There is a new article on the class website all about 505 rudder fittings and how to prevent failure. CHECK IT OUT!

2014 North Americans - Website, Registration, and NOR

Registration is now open for the 2014 North American Championship hosted by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. At this stage we are a lock to have over 40 teams competing, and there is a chance we could break into the 50's. Please register now if you plan on attending; this is an event and a venue that is not to be missed!

http://505northamericans.scyc.org/

United States East Coast World Championship Bid for 2016/2017

The last 505 World Championship to be hosted in the US East Coast was in 1998 at Hyannis, Massachusetts. The US West Coast has hosted two World Championships since then (2004 and 2009). All three events were won by American Teams:

1998 - Nick Trotman and Mike Mills

2004 - Morgan Larson and Trevor Bayliss

2009 - Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson

The 505 Class Officers have determined that the US will be officially proposing an East Coast venue for the 2016 World Championship at the 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held at Kiel. If the proposal is not selected for the 2016 Worlds, the class will seek selection for 2017. The American Section has requested the opportunity to voice this intention in Barbados at the 2013 AGM.  The American Section will be conducting its own evaluation process of East Coast venues over the summer and intends to have a selected venue by end of September 2013, to ensure that there is an organized and unified proposal to present in Germany during 2014.

Currently, there are two venues that have been identified as potential locations for this 2016/17 Worlds proposal:


1. Annapolis, MD - Severn Sailing Association - Fall, Exact Dates TBD

Jesse Falsone has lead the preliminary efforts to put this proposal together. Preliminary planning has commenced with the following actions taken:

• Approval by the SSA Board of Governors to host the championship in Fall 2016 (exact dates TBD)
• Endorsement and promise of support by local 505 fleets within USA Region II (Annapolis, West River, Hampton), and from USA Region I (New York and New England)
• Preliminary assessment of needs including but not limited to event management, race management  transportation, and housing.
• Formation of an Organizing Committee as specified in the Championship Rules

2. Newport, RI - Sail Newport - Late Summer, Exact Dates TBD

Doug McKiege has engaged Sail Newport regarding their interest in hosting the event. Only limited planning for this venue has been completed at this stage:

• Sail Newport has indicated strong interest in support of hosting this event
• Several class members have endorsed this venue as a strong candidate for a World Championship, however, no Organizing Committee has been formed at this stage

The 2013 American Section AGM will serve as the forum for final discussion of these venues before they are put to formal ballot for all paid American Section members. The goal is to put forward the strongest proposal possible to bring the World Championships back to the US East Coast and hopefully another American team on top of the podium.

New American Section Website

All,

As your newly elected information officer, I have been taking some steps to unify and expand our web presence. To me, this all starts with a simple, functional, and information-rich web page. As of tonight, I have launched the new website at the same familiar URL www.usa505.org. Please check it out!

Note that this is still a work in progress, but at this point it has all of the information and functionality of the Wiki page, which is no longer accessible. My hope is that you will find it more functional and professional. I am still populating responses as they come in for the "Who, What, When..." promotional piece on the home page. My goal with this is to showcase the best thing the 505 Class has to offer: it's people.

Over the next few months, I will work to incorporate all of the great articles from the old International Site as well as information from around the web into the "Rigging and Project Archive" and "Improve Your 505 Sailing" pages. I want our American Section website to be the one-stop shop for all this type of information. There is a lot of content out there, but I just want to make it easier to find.

We will still utilize the International Site for forums, classifieds, supplier listings and schedule (although I will maintain a Google calendar with all the events from the Int. site). However, we will keep our contact information up-to-date so that perspective 505 sailors can get in touch with the fleet in their area.

I would also like to utilize Facebook to expand our reach with prospective sailors. Please "Like" us on Facebook to subscribe to updates, new Tank Talk posts, regatta results, pictures, video, etc: http://www.facebook.com/AmericanSection

I am 100% open to your feedback on the new website; positive or negative. This not my website, but rather OUR website. If there is something that you would like to see that is not currently incorporated, please post in the comments section here!

Thank you for your time.

Craig Thompson
USA 7346
webmaster@usa505.org

TT Interviews Macy Nelson

Tank Talk had the opportunity to sit down with class stalwart and long time Treasurer Macy Nelson to hear a bit about his history in the class, his thoughts on making a team work and on the growth of the class.

TT: You've been an active member of the class for several decades.  When did you first start sailing 505's? Where? Who or what got you into the class?

MN: My first look at a 5o5 was at New Bedford in about 1974. I walked up from behind was impressed by the shape of the wings. That was a radical design for a kid who had been sailing Blue Jays, Lightnings and 470s.

In 1976, I had a summer job in the Boston area and met Bill Salvo who sailed with the Marblehead fleet. YCYC was running an event and someone needed a crew so I went. At that time, the Patterson brothers were sailing separate boats. One had sailed in Europe and was discoursing on something I had never heard of – gate starts.  According to him, it was easy. Sometime you start early; sometime you start late. None of it made any sense to me. Then, Bill’s sailing partner, Moose McClintock, suddenly got seriously ill and Bill needed a crew for the Marblehead NA’s. I signed on. It was great. 67 boats. Rock and Roll music when the sun went down.  Boats from California. I think Jon Andron had a drum on his boom to adjust his outhaul. Ethan and Larry won in a Butler hull with Larry’s deck and tanks. It looked like Larry used a staple gun to affix the wood laminate for the tanks. I was hooked and haven’t looked back.

TT: Is there any regatta that sticks out in your mind as one of the best?

MN: There have been a lot of really good events over the years. If I must pick one, I’ll pick the Santa Cruz Worlds in 1992. We had Santa Cruz’s best conditions for the entire Pre-Worlds and Worlds. After the first day of racing, we sailed in past the sea lions and when we reached the dock, the PA system was playing the Rolling Stones’ “Flight 5o5.” It got better from there. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but the fleet had the old and the new. Jon Loveday was sailing. Peter Colclough was sailing with the tallest forward hand I had seen anywhere. John and I had a good first beat of the first worlds race. At the top of the run, two young Aussies sailed by on what seemed like a tight reach. John asked, “What do you think?”  I said, “They’re crazy. Don’t worry about them.”  I didn’t see them for the rest of the regatta. Those guys won the worlds with a race to spare. That was my introduction to wire running. Later, a Dane who won the worlds in Kingston claimed that he was the first to figure out wire running. Maybe he was. He finished second or third in Santa Cruz.

TT: You've sailed with many great crews over the years, most recently with Parry Barclay.  Can you comment on how you approach the relationship with your crew? What makes you and Parry such a competitive team?

MN: I have a lot of fun sailing with some really good sailors. Duncan Skinner was the tallest and the best sail maker. Mike Martin laughed at me the most. Peter Alarie was the most definite in his opinions. Mike Mills used the most abstract language to describe the boat. Jesse Falsone and Parry Barclay have a really good feel for the boat. I have sailed a little with Luke Lawrence, and I predict he will be the next great crew. There are others, too. Each is better sailor than I, and that is why I invited them to sail with me.

History teaches me that my performance is inversely related to how much I try to do while racing. The less I do, the better we do. For that reason I try to do as little as possible. The problem is that I respect all the people I sail with so my instinct is that I should do what they say all the time. But there are a few occasions when I cannot. A start is the best example. When the boats are that close, I take the lead in positioning the boat.

505s are rewarding but they have the potential to be expensive and a hassle.  I try not to discuss money with my teammate. Each contributes on terms that he finds acceptable. I try to have the boat ready so we can avoid a lot of boat work at the event. I try to be quiet in the boat. If racing the boat is no fun, no one should do it.

TT: Your son Nick Nelson has been an active member of the class (not as much recently!).  In your opinion, is there more we can be doing in the US to recruit and retain talented young sailors like Nick? 

MN: This is a really hard question to answer. Part of me says that we that we need to help people like Nick as much as we can. Another part of me says that if a young person cannot figure out that sailing 5o5s is a good way to spend one’s time and energy, nothing we do will change it. It’s all a mystery to me.  

We could probably learn from people like Whit Duncan, Mike Renda and Luke Lawrence. After Whit sailed USA 9005 in 2011, I was told that he was thinking of getting out of the class. Hearing that frustrated me because Whit is the type of person we need and want. Then something changed. He bought USA 8012 and seems committed. We should speak to him to learn what we can do to encourage his peers to sail 5o5s. Mike, too, is a guy we want and need. He bought a boat and is keen to sail even though he has a demanding job and is getting married. We should ask him what motivates him. Luke Lawrence is another young guy we cannot afford to lose. Our problem is that he wants to sail professionally so that will limit his time. Our only hope with Luke is to keep the sailing fun and rewarding so he makes time to do it.  

Here’s my answer: we need to find the right sailors one at a time. A large pool of strong candidates will yield somebody like Craig Thompson every few years. If you know of such a person, I have some gear to lend.


TT: Thank you Macy.

TT Interviews Team "License to Kill"

2011 North American Champions Geoff Ewenson and Tyler Moore were kind enough to sit down with Tank Talk to answer a few questions on their win at the NA's and other 505 topics.

TT: Tyler, this was your third win at the NA's and Geoff your first. It was a dominant victory with six race wins and fewer than half of the points of the runners-up. Was there anything specific that contributed to this performance?

TM: We were eating Wheeties for breakfast.

No really it's been time in the boat. A new boat takes time to get sorted out and 9007 has taken longer than usual, but we've finally sailed just about enough times in enough conditions to have our numbers mostly sorted out. I say mostly because we're still not there yet but this year we were able to lock in some key settings.

When you combine decent speed with a phenomenal 90% average of going the right way up the first beat, good things are going to happen. You've got to get to the first mark with the lead group. Geoff has got great fleet management skills. He was constantly able to place us in an advantageous position. That is what caused the large point spread you're referring to.

GE: I agree with Tyler on some counts. Time in this boat has been key. It has taken more time than we might have liked but we seem to have zoned in on getting the boat balanced and the settings close for the tack forward boat. It does feel different and getting the balance right has been the key. We have solid speed now in a full range of conditions and that has given me the confidence to call our own races rather than worry too much about where other boats are.

While I might not totally agree with Tyler on being in the right spot in 90% of the cases, I am confident that we have speed enough to get our way out of trouble and sail keepers in almost all races. I know that our overall ability to sail the boat hard will likely result in a good race most of the time.

TT: Geoff you sailed the 2011 worlds with twice 505 World Champion Mike Martin and then won the NA's with Tyler. What common characteristics do these helmsmen share?

GE: Both Tyler and Mike have time in the boat beyond most other helms as well as a natural ability. This gives them a comfort level in the boat and allows them to be pushing the boat to a high percentage of targets all the time. What they share is a technical eye and the mindset that they are always looking at things that make the boat faster and more refined.

What I have found in sailing with different helms is that each has their own subtle difference in setups and a conviction that the rigging of their individual boats is the only way to go! What I realize is that as a crew you need to be adaptable to various boats and realize that the boat is really an extension of the helmsman. The nice thing is that with good helms they are so at ease in their own boats that they are very comfortable and that leads to a higher success rate on the water.

TT: Tyler, what did Geoff bring back to your team from sailing with Mike in big breeze in Hamilton Island?

TM: Geoff came back with knowledge that you always need to have a game plan and that both guys need to know what that game plan is. If you don't, you might as well just capsize now because that's easier than the horrific crash and burn that you're headed for.

GE: I know this is a Tyler question, but please indulge me with a response.

I think that sailing with Mike was a great opportunity for me. Having sailed against him in San Francisco I think almost all of the rest of us were in awe of Mike and Jeff's pure speed. They had an unfair advantage in the breeze on all, but cousins Holty and Carl. Going into the windy Worlds in Hammo I was looking forward to having that unfair advantage! The reality is that I am not Jeffa and we were not nearly as fast relative to the competition, as they were. We had to work every shift and every angle we could to be at the top of our game. What became obvious during the course of the event was that Mike and I were not as well choreographed as we needed to be.

Mike and Jeffa spent a ton of time together and their results showed it. Mike and I had a few events and practice weekends together, but that was not a recipe for winning a worlds. What I bring back from sailing with Mike was not just a respect for him as a person and a sailor. I come back with the knowledge that it takes a big commitment to get to the top. He has shown that he is willing to make that commitment and if Tyler and I are to reach our goals........

TT: At the NA's we got to enjoy a great panel of past 505 World Champions discussing their success in the late 70's and early 80's. Is there more we can be doing as a US fleet to win World Championships? The last three US Champions were California teams; the West Coast fleet is clearly pushing themselves to a high level. What do you think they're doing well in terms of training that East Coast teams should emulate?

GE: The one thing that I hear from World Champions in all classes is that they owe much of their success to others. I know that in the Finn class that the British team is dominant in recent history. A Brit has won the worlds in 4 out of the last 5 years. They work and train hard together as a team and have upped their game due to that team attitude. The guys on the panel at the NA's talked about the other guys they were fortunate to sail with and against. The reason that the West Coast guys have been so successful in recent years is not that they are doing anything revolutionary......they are simply sailing together and training.

Tyler has invited, pleaded, and opened his home to 505 sailors from all over the country in an effort to get people training together. It is difficult and has met with limited success. It seems that when push comes to shove that there arent many East Coast teams that are in a position to dedicate time to sailing. Real life seems to get in the way. There are a few pockets where there are multiple boats but, the motivation to put sailing ahead of other things is not there. Macy has tried to beat the drum in the Annapolis/West River area for years. He has a small but growing group of like-minded people who are getting out sporadically. It sounds as if the Mid-Atlantic area is getting their act together and coming up with a schedule that makes sense and could be better attended than recent years. I for one hope it is.

TT: Thanks guys.

Palm Tree Dreams

With winter quickly closing in and boats in the East and Midwest headed for garages, it's time to plan your winter 505 sailing.

The two events to mark down on your calendar are the Midwinters in St. Petersburg, FL from February 24th-26th and the Carolina YC Regatta in Wrightsville Beach, NC from March 31st-April 1st. Recaps from last year's great events can be found here and here.

One idea that I've heard around the class with more frequency than past years is for more winter events or some kind of winter circuit. I am personally supportive of this concept though there are many logistics challenges. Other classes like the Etchells, Melges 20's, Vipers and J80's have obviously had great success with their winter circuits and these events are essential parts of the seasons in those classes. Do we as a class think a Florida and Carolina circuit could be put together and would people attend? I imagine we could likely get a dozen people on board with 3-5 events; would it grow? Would this many events entice any Canadians to come down and thaw out?

Would this work:

Miami or Ft. Lauderdale late January

Ft. Meyers or St. Petersburg early February

Midwinters in St. Petersburg late February

Wrightsville in early April

Charleston Race Week in late April if we can get in?

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Mea Culpa – Double Poles – JB Turney

This article must begin with a confession: I was once decidedly opposed to double poles.

I recall a rather broad discussion of the topic at the Midwinters in February 2010 with passionate opinions on both sides of the debate. Spinnaker pole systems were on everyone’s mind as Ethan Bixby’s Waterat had appeared at the regatta with a five foot bow sprit for an asymmetric spinnaker. Ethan had built the sprit after sailing the 2009 Worlds with double poles; it must be noted that the 2009 Worlds featured broad based acceptance and use of double poles. These new approaches to the 505’s downwind sail plan certainly had everyone thinking.

The traditional side of the argument, on which I found myself, called for a rule change to clarify that the 505 should be sailed with only one spinnaker pole. As I can recall, this argument was based primarily upon three reasons: cost, complexity, boat handling. We argued that the allowance of double poles necessitates higher costs for class participants. Not only would one need to purchase a second pole, but a new mast fitting and hardware for the launcher lines. In terms of complexity we argued that double poles simply represented more to break and tangle. Further, that rigging the system introduced yet another complex step to fitting out a 505. Lastly, and I believe correctly, we argued that using a single pole is a skill. It takes practice to successfully gybe a single pole in 25kts of wind. Why would the people who have honed the needed skills want to level the playing field?

The catalyst for my conversion from non-believer to double pole advocate came that same February weekend. On the last day of the regatta, Russell Miller and I attempted to match Henry Amthor and Dustin Romey in a gybe. Using their double poles, Henry and Dustin gained at least five boat lengths through the maneuver and easily passed us; my eyes had been opened. In further discussions with users of the system and now in my own experience sailing Craig's boat, gybing with double poles is simply faster in all conditions.

With respect to the three notable objections voiced at the Midwinters, I offer the following rebuttal: the advantages of the system outweigh the objections entirely. I believe it was current Class President Drew Buttner that attempted to debunk the cost concerns. Drew constructed a good argument that I will attempt to relate. At the time, I simply was unwilling to accept any additional expense; I was blinded by the recent costs of refitting my aged Waterat. While it is true that changing an existing one pole boat to the new system involves additional cost, the additional cost to a new boat is minimal. I believe now that in either case it is money well spent. There are several options to examine when implementing the system. A major contributing factor to the cost of the system is the chosen mast fitting. Options range from the South African made Double Spinno, the Waterat made cheek block fitting, to whatever homemade solution you might come up with. I chose to go with the South African fitting made by Warwick Ham. The mast fitting and associated pole end fittings cost me a little under $350 dollars with shipping. For the sake of comparison, APS sells the Proctor pole launcher for a single pole for $369. I have already saved some money! Carbon Waterat poles are available for $185.

Obviously with this system you have to buy two poles, two launcher cleats, two launcher lines and more boom fittings. Say this additional hardware costs $400; that would be an increase of 1.6% over the cost of a $25,000 new boat. It is difficult to argue that an increase in the total cost of 1.6% is going to dissuade someone from buying the boat, particularly given the improvement in performance the upgrade provides. As far as complexity, yes the system is more complex than a single pole. Fortunately for us late comers, much of the pioneering development work has been done. There is plenty of rigging know-how on the system available on the internet. The segue from rigging complexity to sailing skill is natural as the system makes gybing the boat far less complex than with a single pole. I believe that the benefits of gybing with double poles outweigh all noted and potential drawbacks of the upgrade.

The boat is simply faster with double poles, it is more fun to sail, it is easier to sail, and it is safer to sail. Gybes in light and heavy air are faster meaning more time spent sailing full speed; this opens up additional tactical options. The boat spends less time out of racing trim and is therefore less likely to capsize in big breeze. This also makes it easier to gybe away from a dangerous crossing situation since the gybe is less likely to result in a capsize. The pole is easier to launch as it is not carrying the load of the guy until it is nearly fully extended. Lastly, the system makes it easier to sail competitively with less practice time. While this may render the art of a single pole gybe on the Berkeley Circle to the dustbin of history, it makes the boat easier to introduce to newcomers broadening the appeal of the class.

I would like to personally thank the pioneers for their trailblazing efforts. Double poles are a true improvement on an already great boat. Consider me a convert.

Wrighteous - Carolina YC 505 Regatta

Regatta winners Ethan Bixby and Drew Buttner get some air.

Read the complete report here: Fleet 13 Regatta Report

Pole Talk

With winter only stubbornly fading away in northern climates, pre-season rigging time is at a premium.

Tank Talk is going to feature a series of articles on all things spinnaker pole. Hopefully, some of this information will speed up double pole conversions for those looking to make the change before the sailing season.

Lastly, we'll have a look at the future of spinnaker poles in the class and if in fact we should secure them to the hull instead of the spars.

Tank Talk - 2.0

After volunteering to take over as Tank Talk editor at the 2010 AGM in Chicago, I have put a lot of thought into the revival of the American Section's periodical and have read and re-read past issues.

The published magazine was an impressive work and a testament to the hard work and dedication of past editors. However, the publication of a magazine is costly, time consuming and is obviously limited to print and pictures. I believe that by reincarnating Tank Talk as a blog, the most essential quality of the magazine, its content, can be maintained while reducing the editorial workload, minimizing costs and incorporating multimedia.

I imagine some aspects of the editorial roll to remain unchanged: Tank Talk will still need American Section members to submit content. As editor, I have already worked with some authors on new articles that will soon appear in this space. Happily, I can easily edit and publish these articles to the blog, replacing the laborious task of producing a print edition. More importantly, by maintaining Tank Talk on a blog, pictures and video can be easily integrated with articles. The inclusion of multimedia will greatly enhance the content of Tank Talk. Automatic archiving of articles, labeling of posts and a search function will help improve the accessibility of content.

Finally, I hope that Tank Talk 2.0 will help stimulate and maintain interest in 505 sailing in the same way that the e-mail lists did at the beginning of the last decade. A viable and visible web presence is essential to any type of modern organization and I believe that Tank Talk will help to fill out the 505's on-line profile.

I encourage everyone and anyone to submit articles, pictures, and video. I hope that readers will take advantage of the comments option on the blog and that we can have an open dialogue about sailing 505s.

I am looking forward to a great 2011 season of 505 sailing and I hope everyone else is equally stoked.

JB