49er NA:
It’s time for another group email, in an effort to get the class rolling. Finally, we are starting to see some decent participation and the USA guys are getting their act together. The theme here is “renaissance.”
I’ll start by mentioning the ISAF Grade 2 Seiko 49er.ca Championships held during the last week of August in Kingston. We had a great event with 20 boats and tight competition. Thanks to all the teams that came from far away. Next year that same event will be the 49er.ca Canadian Championships, so let’s plan ahead and try to get 30 boats, or even 35! Anyway, on to the upcoming stuff:
Fall CORK
This applies mostly to Canadians and NE USA 49er guys. Fall CORK (and the Ontario 49er Championships) will be held in Kingston from Sept 25 – 26. We expect a typical turnout, which is about 10 boats. All are welcome to attend. This is a good event, with a good race management team. It is also ISAF Grade 3, so if you’re looking to boost your ranking, this is the way to do it! It is definitely worth the time, the effort, the money and the drive to come to Kingston to race. It is a great venue and a good chance to race. This event also counts for points on the Canadian GP circuit towards the CWL trophy.
49er Atlantic Coast Championships
All North American 49er guys are invited to and expected at the Heinekin American Yacht Club High Performance Dinghy Open to compete for the 49er ACC’s October 9 and 10. This is a holiday weekend for Canadians and Americans – so time off shouldn’t be an issue. AYC is located in Rye, NY – just north of NYC on the Long Island Sound (I believe). We already have confirmation from a half dozen local teams, plus whatever else we can muster from Canada and the rest of NE USA. This is a great event. Why? BECAUSE IT IS SPONSORED BY HEINEKIN!! No one will go thirsty that weekend. Those clubs down in NY also know how to host a proper regatta. You can expect 10 to 15 boats for this one. Make sure to put it on your calendar and to make the trip to NY for the rebirth of the 49er ACC’s. Please also note that this regatta will be the 2011 49er ACC’s next year.
Fall Training
Now that the summer racing season has finished, some of the top end teams are planning their fall and early winter training. The CST is having a training camp next week in Toronto, while USSTAG is having a camp at the end of September in Santa Cruz. Some teams are heading down to Perth this November for training, then back to Miami in mid-December in preparation for the RMOCR. I think it would be good to get a discussion going about winter training plans from all the teams. I have posted a page here upon which anyone can comment and post the link to their campaign website: http://www.pitchpoleenterprises.com/49er-class/?p=558 . Please go ahead and have a discussion regarding your training plans, and hopefully we can get some good training going this fall, wherever the venue!
Rolex Miami OCR
The annual RMOCR will be held January 23 – 29, 2011 in sunny Miami, FL. This regatta is the qualifier for CST and USSTAG and is generally a good draw. It is ISAF Grade 1 and the 2nd stop on the ISAF Sailing World Cup, so it will attract European teams. As we agreed at last year’s event, we will hold another 49er NA class meeting during the event, to get everyone on the same page.
49er North Americans
As discussed in Miami last year, the class will hold its 2011 NA Champs in Mexico, as part of the agreed upon rotation. This will be ISAF Grade C2 or higher. The NA’s take place from Feb 17 – 20, 2011 in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. This is just outside Mexico City. We are also looking to attract Euro’s to the event. The idea for this event is for boats to pack up after RMOCR and load their boats into containers provided by the OA for the 2011 NA’s. Shipping from Miami to Valle should be free of charge. During the event, the hosts will attempt to provide free housing to the competitors. After the regatta, boats will be packed back into containers and returned to Miami. The website for the event is http://www.49erNA.org. So stay tuned for more details regarding the competition. See enclosed poster.
49er Shop
Just a reminder to you all that we have a new 49er parts dealer in NA that has taken over from Vanguard. All parts are in stock and ready to ship. The shop can be found at http://www.pitchpoleenterprises.com/shop/ppsphome.html. They also carry other parts like compasses, trap harnesses, trap pucks, tiller extensions, boat breakers, etc. That web page is also home of the Canadian 49er class association.
Fall / Winter Parts Forecast
We need to know which parts you will be needing this fall and winter. What we would appreciate from most of you is a short list of the parts you think or know you will need in the next 3 or 4 months. It is as easy as sending an email to me and it is not a commitment. But I need to know if only 1 guy thinks his boom will go during RMOCR or if 15 guys think their boom will go. RMOCR and NA’s are coming up and those are big events. So please let me know what sails you will intend to purchase. I’m guessing lots of new jibs for RMOCR? Thanks.
2011 US Nationals
The rebirth of the 49er US Nationals will also happen in 2011. Columbia Gorge Racing Association (CGRA) will be hosting us (and possibly the 29erXX) class for a US National championship. The event will take place August 4 – 7, 2011 in Cascade Locks, OR. Mark your calendars today. We are looking for strong participation from all areas: USA West Coast, USA Northeast, Canada, Vancouver, Mexico. For those of you not familiar with “The Gorge,” it is arguably the best sailing venue in NA. It is warm, sunny, windy, beautiful and a great time. There is a beach launch, camping on site and cheap alcohol – what more can you ask for? This will be a great event. Stay tuned for more info.
On that subject, some East Coast teams have expressed an interest in doing 2 events while on the West Coast. That means maybe doing a PCC’s the following weekend (August 12 – 14, 2011) in San Fran (Richmond, StFYC???). The idea would then be for everyone to pack up and head over to Kingston for the Canadians. The PCC’s are not confirmed yet, but probably a good idea – since Worlds will eventually bring us to San Fran. We need someone local who is reliable to start looking into this. If you feel up to the job, please email me back.
49er NA Email List
If you’re reading this, it means you’re getting the emails. If you know of anyone in the NA 49er fleet NOT getting these emails, please forward me their contact info or have them contact me. Right now, we know of about 80 boats in NA: USA – 37 boats, Canada – 34 boats, Mexico – 6 boats, Other Areas – 2 boats. But there are more! If you find boats or know of guys who aren’t plugged into this list, please do what you can to get them in. We really want to get a comprehensive picture of what’s out there, who’s sailing and who can we get to come to regattas. So please, help me get this list going. I have attached my most recent version of the list for your info and to help me get it updated. Also, if you sell a boat, let me know who the new owners are so we can get them plugged in.
New 49er NA Website – www.49erNA.org
Although it is barely up, the NA class will have a new website soon. It will start off as the page for the 2011 49er North Americans in MEX, but will eventually evolve into a class website. It will be similar to 49er.ca and have racing, training and class info on it. It will be the hub of 49er sailing in NA. If you are capable of or interested in helping develop the site, please let me know.
That being said, we will also be looking for new 49er USA East Coast and West Coast Reps. It isn’t much work, but needs a reliable and out-going person. If you feel like you can do the job, let us know. The class will decide on it in January at the RMOCR (but no harm in starting to promote the class now…).
Thanks and keep in touch.
