MEL-784 2009 M32 Yearbook:IM32CA - the Melges 32 Class ...

International Melges 32 Class Administrator Joy Dunigan
08
Welcome to the third edition of the M32 Yearbook. This year's goal
was to showcase as many images as possible captured during 2008.
Trust me, there are many more great photos than you see featured
here. Thousands of images were browsed before making the final
2009 selections. Speaking of 2009, we have some great regattas
around the world to look forward to; just think about all the fun
we are going to have while racing!
KEEPING IT COMPETITIVE AND FAIR
The fleet is growing at a rapid pace internationally and with that
growth, many of you have experienced the class becoming more
proactive with rule enforcement — in particular membership, Crew
and Sail Declarations as well as Sail Buttons. The Melges 32 Class is
fast becoming known for its own brand of Melges racing — that
means there is a lot of fun, fast sailing to be had but, it also means
quite a bit of prep work for each team to submit to the class for
approval prior to racing. Some of you may be accustomed to this
process if you have raced the Farr 40, Mumm 30 (now the Farr 30)
and TP52 before, but there may be some of you that may be entirely
new to this concept.
Three weeks prior to a Melges 32 event (and six weeks prior to a
World Championship) each competing team is required to submit a
Crew Declaration (IM32CA Rules, Appendix 3.1). With this declaration
the class will post all competing team crew lists online that include
each crew member's ISAF ID no., classification and expiration. Based
on the IM32CA's review of each crew member, this list will also
indicate as to whether an entire team is approved to race.
At the recent Gold Cup, West Coast Owner and North American Class
President Stephen Pugh emphasized to the entire fleet how
important it is to keep your crew honest, and that truly it is the
sole discretion and responsibility of the owner to make sure that
who you have on board is categorized by ISAF correctly. This instills
and preserves integrity within our fleet and most importantly
keeps racing fair and much more enjoyable for everyone. The
class stands behind this 100%.
An Owners Declaration (IM32CA Rules, Appendix 5) is also required
for competition and should be submitted at the same time as
the Crew Declaration. The last item is your Sail Declaration
(IM32CA Rules, Appendix 3.2). This must be submitted by the close
of registration, as stated in the NOR, for that regatta.
slightest rule change must be approved by the IM32CA, then
provided to the ISAF for final approval. Recommended rule changes
and suggestions must be provided to the class by June 1 for
consideration. ISAF reviews this information at its yearly AGM in
November, with approved rule changes effective January 1.
MORE MELGES 32s — MORE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Communication is a key part of the process for ultimate fleet growth.
The IM32CA is dedicated to constantly improving communication
internally and externally. In 2009, look forward to a brand new
international website that better supports the growing needs
of owners and team captains on many levels.
Onsite at events please be on the look out as press releases, full
results and photo galleries are generated by the class, posted online
at www.melges32.com and distributed via e-mail. Look forward to
many more video uploads to the IM32CA blog and YouTube account.
All of these tools have proven very successful and well accepted.
Be sure to sign-up to receive the RSS Feed, where all the latest news
and announcements can be delivered right to your desktop.
Also on the press and IM32CA PR team, please extend a continued
warm welcome to Justin Chisholm, the IM32CA European Press
Officer. Justin brought us all the excitement from Europe in 2008
at the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series; look for lots more in 2009!
Besides being onsite at many of the events, communication and
marketing efforts within the class are a continuous work in progress.
We love suggestions and hearing from everyone, so don't be shy
in sharing information with us, especially if it is something that
everyone may be interested to know.
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MELGES TEAM
The next time you see Andy Burdick, Harry Melges, Federico Michetti
and/or Luisa Bambozzi, please be sure to thank them for all the
hard work and effort they have put forth for the Melges 32. These
individuals have put countless hours, not just into product
design and manufacturing a high-quality racing machine, but they
possess a unique passion and love for sailing. In everything they do
and say, they wear this proudly as a badge of their unwavering
support and dedication for Melges owners worldwide.
Sail fast!
In 2009, the IM32CA will follow a more detailed process for rule
changes. Now that we are an ISAF Recognized Class, even the
Joy Dunigan, IM32CA Administrator | Press Officer
www.melges32.com
joy.dunigan@melges32.com
T: +1 (912) 756-6706 | F: +1 (912) 756-6728 | M: +1 (912) 398-5776
2009 M32 Yearbook: 2009 IM32CA Administrator | www.melges32.com