News

From IMCA Technical Advisor David Chivers - Many of you are aware of the ongoing discussion on hiking in the class. There have been many views expressed in emails and on the Scuttlebutt forum, both for and against the various methods we use.

The 2006 edition of the M24 yearbook has now been published and sent to the National Class Secretaries for distribution. This year's edition is better than ever before with great articles from guest writers including Justin Chisholm as well as all our usual features.

From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - Congratulations to Eric Nerlinger, from Chicago, Illinois helming Inside Voice is the 2006 Melges 24 St. Petersburg NOOD Champion. Nerlinger was surrounded onboarded by some of the greatest talent in the Melges 24 fleet.

From the Norgwegian Class - Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus have each purchased a Melges 24. "The Dream Team" from the international alpine circus will retire after the Olympics in Torino. Between them they have 12 Olympic and 23 World Champion titles.

From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - Just shy of a three hour long postponement that honestly, had everyone worried and wondering if the sailing gods were going to turn their backs on the fleet two days in a row, lifted just before noon.

As part of the Finnish class campaign to aggressively increase ownership and attract new boat and sailors, the Finnish / Estonian class are at the present moment taking a stand at the Helsinki International Boat Show (11-19 February 2006) to present the Melges 24 and the Class Association.