Official Audi Melges 20 Blog

10 December 2009 (Miami, Fla.) – The 2010 Audi Melges 20 USA Sailing Series officially gets underway this weekend in Miami, Fla. with the first of three Miami Winter regattas. Hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC), supported by Shake-A-Leg Miami and Melges Performance Sailboats, the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association is thrilled to be welcoming 13 teams to the crystal-clear blue waters of Biscayne Bay.

“Coconut Grove Sailing Club extends a very warm welcome to all Audi Melges 20 sailors. It is going to be a great weekend filled with a lot of fun and exciting racing.” said Ron Rostorfer, Regatta Chair. “The social activities will be quite enjoyable as well. On the water, expect nothing but the very best from legendary PRO Bruce Golison. This will be a first class event.”

“When Harry Melges asked me to run the Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series, I jumped at the opportunity. Having been the big boat circle PRO at Key West for 9 years, I was excited to run the series. As a top level competitor myself, I full understand the expectations — lots of boats, great competition and loads of camaraderie, backed by excellence in race management,” stated Golison.

“Running any top level regatta is a challenge I enjoy,” continued Golison. ”My goal is always to try and run the perfect regatta in the way the competitors want to see it run. Add to that a talented group of race committee members and you have what it takes to end the regatta with happy competitors.”

Competitors have traveled from all over the country to usher in the inaugural Audi Melges 20 Winter Series, where ideal, classic Miami breeze-on conditions are anticipated. Eight of the teams call the Midwest home representing Michigan, Illinois and Canada, amongst them reigning U.S. National Champion Erc Wynsma (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) on Superfly and current Charleston Race Week winner Marc Hollerbach (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) on Fu. Traveling the furthest is Seattle NOOD Winner, Joe Williams (Mercer Island, Wash.) on Lift Ticket. Melges regulars, yet brand spanking new to the fleet are Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) on his famed STAR, the one and only, masterful lady helm Mary Anne Ward (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) on M&M Sailing Team and Jim Hilgard (Godfrey, Ill.) on Crystal Spirit.

FULL ENTRY LIST

1.) Michael Kiss, Bacio

2.) John Arendhorst, Blink

3.) Erwyn Naidoo, Bohica

4.) Peter Kozicz, CAN-142

5.) Robert Wilber, Cinghiale

6.) Jim Hilgard, Crystal Spirit

7.) Marc Hollerbach, Fu

8.) Joe Williams, Lift Ticket

9.) Mary Anne Ward, M&M Sailing Team

10.) David Hammett, Simplified Sophistication

11.) Jeff Ecklund, STAR

12.) Eric Wynsma, Superfly

13.) Erik Post, Vaya Con Dios

Official Event Website

Press releases, race reports and photos will be issued daily. Stay tuned to the Official Audi Melges 20 Web Site, the Official Audi Melges 20 Blog, Melges.com and Melgeseurope.com for all the details. You can also follow the Audi Melges 20 on Twitter. Join, bookmark and subscribe today to stay on top of all things Audi Melges 20.

ABOUT THE 2010 AUDI MELGES 20 MIAMI WINTER SERIES

The Inaugural Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series is hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Shake-A-Leg and supported by Melges Performance Sailboats. The series, comprised of three regattas spanning December through March, offers Audi Melges 20 sailors a great escape from the cold and snow to enjoy the Florida

sunshine, top flight competition, the very best in sportboat sailing conditions and high-level race management.

• SERIES EVENT NO. 1 – December 11-13 (Saturday, Sunday racing)

• SERIES EVENT NO. 2 – February 19-21 (Saturday, Sunday racing)

• SERIES EVENT NO. 3 – Bacardi Miami Sailing Week, March 10-13 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday racing)

The Inaugural Miami Winter Series leads off the eight high-powered events on the 2010 Audi Melges 20 USA Sailing Series schedule.

4 December 2009 – Miami, Fla. USA (Biscayne Bay)

Hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club and Shake-A-Leg Miami
Supported by Melges Performance Sailboats

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Event No. 1 : December 11-13, 2010
Event No. 2 : February 19-21, 2010
Event No. 3 : Bacardi Miami Race Week, March 10-13, 2010

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INTERNATIONAL AUDI MELGES 20 CLASS ASSOCIATION COMPETITOR ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 2

The International Audi Melges 20 Class Association is thrilled to welcome thirteen teams to Coconut Grove Sailing Club this coming weekend for the 2010 Miami Winter Series, Event No. 1. In anticipation of the hottest sportboat competition in the world and the very best in race management, please take a few moments to review the following items required for racing:

JOIN THE IM20CA
2010 Audi Melges 20 Class Association Membership is required for all competitors. If you have not joined already, please Join Now.

SAIL DECLARATION
Each team is required to submit a Sail Declaration by the close of registration on Friday, December 11th at 5 p.m.
Download A Sail Declaration

ISAF CLASSIFICATION
In the true spirit of the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association, all owners and helmsman are reminded and encouraged to make sure that your Category Group 1 ISAF Amateur Classification is valid. If your classification has expired, you will need to renew your classification prior to racing. You may either apply for an ISAF ID, request and/or renew classification online at sailing.org.

For further information, please contact International Audi Melges 20 Class Association Admin, Joy Dunigan on e-mail, or by phone at +1 (912) 398-5776

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Official Miami Winter Series Event No. 1 Website
Coconut Grove Sailing Club
Official Website of the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association
Official Blog of the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association
Follow the Audi Melges 20 on Twitter
Official YouTube Channel of the Audi Melges 20 Class Association

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Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Europe

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4 December 2009 – Miami, Fla. USA (Biscayne Bay)

Hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club and Shake-A-Leg Miami
Supported by Melges Performance Sailboats

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Event No. 1 : December 11-13, 2010
Event No. 2 : February 19-21, 2010
Event No. 3 : Bacardi Miami Race Week, March 10-13, 2010

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COCONUT GROVE SAILING CLUB COMPETITOR ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 1

Attention Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Competitors:

We at Coconut Grove Sailing Club are very much looking forward to your arrival here on Friday, and to a great regatta on Biscayne Bay. Please take a minute to look over the information below.

REGISTRATION
Registration hours at CGSC have been slightly modified from the Notice of Race, and will be 1500 – 1700 on Friday, December 11th on the lower level of the CGSC Clubhouse.

Since you will already have arrived by then, a few items of advance information are in order to help make sure you have an excellent regatta experience:

ATTACHED AERIAL PHOTO
The photo attached shows the area between Shake-A-Leg Miami (SALM) and CGSC. The direct route by water between SALM and CGSC is shown by the dashed orange line. The car route is shown by the solid green line. The three primary channels to the Bay are identified as, northeast to southwest, Seaplane Channel, Dinner Key Channel and Brennan’s Channel (nearest to CGSC). Parking locations are also indicated.

BAY SAILING DIRECTIONS
Stay in the Channels at the shoreward end, and in the case of Dinner Key Channel, virtually all the way to the headpin (seaward end – called “Donovan’s”). This is due to shallow water.

In addition, due South of the Brennan’s Channel headpin approximately 0.5 nm is Middle Ground Shoal, marked by a small buoy. When heading to the Bay via this channel, continue SE until well past the headpin.

The racing area will be generally SE of the Brennan’s Channel headpin.

For reference, here are the headpin locations of the three channels:
Seaplane N 25-43.232 W 080-12.950
Dinner Key N 25-42.760 W 080-12.648

Brennan’s N 25-42.904 W 080-13.687

When returning from the south to the Seaplane Channel, it’s best to pass Donovan’s on the seaward side.
Tide rise and fall during the regatta will be approximately two feet.

BOAT ARRIVAL AT COCONUT GROVE SAILING CLUB
There are three docks at CGSC:
North (or Strip) Dock – a floating dock adjacent to the Club hoists
Main Dock – a fixed dock
South (or Dinghy) Dock – a second floating dock – shallow water at and near the south end of this dock.

On arrival by boat the first time, please tie to any dock where there’s room and proceed to the Dockmaster’s Office (lower level, past the Men’s head). You can also call ahead to the “CGSC Dock Office” on VHF 78. The Dock staff will arrange your overnight dock or mooring assignment.

We may be able to accommodate a few boats rafting off our docks overnight depending on the owner’s desire, weather forecast, and local regatta schedule for the following day – so, a day-by-day decision. Others will be assigned a mooring in our inner harbor mooring field. When you’re ready, you can proceed to the mooring, or our launch will tow you out. When ready for pickup, call the Dock Office on VHF 78. Launch service is 24 hours, and will be augmented during peak periods in the morning and afternoon of race days.

PARKING
When driving from SALM to CGSC, take Bayshore Drive south in the left lane until the road takes a 90 deg. turn to the right. There’s a turnout to the left at that point. Take the turnout, being watchful for on coming traffic from around the bend. Cross the opposing traffic lanes, drive around the parking circle between CGSC and Peacock Park, and enter CGSC at the gate.

On Friday, there should be no problem parking inside the CGSC gate during the afternoon. Further parking information will be provided at Registration. Drop off and pick up in the CGSC parking lot should not be a problem during the regatta.

Saturday, free parking will be available across the street at the Womens’ Club (WCCG on the aerial photo) or at Dinner Key Marina adjacent to the CGSC Launch pick up point near the Sea Tow facility. (Keep your handheld VHF with you and call on 78 for a pickup at Sea Tow.) Free Marina parking is available all weekend.

Womens’ Club parking is not available on Sunday. Underground parking is available a couple of doors past the Womens’ Club adjacent to the Sonesta Hotel – about $10 per day.

See you soon!

Ron Rostorfer
Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Regatta Chair
Coconut Grove Sailing Club

For further information, please contact International Audi Melges 20 Class Association Admin, Joy Dunigan on e-mail, or by phone at +1 (912) 398-5776

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Official Miami Winter Series Event No. 1 Website
Coconut Grove Sailing Club
Official Website of the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association
Official Blog of the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association
Follow the Audi Melges 20 on Twitter
Official YouTube Channel of the Audi Melges 20 Class Association

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Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Europe

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