5.5 Class AssociationOctober 21st, 2013
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Adding a Deck
 
In Italy, it has been time to join hull and deck of 5.5 SUI 227 "CinqueCinque", which all 5.5m enthousiasts are looking forward to see in her first regatta. You can follow the development of this new constrcution on the AM55 website:
 
 
New designs are essential for further development in our class and other members are being encouraged to also go the route to an entirely new design concept. Variety triggers excitement.
 
This has particularly been the case in the time between the 70's and the early 90's, when a very wide number of different designs have been developed, showing similar speed potential. Case proven: 5.5 GER 30, a Warren Muir design from 1982, has still over the last years been the best Evolution boat worldwide.
 
But also work was done on boats, for that extra competitive edge. A boat with design from 1991 had seen its deck cut off, to be joined with a new hull for better performance. The old hull patiently awaited better times, which are coming up now. Scott Maley, Australian boatbuilder living on Flensburg Fjord, will bring former 5.5 K 38 back to live, adding a deck and placing a new rudder, naming her "Hamilton". Then it will be time to race against her sister boat (GER 37) on Flensburg Fjord and hopefully also in International 5.5m events. Scott has applied for 5.5 AUS 60 to be his new sail number. 
 
"Hamilton" - getting a new deck
 
Another boat, which has seen a very short race life so far is 5.5 USA 77. This boat has been the first computer designed 5.5m boat (MIT/Milgram), back in 1968. She raced the US-elemination races for Acapulco and came in at a good 3rd place, but turned to cruiser shortly after. This historically important and fast boat will need a new deck as well, before we can get her to serious racing again - and she is looking for an ambitious regatta sailor, as the new owner.
 
"Lady Luck" - waiting for a new deck
So, in whichever budget level your sport is being practiced , this Class can offer good projects to work on and later to enjoy fully, while racing in good community. Be a part of it!    

 

Yours,

  


Kaspar Stubenrauch
President
International 5.5 Class Association

 

Fleet News
 
Australia

 

The Australian 5.5m Class Association is helping Scott, to get his new sail number. 

 

Finland

 

The Finnish fleet has been affected by a fire, destroying a good part of the 5.5m sail inventory, there. Matias Johannson has sent in a request for the International 5.5m community to have a close look at older sail inventories in the basements of members' houses. Those who can spare some of their older but still raceable sails are kindly asked to contact Matias, telling him sail measurements, so that he can coordinate which sails can fit for which Finnish boats. Contact:  matias.johansson<at>netti.fi

 

5.5 FIN 15 "Kisen" is one of the affected boats:  http://5.5inventory.org/fin/015/ 

 

Germany

 

 

The German 5.5m Class Association will be holding a meeting on her stand C.152 in hall B6 at the hanseboot boatshow in Hamburg, on November 2nd at 15:00 hours. The annual perpetual trophies (Modern Preis, Evolution Preis, Ambition Preis) will be handed to those winning owners present and also the 5-Nation-Cup Silvercups for GER 82 and GER 55 will be presented.

 

In Kiel, ownership of 5.5 GER 72 has changed and the boat will be brought back to racing condition, bringing the local fleet to a total of 7 boats (5 Classic, 1 Evo, 1 Modern). The new owner is preparing the donation of a Ladies' Trophy, which is planned to be sailed for on local waters, attracting regatta sailoresses to the helms of 5.5m boats.

 

The NRV, hosting the "Sünnschien Preis", has announced that the regatta will be moved from the Alster Lake in Hamburg to Lübeck Bay in 2014 and that it will be sailed in cooperation with Niendorf Yacht Club (NYC), on the 4th and 5th of October. NYC is the club & home port of 5.5 GER 16 "Corona".

 

Italy

Looking at the next season, the Swiss 5.5m Class Association has announced that the date for the Alpen Cup on Lago di Garda - traditionally arranged by the Swiss members and normally set at the end of April - has exceptionally been moved to mid-May, for 2014. 
 
Switzerland

The autumn-time "Herbstpreis" has been sailed on the Lake of Thun, with good International participation, unusual cold temperatures and snow-white mountain views. All results on: www.thunersee-yachtclub.ch
After racing, a view to the scenery

The crews are now going into proper winter training, in order to be ready for the downhill Grand Slalom part in early March in Gstaad, of this combined Yachting & Skiing event.

 

5-Nations-Cup

 

Once the perpetual prizes (Silver Portwine Cups) have been passed from the initial 2012 winners (FRA 38, GER 75, NED 31) on to stay aboard the boats of the 2013 winners (AUS 16, GER 82, GER 55) for one year, we can look forward to the upcoming challenges.
5.5m Modern Cup
The Silver Cups are being sailed for with all three categories of 5.5m boats in 5 countries [3 of which are firm (SUI, NED, GER) and 2 can change]. We had already announced the countries for 2014 (ITA, GER, NOR, SUI, NED). Looking forward to 2015, the plan is set for: ITA, SUI, GER, NED, SWE. Five races, one discard leaves room for deciding to drop participation in a far away destination.
 
Vintage Meeting

 

During their initial meeting, at Lago di Como in July 2012, the Vintage 5.5m owners decided to rejoin these longkeel 5.5m boats in two years time.

 

It has now been confirmed that the next Vintage 5.5m Meeting is going to take place on 27.6.-2.7. 2014, at the DTYC inTutzing, Lake of Starnberg, Bavaria. The event will start with "Münchner Woche", a long weekend race for wooden boats, followed by 3 days of racing for the Vintage Classic 5.5m Meeting & Enoshima 1964 Jubilee.

 

Going to Tutzing has a special meaning: Participants will festivate the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Olympics, in which Herbert "Biwi" Reich and his student crew participated aboard 5.5 GER 12. "Biwi" is living at the lake and the DTYC, which had back then supported the Olympic participation, is his sailing club.

"Subbnboana", restored to original beauty
It will be in the hands of the Vintage 5.5m owners to keep this special regatta-event a biannual meeting or bring it forward to an annual event. So far the outlook to future years is showing a biannual planning:

 

2016 / festivating the 60th anniversary of the Melbourne Olympic 5.5m participation / Idea: Visit SWE 24, 1956 Gold medal boat (S-24)
2018 / festivating the 50th anniversary of the Acapulco Olympic 5.5m participation / Idea: Visit NED 29, 1968 4th place (G-17)
2020 / festivating the 60th anniversary of the Naples Olympic 5.5m participation / Idea: Visit SUI 37, 1960 Bronce medal boat (Z-37)
2022 / festivating the 70th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympic 5.5m participation / Idea: Visit GER 6, 1952 Bronce medal boat (S-6)
 
Boats 4 Sail

 

If we would have to choose a boat of the month in each category, this month of October the top boats are these:

 

  • Modern: 5.5 NED 33 > Perfect for the Lake of Geneva, to compete with SUI 192
  • Evolution: 5.5 GER 78 > Perfect for Hamburg, to compete with GER 25, 30, 32
  • Classic: 5.5 SWE 46 > Perfect for Kiel, to compete with GER 1, 56, 66, 67, 72

 

In addition, have a look at the Classified ads, on the International 5.5m website.

 

And, continue to contact the International Class, for information on boats which are looking for new ownership, in order to see these boats racing again:

 

 

Not all of these boats are officially advertised, but known and the Class is keen to see the boats placed in waters where they will find suitable competitors, age- & speedwise.

 

And then, there is always a chance to consider a new one. With currently more than 5 design options to choose from, chances for gaining speed by new developments are on the table.

 

The Shop
 
Coral Reef Sailing Apparel is The Source for Class Apparels and Team attires!
 

 

 

 

Support your Class by ordering from CRSA online store ~ 15% of the annual purchase amount is going back to the Class and you won't be disappointed by the quality of their products! - Thanks.