December 24, 2006

Dear 505 friends.

This is my last "Words from the president". After 6 years in the IEC, the last 4 as president, I have vitnessed the introduction of the big spinneker - the biggest performance improvement of the boat to the lovest cost. I have seen the biggest 505 worlds ever with 175 competing boats in Warnemünde. I have seen new competitors from Croatia, Poland and Italy. And in less than a month the class will have its biggest worlds on the southern hemisphere.

But I have also seen the declining in dinghy sport, the decrease of 505´s in the UK, a higher average age of the sailors in the 505 Class.

In the future I believe that we should look into change the boat so we will keep the spirit in our class but simplify some things that don´t make the big difference.

Some smart guys said: how about that we make a one-design carbon rig from a single manufacturer, a simple tube with the possibility to take it apart so its easy to airfreight or store in a 20" container. The guess is that it should be cheaper than our present spars - and make 505 sailing a bit simpler and up to date with modern materials.

Another idea was to change the construction rules for the hull so it would be cheaper to build and offcourse, the the old hulls would not be obsolete.

I believe there is other things that can be done, but its very important that YOU come up with ideas that change things to the better.

We also need to be better to marketing - the germans are good examples, from nothing to the biggest and strongest 505 country in 10 years. A number of germans from their class association have put a lot of work in this succes, we all can learn from those guys.

I wish the best of luck to Pip as new president for the class, He is the best guy to that job that I know of!!!

In the future, I'll do what i can to kick your but on the race course and hopefully I'll be a member of the organizing committee for the 505 WORLDS 2010 IN DENMARK.

I would like to thank all those members of the IEC, IRC and all the national associations that have made a difference in the 505 class - well done - without you the class would´nt be here!

I wish you all the best in 2007 and see you all at the WORLDS in Adelaide, the EuroCups in France, Italy, Germany and the Europeans in Sopot Poland.

MERRY X-MAS and HAPPY NEWYEAR to you all.

Yours sincerely

Tom Bojland
President - International 505 Class Yacht Racing Association