The regatta was sponsored by the multinational software firm SAP and Hasso Plattner, one of the founders of that company and a previous Sydney -Hobart winner was one of the competitors in a mini 'Morning Glory'.

As usual, there was a star studded field of competitors from many nations with a swag of Olympic medals, World Championships and Americas cup campaigns behind them. Picking a winner was going to be difficult, although a fairly certain bet for 2nd place was Howie Hamlin of the USA who had managed the feat 6 times before! Howie is the current 14ft dinghy world champion (at his first try!) and 2 time world 18 ft skiff world champ, but had only managed one world championship win in the 505s despite more than 20 years in the class.

The main event was preceded by a 3 day pre world regatta which doubled as the Australian Championships. While the top guns were out tweaking and tuning their rigs, your correspondent focused on mental rehearsal, elbow flexion and sailing without a rudder. Whilst in rudderless mode the Crimson Autograph nipped the underbelly of a similarly rudderless American thereby disposing of them for one race, just 90 more to deal with.

The World Championships are always held on open water (ie the sea) on long courses over 9 races. This is to maximize both the fun factor of racing down and through big ocean swells for which these boats are ideal and to emphasize boat tuning. Boat handling is also critical as the fleets are huge (175 on the startline in Germany 2 years ago) and competitive. As always in this class gate starts are used which allows the huge fleet to get away first time every time , no stuffing around with recalls and black flags, we are out there to race not flap about for hours. Gate starts require a whole new set of tactics and skills. Since the introduction of the new and larger spinnakers a few years ago the courses have changed with more runs and less reaches. This has broadened the competitive weight range in the class with the lighter crews doing better off the breeze making up for any uphill advantage that the Gorillas may have had. The larger kite has also broadened the tactical options of tacking downwind vs sailing square with large gains (or losses) hinging on the choice . Asymmetrics may be quicker but offer fewer tactical options.

Now to the worlds themselves. All races were held as scheduled and across a full range of conditions, so it was a very fair and testing regatta. The early races were in magnificent sea breezes of 18-22knots, the boats planing upwind through the waves with sensational rides to be had on the downwind legs on the big ocean swells. All sailed angles, tacking on the downwind legs and converging on the mayhem that was the downwind gate. Lighter breezes from a variety of directions dominated the latter part of the regatta favouring the European crews a little more but there was only one true "drifter". No single nation dominated with 6 nationalities finishing in the top 10 . The Danish team of Jan Saugmann and Martin Ramsbeek sailed the most consistent regatta winning 3 of the 9 heats and taking first place with one race to spare. A very tight contest for second between the next 6 boats was only decided by the last race and it was Howie Hamlin yet again with his 7th bridesmaid appearance. Sandy Higgins from SouthAustralia sailed to a well deserved 3rd place. Ian Pinnell of the UK was 4th with Mike Martin of the USA 5th. It was very tough at the front of the fleet with one of the pre race favorites and 3 time world 505 champions Chris and Darren Nicholson only managing 15th overall.

Leading the WA contingent was the hybrid team of Doug Hagan(USA) and Mike Duffield who finished 17th. Duff was so happy he bought a new boat back to WA. Doug was so happy he wants to become an Aussie which he will do as long as Duff learns some nice manners and only speaks after being spoken to. No need to warn the embassy. Mark Stowell and Anthony Dean sailed superbly to finish 35th. In typical 'Stolle' style their best race was the last heat where they were last to leave the beach and only just made it to the start line with a couple of seconds to spare, yet were in the top 10 at the first mark and finished 16th. Crimson Autograph failed to sink enough competitors and finished 65th. Luke Payne and Ben Davis looked hot in the light stuff and finished a very creditable 66th in one of the oldest boats in the fleet. Heath and Nick scraped themselves off the windscreen to come 72nd, whilst the flintoff boys came in a promising 84th with steady improvement throughout the regatta.

The regatta was superbly run and benefited from strong sponsorship and great local volunteer support through the local club and fleet members. There was excellent media coverage in both print and on television which can only be good for the class and sailing in general. A media company has produced a very humorous and entertaining DVD of the regatta which will be circulated soon.The social programme was terrific, free beer and nibbles after each race, lots of parties, post race massages several full on dinners and a grand finale at the Sheraton. Luke Ben and the Flintoffs turned out in grand style on the big night in stunning fashion statements sponsored by good Samaritan industries and were last seen in the company of Polish table top dancing Borat impersonator Piotr, who somehow squeezed into the WA team photograph.

The next worlds are in Palermo Sicily in October 2008, and there will be a container going from WA with 4 boats already committed. There will be room for up to 10 boats in the container and we have a programme in place throughout the winter and next year leading up to that regatta. We race late on Saturday afternoons from 4 pm when the river is becoming clear, and train on wed evenings so you may not have seen us around the club so much at "normal" times but the fleet is active and growing again and we are keen to help new sailors into the class which offers "the best dinghy sailing outside the Olympics" according to Ian Barker 49er silver medalist from Sydney Olympics.

Grolsch 505 WA State Championships 2005