North America

Tough competition and great camaraderie

Jenni er H r er upda e u on he la e developmen in Nor h America where an en hu ia ic flee of cla ic and evolu ion have een re uvena ed over he pa few year .

The 5.5s are now actively racing again in North America. A love of these beautiful boats brings sailors together from Canada and the US to experience competitive racing on the course and exceptional camaraderie on shore.

Since 2014 the Americans and Canadians have been holding a North American 5.5 Metre regatta on Georgian Bay in Midland, Ontario, Canada. The inaugural event attracted four Classic 5.5 Metres on the line. It was such great fun getting these boats back together on the race course so it was agreed to hold two regattas each year, one in the spring and another in the fall.

The North American 5.5 group is focused on rejuvenating and expanding the fleet by sharing information, knowledge, parts, crew and boats. We have grown to an average of eight boats with more expected to be back in racing form shortly.

In 2019 we welcomed a race crew from Texas to Midland and continue to invite potential owners and current owners whose boats are not yet race-ready to join our regattas.

There are about 20 boats in North America with most of the fleet being Classics, with a few Evolutions and one Modern. We also allow the fibreglass Columbia 5.5 Metres built in the late 1960s to participate as Classics to provide an opportunity for owners of these boats to race.

This year will see two events on Georgian Bay in Midland. The North American 5.5 Metre Regatta is set for June 18-21 while a date change has moved up the fall regatta to be a summer event running from August 28-30.

We encourage interested owners, skippers and crews to contact either Dan Rossi daniel@rossi-engineering. com or John Lister listersjohn@ gmail.com

Of the Evolutions that have been found, one is in Canada and the other two need work to get them back on the water. Two Classics have or will be modified to transform them to Evolutions. The Modern is in the

US with plans to race in 2020. Perhaps more will follow in the not too distant future. With continued growth in the 5.5 Metre Class there is a proposal to have the 5.5 Worlds in the US, near Annapolis, in 2024.

Some recent activity with boats found and being rebuilt: • USA 31 Pride is in Michigan and is back on the racecourse. USA 31 is an early 1960s Luders design and Seabrook built wood construction. She is a Classic with attached rudder. The new owner quickly cleaned up Pride to make the 2018 Fall Regatta where she showed great form. Now rigged with new sails and additional work she is one to watch in 2020. • USA 77 has returned to the US from Canada (ex CAN 77) and will undergo a refit. In 2014 she was brought up from Florida to take part in the first NA regatta and ultimately be rebuilt. She does need work, but nothing that can’t be overcome to get her back into racing form. It’s also envisioned to install a detached rudder technically transforming her into an Evolution. • USA 96 Jalapena is in Maryland. USA 96 is a mid-1980s Owens design and build, wood construction but is an Evolution with modern appendages (i.e. spade rudder, keel w/trim tab). Work is proceeding with the goal of sailing again during the 2020 season. Left: The rejuvenation of the North American fleet continues. In 2019 William Turner and Tal Hutcheson from the Texas Corinthian Yacht

Club in Houston joined the North American 5.5M Regatta for the first time. The NA Fleet is happy to arrange a place in one of the local boats and the Texas team experienced

Nantoria CAN 22 and Savage USA 75 rekindling a passion and they hope to return in 2020 • Bottom left: After some major rehabilitative work, new owner Joe Strelow has Pride USA 31 back in fine form, rigged with new sails and ready to race Opposite top: Spirited competition on the course is combined with outstanding camaraderie on shore as the North American 5.5 Metre fleet continues to grow.