MARBLEHEAD SELECTED TO HOST 2001 INTERNATIONAL ONE-DESIGN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Marblehead Reporter)

Largest-Ever IOD World Championship Regatta Slated For September

23 February, 2001, Marblehead, MA. The International One Design (IOD) World Class Association has selected Marblehead as the host site for the 2001 International Class World Championships. The regatta, which will be jointly hosted by the Corinthian and Eastern Yacht Clubs, will take place September 15-22, 2001.

Twenty teams, plus a team led by the defending World Champion, Bermudian Eugene " Penny" Simmons, will compete, making the 2001 Worlds the largest International Class World Championships ever produced. Two teams each from Bermuda; Scotland; Sweden; Norway; San Francisco; Nantucket; Northeast Harbor, Maine; Fishers Island, NY and Marblehead will qualify for the six day, nine race event.

Fourteen local teams, including teams led by former International Class World Champions Bruce Dyson and Bill Widnall will undertake a rigorous 25-race qualifier to determine Marblehead's two entries to this prestigious regatta. Marblehead's qualifying races begin on Memorial Day and continue through the end of Marblehead Race Week in July.

One of the most beautiful of all the active racing classes, the International was designed in 1936 for racing in Long Island Sound and Bermuda. Their sleek, powerful design, inspired by classic metre boats, provides extremely close and tactical racing. From their creation, the International Class has adhered to an extremely strict set of one-design regulations that minimized differences between the boats. In this fleet of equally matched yachts, sailing skills determine the outcome of races. In addition, the tight class restrictions make it possible for boats of boats of all vintages, from 1936 Norwegian built pine boats to the brand new Chris Hood-built fiberglass boats, to compete on an equal footing.

The International was introduced to Marblehead in 1938, and has raced continuously in Marblehead since that season, making it the longest-tenured one-design keelboat in Marblehead Harbor. Currently, the Marblehead International Class fleet has fourteen active boats. Plans are in full swing to add 10 additional boats to the fleet, five each from Fishers Island and Nantucket, for this regatta. The visiting boats will begin to arrive in Marblehead just after Labor Day and will be prepared and tuned by a team of Marblehead fleet members so that their performance will match that of the native Marblehead boats.

Visiting teams will arrive in Marblehead on Saturday September 15, and will be hosted as guests of the Marblehead fleet in local homes. Marblehead residents interested in hosting a competitor may call 639.2026. Fittingly, the opening reception for this historic sailing regatta will be held at the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem. Other events will take place at the Corinthian and Eastern Yacht Clubs, as well as at private homes.