Thanks

On behalf of the 2010 505 North American Championship organizers I would like to extend several well deserved thank yous.

To the 505ers that travelled to Chicago to make the regatta and the racing possible and competitive, thank you. We hope you enjoyed sailing in Chicago and we hope you will come back next time and bring others with you. We look forward to seeing you at future 505 regattas.

A great deal of thanks is due to the Chicago Yacht Club for supporting this event. 505s are not yet an established fleet at the club, but thanks to the club's support and the showcase for 505s that the event offered, we are on our way. CYC's Special Regatta Chairman Leif Sigmund has been particularly supportive of this event; thanks Leif.

I think I can speak for all of the sailors when thanking the R/C, our PRO Erik Schneider, our Assistant PRO Olof Anderson, our R/C chairwoman Janet Crabb, our fleet representative and 2010 Dennis Surtees Service Award winner Dave Ellis, and the many CYC volunteers for the tremendous and excellent job they did running races. I think the R/C gave us a great 10 race series across a range of conditions. The efforts of this R/C are appreciated and will be remembered by 505 sailors.

Our event Jury Chairman Russ Burke did us a great favor in updating our SI's to follow the ISAF template and in adjudicating our rules situations. Now we need Russ to get a boat and join us!

Chicago Yacht Club's Belmont Station Manager John Cummings and his staff did a great job feeding the ferocious appetite of the 505 fleet. Many thanks to John for his help.

Lynn Walls and her waterfront staff have been working with us for some months and they did a flawless job preparing R/C equipment and volunteers which was a great aid to the organizers.

Thanks to the Chicago Match Race Center for loaning us several RIB's for the duration of the event.

Thanks to Evan Thompson and Matt Clark for driving the Gate Launch and giving their time to the event.

We were able to provide many competitors with housing thanks to Carl Brummel, Mark Teborek and Libby Christy, Mimi Turney, Mel and Owen Thompson, Jen Curtin, and Matt Clark.

This event would not have been possible without the support of our event partners and their support for 505 sailing:

3 Floyds Brewery for keeping everyone hydrated with their delicious brew.
APS for t-shirts and prizes.
Glaser Sails for their support of Saturday's dinner.
Harken for race and event awards.
Layline Photography for capturing everyone in action.
North Sails Gulf Coast for supporting young 505 sailors with a jib.

Finally, a hearty congratulations to Augie Diaz and Parry Barclay for winning the 2010 505 North American Championship.

Great sailing Augie and Parry!