USMCA NEWS

NEWS

2007 MELGES 24 SOUTHEAST CIRCUIT RACING CALENDER FIRMED UP

08 DECEMBER 2006 • USMCA Southeast District Governor Reid Collins has been working hard with fleet captains and class members region-wide to developing the 2007 M24 SE Circuit Racing Calendar — sponsored by Quantum Sails. Among the events are some of the best racing to be experienced in the region, such as the St. Pete's NOOD, Charleston, Pensacola, Jacksonville and great prizes are to follow. Plan to be there!

The full line-up is:
February 16-18, 2007 - St Pete NOOD (FL) *
March 23-25, 2007 - SE Inland Championships, Lake Lanier (Atlanta), GA
April 12-15, 2007 - Charleston Race Week (SC)
September 29-30, 2007 - Charleston Harbor Challenge/Gold Cup (SC) *
October 13-14, 2007 - WFORC (Pensacola, FL) *
October 27-28, 2007 - Melbourne Race Week (FL)
November 16-18, 2007 - King's Day Regatta (JAX, FL) *
December 8-9, 2007 - Key Largo Regatta (Key Largo, FL)

The regattas marked with an * are the regattas that will also be included as North American ranked regattas for 2007. I'll first tell you about scoring and then will answer some questions you may.

Reid will be conducting the scoring so please read the following very carefully:

The scoring basically works the same as the North American circuit with a few exceptions. Basically, each regatta is worth 40 points. The first place boat gets 40 points, the second place boat gets 39 points, and so on. No regatta is weighted anymore than any of the others to encourage even participation across the circuit. Each participant's four best regattas are counted toward the SE circuit title. In addition, an available 10 point travel bonus for the upcoming year. A one-time 10 point bonus will be awarded to every participant who travels more than 350 miles from their closest SE circuit venue to a SE circuit event. To provide an example that is fairly real, if you live in TN, you would have to travel more than 350 miles from Atlanta. Atlanta being the closest SE circuit venue to TN. Reid will do his very best to add the bonus for qualifiying participants, but it will be your responsibility to make sure he is aware that you are in order to award this bonus as, obviously, it is hard to keep on top of where everyone lives. An official chart of distances between venues to determine which travels qualify will be published.

Of course there will be ties. Ties are pretty much broken the same as any other sailing scoring, but since not everyone participates in every event, ties will be broken by - (1) best finish, (2) last finish, (3) most current finish. As for the good stuff, our SE circuit sponsor, Scott Nixon of Quantum Sails, will present a brand new jib to the winner of the SE circuit at the King's Day Regatta (JAX) awards ceremony in November 2007.