Time for a change

The Melges 24 class will host its world championship this fall in Annapolis, MD, which was the site of the North Americans in 2008. The idea was to use the NA’s as a tune-up event, and then bring in the Worlds a year later with all the bugs worked out. Same host, same time of year. When the NA’s were held last year, one of the problems was the weather. It was cold. A really funny moment during the NA’s was when an Italian video reporter asked competitor Dave Ullman why the NA’s were being held there when it was so cold. Dave, who is from sunny Southern California, and had nothing to do with the hosting of the event, gave the reporter a curious look, took no credit for the decision, but was wondering the same thing.

Apparently the class agreed that an adjustment was needed, as was stated in this press release: “With guidance from the International and United States Melges 24 Class Associations, and consistent feedback from the participants in the 2008 North American Championship, it was a unanimous decision to change the schedule.” While the NA’ s were held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008, the new Worlds schedule is Oct 23-31, 2009, a week earlier than originally scheduled. Is this what U.S. President Barack Obama meant when he said it was time for a change?