March 2018 e-Starlights

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Honoring the Past, Leading the Future

President's Message

First I want to thank you all for your electing me as your new president.

2017 was an exciting year for the Star Class.

The Class organized very successful continental championships in Europe, North America and South America. The pinnacle events were the world championship in Denmark and the SSL finals in Nassau. Congratulations to all the winners, foremost our World Champions Eivind Melleby/Josh Revkin and Paul Goodison/Frithjof Kleen for winning the SSL finals. The LOG summarizes the highlights of the last season and the 2018 edition will be out soon!

As officers terms ended 2017 we also had changes in the leadership of the Class. We have to thank Lars Grael as former President for his big efforts on behalf of the class, Rick Burgess as longtime chairman of the IGC and of course Dierk Thomsen, who served the class for 50 (!) years in all officer positions including being two times Int. President and last as our Commodore.

Thank you to all Class officers and the big group of volunteers e.g. in the technical, race management and judiciary areas.

Finally we have to thank our Executive Director Jon VanderMolen, and the crew of our Central Office Jerelyn Biehl and Sherri Campbell, who did a great work moving our office to San Diego, creating the new website, reorganizing membership management and much more.

In the coming years we will organize more outstanding championships like the 2018 Worlds in Oxford/USA, the 2019 Worlds in Porto Cervo/Italy and Silver/Blue Star events in premier sailing locations all over the world. For our regattas we will have high-quality reporting by improved media-management.

For the future we will strengthen our cooperation with Star Sailors League and combine more ISCYRA and SSL events. We will also improve our communication program and keep you informed by our new website , E-Starlights, personal emails, the LOG and social media like facebook, twitter & Instagram.

Work on building our fleets and Districts is essential- they are the foundation of our Class. Boat loaner programs in North/South America and Europe will attract new sailors in the Star. We will promote and encourage more young sailors through a youth program.

The Star Class Legacy Foundation, established and led by Mr. Larry Whipple, will allow ISCYRA to finance special projects and investments.

We have an excellent group of officers including our new Vice Presidents Paul Cayard and Tom Lofsted and Continental Vice Presidents Lars Grael, Diego Negri and Dave Caesar.Tom Londrigan is the newly appointed chairman of the IGC. Further there are even more officers -all with strong names - managing the class. It is a pleasure to work with this group of outstanding sailors.

Today we can proudly claim that the Star Class is strong again and the premier one design keelboat in the world. The Star is the Class that combines successfully international competition and fleet /club racing - great comradeship, long time tradition, modern technique and athletic sailing.

See you soon on the race course!

Good sailing

Hubert Merkelbach

2018 Dues

The new database is up and running.

Star Class members - click here and follow the instructions for Returning Star Class Members. As this is a new database, you will need to first send yourself a new password, then access the database, renew/pay your dues and update your profile.
For NEW members - click here and follow the instructions
Check Membership through this link

Dues are:

Active & Isolated Active: $90
Associate & Isolated Associate: $35
Junior Active (20-30 or under 20 & skippering): $45
Junior Member (under 20): $22.50

Website

Registration

Winter Series Wrap-up

View interviews, videos & photos from all the Winter Series events
Full Results of all the Winter Series events

European Winter Series

Event #4 - YC Monaco - 9-11 March
Event #5 - YC Sanremo - 13-15 April

Boat Loaner Program

Stars belong on the water – in the hands of enthusiastic sailors no matter the age.

That statement leads to probably the most unknown facet of Star sailing worldwide: the Star Boat Loaner Program.

The basic premise of this program is simple: a boat owner donates a Star to the Class Association and gets a donor letter to be used for tax deduction. That simple? YES – if you are in the USA you can benefit from an IRS 501.c.3. Last year at the end of the Bacardi Cup I (Arnd Glunde) donated my boat 7836 to the Star Class and this year I will find out if the donation is tax deductible in Germany as well.
Cornerstones of the program in the US are:

Donated boats must be in race ready condition with a road worthy trailer
Must be a demand from applicants (sailors) in that region
Sailors applying must supply a CV and references
Sailors must sail fleet events and championships in the region
Sailors must maintain the boat and pay insurance for the time using the boat.

To establish a European program we need assistance to:

Approach coaches within clubs, country organizations to identify suitable applicants to sail loaner boats
Identify boat owners willing to charter their boats for specific events without ultimately donating their boat.

The Boat Loaner Program is in full swing in North America and we want to extend to Europe.

North American contact: John Chiarella
European contact: Arnd Glunde
Donate a boat for the program or recommend the program to someone new wanting to sail the Star. Details here.

Vintage Gold Cup wins US Sailing One Design Award

Don Parfet and Jon VanderMolen and the Vintage Gold Cup were recognized as the US Sailing National One Design Creativity Award winner for 2017. The award recognizes outstanding individual and contribution in the year’s most innovative one-design event of national or international significance. More Info here

Sune Carlsson Boatyard

Leif Carlsson and team will rev up production of Star boats in Sweden with the P2 mould and high tech design engineering from Marc Pickel. Stay tuned for more information!

2018 Upcoming Silver & Gold Events
click on the logo for more information

2019 Fixtures List
Approved Events for your calendar
World Championship - June 13-23, Porto Cervo, ITA
European Championship - May 4-11, Riva, Garda, ITA
Eastern Hemisphere - September 1-7, Attersee, AUT

Meet the Star Class Office
Most of you have been in contact with the Star Class office - either by email or phone. Now you can put some faces to the names/voices.

SHERRI CAMPBELL (left): Sherri & husband Bill moved to San Diego with the America's Cup and raised their 2 sons Andrew and Michael sailing out of SDYC. Active sailors, Sherri continues to race on a winning J120 with Bill as tactician. Most Star sailors may recognize her son Andrew who was actively racing Stars on the circuit after representing the USA in the Laser in the 2012 Olympics. Son Michael currently works in Washington DC in press & media. Sherri handles the finances, regatta registrations and membership for the Star Class.

JERELYN BIEHL (right): Jerelyn is a native San Diegan, growing up in a sailing family. She also has 2 boys; Graham a 2x 470 Olympian and Cameron who is a high performance sailor in 29ers, foiling kites and offshore racing. Jerelyn formerly raced internationally but now focuses on local events. Jerelyn handles the LOG, website, racing calendars and events.

2812 Canon Street. San Diego. CA. USA 92016
office@starclass.org
office: +1 619.222.0252
fax: +1.619.222.0528