Lauderdale YC withdraws from hosting Melges 24 Worlds

St Petersburg Yacht Club makes offer to run November event

The International Melges 24 Class Association today announced that it is looking to reschedule the 2001 Melges 24 World Championship, planned for 8-18 November in Ft Lauderdale. Recent World events have forced the Lauderdale YC into a review of their position and with regret the club has issued the following statement:
"The Lauderdale Yacht Club regrets to announce its withdrawal from the organisation of the Melges 24 World Championship 2001. The effect of current world conditions and the uncertainty of events outside the control of the organisers over the next forty days led to the difficult but responsible decision. Lauderdale Yacht Club thanks the International Melges 24 Class Association, sponsors, committee members, and all Melges 24 sailors for their effort toward producing a high quality regatta and for their understanding of this decision."

The IMCA would like to take this opportunity to thank the LYC and its members for their efforts to date in planning the event. Whilst we regret that the LYC is unable to go forward with the event we fully accept their decision in this matter.

Since that news the following was received by madforsailing from Frank McCarthy Captain - Fleet 31 Tampa Bay

On behalf of the Commodore of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, Patricia Seidenspinner, I would like to inform the IMCA and any interested parties that the St. Petersburg Yacht Club has made it’s facilities and official race management personnel available from Saturday November 10th through Friday November 16th to host the 2001 International Melges 24 World Championships.

We realize with such short notice that hosting an event of this magnitude will be quite challenging. Patricia and the other SPYC management are confident that the Club’s experience and world-class facilities are capable of putting together an event that the class would be proud of.

We have just finished a major expansion of our Sailing Center effectively tripling our floating dock capacity. Storage of boats and trailers before and after the event has been made available at no cost to participants.

No information from the IMCA to date.