Hutchinson goes Melges

Former Emirates Team NZ tactician to compete at Northeast District Championship

Successful America's Cup tactician Terry Hutchinson has joined a distinguished roster of Melges 24 sailors who have entered the 2007 Melges 24 Northeast District Championship (NEDC) hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club, over October 19-21.

Hutchinson, who had a successful year at the America's Cup in Valencia aboard Emirates Team New Zealand has saddled up with Scott Nixon on Quantum Racing.

19 teams have confirmed their entries and as many as 25 are expected to attend this premiere event. It is the grande finale to the 2007 U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) Northeast District Ranking and will be a mere sample of what is yet to come in 2008 at the North American Championship and the 2009 Worlds.

Besides Hutchinson's appearance, is two-time Melges 24 US National Champion owner and another local Annapolis sailor Neil Sullivan on M-Fatic; 2007 Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron on Gannet with 2004 Melges 24 World Champion crew member Thomas Allin; Alan Field from Los Angeles, California with Eric Shampain and Steve Hunt aboard WTF and current Northeast District Ranking points leader Simon Strauss from New York on Gill.

The 2007 Melges 24 Northeast District Championship is proudly sponsored by Annapolis Performance Sailing (www.apsltd.com), Gale Force Sailing (www.galeforcesailing.com), Iniki.com (www.iniki.com), North Sails (www.onedesign.com) and NOAA (www.noaa.gov). Quantum Sails (www.quantumsails.com) is the official sponsor of the 2007 Melges 24 NEDC Corinthian Competition.