The HSS Classic Yacht Symposium & Ball ended up being a great gathering for the eights. It was a great honour for the Finnish 8mR fleet and to HSS to receive such an honourable attendance from the international 8mR fleet. The guest speakers in the Symposium included the IEMA Class President Fred Meyer from Switzerland and the long term Executive Secretary John Lammerts van Bueren from the Netherlands. Fred gave a fascinating speech about the America's Cup and John introduced an interesting way to look at classic yachts through classical music. Also present was the President of the Technical Committee Ron Palm from the USA and David Vieara from Portugal as well as Lars Widen from Sweden, Kjell Myrann from Norway, Alexey Rusetsky from Russia and Jack Gifford from the U.K. The event proved once again what a great fleet we have and how much fun we can have together.

Photos by Esko Kilpi :http://www.flickr.com/photos/27670494@N05/sets/72157625887460674/

The 2011 season will start on 22 January 2011 with the Classic Yacht Symposium and Ball organised by HSS. We have a great pleasure to welcome among the guests Fred Meyer, Ron Palm, John Lammerts van Bueren, and David Vieara from IEMA to the event. At the Symposium Fred Meyer will give us the latest insights from the America's Cup and John Lammerts van Bueren will introduce an interesting new way to look at the Classics. The Symposium will be followed with a Ball at the Helsinki Börs with many friends. An event not to miss!

The sailing season will start again with the traditional RRegatta at Pentala. This year the Worlds will be sailed in Flensburg, Germany together with the 12mRs. We hope to get at least three entries from Finland. In addition to the regular race schdule, we have a pleasure of hosting a Swan Invitational for the Swan45 owners in 6 to 8 August. We have already preliminary entries from Gstaad YC, RORC, Costa Smeralda YC and RBYC . The Regatta will provide an excellent opportunity sail with some of the top sailors of the World.

Looking back to 2010, The fleet was active again after a short breather following Hankö. Timo Saalasti's Sagitta approved to be the fastest again. The loyal friends from Sweden joined us again as well as Alexey Rusetsky's Astra II from Russia, which has become a permanent fixture in our fleet.  Ormio's Lara stayed up on the yard for repairs, while the crew flew off to Toronto to participate in the 8mR Worlds at RCYC on Tore Holm Ranja owned by Guy Jones. The success was not great, but the trip to Canada provided an excellent opportunity to make friends with the North American 8mR sailors and to win the bid for the 2013 8mR Worlds for Helsinki. The Worlds will be hosted by HSS, which became the largest 8mR Club after Syndicate Stelander, Raatikainen and Tallqvist acquired Tore Holm Ilderim from Belgium. Welcome to the fleet!

Have a nice season everyone!

Julia

Kansainvälisen 8mR liiton IEMA:n vuosikokous päätti 21.8.2010 yksimielisesti, että 2013 maailmanmestaruudesta kilpaillaan jälleen Helsingin vesillä. Kilpailun emäntänä toimii Helsingfors Segelsällskap (HSS), josta tuli Ilderimin myötä maailman suurin 8mR-seura. Kisan bid-materiaalina toimi menestyksekkäästi HSS:n kommodori Kim Weckströmin loma-albumi. Vaikea vastustaa! Ensimmäisten kansainvälisten veneiden joukossa kisaan ilmoittautui Fred Meyerin Catina, Neils Louis-Hansenin Anitra ja Rick Selfin Raven. Lisäksi tulemme etsimään charter-veneitä ja miehistöpaikkoja kansainvälisille omistajille, jotka eivät kykene tuomaan omaa venettä Helsinkiin. 2013 kilpailu tarjoaa meille erinomaisen mahdollisuuden rakentaa kansainvälisiä suhteita muihin 8mR-purjehtijoihin.

New York Yacht Clubin Newportissa 2011 isännöimästä kilpailusta päätettiin hankkia sitovat ilmoittautumiset syyskuun aikana, jotta osallistujamäärä saataisiin mahdollisimman pian selville ja tapahtumaa voitaisiin markkinoida eurooppalaisille veneille, jotka eivät osallistuneet Toronton kisaan. 2012 MM-kisat taas järjestää yksi maailman hienoimmista seuroista Royal Yacht Squadron Isle of Wightin Cowesissa. Kilpailu järjestetään juuri olympialaisten alla ja tulee varmasti olemaan suuri menestys.

Onnittelut HSS:lle ja julistan samalla 2013 MM-kisarumban virallisesti alkaneeksi!