If there's a better place for 505 sailing than Bermuda, it isn't better by much. With wind, warm turquoise water, and incredible vistas, not many venues come close to the tiny island nation for exhilarating sailing.

Hasso Plattner, a resident of Bermuda, has taken to the 505 after competing at the world championship last year in Germany, his home country. "You can't buy it here" comments Plattner about the 505 in the video filmed during the championship, "you have to sail it". Plattner is obviously comparing dinghy sailing to his other yacht racing, notably maxi-boats crewed by full-time professionals. However, Plattner's enthusiasm for 505 racing is building, as is the number of boats he owns and makes available to other sailors. Hasso recently hosted a 10-day training and racing clinic in 505's in his beloved Bermuda, even offering to help import boats from the US.

A few East Coast teams took him up on the offer, and enjoyed some spectacular sailing, including the "505 Mid-Ocean Regatta" which was competed last Tuesday in a romping 20-25 knot northerly. Six teams competed this year, in what may prove to be an annual event. Those teams were comprised of 505 World and North American Champions, and Olympians, including Olympic Silver Medalist Lenka Smidova. With Plattner providing the staffing to run the event, including Roo Stevenson, Morgan Larson, and the "Mayor" of Bermuda Gel Ashby, tuning and racing sessions ran like clockwork. In the end, Platner, sailing with Peter Alarie, captured the inaugural event with consistent sailing and good boatspeed. The rest of us offered lots of excuses as to why

Many thanks to Team Morning Glory for a memorable event, and for demonstrating that passion is what truly matters when climbing the learning curve - well that and maybe a little money.

Jesse Falsone

04/14/05