Alerion Sport 33 unveiled at Annual Factory Rendezvous!

Warren, Rhode Island

On Saturday, March 13th over 160 Alerion Express customers gathered at the factory to not only learn more about sailing their Alerion but also to see the newest Alerion Family member, The Alerion Sport 33.  Launching in June, the AS33 is off to a good start.  With the first 3 hulls sold, the excitement continues to build! 

Pearson Marine Group Employees, participating vendors and others taught seminars at this event , performed boat building demonstrations while mixing it up with the press and our state Senator!  This was a great event for everyone to get together and think about the good sailing days that are just a few weeks away.

After eating breakfast, all participants could choose from a list of seminars to attend.  Alerion 28 Owner and sailing guru, Ralf Morgan impressed his audience with all of his sailing knowledge and know how.  Ben Hall shared about the finer points of tuning a rig while Mastervolt talked about our latest project; The lithium Ion powered AE33. Customer Service covered everything you should know about servicing your boat and Cay electronics talked about  the latest in marine electronics.  Enjoy the following pictures!

Above: Alerion Sport 33 Deck preshow!      Below: Unveiling ceremony	Above: Alerion Sport 33 Deck!         Below: AE28's always draw a crowd..	Above: Alerion Sport 33 Unveiling!             Below: Ben Hall talks rig tuning.

Irish Boat Shop hosts 2nd Annual

Alerion Express Regatta and Owners Rendezvous

Harbor Springs, Michigan

On August 16th, 2009, for the second year in a row Irish Boat Shop hosted an Alerion Express Regatta and Owner’s Rendezvous.  This event consisted of a chalk talk with Dave Irish and a series of 3 races on Little Traverse Bay.  Once the crews were off the water, they enjoyed cocktails, hours de vours, dinner and an awards ceremony at Irish Boat Shop. 

At the awards ceremony, the top 3 finishers received burgees for their respective places. The winner of the regatta receives a burgee along with their name on the Alerion 28 half-model plaque at Irish Boat Shop.  This year 3rd place went to the boat “Mairsie” owned and skippered by Mr. Polk, 2nd place went to “Glory” owned by Mr.Lehmann and skippered by Mr. Nilstoft. The winning boat was “Interlude” owned by Mr. Austin and skippered by Mr. Sellers.

This event was open to all Alerion Express 28 owners.  Locally this is a popular one-design model with eight of these boats on the water in Harbor Springs. We do this for the owners to commiserate and compete amongst one another. These boats are designed to be easy to rig and sail, they only require a crew of two to three people. 

Alerion Express 28

'Nancy Anne'

Owner Pat Nowak was recently

featured in West Michigan Business

for his creation of Nancy Anne Charters

Please Click HERE to read the full article.

Alerion Express 2009 Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous

Alerion Express 28 owners who share a passion for sailing the “prettiest girl at the dance” get together annually for some casual racing and socializing. This year’s rendezvous on Saturday, June 13th was hosted by Annapolis Yacht Sales and Chalk Point Marine.

Boaters on the West River saw five Alerions slowly sailing around the marks in less than 5 knots of wind. Casey Brennan on Espresso, with Paul Rohrkemper as crew, won the drifting match in just over 2 hours.  Bob Spann and wife, Beth Whitely on Resilient, Dave Cochran and crew Bill Marras on Ergo,  David and Cate Fagan on Orion and Mike Chernesky on Summer Solstice made up the balance of the fleet. Given the conditions, only one race was sailed.

Sailing was followed by refreshments under the shade of the oaks at Chalk Point. Race Chairman Bob Spann presented Casey with the perpetual trophy awarded annually to the rendezvous regatta winner. Thanks to Garth Hichens and his crew at Annapolis Yacht Sales, there were prizes for every participant. If you are interested in learning more about the Chesapeake Bay Alerion Fleet, go to www.chesapeakealerion.org.

Sailing Magazine, May 2007

A sweet mix of simplicity and sailability make this a desirable daysailer
By John Kretschmer

I have had the privilege of sailing a wide array of boats for SAILING Magazine Boat Test. From nimble dinghies and daysailers, to custom-built rocketships and world cruisers, to productions boats of every ilk, I have conducted more than 100 boat tests during the past 18 years. And like Lothario, I find something to admire in just about every boat I sail. I understand that I am paid to critically review boats for the benefits of our readers, to point out the good, the not so good and occasionally the bad, but you must be driven by a profound respect of sailing and sailboats to bring the proper perspective to the job. And while sailing any new boat is intriguing, every now and then I am simply blown away by the combination of form, function and romance that only a sailboat can define. Such was the case with the new Alerion Express 33.

It was a docile February morning as we slipped our lines at Miami' s Bayside Marina the day after the boat show. Our plan was to ease into the Intracoastal Waterway and head south toward Biscayne Bay. This would provide photographer Walter Cooper with a nice backdrop, the glass menagerie of high rises that shadow the waterway, before the real test sailing would begin in the bay.

The wind was light and I suspected we might have to power to negotiate the narrow channel and to get enough way on to fill the sails for the photos. Not so. No sooner had we cleared the marina markers, than we quieted the diesel and rounded up onto the light southeasterly breeze. The full-roach main went up without a hitch thanks to the electric winch and the lack of a backstay. We jibed, gaining way promptly, and then unfurled the small fractional jib controlled by a self-vanging Hoyt jib boom.

Shifting from a close reach to a beat and back again, we happily negotiated the narrow, twisting channel. The only problem was that we were going too fast, speeding past our photo backdrop. No problem, hauling in the main we promptly tacked. This maneuver required a simple turn of the wheel and not much more of the waterway than the Express 33's LOA. I doubt one of the obnoxious powerboats crowding the channel with us could have turned any quicker. It took a few seconds to trim up the self-tending sails and then we accelerated north.

The details
The Alerion Express 33 is the latest model from the crew at Pearson Composites. From a design perspective, the 33 is a scaled-down version of the handsome Alerion 38. From a practical perspective, the Express 33 blends the daysailing mindset of the popular Alerion 28 with the interior elbowroom of the 38. This sweet mix of simplicity and accommodation makes the 33 perfect for a weekend escape. Of course the Express 33, with its ease of handling ethos is also ideal for an hour's sail after work. And I confess, although the interior is pared down, I'd be rather content cruising for a week, greedily spending hours at the helm of this exquisite sailboat.

The new Alerion Express 33 is all about sailing, pure sailing, there is no secret agenda. When you feel the need for an attitude adjustment just hop aboard, slip the lines and get underway.

The sleek hull shape combines low freeboard, just the right touch of sheer and a slightly raked bow entry. The short cabin trunk, with two oval ports on each side, blends naturally into the linear flow of the boat. The term "nice lines" fits the Alerion 33 like a sailing glove. Below the water there is not much wetted surface. The keel section has an integral bulb to keep the center of gravity low. The keel is a one-piece lead casting alloyed with antimony for hardness, and externally fastened to a molded keel stub. The spade rudder blade has an elliptical profile and is a composite construction with a stainless steel stock.
The Alerion Express 33 is built by Pearson Composites, employing its patented SCRIMP infusion molding process. This is the company that also builds J/Boats, and there are similarities between Js and the Alerions. The composite hull consists of fiberglass with both biaxial and unidirectional E-glass fibers, end grain balsa as a core, and vinyl-ester resin as the active agent. The hull and deck are joined on a flange and bonded with Plexus MA 550. The joint is covered by a full-length teak toerail. Bulkheads are tabbed to the hull and deck. The elegant appearance might suggest that the Alerion Express 33 is on the fragile side. Not so, this winsome boat is a solidly built yacht.

On deck
With a separate helm station in the cockpit the Alerion Express 33 is designed for ease of handling and can be singlehanded without a lot fuss. You won't need to round up a crew when you go sailing. The electric sheet winches, such as they are, and the mainsheet controls are perched on coamings just forward of the helm. You can sail quite efficiently without shifting from the comfortable perch behind the wheel. In fact, as we zipped about the waterway the crew forward of the binnacle simply lounged about as the helmsman steered and trimmed.

It takes a moment to get used to the utterly clean deck layout. The standard boat comes without stanchions and lifelines, and although you can order them as options, they would alter the sleek profile. And really, there's not much reason to leave the cockpit while underway. Plus the absence of lifelines makes it much easier to dock the boat when sailing alone.

Our test boat, hull No. 1, was fitted with optional teak decks. And yes, they are expensive, a $22,000-plus add-on, but they sure glistened and provided secure footing..

All new 33s will have a carbon mast by Hall Spars along with an aluminum boom. The standing rigging is continuous rod. As noted earlier the fractionally rigged 33 is set up without a backstay. This allows for a full-roach, almost catamaranlike main, and it really powers the boat. Our test boat was fitted with a Harken mainsheet traveler and roller furling headsail system.

Down below
The interior of the 33 is spartan by design but tastefully appointed just the same. The practical mix of mica and solid teak trim gives the boat a Down East feel. The plan is basic. There is a V-berth double cabin forward with an enclosed head just aft. The main cabin includes settees port and starboard with shelves behind. Ventilation is provided by a deck hatch forward and opening stainless steel portlights. The galley is tucked along the main bulkhead and includes a small single burner stove, a single sink and 12- volt refrigeration compartment. Manual water pumps are standard. I like the overall simplicity of the systems, the Alerion 33 is built for sailing, not for sitting below dockside.

There is good access to the 20-horsepower Yanmar diesel with a saildrive. A two-bladed folding prop is standard. The fuel tank holds 18 gallons, which is probably about a year's worth of fuel. The electrical system includes an isolated starting battery and a single house battery. The panel is behind the port side settee.

Under sail
I was reluctant to give up the helm and yield the boat to writers from other magazines, who were so anxious to test the new Alerion Express 33 they were buzzing around us like vultures in their photo boats. I lingered and put the boat through a series of jibes and tacks, we were showing off as most of the new sailboats heading out of the marina were still under power. Then the wind perked up a bit, to around 10 knots true, and we took one last long tack south.
Trimming for maximum speed on a close reach we touched 7 knots, then 7.5. The ride was silky smooth. There was just a slight heel. With each puff you could feel the acceleration in the seat of your pants and on the rudder, translated through the finely tuned Edson steering system. The Alerion Express 33 talks to you, and if you listen the message comes through loud and clear, "It's all about sailing."

Cruising World,
Mark Pillsbury
January 07’

When the Alerion Express 28 made its debut, it created the genre of the modern, elegant daysailer, designed to be easily rigged, simple to sail, and a breeze to put away at day's end. Well, now her big sister, the Alerion Express 38, is ready to steal a few hearts. The boat is built by Pearson Composites, in Warren, Rhode Island, and was designed by the late Carl Schumacher and the builder's design group.

On an early fall day on the Chesapeake, the 38 skipped right along close hauled at 5.7 knots in 8 knots of breeze and pushed close to 6 knots cracked off on a reach. Under power with the 40-horsepower Yanmar diesel and saildrive, top speed was about 8 knots. And the boat was nimble, easily spinning circles in less than its own length.

As with the Express 28, a modern underbody is disguised by traditional lines topsides that include a low coachroof, a large cockpit, a deck free of lifelines, and bow and stern pulpits. A carbon-fiber mast is rigged with a big, high-aspect main, and a small, self-tending working jib is set on a roller furler and Hoyt Jib Boom, which keeps it working efficiently when off the wind. Both sails are 3DLs from North
Related Resources

Belowdecks, there's a V-berth, settees, a table, a head, and a galley under 5-foot-8-inch headroom. It's tight for crewmembers of above-average height, but chances are they'll want to be on deck enjoying the day and the sail this sloop serves up.

Cruising World,
Jeremy McGeary
September 07’

When Nat Herreshoff designed his Alerion, which was destined to become his favorite personal boat, few thought of sailing for pleasure as anything other than a daytime occupation. For those of similar mind today, the Alerion Express 33, envisioned by Garry Hoyt and designed and built by Pearson Composites, should have considerable appeal.

To provide satisfying performance in light air without demanding great effort from a solo sailor, the boat has a large, roachy mainsail and a relatively small self-tacking jib set on the patented Hoyt Jib Boom. The roomy cockpit allows half a dozen passengers to enjoy the ride.
True to the Herreshoff idea, the Alerion Express has no lifelines (although they can be ordered) and in case the mood or weather encourages it, simple but elegant appointments below accommodate overnighting.

For several years, Pearson Composites has been developing a line of boats that have two main purposes: to be a pleasure to sail and a pleasure to gaze upon. Named and loosely styled after Captain Nat Herreshoff's favorite personal boat, Alerion series also embraces a tenet strongly expressed by L. Francis Herreshoff in that their purpose does not require that anyone spend a night at sea in them, they are, after all, daysailers.

At the Miami Strictly Sail show last February, Hoyt introduced the Alerion Express 33, the fourth in the series and right on target for his objectives. It's beautiful to behold, both from aboard and afar, and it sails like the dream. It's not inexpensive, but at today's real-estate prices, it runs out far less ($235,000) than a bungalow with a water view.

A glance at the spec sheet reveals the secret to the boat's sailing potential. It's more slender by nearly 2 feet than modern cruising boats the same length; it's low to the water, which keeps the sail plan low; and it has a deep enough keel to give real meaning to its 45-percent ballast ratio. On the water, it behaves accordingly.

Of course a daysailer in the purest sense really needs for amenities only a cockpit and perhaps a cuddy wherein to stow loose gear and a picnic hamper. Still, if without compromising its primary purpose it can accommodate a small crew for a night in a magical anchorage, so much the better. And if that means no standing headroom below, so be it—plenty of room for that on deck or in the companionway with the hatch open.

Just in case a fine weekend lures you into sailing beyond the bounds of your home harbor, the Alerion Express 33 has a small Isotherm DI 40 DC refrigerator to keep the beverages and cold cuts cool and a single-burner Kenyon KISS butane stove on which to heat up a can of soup or water for the morning coffee.

Forward of the little galley, a toilet, concealed under a hinged teak bench, faces a varnished vanity. This area and the V-berth can be shut off from the saloon by closing the cabin door and a panel above the fridge.

The decor is, appropriately, "Herreshoff," with white panels offset by teak trim varnished to a deep luster and navy-blue upholstery—a timeless combination that creates a relaxing atmosphere with a hint of luxury. Anyone nostalgic for the warm cocoon feeling so markedly absent from most of today's cruising boats will find solace here.

Cozy as the interior is, the exterior is where you expect to be most of the time. The cockpit is set up for singlehanding—this is a boat that lies in a slip or on a mooring awaiting its master's whim. Between the companionway and the command station, a pair of lavishly cushioned benches accommodate passengers, seated or supine.

All the running lines are trimmed from the helm—a 36-inch wheel that's in easy reach of the helmsman's preferred perch on a coaming—and an electric winch provides the muscle where needed. The full-battened mainsail has lots of roach to harness the steadier wind aloft unimpeded by a backstay—the tall carbon-fiber mast is engineered to stand up without one. Lazy jacks and single-line reefing help tame the sail should you stay out too
long when the sea breeze builds up on an incoming tide.

The mainsail is the boat's driving force, but it gets a measurable boost from the self-tacking jib which, set on Hoyt's patented jib boom, is as tweakable as the mainsail: The sheet provides macro trim, the "flattener," similar to the outhaul on a roller-furling main, controls draft, and the boom prevents the leech from twisting off as the sheet is eased. A pair of gas springs mounted under the foredeck oppose the sheet, pushing the boom out as the sheet is eased, opening the sheeting angle. (Want to clear the foredeck for anchoring action? Let the boom push itself out to starboard.)

A little wind goes a long way on the AE 33, and in under 10 knots it topped 6.5 knots upwind. Off the wind, the big main pushed it at a lively pace. No gentle sailor will miss the clutter and flutter of a spinnaker.While a daysailer needs auxiliary power only to take it to where the wind is, the 20-horsepower diesel will do that at hull speed (if a little noisily), ensuring, too that this boat will get you home with dispatch after you've squeezed the very last out of a dying breeze.

Both the hull and deck are infusion molded by Pearson Composites, using the SCRIMP system, giving the Alerion Express 33 heirloom potential serving a variety of sailors, among them those whose cruising days are done, or are yet to be, or those who simply like to sail a simple boat.

SUCCESSFUL ALERIONFEST

Hi Sailors:

Twelve of the twenty Bay Area Alerions were represented at this year's fest at Richmond Yacht Club, October 17-19.  Those attending some or all of the events included:

Festivities began Friday afternoon with the arrival of boats from Sausalito and Belvedere.  After some adult beverages and amazing sea stories, a great dinner in our own private dining room was followed by Kame Richard's always excellent slide show of San Francisco Bay tides and currents.  Thanks to Kame for supporting our fleet.

Saturday's activities began leisurely about 1030 with a huge and delicious spread of lox & bagels, fruits, home baked goodies etc. provided by Michael and Patti Land. 

This was followed by a great presentation by Ralf Morgan about how to sail the Alerion for maximum performance whether racing or cruising.  Ralf is definitely the leading authority on the subject as he and Deb won every race in this season's championship series, and all by convincing margins. Ralf described in detail the properties and characteristics of the Dacron sailcloth and how it is affected by adjustments to backstay, traveler, mainsheet, vang, cunningham,  shroud tension, jib boom position etc., in a wide range of wind conditions.  As Ralf pointed out, these boats are easy to sail casually, but obtaining maximum performance requires a lot more attention to detail. 

After lunch four boats participated in a day sail from RYC south toward the circle and some also sailed up around Red Rock, mainly for the purpose of demonstrating the adjustments described in the morning chalk talk.  The definite highlight of this epic voyage was seeing Ralf leaping from boat to boat in breezy conditions to put his theories into practice on the various boats.

After another session of beverages and even more amazing sea stories, we all enjoyed a fabulous potluck dinner arranged by the two Debs.

Sunday began bright and early with a great breakfast at the nearby All's Faire restaurant overlooking Brickyard Cove Marina.  Just outside the restaurant were two new Alerions which had just been delivered to Passage Yachts, the local dealer.  (Those two are for sale, and one of Ralf's guests at the fest was inquiring about any used ones for sale.)  Breakfast was accompanied by serious political discussions and yet even more amazing sea stories.  However, without question the singular  highlight of the event was Ralf's gracious gesture of not only buying Kirk's breakfast, but loaning him $20 so Kirk would have gas money for the trip home in his Aston Martin.

After breakfast some boats departed, while others participated in an on-the-water demonstration of spinnakers - Kirk's asymmetrical on Dream and Ralf and Deb's symmetrical on Ditzy.

All in all a great success and we're looking forward to an even better event next year.

Many thanks to our host, the Richmond Yacht Club, which as always lived up to it's motto - "This Place was Built for Fun".  Also many thanks to the two Debs, Ralf, and Michael Land for taking charge and making this event happen.  Hope to see everyone next year if not sooner, with more sailors and more boats.

THE NEW ALERION EXPRESS 33 GOES TO THE HEAD OF THE FLEET
by Richard Barker, South Wharf office

The Alerion Express line grows again this year with the addition of the Alerion Express 33. This new yacht remains true to the Alerion Express heritage of classic lines and exceptional performance. Outclassing the competition with the addition of a carbon fiber spar and large roach mainsail with no backstay as well as the innovative Hoyt jib boom gives the Alerion Express 33 blistering speed with incredible ease of handling unseen in any of the competitors boats. This was demonstrated recently when we took a new - straight from the factory - boat to the race course. While the AE33 is not specifically designed to race we felt that the only way to test her performance and handling was to take her out to the race course and see what she could do.

The race was the annual Around Jamestown Island Race on Labor Day weekend. This regatta traditionally attracts the best boats in Rhode Islands' Narragansett Bay for a season finale. Our class attracted a number of well-sailed much larger fully crewed boats, my daughter Katie and I alone sailed the AE33.

The race started in a light northerly and we managed a good start with our nose out in clear air. We were able to hold our pointing ability and actually began to move out and ahead of our competition. The fleet was edging towards the east side of the bay which traditionally is not the way to go in these around the island races, so we elected to breakoff and sail to the west. That is when mother nature shut the wind off starting in the west and moving to the east, leaving us in a less than advantageous position.

We sat for about a half hour waiting for the wind to arrive. When it did, it came in from aft equally across the fleet at about 4 to 5 knots. We were sailing again and to my pleasure we started to pick off boats one at a time until only three boats were ahead of us in our class, one we owed time to.

As we reached the North end of the island the wind continued to build giving us a 15 to 18 knot 8 mile up wind leg to the south end of the island. The boat sailed beautifully with my daughter lounging on the comfortably cushioned cockpit seats as we closed the gap on the leaders all with crew on the rail. We turned the corner at Beavertail Light on the islands' south end and cracked off the sheets sailing downwind with a Swan 41 in front of us that we had to beat both across the line and on corrected time. The huge roached main pushed us at great speed with the Hoyt boom effortlessly holding out the jib wing on wing as we sailed by the fully crewed Swan.

My daughter was now driving and I was doing the lounging as well as coaching her as she passed the larger yacht. We opened up our lead on them and eventually beat them on corrected time as well finishing second in class missing the win by seconds.

The Alerion Express brochure says it all when it states "The AE33 will capture you at the helm with unmatched balance, ease of use and scintillating performance. The fully-roached main, carbon fiber mast and self tacking jib boom make the AE33 an elegant performer on all points of sail while the electric powered sail controls allow you to easily adjust to all wind conditions.

The AE33 is the perfect yacht for those who do not want to wait for crew or conditions to savor a day, weekend, or even an hour on the water. The easy set up and put away of this yacht not only allows you to spend more time sailing and doing other things you love, but also reminds you of the way sailing should be."

...
An Alerion Express 38 recently won the Vineyard Cup Regatta (July 7&8) competing against a fleet of over 30 yachts. This two race contest was particularly interesting since a number of direct competitors to the Alerion were present. In every case, with a minimum crew, the Alerion Express 38 outsailed the competition, boat for boat by wide margins. For example, in race #2, a 15 mile course conducted in brisk winds ranging from 15 to 20 knots, the AE 38 defeated the Hinckley 42 by 5 minutes. Against the Friendship 40 the Alerion won by 8 minutes, and against the Morris 36 the Alerion margin of victory was a whopping 17 minutes!

This open regatta in fair wind conditions, definitively established the sailing superiority of the Alerion Express 38 versus the competition, and provides a ringing endorsement for the aerodynamic efficiency of the distinctive full roached mainsail and the self vanging Hoyt Jib Boom. And for icing on the cake, the Alerion Express 38 is priced substantially below all these yachts, while remaining "the prettiest girl at the dance."

...
Both the AE 38 and the new AE 33 recently competed in the annual FIGAWI Regatta that departs from Hyannis, MA and heads for Nantucket island, roughly 20 miles offshore. Nearly 200 yachts competed in ideal sunny conditions with a steady breeze that ranged from 10 to 14 knots. The fleet was divided into classes by PHRF ratings with staggered starts every 5 minutes and despite some irrationally onerous ratings, both Alerions performed with distinction, eventually passing all the boats of similar size. After an initial 3 mile windward leg, the course was a beam reach for 17 miles, and the combination of the fully roached mega mainsail and the self vanging Hoyt Jib Boom really performed. Operating with 2 person crews, both the AE 33 and the AE 38 were supremely simple and pleasurable to sail. As both boats marched steadily through the fleet there was discernible consternation from competing yachts with 6 to 8 person crews draped over their rails. But the real triumph came at the dock in Nantucket where the Alerions elicited wide admiration for their signature beauty.

ALERION EXPRESS 38 NEWS

...
The award for the most miles sailed on the Alerion Express 38 almost certainly belongs to John Merrill on board “Zealot”. (AE 38 #4)  After competing in the New York Yacht Club’s Spring Regatta, John sailed his boat from Newport to his summer home on Squirrel Island, Maine.  His wife Carol reports that he sailed single handed almost every day and returned each time exhilarated by the boat’s performance.  The highlight of John’s racing season came in mid July when he steered “Zealot” to victory in the 2 day Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Regatta, leading a 14 boat fleet and defeating in the process a formidable competitor who was previously unbeaten in that series. 

John then sailed “Zealot” back to Newport for winter storage and he is planning to enter again in this year’s Spring Regatta at the NYYC—this time competing in the non-spinnaker fleet under IRC. This fleet always includes some first class yachts, so it will be an interesting measure of how the AE 38 competes.

...
A couple of years back a few of our AE28 owners from the San Francisco Yacht Club inquired about setting up a fleet of Alerion Express 28’s in the San Francisco Bay area.  We are happy to report that there are now 17 boats in that fleet that enjoy the racing and camaraderie.  Subsequently, a group from the Devon Yacht Club in Easthampton, NY purchased AE 28’s, which now number 14, and they too are enjoying One Design racing.  We have a number of AE 28 owners in the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake, and all over New England who are forming fleets.   The special One Design rules requiring all crew to remain in the cockpit and limiting sails to two, has proven very successful in stimulating new interest in a more civilized kind of racing—all enhanced by the other rule prohibiting protests.  We welcome inquiries on One Design Class participation in your area.