Zack Marks has been doing some testing with the A-sail this summer and has provided the below video. He is going to put together a report about sailing with this rig, so stay tuned.
Aaron Ross
Adam Wolnikowski
Alexis Preel
Andrew Forman
Blaine Pedlow
Bruce Edwards
Chris Pittack
Christian Manchester
Clark Hayes
Craig Thompson
Curtis Hartmann
David Burchfiel
David Kirkpatrick
Duane Delfosse
Dustin Romey
Eric Anderson
Fred Grimm
Howie Hamlin
Ian O'Leary
JB Turney
Jason Breeden
Jeff Miller
Jimmy Franzone
Keith Longson
Matt Merchant
Matthew Barry
Matthew Breton
Mike Holt
Mike Martin
Mike Zani
Paul Kueffner
Paul Kurr
Peter Scott
Reeve Dunne
Rob Waterman
Robert Woelfel II
Ryan Nelson
Sol Marini
Ted Conrads
Ted and Amie Huebner
Tim Murphy
Boats/RiggingFrom the EditorUncategorizedWhat the Winners Used
“The Benjamin 505”
American SectionInterviewThe 505castVideo
The 505cast, Episode 1
Regatta ReportsResultsVideo
Newport Fleet Regatta – 2020
© 2026 505 Class - American Section.
| Listing Category | Description | Typical Price Point (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre- 1980’s boat of uncared or partially cored construction. Typically polyester or vinyl ester resin and outdated rigging. Suitable for day sailing, beach sailing, or an occasional local race or Portsmouth Yardstick regatta. | $0 - $2,000 |
| 2 | 1980’s or newer boat of fully cored hull construction. Could be competitive at the local and regional level in the right hands. Usually has some major issue preventing the boat from being truly completive such as being significantly over the minimum weight. May require significant rigging work to get racing but not worth duping too much money into. | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| 3 | 1980’s or newer boat of epoxy resin and fully cored construction. Some older and well-cared-for Lindsays and Hamlins could also be considered a Category 3 boat. Could be competitive at the local, regional, and national level in the right hands. Typically requires some significant amount of rigging work to be competitive at the regional and national level. May not have the latest mast, foils, or sails which would set it apart from a Category 4 boat. | $5,000 - $9,000 |
| 4 | 1990’s or newer boat of epoxy resin and fully cored construction. Some older and well-cared-for Waterats could also be considered a Category 4 boat. Ready to race at the regional or national level with only minor rigging work or upgrades. Could be competitive at a Worlds with some work and in the right hands. Typically includes modern high-aspect ration foils, newer racing sails, and all the latest systems. | $9,000 - $15,000 |
| 5 | 2000’s or newer boat of epoxy resin and fully cored construction. Typically carbon fiber construction. Turn-key and ready to race at the national or international level. Includes modern high-aspect ration foils, newer racing sails, and all the latest systems. | $15,000+ |
You may have heard that 505’s are some of the most well-made dinghy’s around. Many 505’s can stay competitive for an indefinite period of time when well cared for. Some older 505’s were not built as well, and may not be worth spending time and money on to get back on the race course. This page is organized in a way to help you determine which boat is right for your own 505 sailing goals. Visit the list of builders for more information on all the various 505 builders throughout the years. Also, hull numbers are sequential, and are issued upon initial measurement after the boat is built. The minimum weight of a 505 (weighed with all equipment required for racing except sails) is 127.4kg or 280.9 pounds. Many boats have lead corrector weights (50% located at front of CB trunk, 50% located at rear of CB trunk) to bring the boat up to this minimum weight.
The used boat ads on this page are organized based on the following classification scheme:
| Listing Category | Description | Typical Price Point (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre- 1980’s boat of uncared or partially cored construction. Typically polyester or vinyl ester resin and outdated rigging. Suitable for day sailing, beach sailing, or an occasional local race or Portsmouth Yardstick regatta. | $0 - $2,000 |
| 2 | 1980’s or newer boat of fully cored hull construction. Could be competitive at the local and regional level in the right hands. Usually has some major issue preventing the boat from being truly completive such as being significantly over the minimum weight. May require significant rigging work to get racing but not worth duping too much money into. | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| 3 | 1980’s or newer boat of epoxy resin and fully cored construction. Some older and well-cared-for Lindsays and Hamlins could also be considered a Category 3 boat. Could be competitive at the local, regional, and national level in the right hands. Typically requires some significant amount of rigging work to be competitive at the regional and national level. May not have the latest mast, foils, or sails which would set it apart from a Category 4 boat. | $5,000 - $9,000 |
| 4 | 1990’s or newer boat of epoxy resin and fully cored construction. Some older and well-cared-for Waterats could also be considered a Category 4 boat. Ready to race at the regional or national level with only minor rigging work or upgrades. Could be competitive at a Worlds with some work and in the right hands. Typically includes modern high-aspect ration foils, newer racing sails, and all the latest systems. | $9,000 - $15,000 |
| 5 | 2000’s or newer boat of epoxy resin and fully cored construction. Typically carbon fiber construction. Turn-key and ready to race at the national or international level. Includes modern high-aspect ration foils, newer racing sails, and all the latest systems. | $15,000+ |
Nominated by: Mike Martin and Ryan Cox Presented by: Dennis Surtees
Most of the time when we think about an award for service to a class we think about class officers or people that have volunteered their time in a very broad manner. Howard has served this way in the past by being an international class president but that is not why he deserves this award. Everyday Howard provides service to the class on a much more personal level.
The services that he provides range from straightening a mast, to loaning out his coach boat out free of charge, or letting people use his tools or even his entire garage. If you don’t know how to fix something on your 505, you need a tool or a part, who is the first person that you ask?
His services are organizational as well. Howie is always thinking of ways to better himself and always passes what he learns on to the fleet, even if it is one boat at a time. The Long Beach fleet would simply not exist without Howie. Every year howie takes the lead in organizing our weekly practices. A few years ago Team Tuesday was 1 or 2 boats, this year we often see 7 or 8.
Howie has also provided a huge service to the development of the equipment that we use today. 25 years ago he built molds and long lasting Honeycomb Kevlar boats that are still competitive today. Howies funding of the blade development program resulted in production centerboards that cost every one else much less than the developmental price that he paid.
There is no one more valuable to our fleet than Howard. So whether or not he wins this award, next time you see him, just say “Thanks Howie”!
The Surtees Service Award was dedicated at last year’s NA’s to commemorate outstanding service to the American Section. The inaugural award was presented to Ali Meller.
It is a pleasure to introduce the 2003 winner of the Surtees Service Award – Jesse Falsone.
As all of you know, Jesse is the epitome of the “go-to guy” for our Class. When a valuable role within the American Section needs to be filled, Jesse has never been afraid to put his money where his mouth is and step up to the task.
In the eight years that he has been in the Class, Jesse has served as both Class Secretary/Treasurer, and President of the American Section.
Upon “retiring” as Class President, Jesse took on the role of Tank Talk Associate Editor, and over the past few years, no one has contributed more material to Tank Talk than Jesse.
Jesse is an incredibly focused competitor who has always found time to pass his knowledge along. After working for years to become one of the top 5o5 crews in North America, Jesse published a compendium on “High Performance Dingy Crewing,” utilizing both his knowledge and that of other top NA 5o5 crews. This pamphlet runs 33 pages, and is literally a textbook of how to climb the learning curve for a 5o5 crew. Any skippers out there up to the challenge?
Jesse has set the bar for 5o5 class members, dedicating a superhuman amount of time & effort into making the American Section the solid organization that it is today.
Although he is taking a well-deserved break from the 5o5 and cannot be here today, let’s have a big round of applause for Jesse.
Ted Ferrarone
I’m very proud to have commissioned this new service award bearing the name of one of our most distinguished members: Dennis Surtees’. Dennis is a legend in this class, both for his outstanding performance and for his superlative service. I’m equally proud to have Ali Meller as the first recipient. Ali has served in so many capacities for this class, most of which many of you don’t know about or may have forgotten. Ali has been fleet captain in the US for two different fleets (maybe more in Canada?). In one of these he was largely responsible for the creation of this fleet at a new club. He served as VP of the American Section, Editor of Tank Talk, VP of international (an office created for him), and is now completing his term as President of international. As webmaster, Ali took the 505 web page and made it the most informative class page on the Internet. US Sailing used our web page as an example of what a great class web page should look like. Ali was also instrumental in introducing countless people to the 505 through personal communications and through sailing time.
Ali’s leadership came along at a crucial time for the 505 class. In the early 90’s we were a class teetering precariously on the seesaw of success and failure. Our numbers in the US had steadily declined, and the class lacked direction. Ali was the catalyst for our resurgence, and a large reason why we all enjoy fine competition today.
Simply put, nobody in the world has put more into the 505 class in the past decade than Ali Meller.
Ali, on behalf of the 505 American Section, it’s my honor to present you with the Dennis Surtees Service Award for 2002.
“I nominate Bill McKinney and Stine Cacavas for the Cahn award. Bill has been with the San Diego for over ten years, and is the guy who always spends regattas in good spirit, with lots of humor, humbleness and grace. And style. After coming in from the race course early one day in Santa Cruz, while sitting in his chair, he greeted every sailor at the ramp with a cold Corona with lime. Yes, his regatta kit includes chairs, a cooler on wheels, and a cutting board. Stine has been sailing with Bill for a few years now, and while she shares Bill’s positive attitude, she also brings a new level of competition to the team. They competed in the 2010 worlds in Denmark sailing Fever Pitch, Dave Cahn’s own Lindsay. For the 2012 worlds in France they upped their game, buying a newer Waterat. I take this as a good sign that they will continue to favor us with their company for many years to come.”
Aaron Ross, USA 7156
Nominated and presented by: Mike Martin
The Dave Chan award goes out to the individual or team that expresses sportsmanship in the unique way of 505 sailing because they love 505 sailing. The award is not necessarily for the guy that wins all the races, but the guy you would most like to have a beer with at the end of the day.
These guys fit that description perfectly. They both came into the 505 picture from illustrious lead mining careers. After the first day of proper breeze in a 505 they were hooked. Since then they have enjoyed attending many of the events in northern and southern California. At the end of the day they are always thrilled with whatever they experienced and learned on the water. They are always willing to lend a helping hand despite the fact that they are usually involved in some major repair project themselves. It is always a pleasure having these guys around both on and off the water and we would all have more fun if we adopted their attitude. That is why this year the Dave Cahn award should go to Brad Wheeler and Bill Mais.
As most of you know, the Dave Cahn trophy was created in 1998, in memoriam of Dave Cahn, and his special brand of sportsmanship. Past winners have included Eric Willis/Wendy Herzburg, Barney Harris, Dan Merino/Bill Jenkins, Henry Amthor, and in 2002, Stuart Park.
Please give a big round of applause for the winner of the 2003 Dave Cahn Trophy: Paul Von Grey.
Paul’s nomination for this award was so excellent, that we will just read it to you:
“I would like to Nominate Paul Von Grey of the Pacific Northwest Fleet for the Dave Cahn Trophy. Paul has virtually single-handedly (no pun intended) been the motivation for the resurgence of the 505 fleet in Washington. He has helped push attendance at regattas from an average of three boats to a recent high of 16. He regularly rounds up sailors following races to debrief on successful and unsuccessful strategies and rigging tips. He serves as the unofficial parts warehouse for most of the sailors in Washington and probably has contributed parts, time or rigging advice to a majority of boats in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. He helped obtain a container of highly competitive boats that have raised the quality of racing dramatically. Whether you are a current 505 owner who needs to locate crew or a prospective 505 competitor who wants to go for a test ride, Paul is the guy who helps make the connection. He successfully poaches new 505 sailors from other fleets at regattas and every new sailor in the local fleet has probably been pointed to Paul as the guy to talk to about 505’s.
The Pacific Northwest fleet is a knowledgeable, friendly and helpful group of people and the description above could apply to every person in the fleet, however, no person embodies all of those qualities as completely as Paul.”
Let’s give another round of applause for Paul Von Grey!!
Ted Ferrarone
Nominated by Dave Stetson
Jesse, I wish to nominate Graham Alexander for an honorary life-membership in the class.
Graham first became a 5-oher around about 1967 and he has been one ever since. I know only a few on this side of the pond with that kind of longevity in the class. He has owned at least six boats, beginning with a 2XXX series boat; he currently owns two, a 45xx Rondar rigged to race with other classics, and Parker 7685. Not only has Graham been loyal to the class with his presence, he has been one of the class’ most ardent recruiters here in the Midwest. Within two weeks of the day I moved to Columbus in 1985, he was in my kitchen pushing me into the fray, getting me onto the boat, and helping me to find a crew slot. He has introduced dozens of people to the boat during the 17 years I have been around to watch.
In addition to recruiting, Graham has been the organizer of the class in Region 3 for as long as anyone can remember. Ki Kaiser and Graham have worked together ensuring a variety of regattas and spreading the word. He was the formal Midwest coordinator for most of the years since 1970.
Graham has been extremely generous with his time helping people to buy boats, helping them to rig them well, and helping to repair them when they broke. He has loaned his garage, his tools and equipment, his hands, and his expertise for fiberglass work, vacuum bagging, and rigging. Each winter, he has taught Sunday-evening courses on racing rules and tactics, crewing and helming skills to groups of local sailors, including newbees and hardened veterans.
Graham has been one of the true fixtures in the class and he has been one of its best public-relations specialists. Through his energy and love of the boat and the class, he has kept 505s in the Midwest and has kept Fleet 17 alive at Hoover Yacht Club. He may not be the most jolly of 505 sailors because he takes his sailing very seriously. It is integral to his core as a person and his love for the class is infectious. Because of his dedication and generosity, I believe he is as close to a life member as one could come.