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Minutes from
the 1999 Annual General Meeting of the IFA
Melbourne,
Australia - 7 January
Present:
Executive Committee: Philippe Rogge (President); Karlo Kuret (Vice
President Sailing); John Callahan (Vice President Development); Paul
McKenzie (Treasurer); Sarah Kingston (Executive Director); 25 National
Association Representatives and approximately 15 other members of the
class.
The President
opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees. He thanked ISAF Vice
Presidents Goran Petersson and Ken Ryan for attending the beginning of the
meeting.
1.NATIONAL
CLASS ASSOCIATIONS
Voting cards
were distributed to the National Class Association representatives based
on the 1999 IFA dues received.
*
MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING
The minutes
from the 1998 IFA AGM were approved.
*
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS
Verbal reports
were received as follows:
(a) the President;
* the
class is healthy. It was particularly pleasing to see the increase in Finn
sailing in the southern hemisphere.
* the
Australian Nationals had been well attended last week and everyone was
looking forward to the Gold Cup.
* there
are two areas to concentrate on this year - (a) pumping/rocking on the
water. IFA has been working with ISAF and judges to try to achieve
consistency in on-the-water judging. Good communication is needed. The
President invited all sailors to attend the meeting between IFA and the
Jury prior to the practice race. (b) there will be measurement spot checks
this year, as decided at the last AGM.
* the
President and Executive Director had attended the ISAF November
Conference. The events for the 2004 Olympic Regatta had been decided and
in essence there will only be one men's single-handed dinghy event in
2004. The President requested everyone's support in the IFA's efforts to
keep the Finn in the Olympic Games.
(b) the Vice-President Sailing;
* ISAF
had agreed to the request from the 1998 IFA AGM to have a Junior Finn Gold
Cup. This year was the first year that this was taking place.
* it was
pleasing to see so many nations in Melbourne, it was a particularly
important regatta as many sailors will be looking to qualify their country
for the Sydney Olympics.
* the VP
Sailing reminded the meeting that this was a trial run of the new format
for the Gold Cup (as voted on at the 1998 AGM), all feedback was welcome.
(c)
the Vice-President Development;
* the
Pan Am Games are being held this year, and we must ensure that as many Pan
Am countries as possible are represented in the Finn. The VP Development
requested that anyone with Finn contacts in those countries should assist.
* it was
pleasing to see some new countries at the Gold Cup this year. Particularly
Japan, China, Belarus and the US Virgin Islands.
* plans
are being underway to hold a development clinic in Sydney prior to the
Pre-Olympic Regatta.
(d)
the Vice-President Masters;
* the
President read the written report from the VP Masters.
*
preparations for the 1999 Finn Masters (Maubuisson, France) are going
well, a maximum number of competitors are expected to attend.
* the
Masters expressed their wish for caution in the technical development of
the Finn.
* the
President hoped that many Masters would attend the 50 Year Party this
year. He looks forward to the 2000 Finn Gold Cup which will take place in
Weymouth at the same time as the 2000 Finn Masters.
(e)
the Treasurer;
* the
1998 IFA Accounts were circulated.
* the
accounts were in good order and there was no cause for concern.
* the
Swiss Accounts had been closed and the money had been transferred to a
Reserve account in the UK. The Executive Committee is looking for a good
long-term investment for the reserve funds.
(f) the
Chairman of the Technical Committee.
* the report of the Technical Committee was
circulated.
* the Finn class rule changes approved at the 1998
AGM had been approved by ISAF. They will become effective on 1 March 1999,
and will be published in FinnFare.
* an old jig had been found in Melbourne and been
renovated by the Chief Measurer. It is his intention to use it at the 1999
Gold Cup and at the Pre-Olympics.
* to allow interchangeability of masts and boom
between boats it is recommended to standardise the boom pin arrangement.
This should result in better rule observance; assist with measurement;
provide standards for manufacturers; keeps the boat simple; the lower
black band would become redundant and possibly allow future simplification
of Rule 4.2.6.3. The Technical Committee had prepared a draft
recommendation for rule changes to allow this. The President recommended
that this be circulated to National Finn Associations for a postal vote in
time for submission to the 1999 ISAF November meetings.
4.
ACCOUNTS
The Treasurer presented the Summary of the Accounts of 1998
and the meeting approved them. They will be published in the next edition
of FinnFare.
5. ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO IFA COMMITTEES
(a) The members of the Executive Committee were
unanimously approved as follows:
President - Philippe Rogge
Vice-President (Sailing) - Karlo Kuret
Vice-President (Development) - John Callahan
Vice-President (Masters) - Rolf Lehnert
Treasurer - Paul McKenzie
Chairman of Technical Committee - Richard Hart
(b) The members of the Technical Committee were
unanimously approved as follows:
Richard Hart (Chairman)
Jan Bjoernberg
John Driscoll
David Howlett
Larry Lemieux
Walter Mai
Andrzej Ostrowski
Juri Saraskin
(c) The members of the Marketing Committee were
unanimously approved as follows:
Marc Blees (Chairman)
Gerardo Seeliger
Robert Deaves
Corinne Rolland-McKenzie
Sarah Kingston
6. IFA CHAMPIONSHIPS
a. To receive an update on preparations for the
following IFA Championships:
(i) 1999 Finn European Championship
The Championship will be held in Ostend, Belgium from 5-11
June 1999. The notice of race has been finalised and circulated to all
National Finn Associations. The race committee has plenty of experience.
All preparations for the Championship are going well.
(ii) 2000 Finn Gold Cup and Finn Masters
The Championships will be held in Weymouth, England from
6-16 June. The Gold Cup will be the third and final opportunity for
countries to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Regatta. Discounted ferry rates
across the English Channel have been negotiated. A leaflet was circulated
at the AGM. Details will be placed on the IFA website, and in FinnFare.
Sponsorship is being sought.
(iii) 2001 Finn Gold Cup
The Championship will be held in Marblehead at the Eastern
Yacht Club during mid-September 2001. The PRO will be Charley Cook. Early
preparations are proceeding well.
(b) To receive bids to host the following IFA
Championships:
(i) 2000 Finn European Championship
The meeting noted that Estonia has withdrawn its bid for
this Championship since the 1998 AGM. Applications had been received from
Genoa (Italy) and Palma (Spain).
The Vice President Sailing read some of the details from
each application after which the meeting strongly voted for the 2000
European Championship to be held in Palma. IFA should request that the
championship be held either in early July or in early May.
(ii) 2002 Finn Gold Cup
Brazil and Turkey are both still interested in hosting the
2002 Finn Gold Cup. Their applications will be considered at the 2000 AGM.
(iii) 2003 Finn Gold Cup
The President informed the meeting that, after reviewing
the outcome of the 1999 Combined Olympic Classes World Championship, ISAF
were considering the possibility of holding such a combined olympic class
championship every four years in the year prior to the Olympic Games.
Denmark is one of the countries bidding to host the next championship and
Mr Jens Hansen and Mr Jesper Andersen from the Aarhus Organising Committee
were welcomed to the meeting. They gave a brief presentation to the
meeting, making the following proposals:
* Each class would have its own course area and
harbour area.
* In order to accomplish the above point, the
combined championships would need to be spread out over a four week
period. This is proposed as July 2003.
* Accommodation will be affordable.
* All Olympic Classes would be involved (this will be
an ISAF requirement of future Olympic classes).
* There will be large, covered areas for measurement.
* The relevant class associations will be deeply
involved in the organisation of the championship.
* Funding has been guaranteed by the city. It is
hoped that sponsorship will also be found.
* ISAF will decide on the venue
at their meeting in April 1999.>
(iv) 2004 Finn Gold Cup
The New Zealand Finn Association handed the IFA Executive
Director their written application to host the 2004 Finn Gold Cup at
Murrays Bay Sailing Club in Auckland.
7. IFA RULES AND CONSTITUTION
The meeting agreed that the quota system for entries as
detailed in Part D of the IFA Rulebooks should be amended to allow entries
to the Junior Finn Gold Cup to be made on the same basis as for the Junior
Finn European Championship.
8. MEASUREMENT CONTROLS
The President reiterated the need for all sailors to comply
with the measurement rules. Spot checks will be made at the Gold Cup this
year.
9. IFA CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
The AGM reconvened on 16 January to review the decisions
made at the 1998 AGM on the format of the Finn Gold Cup in light of the
experience gained at the 1999 Gold Cup. ISAF President Paul Henderson was
in attendance.
The President reminded the meeting that at the 1998 AGM it
had been agreed to try a new format at the 1999 Gold Cup, in order to
conform to ISAF's request that "as far as reasonably practical,
incorporate the 2000 Olympic Format in their Qualifying Regattas". The new
format (11 races over 6 days; 90 minutes in duration; 2 discards;
trapezoid courses) had been used at the 1999 Gold Cup.
The ISAF President stated that ISAF's request was that
where appropriate class world championships should try to match the
Olympic format, where not appropriate the class should do whatever is best
to suit Finn sailing.
The meeting (of 35 sailors) then voted as follows:
* 2 races per day(29 votes in favour)
* 1 race per day (6 votes in favour)
* 11 races over 6 days (15 votes in favour)
* 9 races over 6 days (17 votes in favour)
* 1 discard only, once 5 races have been completed
(24 in favour; 7 against)
* using 1999 Gold Cup courses ie. trapezoid below 12
knots, triangle in over 12 knots (22 in favour; 8 against).
* Courses of 90 minutes duration (26 in favour).
* Angles would be as per the 1999 Gold Cup sailing
instructions, with a true reach between the two upwind marks (28 in
favour).
In summary:
For the 1999 Europeans and 2000 Finn Gold Cup, the format
will be as follows:
* total of 9 races
* the 9 races will be sailed over 6 days (to be
scheduled in conjunction with the local race committee, ie. taking into
account the likely local weather conditions).
* There will be no possibility to sail 3 races per
day.
* Races should be approximately 90 minutes in
duration.
* 1 discard will be allowed, which will take effect
once 5 races have been completed.
* The triangle course (as per 1998 championship
rules) will be sailed in winds over 12 knots; the Olympic trapezoid will
be used in winds under 12 knots.
10. 2004 OLYMPIC CLASS SELECTION
The President informed the meeting that the IFA had
recently received a draft contract which ISAF requires all classes wishing
to be considered for use in the 2004 Olympic Games to sign. He read out
some of the items on which the Executive Committee may decide to negotiate
with ISAF. The meeting unanimously agreed that it was important to the
class to remain `Olympic' and therefore, accepting that the class may have
to compromise on some issues, the Executive Committee should proceed with
their negotiations with ISAF.
11. FINN SHOP
The Chairman of the Marketing Committee updated the meeting
on progress with the new Finn shop.
* A brochure was produced after the 1998 AGM and has
been widely circulated.
* National Finn Associations are urged to help with
sales, in order to promote the class and provide extra income.
* National Finn Associations may buy in bulk, and
therefore achieve a profit for themselves as well as for IFA.
* Some of the clothing items will be changed in a
few months.
* Credit cards will soon be accepted.
* The Finn shop will soon be accessible via the IFA
website.
It was important for all National Finn Associations to note
that the IFA logo may not be used without first obtaining permission from
IFA. This includes used of the logo at national Finn championships.
12. FINN 50 YEARS CELEBRATION
The Chairman of the Marketing Committee reported on the
preparations for the 50 Years Finn celebration.
The Celebration will be held in Loosdrecht, Holland on 12
and 13 June 1999. The Prize giving ceremony for the Finn Europeans will be
held on Friday 11th June, allowing everyone to drive to Loosdrecht on the
morning of Saturday 12th. There will be some fun sailing on Saturday and
Sunday, and a huge party on the Saturday evening. Three sponsors have been
secured: Swatch, CMG and O'Neill Europe. All Finn sailors, past and
present, are invited.
The new book, currently being written by Robert Deaves,
celebrating 50 years of the Finn, will be launched at the 50 Year Party.
13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(a) Sail Cloth
Concern was expressed that the newest sailcloth is very
expensive. The Masters Fleet had also expressed concern over the
developments in this area. The rules should avoid monopoly and we should
discourage sail makers from selling only to selected sailors. Simpler
materials are more accessible to the majority of sailors and IFA should
bear in mind developing countries.
The Technical Committee is asked to look into possibilities
to have a limit on cloth weight and possibly a sail weight rule limit.
National Finn Associations will be asked to vote on the Technical
Committee's final proposal by postal ballot in April or May 1999.
(b) 1999 Membership Fees
All National Finn Associations were reminded that
membership fees for 1999 were due by 27 December 1998. Any countries who
have not yet paid should contact the IFA office immediately.
(c) Rule 42 - Pumping
It was suggested that the yellow flag should not be used in
winds stronger than a certain limit. However others felt that pumping
should not be `opened up'. This will encourage some sailors to develop
their fitness to enable them to pump in strong winds, which would not
generally be good for Finn sailing.
Mateusz
Kusznierewicz (POL) briefly described a system he had come up with which
used two flags for judging during racing. A red flag would replace the
current yellow flag; and a yellow flag would be used as a warning. The
President asked Mateusz to put his proposal in writing for discussion.
Many present
felt that the current system was working well and, with improved
consistency in judging, the system as currently laid out in the rules
should be adequate. It was suggested that judges should be ex-Finn
sailors; they might consider using binoculars to assist them; and they
might consider taking into account video camera footage. The meeting was
reminded that IFA is working closely with the ISAF Race Officials
Committee to try to improve consistency in judging at Finn regattas.
Circulation:
National Finn
Association Secretaries
IFA Executive
Committee
IFA Website
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