|
INTERNATIONAL
FINN ASSOCIATION
2004 ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING
La Rochelle,
France
MINUTES
Present:
Executive Committee:
Ali Enver Adakan, Vice-President Sailing, Clifton Webb, Vice-President
Development; Corinne Rolland-McKenzie, Secretary; Richard Hart, Chairman
Technical Committee
Countries
represented:
Australia,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland,
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, The Netherlands, New-Zealand, Poland, Russia,
Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden, UK.
1. National Class
Associations
Voting cards were
distributed to the National Class Association representatives based on the
2004 IFA dues received.
2. Minutes from the
last meeting
The minutes from the
2003 IFA AGM were approved
3. Accounts
a. The 2003 accounts
will be distributed at a later stage to all the National Finn secretaries
for approval. (Appendix A)
4. Elections of
Members to IFA Committees
Gus Miller has been
co-opted during the year by the Technical committee. Gilbert Lamboley has
resigned from the TC.
5. Executive
Committee Reports
Verbal reports were
received from members of the Executive Committee (Appendix B )
IFA Technical
Committee report (Appendix C)
6. IFA
Championships
a. 2006 Finn Gold
Cup:
Bids were received
from Copenhagen (DEN), El Arenal, Palma (ESP), Split (CRO).
Split received a
majority of votes and will be host for the 2006 Finn Gold Cup.
b. 2006 Europeans:
no bids were received before or during the AGM. IFA is contacting
Copenhagen and Palma to know their interest in hosting the European
championship. Meanwhile, Murcia in Spain has showed interest in organising
it. Once confirmation of interest is received from the 3 cities, voting
will proceed by ballot.
c. Update: the dates
for the 2005 European Championship in Kalmar, Sweden are: 6th to 14th of
August. This event will be part of the 50 years anniversary celebration of
the Swedish Sailing Federation.
d. 2005 FGC: Racing
Format and scoring system as prepared by Richard Hart and Bill Bell was
discussed.
There was a
discussion about whether a group system was necessary for 100 boats. Ali
Enver Adakan stated that he had visited the regatta site as arranged last
year, and that in his opinion a group system was essential. It was stated
that there was sufficient space to operate two courses at the same time.
On a vote, it was agreed to continue with preparations for the racing to
take place using a group format.
The format proposed
by Richard Hart and Bill Bell was discussed. Modifications were
recommended, in particular that the groups should be reselected (on a
random basis) after three and after six pairs of group races. The
Executive Director agreed to collate comments and suggestions, and to
refer the matter back to the authors for adjustment. Comments etc. are
requested by the 30th of June 2004 (IFINNA@compuserve.com).
7. IFA rules and
Constitution
a. Standardisation
of Class rules by ISAF:
The report was
received and Chairman TC was authorised to submit the draft for our rules,
as rewritten in ISAF 'Standard Class Rules' format.
ISAF now required
this to be done by 31st May if we wanted approval in November 2004. After
submission a consultation process would involve ISAF Technical Officials
and Committee members, our own TC and Class members.
ISAF was authorised
to approve and endorse the final version in time for the November 2004
ISAF meeting.
b. Proposals for two
changes of substance were voted on. It was agreed to change the weight
limit for hull plus centreboard from 120 kg including mainsheet to 119 kg
without mainsheet. A proposal to prohibit masthead cranes on masts
constructed from 2005 on was defeated.
8. Any other
business
The development of
unusual shapes for the centreboard arm was questioned. Chairman TC stated
that they did not contravene current rules for the centreboard shape and
weight. He undertook to propose tightened requirements in the new rules to
be submitted for the November 2004 meeting of ISAF.
To be circulated
to: National Finn Association Secretaries
IFA Executive Committee
IFA Website
APPENDIX B
REPORT OF THE
PRESIDENT
I think we can agree
that 2003 was a good year. The championships went well, our status as an
key Olympic class was highlighted by the excellent results of some of our
Finn brothers in other aspects of the sport, starting with the America's
Cup. Our events were a great success, and in C‡diz we showed the sailing
world we have a key place in the programme. Finally a lot of new
youngsters joined our Class, starting from the national to being very
competitive at the highest international level, and this is very
encouraging. I welcome them to the Class and can guarantee them a great
experience. This is truly remarkable, because we have not seen an influx
of new young sailors in a pre-Olympic year for several decades. Also
difficult for me not to congratulate Ben on his recent domination of key
events and inspiring all others of putting in their bid for Olympic glory
by seriously challenging Ben this week!
But rather than
looking back on 2003, which is already a while behind us, I would like to
focus on the future. This year is a key year, AGAIN.
We will of course
have our traditional rich programme for junior, senior and master sailors,
but of course the showpiece event of our Class, the Olympic Games in
August, and the Olympic selection process for 2008 in November.
I have no doubt the
Olympic Regatta will be fantastic to watch and wish everyone the very
best. The performances of our top guys make us proud to sail in the Finn.
I would however like to make another point this evening. This Class is not
so much about the 4m52cm long dinghy designed by Rickard Sarby, but more
about people of a certain stature, sailing interest in a particular way of
sailing, who decide to compete against each other at the highest level.
This to me is key in defending the Finn when it comes to Olympic
selection, but I also want to point you to your responsibilities. The Finn
is also a Class. We need to all support its future. That means that if you
don't talk to your national sailing federation about the options you and
guys like you have to sail a physical, technical and tactical singlehanded
dinghy at the highest level, there's a chance another class will become
Olympic. This is a team effort, and I would ask you to all contact these
federation people, Corinne can help you get their contact details if
necessary, but this is key and do it as soon as you can.
Finally, the same
applies to helping out in the Class work. People come, people go and its
important we maintain a strong Class if we want to ensure the future of
our type of sailing in the Olympics. Richard has done a fabulous job with
the Technical Committee, not only in administering all of our rules, but
also by rewriting them. This is vital, if we want to keep up with ISAF. We
need some new blood to do marketing, finances, technical administration of
the Class. It is not that complex, does not require a huge amount of time,
Corinne is a great help, all it requires from you is the ability to make
decisions in the best interest of the Class and being able to put your own
interest to the side for a moment..... some honesty and common sense. I
also feel the Committee can be composed of a few non-active sailors, but
the majority needs to be active. We are looking for people who are
motivated to do this, because most of us on the Committee have been around
for very long and have contributed in the past. Time for some of you to
take your responsibilities. I count on you to think about it.
REPORT OF THE VICE
PRESIDENT SAILING
Going into the last
3 months of the 2004 Olympiad I am happy to see new and old faces not able
to resist the temptation of racing and campaigning a Finn. Our fleet has
grown in quality and quantity over the last years, partly due to the
standardisation of the equipment making speed differences fairly small
throughout the fleet and making the step to the class easier than it has
been and partly due to the modernisation we have allowed the Finn to make
allowing helmsman of a wide range of weight to sail it competitively.
The IFA has made a
submission as required by the ISAF for the men's single handed dinghy for
the 2008 Olympic Regatta. So now we need all to work and try to convince
our NA to vote for the Finn to secure its position in the Olympics.
I wish good luck to
all competitors who have their qualifications running and to those who
have qualified I wish good luck in Athens.
REPORT OF THE VICE
PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT
La Rochelle - 2004
Europeans, 99 Entries, 24 from
Europe
9 from Non European Nations
Rio - 2004 Gold Cup
54 Entries, 16 from Europe, 8 from Non European Nations.
I think this
reflects the true value of the Finn and why we must push hard with
development into Asia and South America. Cost is still the major problem
with the Finn class.
We have now have had
3 IFA developing nations coaching clinics. I think they have been very
successful and should continue.
We now seem to have
two streams of incoming sailors. The growing trend tends to be from the
Laser class and we still have a small but steady flow of juniors into the
class.
APPENDIX C
REPORT OF THE
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, 2004
Please accept my
apologies for not preparing this report in time for circulation before the
meeting, as I have been working on preparation of the new draft for our
rules. This report is amended to include decisions taken at our AGM.
The definition of
the Template shape has been checked by Juri Saraskin against the best
existing information, and found to conform. We must thank Gilbert Lamboley
for completing this long-term task so well. We were planning to produce
some further computerised information concerning the shape of the
templates not related to the shape of the boat - the outsides, lightening
holes etc. Unfortunately we have just heard that Gilbert has had to
withdraw from this voluntary task, so this part of the work is not yet
completed.
The other task for
the year has been the drafting of the class measurement rules into the
ISAF Standard Class Rules (SCR) Format. Preliminary work was done for us
by the ISAF Secretariat, and the work has progressed during the year. A
draft has been circulated to TC and more recently to National Secretaries.
It is hoped to put the draft on the revamped Finn website for comments and
suggestions - otherwise please E-mail me for the latest version, on
Richard@hart331.fsnet.co.uk.
To comply with the
desired time scale we need to submit the draft as amended to ISAF before
May 31st, thus allowing a period for review and development with their
help. At the AGM, Council authorised me to make this submission. Council
also authorised the Executive to approve the final version of the
document, and to confirm the submission in proper time before the November
ISAF Meeting.
In general, any
changes to the rules are editorial, and not changes to the Finn. Two
changes of substance were proposed. Council approved a change in hull
weight from a minimum 120 kg with mainsheet to 119 kg without mainsheet.
This makes the weighing condition the same as the Lamboley test condition.
Council rejected a proposal to prohibit masthead cranes on future masts.
I would like to
thank several members of TC for their valued input during this year. I
have to report that Gilbert Lamboley has resigned, to the great regret of
other members and myself. Hopefully we can still have the benefit of his
expertise on some occasions. During the year Gus Miller has been co-opted
to the Committee. Council approved the reselection of TC and instructed me
to convey the thanks of the Class to Gilbert Lamboley for his valuable
work over many years.
Centreboards.
Under 'Any other
business', the development of unusual shapes for the centreboard arm was
questioned. One such centreboard was used at Cadiz last year, a further
development at the Gold Cup in Rio de Janeiro, and a more extreme
'one-off' at the Europeans (la Rochelle).
I was made aware of
concerns a few days before AGM and have consulted with TC for their
opinions on the matter. Our conclusion is that the centreboards do not
contravene current rules for the centreboard shape and weight. As the
result of the consultations and of the concerns expressed by other class
members, I undertook to include tightened controls on these measurements
in the new rules to be submitted for the November 2004 Meeting of ISAF.
|
