International Contender Association
Minutes of
Annual General Meeting
September 20, 1999
Kiel, Germany

Minutes of previous AGM at Sardinia, Italia: No minutes have been recorded.

Apologies: Apology from Technical Chairman, Alan Mollatt

Election of officers: The following persons were (re)-elected to the following offices

   Nigel Walbank: President

   Chris Mitchell: Chairman

   Alan Mollatt: Technical Chairman

   Manfred Kieckbusch: Treasurer

   Gil Woolley: Secretary

Officers Reports:
Gil Woolley reported on the 2nd Hand Contender web page. There are 42 current advertisements and 6 or 7 boats have been sold that were advertised on the page. The page is currently not working automatically but advertisements emailed to the secretary are entered manually on the page.

Discussion of the “Olympic” trials to select a new high performance single handed dinghy. There was considerable discussion by a number of members to the effect that the Contender was selected as a new high performance single handed dinghy over 30 years ago. Chairman Mitchell asked for a show of hands to see how many members support making the Contender an Olympic class and how many are opposed to making the Contender an Olympic class.
Results of show of hands.
4 support making the Contender an Olympic class
26 are opposed to making the Contender an Olympic class
9 abstained from taking a position.

It was the sense of the membership that the secretary should write a letter to ISAF to remind them that the Contender has already been selected as a fast single hander, the class would like to be represented by excellent Contenders and Contender sailors at the trials. Further, the ISAF has obviously decided that the Contender is not the fast single hander for which they are searching because the description of the objective of the trials is to find a boat faster on all points of sail and with a wider range of helm weight than any current International class. Finally, since ISAF is looking for a boat faster than existing International classes, the Contender and arguably other International classes should be admitted to the trials without the obligation to pay an entry fee in order that ISAF may be satisfied that the boat chosen is indeed faster than all existing International classes.
Announcement of ISAF Evaluation Event 2000(link is broken) is added to these minutes to aid readers.

World Championship Arrangements:
2000 Medemblik, Holland
2001 Kingston, Ontario Canada
2002 was firmed up to be:
Melbourne, Australia in January 2002
Promote Phillip Bay
2003 Plymouth, Great Britain

European Championship Arrangements:
2001 Silvaplana Switzerland, 15-20 August
Excuse me, major correction
The European Championship in the year
2001 will be held in Loctudy in Britanny, France
Dates are not yet confirmed with the club published.
2002 Denmark (added to the minutes after the meeting)
Organization:
Chairman Mitchell led discussion of Contender class Championship rules. It was observed that presently, the Chairman is involved in granting exceptions to the existing Championship rules such as permitting more than a single race per day. It was the sense of the meeting that a committee be organized to redraft the Championship rules to reflect the desires of the contemporary Contender racing community and to eliminate the need to continuously grant exceptions to the rules for each World Championship.

It was suggested that the membership be posted on the Internet

It was suggested and discussed that it would be beneficial to develop a “storm” sail or a sail better suited to low weight helms persons.

It was discussed that special incentives for juniors should be included in the Championship rules but others pointed out that the championship committee already has permission granted by the existing rules to offer special incentives and inducements (prizes) to sailors under the age 18.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to close the meeting.

Minutes submitted by

Gil Woolley

Secretary, International Contender Association.
November 26, 1999 revised per email 30 December, 1999 and 2 January, 2000
Minutes were approved at the Annual General meeting at Medemblik, 15 August, 2000.

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