International Contender Association
 

Draft Minutes of
Annual General Meeting
 21 August, 2008
Kingston
Ontario
Submitted by Gil Woolley, Secretary
dated 7 November 2008
Added President's report

Meeting started at 1740 hrs

Meeting ended at 2000 hrs
 

The meeting was opened by chairman Neil Smith.
Apologies from President Jan von der Bank
Apologies from Treasurer Tim Holden
The draft minutes of the 2007 AGM were approved as posted.
Discussion of the Worlds in 2009 at Denmark
Chairman's report:

Treasurers's report:
Payments of dues have been received from the following countries:
Australia. In addition, payments have been received from Australia for 9 boats built in the moulds paid for
by the ICA. That leaves a balance of 11 more payments expected until the cost of the moulds is fully amortized.
Great Britain
France
Italy
North America.

Current bank balances include approximately 21.000 Euros and 280 Sterling (British pounds)

Technical Report:
Alan Mollatt reported that the ISAF started a project to rewrite the Contender class rules but the
project person had been retasked with other work. Technical Chairman will endevour to have the
ISAF renew and complete the task. The reason for the rewrite is to bring the rules in line with
ISAF model rules practices.

President's report. Read by Chairman Neil Smith: Firstly, as the PRESIDENT of the class I would like to give everyone sailing in Canada my warmest greetings. You are the core of the class!
At the moment I strongly regret I can't be with you racing (And that is despite of sitting in warm and calm sundown-conditions outside of Corfu-Yacht-Club). Now I will have to wait till cold and most likely rainy Denmark next year to have a go on another title - and for sure will have to battle hard against Sšren... ;.)

Anyway... for my part of the business I must say I'm quite satisfied with how we have performed and what we have achieved. Several big turnout-events and a very important Worlds on the American Continent show everyone outside our circle, we are a very lively class. Let's keep it going that way!
Now into some details...

First.
When I started, I wanted to help the French to establish sth. like a Contender-fleet in France. This is just starting to happen and I am very grateful to welcome the French with their just established national association.
I will try and put even more of my focus (and class money... at least 2000 Euros - please discuss this under "treasurers business"!!!) on their Europeans in 2010. I think we should support them by displaying the Contender on the Paris boat show, accompanied by sth like a class portrait in any French yachting magazine., plus invitations and free charter boats for some top french sailors (from 505? Hobie cats? Lasers? Europe?) Again, please discuss and let me know the outcome!!!

Second.
As for our Internet-presence, I still have the feeling we urgently need to "sex up"... both from the contents and from the presentation! We still need someone being an editor for articles on our page, as seemingly none of us "officials" seems to have the will or skill to do it... I remember our discussions about how much money Jan Tofaute from Germany should be allowed for maintaining the page on the technical side... We should come up with at least the same amount of money to find someone helping to advertise the class!

My feeling still is: The Contender will only survive the severe changes within the Dinghy scene, if we make sure we present ourselves as a young, attractive SKIFF-LIKE class. We desperately have to work on our Image to attract young sailors. It does not help much to gather old farts like Neil and myself... We need the Kids! People like Christoph Homeier or Marcus, or Marco Versari!

Third.
There has been some quarrel about the interpretation of our class rules.
In the Championship-rules, for instance, we seem to be desperately needing something clarifying the need and the use of fleet- or qualifying-races. My feeling is: We shall not have qualifying-races in fleets under a minimum size of 120 Boats! This number has proved to be still quite manageable off one starting line in recent years and it saves a lot of people feeling stuck in the strongest group or in the second best fleet only.
Another important issue will be a more efficient management of the class. Here we shall have to have a close look (and maybe propose some refreshments and changes) on our rules that were designed some 40 years ago. Especially regarding the use or the function of "national representatives" within the AGM-elected ICA-Committee (as we knew it in recent years). Neil will probably give a shortcut of what has happened lately... We need a good information-structure on the one hand, that makes sure nobody feels left outside. But we also need a very limited circle of persons that really are allowed "to talk". Otherwise, that is my feeling, it will be even harder in the future, to recruit volunteers for doing ICA-jobs!
But I am sure we can work out sth. before the next AGM that will find a majority of Contender sailors approval.

So much from me this time,
good sailing to you all in Canada and see you all next year!

Jan von der Bank

Secretary's report:
Minutes of the 2007 AGM at Kingston, Ontario were posted prior to
this meeting. The vote was taken to approve the minutes.

Secretary's report:
Annual General Meeting 2007

Currently there are 590 members of yahoo-groups
compared with 513 in 2007,
664 in 2006,
559 members in 2005 and
386 members in 2004.
Note, we count email addresses. There are certainly
duplicate and/or abandoned email addresses in the count.

New boat sales figures.
29
2007
  

35

2006

  

43

2005

  

28

2004

  

16

2003

  

26

2002

  

50

2001

  

18

2000

  

33

1999

  

25

1998

  

2424 boats have been issued plaques representing new
boats since the inception of the Contender class in 1969.
(Through the end of 2007)

Contender Class Rules 2008.
An issue arose regarding the issuance of personal sail numbers. Ballot 2006 was written in such a way as to allow the issuance of personal sail numbers but the wording was vague. ISAF revised the wording to permit the change to allowing the use of the plaque number as the sail number. However, the sense of the revision no longer permitted issuance of personal sail numbers. Some national Contender Associations have been issuing personal sail numbers for a number of years and requested a change of the wording which permits personal sail numbers. It is also a recognized practice in other international classes.

The secretary undertook discussions with ISAF and with and interested sailors and the result is addition of rule Para 4.2 iv) which explicitly permits the issuance of personal sail numbers. The rules issued 4 August, 2008 include this rule change.

Below is the text of the Class Rule 4.2 after this change:
4.2 The sail number shall be as follows:
i) ISAF plaque numbers greater than 2380, the plaque number shall be the sail number.
ii) ISAF plaque numbers between 719 and 2381, the sail number shall be either that issued by the MNA or that of the plaque number.
iii) ISAF plaque numbers less than 720, the sail number shall be that issued by the MNA.
iv) The Certification Authority may issue personal sail numbers between 1-719. In the event of a conflict of sail numbers the race committee may require the boat to add an additional prefix or use the ISAF plaque number.

Below is the text of the Class Rule 4.2 before this change.
4.2 The sail number shall be as follows:
i) ISAF plaque numbers greater than 2380, the plaque number shall be the sail number.
ii) ISAF plaque numbers between 719 and 2381, the sail number shall be either that issued by the MNA or that of the plaque number.
iii) ISAF plaque numbers less than 720, the sail number shall be that issued by the MNA.

Ballot 2008 was distributed for world wide voting. Results from 158 ballots were tallied. All three measures on the ballot were approved and the ballot has been forwarded to ISAF for consideration.

Proposed rule 2.3 Passed with 75.3% approval. The effect is to permit amateurs to build glasfibre boats. 119 voted in favour, 39 opposed.

Proposed Rule 13.8 passed with 90.4% approval. The effect is to lower the tip weight from
2.5 Kg to 2.3 Kg. 142 in favour, 15 opposed.

Proposed rule 16.1 passed with 84.2% approval. The effect is to include the weight of the centreboard retaining fittings in the hull weight measurement of 83 Kg. 133 in favour, 25 opposed.

Ballot 2008 has been sent to ISAF for consideration. It will likely be considered at or before the ISAF Annual Meeting in November 2008. If the measures are approved, the likely effective date would be 1, January 2009.
Submitted 21 August, 2008 by Secretary Gil Woolley
gil_woolley@ieee.org



Submitted 19 August, 2007 by Secretary Gil Woolley gil_woolley @ ieee.org (remove spaces)

Joachim Harpprecht raised a question about whether the Secretary had the actual ballots in hand and questioned whether the
votes recorded represented actual individual votes or representative votes actually determined by a small number of people.
The Secretary promised to try to obtain the detailed voting records.

Discussion:
Support France. Budget Euro2000? Boat show has not worked. Euro 1000 per year per country?
Proposal, ICA should spend up to Euro 2000/ year on promotion. Emphasis on requesting
country should make a proposal before expenditure, obtain agreement with ICA. Proposed by
Chris Sutherland, seconded by Frank Whittington. Unanimous.

Championship Rules should be modified to include rules on when the fleet is so large that the organizers will split the
fleet into two or more fleets. Also specify the number of races per day.
Volunteers for committee to revise the rules included Mark Thorborg and Chris Sutherland.

Association Rules need del to Jan von der Bank. Committee

President's Report
Canada has a new club boat which is helping build the class.
Webmaster is Duncan _________?
Tim Holden is stepping down as Treasurer, we need a new treasurer.
Mol Mollatt is stepping down as Technical Chairman. Need a new TC.
Class is growing.
U.K. is not growing.
Italy is growing.
Help builders.

Election of officers.
Technical Chairman.
Greg Barrington had volunteered to take on the job prior to the meeting.
at the meeting, Marco Versari expressed interest in becoming Technical Chairman
It was voted to elect both Greg and Marco as co-chairmen. Vote was unanimous.
Treasurer. Jan Langendorf was put forward as new Treasurer. He was voted in unanimously.
President. Jan van der Bank was put forward to continue as President. The vote was unanimous.
Secretary. Gil Woolley expressed willingness to continue until the Worlds in 2009. He will
not attend the Worlds in Denmark but can deliver the minutes of the 2008 meeting so that the
new Secretary may be elected and take office at the start of the AGM in 2009.
Chairman: Neil Smith agreed to stand for reelection to the office of President. The vote was unanimous.

Ron Duffield wishes to step down as International Measurer. He is in good health but is 81 years
of age. Peter Hixson is interested in training up to take on the job.

Coming Events
2009 Worlds are in Denmark are scheduled to use TravemŸnde Woche as the preWorlds.
Dates Wednesday 19 July to Saturday 22 July will be the preWorlds
Two days off to move boats to Denmark (2 1/2 hour drive)
Measurement for the Worlds Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July plus practice race.
Worlds from Monday 27 July to Friday 31 July.

2010 Worlds at Brisbane organized by Royal Queensland Yacht Club (RQYC)
The venue features camping and apartments on site.

2010 Europeans will be held at La Rochelle, France. 6 meters of tide will add spice to the mix.

2011 Worlds will be in Weymouth, U.K.

Discussion of a Worlds in the fall of 2012 in Southern USA giving time for Europeans to sail
their summer meetings and events and then ship their boats for some late fall sailing.

Proposals for rules changes.
Propose that the rules be changed to permit multi-part masts. This may have been envisioned by the
ballot a few years ago. We may not need to submit this to a world-wide ballot. Possibly ISAF
changed the rule from multipart to two part masts. They may agree to change to multipart.
Reason: to enable breaking down masts into shorter sections for more economical transport aboard
aircraft and in shipping containers. Vote in favour: unanimous.

Proposal to permit modern electronic compasses which can display GPS, speed,
Velocity made good. Only 3 in favour. Vote failed.

Proposal to clarify intent of rules to explicitly preclude chines. Exact wording to be
worked out with ISAF. A few persons have expressed interest in building a Contender
with chines. Gil Woolley argued that if such a boat was sailed by an extremely good
sailor, it might appear that the new shape was superior. This would have the effect
of making obsolete all existing hulls and hull moulds. The rule change or clarification
would make it clear that a Contender hull may not have chines. Vote was unanimous in favour.