2004 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
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 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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.
