Minutes of the HISC FF Fleet AGM - 16th November 2008

 
Start 1400 hrs approx. Cakes courtesy of Alison Stainsby and The Saffina Cake Factory.
 
Present: Mike MacIntyre - Class Captain & Chairman
Paul Ripley - Treasurer
Tessa Lancaster, Gill Browning, Nick Lancaster, Alan Bax, Caroline Maxfield, Martin Stainsby, Alison Stainsby, Charles Apthorp, Paul Maxfield, Peter Bannister, Geoff Bayliss, Martin Grady, Franciska Bayliss, Martin Trundle and Stefan Lloyd.
 
1. Apologies
 
Mark Allerston, Sue Bannister, Greg Wells, Mark Darling, John Bovis, Mike & Judy Cave, Adrian Simpson and Mike Abraham.
 
2. Fleet Accounts
 
Substantial assets of £2,977.42 as we haven’t spent much this year. There is a potential bill for expenses for the Nationals still to be presented. Exact status unknown at present. The Bulwark trophy event made a profit. The "HISC tab" part of our assets is in credit this year.
 
3. 2008 Sailing Review
 

• As part of the sailing review the Fleet prizes were presented.
• The Opening Gambit trophy went to absentees Andy Jameson & James Grant.
• The Spring overall series was won by Martin & Alison Stainsby.
• The Masterman Trophies were won by Andy Jameson & James Grant
• Summer Sunday points was won by Charles Apthorp.
• The Victor Bowl was won by Greg Wells.
• The Bulwark Trophy was won by Steve Goacher & Phil Evans.
• The Nationals were won by Greg Wells & Mark Darling and it was noted that places 1,2,4,6,9 & 10 were won by HISC boats.
• HISC Regatta FFs was won by Barry & Sue Parkin.
• The Summer Saturday Points was won by Roger & Barbara Palmer.
• The Final Fling Trophy is missing.
• Many people agreed that the Pennant race format works and should be supported.
• Mike MacIntyre thanked Jamie Jameson, Martin Stainsby and Fran Bayliss for their invaluable contribution to the success of the Nationals.
• Gill Browning pointed out that HISC FF sailors also had successes at Open Meetings.

• Tessa Lancaster has agreed to be Class Captain. She took over Chairmanship of the meeting at this point.
• Gill Browning has agreed to be treasurer.

• Charles Apthorp suggested that our fleet should do 2 short windward/leeward races when there is not much water in the harbour.
• Mike MacIntyre suggested that Saturday racing could be abandoned in favour of two high quality Sunday races which would relieve pressure on Club resources. This viewpoint was not universally favoured by attendees.
• The Duty Manager system for allocating duties whereby race teams can "mix-and- match" Saturday and Sunday duties meant that club race team performances had been below par this season.
• Gill suggested team training for the less (or no) experienced race team members.
• Mike M. suggested that the Sunday race start time was too early.
• Paul Maxfield suggested that these points should be passed upward via the Class Captains Forum.
• There was some discussion about the club points series and how many discards were desirable.

• It was agreed that pennant weekend races should have two races on the Saturday as well as the Sunday. Gill suggested that Race Officers for Pennant weekends should be chosen more carefully. Everyone agreed that the club should try to achieve high quality Pennant weekend racing.

• Martin Stainsby thought that training days were very worthwhile. Mike MacIntyre suggested that it was best to pay proper coaches. it was agreed that we need to schedule in some training sessions.
• Also in question was how many and what format, mini-Olympics should be. Would Bev Moss be willing to run them? Three races for a Mini-O event is best.
• There was a suggestion that an extra FF event could be tagged onto club racing when the Club race team are FF fleet members.

d) Club FF Trophy Races

• It was agreed that we should take another look at FF handicap events. It seems to work for the Solo fleet. Caroline Maxfield offered to help with organising a handicap race.

e)   Bulwark Open Meeting

•       Is provisionally scheduled in September.

6. Worlds 2011
 

• Roger said that the format for the Worlds awaited decisions to be taken in Melbourne and that he had been asked to be race officer.
• Gill pointed out that the Melbourne Worlds web-site is excellent and that we should aim to do something similar. It ought have some initial pages published to the Web ASAP. It was pointed out that the race organisation will be the easy bit – the shore events will be more of a challenge as HISC is somewhat isolated from "civilisation".

7. Boat Parking and Winches
 

• It was agreed that the winches are not satisfactory. The Marine Committee should be responsible and they need to be lobbied to improve the situation. Tessa asked the question as to whether every fleet using the winches should put up a representative. It was felt that John Bovis was the best person from the FFs.
• Boat parking is a potential issue as we have exceeded our 30 boat allocation. There is no more room.

8. Any Other Business
 

• Tessa proposed an alternative to the current system of trophy presentation. She suggested that the fleet has a trophy cabinet somewhere at the club and that the trophies stay in it with plaques showing the current holder. There would be a presentation ceremony at the end of the relevant event and the winner would have the option of taking the trophy home or leaving it on display at the club. Many seemed in favour of this idea.
• Barbara suggested that an FF event should be held that allowed retired fleet members to join in with current fleet members.