MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF THE NSOA HELD AT THE DINGHY SHOW, ALEXANDRA PALACE, SUNDAY 2ND MARCH, 2008
Present: David Wines - Hon Chairman
Andrew Porteous - Hon Treasurer
Lou Bibby – Hon Secretary
David West - Hon Publicity Officer
Pete Richards - Editor Squibble
Jenny Riley - Lowestoft Nationals 2008
Malcolm Blackburn - Chairman Technical Sub-committee
Fran Blackburn - Championship Sub-committee
Jill Flemming - Irish Forum Representative
Tony Saltonstall – Hon Technical Adviser and Measurer
Gerard Dyson – Hon Web Adviser
Mike Barsby
Peter Jackson
Sean Clarkson – Hon Webmaster
Apologies: David Pearce, Holyhead SC, Aldeburgh SC, Peter Horton, Max Evans, Steve Warren Smith, Chris Pope, Sally Everitt,
The Chairman welcomed Jill Fleming - (Dun Laoghaire) representing the newly formed Irish Forum, Gerard Dyson- RYYC, who has replaced John Good, Jenny Riley –Chairman 2008 National Championship Organising Committee , and Sean Clarkson- the new NSOA website guru.
The Committee recorded its thanks to John Good who it noted was probably the longest serving committee member of the NSOA and it was felt that a Squibble article could be written about that fact.
The Committee also recorded its thanks to Will Bibby for all the hard work that he had put in over the past years on the website and the membership database.
Minutes of the last meeting held on 12th November 2007
The Minutes were approved and duly signed by the Chairman.
Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
Technical Sub-committee’s Report
Class Rules re-write - ISAF
Malcolm Blackburn reported that the rewrite is ready to get final approval from the NSOA & then the RYA. The important point to note is that “if the rules don’t say you can - you cannot”
The question was raised about the wording in the re-write regarding electronic compasses. It was agreed that it should say: the following modes are allowed:-
Heading
Tactical scale
Race Timer
It was agreed that the class does not want a more technical or sophisticated electronic compass than currently allowed.
Malcolm Blackburn said that the RYA are content that the rule re-write included only minor technical changes and therefore does not require approval by an AGM vote.
It was agreed that the rudder thickness maximum size will be removed from the rules - the important restriction was the minimum allowable thickness.
It was unanimously agreed that the Committee accepted the rewrite of the rules as presented by Malcolm Blackburn on behalf of the Technical Sub-committee. It was noted this does not prevent the NSOA altering the rules at any future date if so desired.
Sailmakers.
Malcolm Blackburn reported that Des McWilliams has left UK McWilliams and is intending to start up again elsewhere. This technically means that the licence for McWilliams – which is held by the named individual - has lapsed. The Technical subcommittee recommend no action at present as the market is insufficient (approx 100 new suits of sails p.a.) to justify a fourth sail maker. Although she thought it was unlikely, Jill Flemming undertook to consult the Irish Forum on whether they wished to see UK McWilliams replaced with another Irish based sailmaker.
Sailcloth
Malcolm Blackburn said that Hyde Sails had reported that the latest batch had again met the new specification very consistently. No other samples were received from the other sail makers to test.
Polykote Trials
Malcolm Blackburn reported that the winter tests at Oulton Broad had been successfully completed and the trials will now continue at Abersoch. To date the results, which had been excellently conducted and recorded, had proved inconclusive with pros and cons for both cloths. Dick Batt had collected the two jibs at the Dinghy Show and will examine them before sending them to SCYC for the continuation of the trials.
It was stressed and unanimously agreed that it was important that the trials were extensive and thorough, and that no hasty decisions were made. In due course the results of the full trial would be analysed and a report and recommendation made to the Committee by the Technical Sub-committee.
Roller-Furling
David West had proposed, on safety grounds, that furling the jib be allowed while racing and has submitted in detail an AGM proposal. Following lengthy discussion it was agreed that thorough and extensive trials would be conducted throughout the 2008 summer season to see if any advantage was to be gained by furling the jib while racing. Malcolm Blackburn undertook to nominate some appropriate fleets where some boats were known to be fitted with furlers and to invite them to take part in trials. The Committee were minded not support a rule change if it meant that owners had to adopt roller furling in order to remain competitive in all conditions. It was also considered important to protect the one design nature of the Class and to ensure that owners were not forced into any unnecessary additional expenditure.
Hon Treasurer’s Report
Andrew Porteous said that there was nothing untoward to report and that the bank balance stood at £17,500.
He reported that he was awaiting payment of hull mould fees for boat no’s 856, 857 & 858, and queried when Parkers were due to make the new deck mould. Tony Saltonstall said they he understood that they would be unable to make it before June and that the mould would cost in the region of £4,000. He undertook to liaise with Parkers to obtain a written estimate, and to confirm, that subject to this, we wished to proceed with the new mould asap.
Tony Saltonstall reported that he had learned that the RYA had agreed to allocate sail number 868 to the 40th Anniversary Prize Squib at the RCYC event at Burnham-on-Crouch in June, and that he understood that Adrian Fluker intended requesting that the NSOA waive the £300 mould fee for the boat. Following discussion it was unanimously agreed that because the NSOA funds rely heavily on mould fees as a major source of income - it would be inappropriate to waive the fee - should a request be received from the RCYC to do so.
Hon Membership Secretary’s Report
On behalf of Sally Everitt, Andrew Porteous reported the number of fully paid up members – 490 - were comparable to previous years. Sally Everitt was working with Sean Clarkson to update the database ready for publication of the Squib Handbook 2008.
It was agreed that the expense of a 40th Anniversary Cover for the Handbook could be authorised - providing good quality photographs could be found.
Marketing Sub-committee’s Report
Squibble
Pete Richards reported that once again Squibble was dependent on good copy - without it there would be no magazine. An email plea would go out to all Fleet Captains. Good quality photographs were also required to fill the colour pages.
Dinghy Show 2008
The Chairman requested a Minute to officially thank the White Brothers for setting up the stand, David West for providing his Squib and all his time, and all the other volunteers for manning the stand with a special mention for Toby and Margo Taylor for organising the most efficient knock down ever at the end of the show.
In discussion it was agreed that there was unquantifiable PR from attending the Dinghy Show and that it was the best market place for attracting dinghy sailors to the Squib Class. However, if the Class is to continue attending the Show, a new person will need to be identified to lead
on the event and to organize the necessary volunteers - without which, attendance would be impossible. There was also the ongoing problem of the storage and transportation of the current display steps.
The Chairman undertook to investigate the cost of acquiring lightweight aluminium steps which – whilst complying with the necessary H and S requirements – could be more easily erected, transported and stored.
It was agreed that attendance at the Dinghy Show will be discussed further at the May meeting ready for questions about NSOA attendance at the AGM.
Website
Sean Clarkson presented his comprehensive report on the work he had been carrying out on the Website and on the Membership Database. See attached report. Following discussions on the problem with the domain name www.squibs.co.uk - he was authorised to spend up to £250 in protecting the Squib name and registering other possible Squib names to prevent them being used by an unauthorised source. Until the domain name problem is sorted he reported that it would not be possible to link the website membership database with the master copy held by Sally Everitt. In due course, Sean Clarkson will oversee an on line database that can be updated by the members as well as himself and the Membership Secretary.
Sean Clarkson was thanked for all his hard work and left the meeting.
The meeting then discussed an Honorarium for Sean Clarkson. It was noted how important the website and the membership database is to the Squib Class and how helpful it was to have a volunteer who was happily devoting hours to sorting out the various problems. It was unanimously agreed to pay him £500 for 2008 (to reflect the extensive work he had already undertaken) and £300 p.a. thereafter.
Post Meeting Note: After discussions between Sean Clarkson and Gerard Dyson it has been agreed that their titles will be – Hon. Webmaster and Hon. Web Adviser respectively.
Yachts and Yachting Advertisements.
David West reported that the series was now running - the entire set could be viewed on the Squib website. He hoped that it would prove to be a useful advertising campaign.
In the meantime, any decent sailing photos should be sent to David West ready to submit to Yachts and Yachting as they do not send out reporters - they wait for copy to be sent in which is then edited in house.
Championship Sub-committee
Lou Bibby reported on behalf of Max Evans that a request had been received from Royal Victoria YC to host the 2012 National Championship. The request would be considered by the Championship sub-committee who will make a recommendation to the NSOA Committee in due course.
2008 National Championship - Lowestoft
Jenny Riley reported that all preparations were in hand - they were awaiting further entries as numbers were limited to 60. The Meeting complimented Lowestoft on the excellent Nationals 2008 website which was very clear and easy to use. Jenny Riley asked for a list from the Technical Sub-committee of items to be scrutineered.
Irish Forum
The request for the NSOA to pay the ISA accreditation fee 100 Euros pa was unanimously approved.
Any Other Business
It was agreed that the NSOA load cell would not be loaned out in the future but would be held by Tony Saltonstall, who would organize the annual calibration, for use at the National and Inland Championships.
The NSOA Meeting on 12th May will be held at 1700 hrs at the Royal Naval Club, Hill Street, Mayfair (www.navalclub.com) due to the Royal Thames YC being overbooked.
The 10th November meeting will take place as usual at the RTYC at 1700 hrs.
There being no further business the Meeting ended at 1615 hrs.
Lou Bibby
Hon Secretary - 14.3.08