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Chairman's Yuletide Message |
Chairman Bill Steele's Yuletide message:
As some of the Northern hemisphere starts to hibernate, the Jaguar Cup in Florida and some hardy souls continue racing over the holidays. As well as reports on the Piana Cup in Florida it was great to read Lawrence Mead’s insight into the British Nationals. In the Southern Hemisphere the sailing season is now in full swing and in New Zealand it is pleasing to read of a close run Nationals and increased interest in the Class in an Auckland venue. After a couple of very successful regattas on Lake Macquarrie, the Australian Nationals are set for an keenly contested regatta with sailors from all states and New Zealand competing. The backbone of our class, local fleet racing are reported to be still attracting members and good fleet racing down under. Unfortunately this is not being reflected in new boat sales as older hulls remain competitive in local fleets, which is counted a blessing in some circles perhaps if not by our hard pressed builders.
The Sydney Fleet’s proposal to monitor more closely boats that have had extensive refurbishment has been passed by the Australian Fleets and will be put before the IGC early in the New Year for their consideration. This proposal is along the lines of existing rules to scrutinize and re measure modifications to keels and is an attempt to ensure the one design sanctity of the class.
The ODT continues to do sterling work under the Chairmanship of Chris Clark to ensure our class adheres to its one design principals and monitor areas where the class can be improved. They continually face a myriad of contentious issues, and for example are currently considering means for a trial weighing of non essential equipment on the boats during the Dublin Worlds can be implemented. Personally I favour his recent proposal to me that sailors are enticed to volunteer to have their extraneous gear weighed by having pretty colleens seducing them to the weighing area with Guinness!
The small committee of Ian Kingsford Smith and Tim Patton continue to badger ISAF to approve the rule rewrite to the ISAF template and I’m told they are optimistic to have this before the IGC soon and well debated prior to the next AGM in Dublin.
On the subject of Dublin I understand the NOR should be on the website in the near future and if bookings at the Deer Park Hotel are a guage it is hoped to be a popular venue.
One Design Management especially Sherri have continued to provide us with great secretarial skills as well as producing a book for us and I am very grateful for their support and help in keeping things running with a minimum effort from me.
As I have said before the one design factor of our beautiful boats means that it is how you trim your sails and set your course to take advantage of those elusive wind shifts that dictates your success, and in my case sometimes a large dose of luck is also indispensable!
On that note I would wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS & A SAFE PROPEROUS & LUCKY NEW YEAR.
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