2010 Chairman's Report

Thank you for the support I have received over the past couple of years from the IGC.

As your soon to be past Chairman I shall watch with interest the results of the election at the end of the year and wish my successor the same support and advice as I have enjoyed
Treasurer
I believe the class financials as presented by David Ritchard show the class is surviving the current financial woes around the world and I thank David Ritchard for his work as our treasurer and Sherri for her efforts in helping David with the information he requests
I believe the point that David makes about the collection of National levies is very valid and National Authorities must be made aware of their obligation in collecting these levies from their members to fund the running of the class and the expectations they have of the class.
Rules Rewrite
After a tortuous 4 years of negotiations I believe our rules are rewritten in a format acceptable to ISAF. This has been mainly due to the enormous effort of governor and honorary life member Ian Kingsford Smith. His eye for detail and prodigious work ethic has produced a document I believe, must be acceptable to ISAF
Another honorary life member and governor Tim Patton with his past experience of 6 years as chairman of the IGC and consequent contact with ISAF has been our main liaison with ISAF on this matter. He has worked hard to diplomatically overcome some objections they have from time to time raised. In my role as chairman I have also been in contact with ISAF trying to resolve some of the nitty gritty in getting our rules accepted into their format.
I now believe that the way forward is to present our rules as formulated by, in the main Ian Kingsford Smith and his small committee to the membership for their approval believing that these rules will have ISAF’s imprimatur
Again I would like to thank Ian Kingsford Smith Tim Patton Chris Clarke and his ODT members and all the IGC for their contribution to this 4 year saga which seems to have taken many reciprocated emails and phone calls to my place in Perth!
One Design Technical Committee
The one design strictness of the class is its strength and its strength is largely due to diligence and hard work of Chris Clarke and his committee of Jake Gunther, Vince Brun, Alan Gray and Bruce Nelson. We are fortunate to have such erudite professionals looking after our class in a pragmatic and professional manner. Due to Chris Clarke and his committee we have scans of the hulls from recent and current builders and the plug. This is enabling the Australian Association to build a new mould from the scan of the plug and the resulting hull to be scanned to maintain the one design integrity of the new mould.
The ODT has also done extensive research in crew weights and 3 persons versus 4 persons crews, which appear to show heavier crews, are usually favoured in the results but not a bias towards numbers of crew.
Sail Measurers and Makers
Recently North Sails in UK were approved to measure sails coming from their UK one design loft. It is to be hoped that this trend will continue to all lofts to make the instigation of a royalty payment to the class a reality, as is the practice in other classes to raise money for the running of the class. This should be a priority as soon as our new rule format is passed.
Measurer
Denis Heywood continues to give sterling service as our chief measurer, and to give guidance to the class and its measurers
Some fleets have complained about some hulls being tampered with to improve their performance. I would urge those fleets to ask for those hulls to be re-measured rather than complain and slur the integrity of the owner and the class. I would be confident that owners having nothing to hide will be happy to have their hulls re-measured at the fleet’s expense!

It has become apparent during the rules rewrite that some National Associations are not affiliated to their national Authority. This will in time cause conflict with our rule and should be rectified. Hopefully this will also help in One Design Management being able to gather a complete record of measurement certificates and membership details internationally as a matter of some urgency.
The bulk of the above report is taken from the chairman’s’ to the IGC at their meeting in Dublin just prior to the World Championships and the IECA AGM the next day. Since then we have had a wonderful World Championship at Howth greatly enhanced by excellent organization mixed with very generous Irish hospitality. Congratulations to a very talented John Bertrand and his equally talented crew in becoming the new Etchells World Champions.

In conclusion I would like to thank Sherri and ODM for their hard work for the class and patience with the chairman.
Regards Bill Steele Chairman IGC IECA