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USSA IMS Committee Meeting Minutes NYYC Harbor Court 9 March 2001 Present: Pete Reichelsdorfer, Chair, Jim Teeters, Vice Chair, Jim Schmicker, Robert Ranzenbach, Jim Taylor David Pedrick, Greg Stewart, Olin Stephens, Charlie Poor, Alan McIlhenny, Dan Nowlan Meeting opened at 1000 1. The minutes of the 31 July 2000 meeting were approved 2. Offshore Directors Report—A continuing effort to make the office self-sufficient necessitated an increase in the cost of services. An investment is being made in the upgrading of the measuring machines and computers. An electronic inclinometer has been purchased. A survey of owners indicated that reasonable increases in cost were to be expected. The rate of revalidations is slower than in ’00. A marketing and PR consultant is on board part time. Certificate and fleet data will be available electronically for a fee to be determined. A spreadsheet program for measurer input data has been developed.Advertising on boats sailing in handicap fleet (Reg. 20) is allowed for those fleets designated by the National Authority. The default is Cat A. Race Organizers can select A or C. A press release with full explanation is due for release. 3. Wind Averaging—The question of the appropriate use of wind averaging in the scoring program was raised in communications with the IMS Chief Measurer. Subsequently the issue came to the attention of the ITC. After discussion at its January ‘01 meeting, the ITC referred the issue to the USSA IMS committee. It was noted that the original work in establishing the concept was the product of the US committee.The Wind Averaging concept was developed to enhance performance curve scoring by recognizing that the wind is not steady and boats with different characteristics respond differently to the these wind changes. It was noted that there are defaults recommendations and preferred usages for the use of Wind Averaging. After review of the distributed documents, and a discussion of the IMS scoring program and methods, the committee affirmed that the use of Wind Averaging for all courses is a race management decision to be based on the type of scoring that best suits the fleet and the racing venue. The committee will undertake a study of the Wind Averaging subject as a work item for ’01. The Long Island IMS 40 fleet will provide data from the ’01 summer schedule of races. 4. Nomex—A request was received evaluate the Nomex speed assessment in light of yachts constructed with Honeycomb core materials used only in the deck. It was determined that to assign partial assessments for partial use was not practical. No recognized method and standard is available to make such evaluation. In addition, the use of Carbon fiber carries the full assessment regardless of the amount in the hull structure for the same reasons.5. Review of ’00 Submissions 6. Recent Race Review—The fleet numbers were up at KWRW. Dan Nowlan ran the Scoring program providing on the water scoring immediately post race. The concept was well received. The formation of an IMS 50 foot class is underway. There will be a race schedule and formation of class by-laws. 7. Centerboards—This issue has been on the agenda for some time. The issue was tabled pending further developments. 8. Research Directors Report—The tank testing at IMD for the three beam series models is scheduled for June or July. Testing will also be for heeled drag. The results of the IMD tests will be available for a fee. The fee is to support the administration of the program and add to the research fund. The CFD evaluation has been funded by contributions. The Spinnaker size testing in the GLMWT is to be coordinated with the ITC/ORC. An upwind sail plan test with fractionality and overlap as the variables is planned as an extension of the Southampton test of "95. These results will be studied as replacement or modification to the long-standing sail force coefficients now in use.9. Review of the November ’00 ORC Annual Meeting and the January ’01 ITC meeting. David Pedrick gave a general review of the Annual meeting and the rule changes implemented (reported elsewhere). A review of the current hydro and aero projects was presented and the coordination with the US IMS committee was discussed. 10. Review USSA test fleet—The committee will review the US test fleet and the US yachts in the ITC test fleet. Copies of the fleets will be emailed to the committee. 11. Review of sail coefficients and planned efforts and wind tunnel tests--The following items have been bundled into the planned Wind Tunnel test. A review is planned for the next meeting.
12. Grandfathering of Racer Cruiser for Tartan 10—More data is required. This class raced under the IMS in ’85. 13. A discussion relating to the general observation the "shy" sail area yachts cannot sail up to their VPP in light conditions. The observation that this is acceleration issue and not steady state. Consideration deferred to the next meeting. Other Business and next Meeting—Meeting tentatively scheduled for late July Meeting adjourned at 1600 |