Minutes of National Offshore Council Meeting

Adams Mark Hotel

Charlotte, North Carolina

March 23 & 24, 2001

 Minutes Spring 2001

CALL TO ORDER: 0940, March 23, 2001

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

Paul Ansfield (USPHRF), Bruce Bingman (CBYRA), Craig Brown (TPYC), Larry Bulman (STC), Bruce Campbell (PIYA), Bill Doelger (Multi-Hull Council), Bruce Eissner (YRUMB), Bill Keith (SFBAYPHRF), Bill Kellner (PHRF-LE), Gene McCarthy (LMSRF), Ken Morrison (RHORC/HPHRF), John Osmond (SMYRA), Matt Pedersen (SASC), Dan Van Heeckeren (ILYA), Talbot Wilson (Gulf YA/PYC), John Winder (CCA),

GUESTS:

Bobbi Campbell (Seattle YC), William Chambers (AYC), Dick Hampikian (AmeriCap), Alan McIlhenny (IMS), Don Genitempo (ORC), Rob Mock (GRSC), Pete Reichelsdorfer (IMS), Rolf Steitz (USMMA), Jim Tichenor (Houston YC), Robert Thomas (PHRF-Chesapeake), Dan Trammell and Dan Nowlan (US SAILING Offshore Director).

REPORT OF SECRETARY:

A) The minutes of the meeting of October 12 & 14, 2000 were approved,

B) Communications: The Offshore office mailed agendas to over 80 offshore organizations in the US. We are continuing to seek methods to bring new members into the NOC.

REPORT OF OFFSHORE DIRECTOR:  Dan Nowlan reported on the state of the Offshore Office. Dan is continuing his review of the business plan of the Offshore Office. He is currently reviewing pricing of services. In addition he has offered to score key races for IMS fleets this summer. He scored Key West Race Week in January and will do Block Island later this year. He is working on upgrading the measuring equipment and he is seeking ways to promote measurement rules in the US. 

OLD BUSINESS:

A) NOC WEB SITE: Dan Van Heeckeren indicated that business factors are making it difficult for him to manage the NOC web site and he suggested that we find someone else to perform this task. Craig Brown noted that Ken Morrison has posted the NOC minutes and agenda to the web site. Craig Brown reported that we need to put the National Offshore Championship Race Notice on the web site as soon as it is available.

B) ISAF ISSUES: Bruce Eissner reported on the following ISAF issues:

1) Advertising Code. Bruce Eissner reported that US SAILING has taken the position that the advertising category for handicap classes (ie. IMS and PHRF) will be Category C. By designating them Category C, the local fleets then have the authority to limit the amount of Category C advertising within their fleets. This is the best method of compromise since there are mixed opinions within the local fleets and we cannot control what we do not know. We must

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leave this decision up to the local fleets. NOC should help explain the rationale behind this decision. The question was asked, could an organizing authority limit the amount of Category C

advertising in a specific event? At the Race Management Committee meeting on March 24, 2001, Charley Cook informed the committee that under the ISAF advertising code organizing authorities could make a decision whether to designate local and invitational events as either Category A or Category C. However, if they elected to designate an event Category C, they could not limit the amount of Category C advertising allowed.

2) Eligibility. The new eligibility code from ISAF requires that all competitors, including crewmembers, be members of NGBs or clubs. US SAILING has enacted a prescription to the RRS stating that the maximum penalty for violation of this policy will be a warning. There is currently a submission to the mid-year ISAF meeting to rework the Eligibility Code to make this policy subject to NGB decision. Bruce Eissner recommends we tread lightly on this issue, as many countries already require this. The Chairman recommended forming a Working Party to analyze the policy of developing universal US SAILING membership and report to the Council at the Fall Meeting on how this might be implemented in 2002.  John Osmond, Dan Van Heeckeren, Larry Bullman, Bruce Campbell, Bobbi Campbell and Paul Ansfield were appointed to the working party. Upon reconvening the meeting on March 24, 2001, the decision was made to add, “boat membership” to the subject to be reviewed by the working party.

3) The ORC is now a Committee of ISAF and submissions must now be made on the ISAF schedule. The ORC is planning on changing the calendar for publication of the Special Regulations to the 4-year cycle. US SAILING is now planning to put the ORC Special Regulations with US SAILING prescriptions on the US SAILNG Web Site. Bruce Eissner also reported that US SAILING is preparing a submission to recommend that a set of equipment regulations be added to cover the lighter sport boats as Categories 5 & 6..

C) U.S. OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIPS:

1) Craig Brown reported that the USNA would host the championship on October 21-28,  2001. e The Organizing Committee will include Larry Dawes and Allan Faurot. The Race Notice has been drafted and will be posted to the NOC web site shortly. Entries must be in by September 10. Planning is moving forward on this event.

2) Regarding the 2000 event, the Appeals Committee reversed the actions of the jury and has reinstated Keith Ives as the winner with Gordon Hall second and John Leitzinger third.

3) The Chairman has organized an Offshore Championship working party that includes Larry Dawes, Allan Faurot, Bill Uniak and Chuck Fuller.

D) CREW LISTS & EVENT LISTS:  Paul Ansfield circulated a report on this subject. The list is technically feasible; however, there are still some funding problems. There is a very low cost of $2,500.00, but this must be budgeted. The Chairman presented a draft Calendar of Events that might be supported by the NOC crew list web site. The Chairman invited comments for the second meeting on how this might work and what events should be included. When the meeting was reconvened on March 24, 2001 the Chairman advised the Council that he might have found funding for the crew list site. Barry Carroll of Carroll Marine agreed to fund 50% of the cost or $1,250. Pete Reichelsdorfer agreed to approach North Sails to see if they might fund the

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remaining $1,250.00. Ensuing discussions on the subject of an Events List resulted in outlining the information needed for an Events List. Bruce Eissner agreed to draft a form for organizers to use in having their events posted to the NOC web page and Paul Ansfield agreed to work with Ken Signorello to determine the best method for posting this material to our web page.

NEW BUSINESS:

A) Nominating Committee Appointments: Gene McCarthy Chair, Talbot Wilson & Ken Morrison

B) The US SAILING Mission Statement was distributed at the US SAILING Board meeting on March 23. The Chair asked for the NOC members to review this Mission Statement and make recommendation if there are any of our missions that should be added to the US SAILING mission statement.

RECESS/RECONVENE: The meeting was recessed at 1100 on Friday, March 23 and reconvened at 1630 on Saturday, March 24, 2001.

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at 1705 on Saturday, March 24, 2001