Minutes of the National Offshore Council Meeting
March 14-16, 2003
Hilton Netherland Plaza
Cincinnati Ohio

CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Morrison called the meeting to order at 0930

MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Ansfield (NOC, LMPHRF), Larry Bulman (NOC, IMS), Bruce
Bingman (NOC, USPHRF), John Collins (NOC, PHRF-NE), Bruce Eissner (NOC, YRUMB),
Gene McCarthy (NOC, LMSRF), Ken Morrison (NOC, RHORC), Jim Walsh (NOC, USPHRF),
Talbot Wilson (NOC, GYA), John Winder (NOC, CCA).

GUESTS: Jack Braitmeyer (Marion-Bermuda), Dick Hampikian (CYC/AmeriCap, Glen
McCarthy (LMSRF), Bill Munster (US Sailing), Dan Nowlan (US Sailing Offshore Director),
Peter Reichelsdorfer (IMS), Betty Sherman (SDYC), Jim Teeters (US Sailing Director of
Research), Robert Thomas (Hampton YC).

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY:

A) Minutes of Fall Meeting held October 17 & 19 at Marina Del Rey California were corrected and unanimously approved

B) Communications. No documents were received or sent. Bruce Eissner reminded those present that the Offshore Newsletter available through the Sailrater Server was an appropriate vehicle to use for communications among members and constituents of NOC.

OLD BUSINESS:

A) Matt Pederson detailed the Offshore website. The initial page describes the Offshore Office and its mission. It contains links to the various rules sites that are maintained by each rule committee.

B) John Winder presented a report from the Grand Prix Working Party. The working party was established as a cooperative venture to explore the viability of an International Grand Prix rule. US Sailing, the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Offshore Racing Council are major stakeholders in the effort. The first meeting of the ORC working party will take place in Annapolis on March 24-25, 2003 Chaired by Jean-Louis Fabry. The ORC working party comprises Peter Reichelsdorfer and Stan Honey from US SAILING, Stuart Quarrie & David Lyons from the RORC, and Manolo Ruiz and Paolo Massarini from the ORC. Olin Stevens is consultant to the working party. A technical representative to the ORC working party from each of the three stakeholders is invited to participate. The report by Winder emphasized that the Grand Prix working party was not exploring a replacement for IMS, but the viability of an international rule for racing that meets the needs of a different constituency. Winder listed a variety of issues to be explored by the working party.

C) Paul Ansfield reported briefly on the web based Calendar of Events and Crew List database. It was noted that the Calendar of Events application is available for race organizer input at www.ussailing.org/calendar. Users follow onscreen instructions to place an event in the calendar of events.

A link to the NOC Crew List application was renewed in March of 2003. Management and sustaining costs are issues that remain for resolution.

D) Bruce Eissner reported on ISAF matters. The ISAF life raft specification is not fully resolved because of an available and similar ISO specification. For the present US Sailing will apply the current ORC specification. He noted that competitor eligibility would be assigned according to ISAF regulations that are less restrictive than previously employed US Sailing criteria. Eissner also emphasized that the International Grand Prix Rule effort is an opportunity to meet the needs of sailors that have expressed some dissatisfaction with other international rules. He also emphasized the development effort is not designed to seek a replacement of IMS.

E) Paul Ansfield reported that the ISAF Empirical Handicap Committee has established an Electronic Forum on the ISAF website. The forum provides answers and instruction about Empirical Handicapping Systems and Technology to queries from sailors worldwide.

F) US Sailing Offshore Director Dan Nowlan reported on the status of the various measurement and handicapping rules that are currently in place. There is a continuing decrease in IMS rated boats and a substantial increase in AmeriCap rated boats. Together these rules will account for over 600 uniquely issued certificates. At the present time there are 47 registered PHRF fleets with perhaps a dozen more yet to complete their registration for the current year. These fleets account for about 15,000 handicapped boats. Nowlan noted that there might be as many as 5000 other boats using PHRF in unregistered fleets.

G) The NOC Chairperson reported on the US Offshore Championship Lloyd Phoenix Trophy for 2003 and 2004 on behalf of Brad Dallenbaugh and Chuck Fuller.

a. The 2003 event will be sailed at the US Naval Academy October 31 through November 2. Joni Palmer will handle registration and logistics and Brad Dallenbaugh will act as the PRO.

b. The 2004 event will be held at the Long Beach Yacht Club during the first or second week in October with the dates to be finalized at the US SAILING Fall AGM. The General Chairman will be Bobby Frazier.

NEW BUSINESS

The following NOC members were appointed to the NOC Nominating Committee: Matt Pederson, Chairperson, with members Bruce Bingman, Craig Brown, John Winder, and
Paul Ansfield.

The meeting adjourned at 1415 Saturday, March 15, 2003.

Submitted by

Paul Ansfield,

Secretary NOC