1. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS. All members of the Executive Committee were present except Mr. White and Ms. Seidenspinner. Also present were Executive Director Terry Harper and, at the invitation of the President, Board members Charles Fuller and Art Stevens.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. The minutes of the March 26, 2000 meetings of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors were approved.

3a. Budget Cuts – Mr. Muldoon reported that he has asked the Executive Director to make the following reductions in current-year expenses:

After some questions and discussion, Mr. Muldoon said that he will recast these figures and redistribute the list to the Executive Committee.

3b. Membership – At Mr. Muldoon’s request, Mr. Rosekrans reviewed his previously distributed April 17, 2000 membership report that included, among other things, interim membership data as of April 14. He reported that a total of 14 membership renewal mailings were missed, but it appears that we have started to recover. He and the staff currently forecast that recovery will be complete by July 3. Weekly membership reports will be sent to the Executive Committee until then. The Executive Committee discussed the steps being taken to avert a reoccurrence of these problems and several other membership-related issues.

4. BUSINESS PLAN FOR SAFETY BOAT PROGRAM. Mr. Jepsen reviewed the Business Plan for the Safety Boat Program – Safety and Support in Sailing and Racing Programs that he sent to the Executive Committee before the meeting and responded to questions. After a discussion, the Executive Committee approved the Business Plan including the required capital expenditures.

5. Executive Director’s Report. The Executive Director’s report was distributed before the meeting.

5a. Cruising World/Sailing World Subscription Issues – Mr. Harper reported on the efforts directed at the problems that have resulted in US SAILING members not receiving Cruising World or Sailing World. He believes that the problems with Cruising World at last are fixed. The staff now is able to turn its attention the problems with Sailing World.

5b. Chubb Masterpiece Insurance Contract – Mr. Harper is still waiting for the draft contract from Chubb. Messrs. Durant, Jepsen, Schoettle and Harper were appointed to review and approve the contract when it has been negotiated.

5c. MIT Contract (IMS) – US SAILING has received a draft IMS-related contract related from MIT. Messrs. Muldoon and Harper and Dr. Eissner will review the draft and attempt to negotiate the definitive document.

5d. 2000 Block Island Race Week – The Executive Committee approved 2000 Block Island Race Week as a US SAILING-sanctioned event and sanctioned the use of Category B advertising in the event for classes other than IMS Cruiser/Racer. Mr. Harper will assure that the organizers have not included indemnification clauses in its entry forms.

5e. Portsmouth Office Lease – The new, extended lease of the Portsmouth office space has been signed, and materials for the required HVAC improvements have been ordered. See also item 8, Treasurer’s Report.

6a. Website Update – Mr. Schoettle reported that general activity on the website and the use of the site to conduct business both continue to grow.

7a. Professional Sailing – Mr. Muldoon will appoint a working party to study issues related to professional sailing and sailors and the relationships with US SAILING.

7b. Bid for 2002 International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) World Championship – The Executive Committee approved sending a letter in support of the United States Optimist Dinghy Association’s bid with Corpus Christi, Texas, to host the 2002 IODA World Championship. Mr. Cook abstained.

7c. US SAILING Submissions to ISAF – Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) – Rob Overton, Chair of the Racing Rules Committee (RRC), joined the meeting at the President’s invitation. Mr. Cook then presented the recommendations of the Executive Committee working party (Messrs. Cook, Everingham and Lane) respecting the RRC’s proposed submissions to ISAF on the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The Executive Committee took the following actions:

- Approved the proposed submissions respecting the definitions of "party" and "protest", RRS 18.1(b), 31.3, 60.4, 61.1(b), 61.1(c), A2.1, M2.2, Appendix N and Race Signals (flag AP), all as described in Mr. Cook’s April 7, 2000 memorandum and previously provided to the Executive Committee.

- Approved the proposed submissions respecting RRS 25 and 88.2, copies of which accompanied Mr. Cook’s April 14, 2000 memorandum to the Executive Committee.

- After a discussion and comments from Mr. Overton, approved the versions of the proposed submissions respecting the definition of "rule" and RRS M1.1 and M2.1 that provide that the US SAILING prescriptions will apply in an event only if so stated in the notice of race and sailing instructions. (Copies of these submissions accompanied the April 14 memorandum.)

Each such approval was made subject to the condition that any changes from the submissions provided to the Executive Committee with the April 7 and April 14 memoranda and approved at this meeting shall be approved by the same Executive Committee working party before they are submitted to ISAF.

7d. US SAILING Submission to ISAF – Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) – Mr. Cook presented a proposed submission to ISAF on the draft ERS. The Executive Committee approved the submission with the deletion of words "and should not be placed within a measurer’s jurisdiction" from paragraph 2.

7e. Selection of Boats for 2004 Olympic Regatta – Mr. Cook reviewed an outline of a proposed presentation to be given at the ISAF meetings in Cyprus in May on the process for selecting boats for the Olympic regatta. After a discussion, the Executive Committee approved the presentation in principle, subject to refinements at the discretion of authors. If there is support at the Council in Cyprus, a formal submission to ISAF will be prepared for approval by the Executive Committee.

7f. Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship – Change of Venue and Boats – Mr. Rosekrans reported on the proposed change of the venue and boats for the 2001 Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship to Annapolis Yacht Club in J/22s from Ida Lewis Yacht Club in J/24s.

7g. Appointment of Area A Regional Administrative Judge (RAJ) – Mr. Cook announced that David Lewis is resigning as RAJ for Area A for personal reasons. The Executive Committee appointed John Dieselman to fill the remainder of Mr. Lewis’ term as requested by the Judges Committee.

8. Treasurer’s Report. Treasurer Lane discussed the financial statements for the five-month period ended March 31, 2000, which were distributed to the Executive Committee by mail the week before the meeting. He also pointed out certain formatting changes in the monthly reports and drew attention to a one-page summary of the previously approved economic terms of the new lease of the Portsmouth office space. See also item 5e, Portsmouth Office Lease.

9. ARTICLE 14 AND RRS 69 MATTERS – After Messrs. Fuller and Stevens were excused and left the meeting, the Executive Committee and the Executive Director continued in executive session respecting Article 14 and RRS 69 matters.

The meeting adjourned at 10:07 p.m. (Eastern Time). The next meeting will be by telephone conference call at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, May 16, 2000.

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J. Theodore Everingham, Secretary