1. Meeting called to order at 10:50 am.
Location: Battleship Massachusetts, Fall River, MA

2. Roll Call:

Division Officers:

Other members present:

Rick Bliss (154)

3. Chair’s Report (Dave Heroux)

Division Book report. 500 printed, 452 mailed.
Cost $1300, targeted income $1675.
More discussion in new business.

5. Treasurer’s Report (Mike Ferrara)

6. Scorekeeper’s Report (Mike Levesque)

7. Membership Report (Dave Heroux)

8. Appeals Committee Report (Dave Fortier)

9. Website Report (Ted Knowlton)

10.  Fleet Reports

Fleet 136: 30 members, 1 meeting

Fleet 154: 20 members, 2 meetings

Fleet 209: 15-20 members, 1 meeting

Newsletter: Craig Hackett, 1 issue

Fleet 231: 6 members, no meetings

Newsletter: None

Fleet 448: 82 members, 7 meetings

Newsletter: The Pirates’ Den, Mark & Michelle Wood, seven issues

Fleet 496: 12 members, 3 meetings

Newsletter: None

11. Points Regatta Schedule:

Aug 24-25 Shellfish Festival

Sept 7-8 NH State Champs

Sept 21-22 Roton Point Fall Regatta

Results of Roll Call Vote for 2002 Division 12 Championship:

Events bidding: RISC, Pine Point, Hampton

28  Pine Point

Other events:

12. Old Business (Bylaws Committee):

13. New Business:

Motion:“Allocate up to $75 to for materials, etc. to support the 2002 Division 12 RC Seminar.Event hosts will determine location and other details.”

Made by Tony Ramos, seconded by Eric Anderson.

Motion passed unanimously.

2.Automatic NAHCA Area Championship Points:

Mike Levesque asked if the points for the NAHCA Area Championship could automatically be brought into the Division 12 series points without requiring the sailors to petition for them each year (the points are worth 1.5 normal value).This would make life easier for the sailors and Scorekeeper; as well as bring additional notice to these events, increase participation, etc.Currently, the Area Championship for Division12 is the Northeast AC (the Madcatter regatta in Syracuse, NY).Recently, it was the Atlantic Coast AC (last held in Wildwood, NJ).Also discussed was the option of the sailors to petition for a different regatta’s points to override their results at the AC.

Motion:“Results from the NAHCA Area Championship for Division 12 shall be counted in the annual Division 12 Series Points without action by the sailors.Current D12 rules regarding outside regattas remain intact (The regatta shall serve as the sailor’s single outside regatta to count for points, and shall count as 1.5 times normal value, based on finish position and the Division 12 prorated points table.). A sailor may petition to substitute a different outside regatta if his results would be improved, following deadlines as published in the Division 12 Series Points Rule Book.”

Made by Eric Anderson, seconded by Joe Manganello.

Yeah: 28, 136, 154, 448, 496.Abstain: 209, 231.Motion passed.

3.Status of NAHCA Atlantic Coast Area Championship:

Mike Levesque asked if any Division 12 Fleets were interested in reviving the NAHCA Atlantic Coast Area Championship.A three day event is not required.However, the three day format is an excellent opportunity to participate in the NAHCA Guest Expert Program, host an Race Committee Seminar, have a Youth or Women’s event, etc.Fleet 28 indicated that they may be interested and would pursue options.

4.Points for One-Design Classes Sailing in Open Class:

Mike Levesque noted that several times each season, there are boats that have enough boats for a one-design class at some regattas, but have to race Open Class in others.For Hobies, we have been pulling the results from the Open Class and awarding points in both the Hobie class and the Open Class.If there are two Hobie 17s in an Open Class, they are scored as 1 and 2 in the Hobie 17 class for series points for that regatta (the Open Class results are not changed).The question is: Do we want to do the same for the non-Hobie classes (particularly the Inter 20NA class)?

Motion:“For the purpose of Division 12 Series Points, each boat class with separate one-design class results in at least one regatta per season, regardless of manufacturer, shall be scored in the Open Class, as well as a separate one-design class.The points awarded for the one-design class shall be based on the number of the boats of the same one-design type racing in the Open Class at the regatta.”

Made by John Decker, seconded by Tony Ramos.

Further discussion was held and John Decker withdrew the motion.

Motion:“The Bylaws Committee will formulate a rule to address this issue.The rule must be presented to and approved by the Fleets prior to the first regatta of the 2002 season.”

Made by Eric Anderson, seconded by Ted Knowlton.

Motion passed unanimously.

5.Points for Single Hobie in Open Class:

Mike Levesque noted that there is no provision in the prorated points table for a single boat at a regatta.Currently, if Hobies are forced to race in Open Class due to having insufficient boats at the regatta, the Hobies are awarded points in their one-design class.If only one Hobie is present, there are no points available per the points table.This does not reward the sailor for attending the regatta.Much discussion was held on amount of points to reward, etc.

Motion:“Update the prorated points table for 2002 to award 10 points to a single boat at a regatta.”

Made by Rick Bliss, seconded by Greg Harwood.

Yeah: 28, 136, 209, 231, 448, 496.Nay: 154.Motion passed.

6.Status of Hobie 16 A, B, C Classes:

Mike Levesque noted that there has been a significant drop in the number of Hobie 16s at regattas, and there are not enough boats to support three fleets (A, B, C).Other Divisions have the same issue.The A, B, and C fleets are a luxury, intended to promote sailors to improve in like-ability subclasses, but are not required (no other boats have ability-dependent fleets).Much discussion was held on the issue.

Motion:“Starting in 2002, there will be two Hobie 16 fleets in Division 12, 16A and 16 Novice.The Hobie 16 class sailors shall be responsible for assigning sailors to the appropriate fleet based on ability.The A, B, C fleets may be reinstated in the future if participation warrants.”

Made by Doreen Coughlan, seconded by Eric Anderson.

Motion passed unanimously.

7.Division Book Advertisements:

Dave Heroux reviewed the policy adopted by the Division 12 officers for the 2001 Division book.No policy changes for 2002 were planned.

Sponsors:

Full page:$125

Fleets:

Regatta:Boat fees ($2 per boat)

8.New Deadline for Appeals and Protests:

Dave Heroux noted that appeals and protests should be filed by the end of the year so changes to results can be included in the Division book.This particularly applies to appeals to the series points as distributed via e-mail or on the Division 12 website.

Motion:“Starting for the 2002 season:
A. All protests and appeals shall be filed by December 31 of the year of the regatta in question.
B. The Division 12 Series Points results shall be compiled and posted on the Division 12 website by November 30.”

Made by Eric Anderson, seconded by Doreen Coughlan.

Motion passed unanimously.

9.New Procedure for Transfer of Perpetual Trophies:

Dave Heroux noted that the perpetual trophies are difficult to retrieve and transfer to the next winner each season.Much discussion was held on when to turn over, etc.

Motion:“All 2000 winners shall return the trophies to the Division Chair by May 1, 2002.Starting for the 2002 season, the perpetual trophies will be awarded to the winners of the prior season at the first regatta of the new year.The trophies are to be returned to the Division Chair by May 1 of the following year.For example, the winner of the Hobie 18 class for the 2001 season will receive the trophy at the first regatta in 2002, and return it to the Division Chair by May 1, 2003.”

Made by Eric Anderson, seconded by Doreen Coughlan.

Motion passed unanimously.

It was further recommended that this rule be marked on the rear of the trophies to facilitate this changeover.

10.Publication of Hobie 14 Frostbite Results in Division Book:

Dave Heroux mentioned that several people asked if the results of the Hobie 14 Frostbite Series could be included in the Division book.

Motion:“Starting in 2002, the Hobie 14 Frostbite Series results shall be printed in the Division book.”

Made by Eric Anderson, seconded by Tony Ramos.

Motion passed unanimously.

11.Division Website Ideas:

Ted Knowlton asked for more ideas to place on website.A suggestion was made to update the front page (add new pictures).

12.Division 12 Policy on Crew Weight Correction Factors for Open Class:

Mike Levesque mentioned that there was debate over the use of the use of Portsmouth crew weight correction factors for calculating Open Class results.Sailors from other NAHCA Divisions brought this to our attention, as they are not accustomed to using the correction.We need a Division-wide rule to be published and implemented the same way at all Division 12 points regattas.Eric Anderson and Rick Bliss gave a detailed history on the so-called “Fat Boy” rule, including pros and cons.

Motion:“Starting in 2002, Portsmouth crew weight correction factors
will NOT be used when calculating Open Class results at Division 12 points regattas.”

Made by John Decker, seconded by Rick Bliss.

Yeah: 136, 154, 209, 231, 448, 496.Nay: 28.Motion passed.

13.Division 12 Banner:

It was asked if the Division website address could be added to the Division 12 banner. It was noted that the banner was in rough shape and may be AWOL.

Motion:“Allocate up to $200 to design and fabricate a new Division 12 banner, and include the website address on the banner.”

Made by Eric Anderson, seconded by Tony Ramos.

Motion passed unanimously.

14. 2002 Division 12 Officer Elections:

Results of Roll Call Vote for 2002 Treasurer:

28 Patricia Alexander

15. 2002 Division 12 Appointed Positions:

16. Next Meeting:  Saturday, November 9, 2002.

17. Meeting Adjourned at 3:00 pm.