First 40.7

Chicago Beneteau First 40.7 Fleet

Minutes of Skipper's Meeting

Nov. 3, 2006

Members present at the meeting:

Absent Members:

Meeting Presided by:         Ron Buzil

Location:                           Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club

1)         State of the Fleet was given by fleet captain Ron Buzil.  The state of the fleet is very good.  We had a record number of boats, sixteen, for the Mackinac race.  Ten boats participated in the West Marine Regatta, eleven in the NOOD, Verve (12 registered), and LMSRF BOLM series, a record ten boats for the Area III Buoy BOY and another record seven boats for the Area III Port-to-Port BOY.

The average number of boats starting in Area III buoy races was 9, up from 8.8 in 2005.  Here is a five-year summary:

Good-bye to Alan McMillan's Finesse.  Alan will be moving Finesse to Florida in December.  Finesse was a major competitor in our fleet for the past five years having won the NOOD twice and placing two other years, winning the Verve Cup twice and placing two other years, winning the 40.7 North American Championship three times and placing once more, and winning twice for Area III Boat of the Year while placing four more times, winning the LMSRF BOLM series twice and placing two times, placing in the West Marine Regatta three times, and finally winning the race to Mackinac Island once and placing three more times.  Finally, of 30 Area III buoy regattas, Finesse won four and placed in eight.  The sum total is that it is quite an accomplishment in this competitive fleet. 

2)       2006 winners of all series and major events were read (see attachment).

3)         Treasurer's Report.  Dave Tarson reported that after this year's expenditures for parties, flags, and internet development, the funds are depleted.  The skippers then voted to fund the fleet in advance on an as-projected basis.  The current dues were  set at $200 per member.

4)       Area III report. Our Area III representative, Jay Muller, presented the preliminary Area III schedule for 2007.  He also stated that it was unlikely that the Verve Cup Committee would abandon the long-distance format for one race in that event.   Jay will propose to Area III that overall Tri-state awards be made by section (as we are doing now within our own fleet).

5)         2007 Schedule.  A request was made by Tsunami to not hold a fleet series event on the weekend of Sept. 15-16 due to Bryan Hayes' wedding, and to move to a substitute event for one year only.  The skippers then approved the schedule for next year based on the Area III preliminary schedule, as follows (see full schedule attached):

a)         The six regattas comprising the Area III Buoy Boat of the Year series will be:

                    Sun.    May 27         Olympic Cup Regatta

                    Sat.    July 7            Hobleman One Design Regatta

                    Sun.    Aug. 5 Fran Byrne Regatta

                    Sat.    Aug. 11         Kathy Zukasky Regatta

                    Sun.    Aug. 26         Kaczmarek Offshore Regatta

                    Sun.    Sept. 9         Frank Heyes Regatta

b)       The races comprising the Area III Long Distance Boat of the Year series will be the two races of the Waukegan race weekend and the races of the Tri-state regatta.

c)       The LMSRF Best 40.7 on Lake Michigan series will be comprised of all races of the NOOD and Verve Regattas, both long-distance races of the Waukegan race weekend and four of the above listed Area III races, specifically the Olympic Cup on May 27^th, the Fran Byrne on Aug. 5^th, The Kathy Zukasky on Aug. 11^th, and the Frank Heyes on Sept. 9^th. 

d)         It was approved by the fleet that the Columbia Yacht Club/West Marine One-Design Regatta would, once again, as it was for the past two years, be a racing clinic for the 40.7 fleet and each 40.7 is authorized one "professional" (Category 2 or Category 3) sailor aboard for any or all races.  At the end of each day's racing there may be a clinic to analyze and discuss the day's racing. 

e)         The skippers voted to move the 40.7 North American Championship to the NOOD regatta in June rather than hold it at the Verve Cup in August.  This is due to the greater national publicity given the NOOD regattas.

f)         The skippers voted against having another long-distance event at the Verve Cup and requested Jay Muller to present a unified fleet position to the Verve Cup committee. 

g)         The Commodore's Invitational Regatta on Sunday, May 20^th will be a non-series regatta with a requested 40.7 start for practice purposes.  Also, the Sheldon Clark Regatta on Sunday, September 16^th will be a non-series event with a 40.7 start.   All 40.7's are encouraged to participate in these two events.

                    A complete 2007 schedule for the 40.7 Fleet is attached to these minutes.

5.       Committee Reports

a)       Publicity.  Cate Muller is conducting an online survey of the fleet and will report results when they are ready, or at the next meeting.  The purpose of the survey is to develop a multi-year plan for the fleet.

Cate will attempt to use Scuttlebutt for fleet publicity.

b)       No other committees had any specific business to report.

6.       National 40.7 Association.  Gary Edelman, with Beneteau, is coordinating the organization of a national 40.7 fleet and has prepared some initial information documents.  A national conference call is scheduled for Thurs. Nov. 16, at 11 AM EST.

7.       Rules

a)       Jay Muller proposed to modify our rules to require a 360E rather than a 720E turn penalty (One tack and one gybe as opposed to two tacks and two gybes).  After discussion, Jay withdrew his proposal.

b)       Dave Tarson proposed limiting sails to eight types of sails per year, to be declared before the start of the year.  After discussion and expression of concerns about existing sail inventories the proposal was defeated.

c)       Tsunami proposed the allowance of only one overlapping headsail.  After discussion the proposal was defeated.

8)       It was reported by former member TJ Aruffo that after removing his leather wheel cover some of his wheel spokes were cracked.  Dave Tarson reported finding the same.  All skippers are advised to check their wheel spokes.

9)       Election of Fleet officers.  It was unanimously voted on that the fleet officers, Ron Buzil as captain and Dave Tarson as Treasurer continue for another two-year period, through the end of 2008.

10)     The next meeting will be Saturday, February 3, 2007 in conjunction with Strictly Sail at Navy Pier.

          The meeting was adjourned.