Chicago Beneteau First 40.7 Fleet

Minutes of Skipper’s Meeting

Jan. 31, 2009  

Members present at the meeting:

1)         State of the Fleet was given by fleet captain Ron Buzil.  The state of the fleet continues to be very good.  We have 14 boats going into the 2009 season.  There is a possibility that Reggae, now in Florida, may return to Chicago.

2)         Treasurer’s Report.  Dave Tarson, fleet treasurer reported that most of the fleet members have paid the $200 dues assessed at the last meeting. 

            Ben Kramer will assist Dave in contacting the “Friends of the Fleet” for contributions of $200, $350, or $500. 

            Katie Goldman will pursue raising money for the fleet with a paid cruise on a weekday during the summer.

            Ron Buzil reminded the members that there was an outstanding invoice to Sailing Magazine, for ads run last year, of $1,300. 

3)         Area III Report.  Jeff Comeaux, the Area III representative wasn’t present at the meeting but Jay Muller advised the skippers that Area III wants to hold a match race regatta in September and would like the 40.7 fleet to participate.  A quick poll of the skippers present indicated that six boats are interested in match racing. 

4)         2009 Schedule.    The first order of business regarding the 2009 schedule was to vote on a proposal to reduce the number of Area III Boat of the Year Buoy events from six to five.  After some discussion as to possible dates, Jay Muller proposed that the fleet do five events with one of them being the two-day Sheldon Clark Regatta on Sept. 12-13^th.  This would free up one summer weekend without reducing the number of races sailed for the series. 

            Considering the abandoned Sheldon Clark Regatta at the end of lat year, the skippers also decided that the Mayor Daley Regatta on Sept. 19^th would be a make-up event for any one abandoned regatta.  The other four Area III buoy events to be included in the Boat of the Year series will be the Olympic Cup on May 24^th, Hobelman on June 6^th, Lutz on July 11^th, and the Zukasky on Aug. 8^th. 

                        The port-to-port Boat of the Year series would consist of the two races to and from Waukegan on June 27-28^th and the Bistate Regatta (to St. Joseph and back) on Sept. 4-6^th.  For the Colors Regatta on June 13-14^th, once again one professional sailor at a time on each boat will be allowed. 

                        The Benteau 40.7 North American Championship will be held in conjunction with the Verve Cup Regatta. 

                        The LMSRF Best Beneteau 40.7 on Lake Michigan Series will consist of the NOOD, the Verve, Waukegan race weekend, and three Area III buoy Regattas consisting of the Olympic Cup, the Lutz, and the final day (Sunday) of the Sheldon Clark. 

                        A 40.7 event, not counted in any series, would be held at the Reinholtzen Regatta on May 23^rd. 

                        Dave Tarson suggested that the fleet also hold a split season for the series to consist of an A and B series.  The A series would consist of the Olympic Cup, the Hobelman, the Lutz and the NOOD, and the B series would consist of the Zukasky, both days of the Sheldon Clark and the Verve Cup, both series would ostensibly be 14 races each.  No throw-outs would be allowed in these two series and award flags would be made available by the fleet.

                        A vote was taken and both proposals – the complete 2009 schedule and the A and B series competitions were unanimously passed by all members present.  The complete final schedule will be emailed to each skipper and posted online.

5)      Strictly Sail Booth.  Gary Powell, who is in charge of the booth, reported good interest in the booth  and the crew sign-up sheet.  Gary will forward the crew sign-up to Ron Buzil for distribution to all skippers who may be interested in new crew.

6)      Website Report:  Ron Buzil, reported that Toke Sankaran, who volunteered last fall to develop a new website for the fleet, has not yet presented it.  Dave Hardy (Toke’s skipper) will talk to Toke about a possible date of completion.

7)      Social Committee Report.  Tory Enerson and Bryan Hayes, with the approval of the members present agreed that 2009 parties scheduled would be the Kick off the Season Bowling Party at Timberlanes on the evening of May 23^rd, a raft party at the Verve Cup, a beach party in St. Joseph during the Bistate Regatta, and the final end of the season party in the fall.  Treasurer Dave Tarson affirmed that there should be sufficient funds to support the parties.

            It was further agreed that Dave Tarson, Tory Enerson, Ben Kramer, and Cate Muller would work with the friends of the fleet and attempt to get one of them to sponsor the 40.7 Bistate Beach Party.

8)      Publicity Report.  Cate Muller reported that she can help with writing news stories about the fleet and will submit our stories to appropriate online websites such as Sailing Anarchy, Scuttlebutt, sailfastchicago.com and sailgroove.org. 

            It was also pointed out that there is now a Chicago 40.7 group on Facebook and that this is another source of publicity. 

9)      Rules.  Mike Kaspar presented an overview of the changes to rules 18, 19, and 20.

10)  The meeting was adjourned.