Report of Skippers Meeting

2-02-05

Attending: Officers Alsalam, Gallagher; Storck; Thompson; Tompkins; Welch; skippers Bob Astrove; Cathy Bleakly; Laurie Duncan; Jim Greenwell; Steve Gregg; Todd Johnson; Paul Maher, Pat McGee; Joe Warren; crew members Marian Bruno;  Gary Roberts.

Agenda:
            1) Treasurers Report;
            2) Report from 2005 Dixie District Fleet Captains; Meeting;
            3) Scoring Rules Changes for 2005 (Bloody Rudder)
            4) New RC Duty Procedures Proposal
            5) 2005 Dixie District Championships  (June 11 – 12) – Location
            6) Finalization of 2004 Awards
            7) (as time permits) Planning for Potomac Cup and Dixie District Championships

Call to Order: Fleet Captain Storck called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

Treasurer’s Report: Per Frank, we are solvent

Dixie District Fleet Captains’ Meeting:

·        Jamie Brickel (District Commodore) has asked that we send articles to Spinsheet Magazine that highlight results of our major regattas – to increase the visibility of Lightning one-design racing in the area.  After discussion we agreed to write articles for our 3 major regattas and made the following writing assignments:

-         Potomac Cup: Joe Warren 

-         District Championships: Steve Gregg

-         Leukemia/Presidents Cup: Bob Astrove

·        2005 Dixie District Schedule (attached)

-         Note Lightning Labs at Havre De Grace May 7-8

-         Note ACC Championships (not a Dixie District event) at Wrightsville Beach NC, July 30 – 31

·        Scale for weighing boats at Dixie District Championships:

-         Nabeel has obtained the District’s scale (spring-type, hooks on crane & boat’s hoisting bridle)

-         Nabeel will bring it each Sunday during spring series, to give us a chance to see how much our boats weigh, and to practice weighing

Scoring Rules Change (Bloody Rudder Competition):  Fleet Captain Jeff Storck proposed a change to the scoring rules for determining Bloody Rudder Series winner.  The proposed change is to include the Hampton Fling as one of the (now) 12 regattas included, and to change the rule for qualifying, to have sailed in at least 50% of the regattas actually held (rather than a minimum 6). [The 50% will be rounded up to the nearest integer number].  Also, standings will be computed based on straight low-point scoring, with no-shows scored as (1 + the maximum number of Fleet 50 boats that have competed in any Bloody Rudder regatta).  Additionally, competitors must be current Fleet 50 members (but don’t need to be PRSA members) to qualify [membership status to be looked up at the time the scoring is done, near the end of the year].

Discussion: The objective is to increase the number of fleet 50 skippers who qualify for this competition.

Results: M/S/P.

Additional Rules Changes:

The Purnell Cup point scoring will be based on the number of Dixie District boats in each regatta

Proposed New RC Duty Procedures (see attached draft):  the motivation is to better share the PRSA workload among all the fleets.  RC Duty Service will now be one way for skippers to meet their obligations to PRSA, but there will be others.

Discussion:  Rob Tompkins, our Fleet Lieutenant for Racing, will solicit skippers for slots, working closely with the PRSA Rear Commodore to maintain records that are viewable on the PRSA web site.  Note that keeping track of how obligations are going to be met, and how they were met, will be complicated.

Proposed: Fleet 50 agrees with the proposed new rules, to be finalized by PRSA at the next PRSA Board Meeting.

Results: M/S/P.

Dixie District Championships 2005:  The 2005 Dixie District Championships will be held the weekend of June 11 - 12.  Fleet 50 is the host club; David Thompson is the event chair.  What venue do we want to use (Haines Point or Leesylvania)?

Discussion:  Both locations offer advantages and disadvantages.

Proposed: Conduct the regatta on the Potomac River between Haines Point and National Airport.

Results: M/S/P.  Aye 10, Nay 4.

Finalization of 2004 Crew Awards:  Results to be announced at the 2/5/05 Awards Banquet.

Regatta Planning:  It was stated that one of the most important things to line up are at least 4 reliable powerboats for use by RC.  Rick Welch agreed to check out the possibility of renting these boats at nearby marinas.  David Thompson will contact Bill Carnell of the Hampton Fleet to see what that fleet might be able to offer in the way of powerboats.  Then, the next most important thing is to confirm arrangements at Leesylvania for Potomac Cup.  David Thompson agreed to contact Jim Dillard to request assistance in lining up the park; a tent, and a sponsor.

There will be another regatta planning meeting in March, to work out the details.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted by David Thompson, Fleet Secretary.

Attachment 1 : 2005 Dixie District Calendar

Attachment 2 : Proposed PRSA Volunteer Time Policy