Updated 03/13/2007

US SAILING
MULTIHULL COUNCIL
SPRING MEETING
Mobile, Alabama
Saturday, March 13, 2004

MINUTES
 

I.               Call to Order: The Meeting was called to Order at 3:35pm.

II.            Introduction and Special Guests

III.          Approval of Minutes: The minutes from March 2003 meeting were approved as written.

IV.     Sailor Athlete Council Membership Drive: SAC Chairman, Dean Brenner is requesting that current members of US SAILING register today as athletes and that those sailors who are not members, join now and register as a Sailor Athlete and gain a greater voice. Dean Brenner, Chairman, is requesting that Multihull Council members to go back to their fleets, yacht clubs, YRAs and encourage active sailors to register as Sailor Athletes, and by doing so, become more involved in the decision making process at the national level, within US SAILING. The Sailor Athlete Council has a permanent seat and a direct voice on the US SAILING Executive Committee. As a Sailor Athlete, you can elect members to the Sailor Athlete Council or sit on the Council yourself. The Council also nominates individuals to the Board of Directors.

Currently there are 400 registered athletes at US SAILING. Dean’s goal is to have 1000 Sailor Athletes registered by year’s end. The MHC supports this initiative and will help spread the word.

Definitions of sailor athletes and levels can be found at the following link:
      http://www.ussailing.org/saac/definition.htm

Register at: http://www.ussailing.org/saac/Athletes/register.asp

To join US SAILING: http://www.ussailing.org/multihull/ga.htm

V.      Art Steven’s Resignation: Chairman Art Stevens resigned at the end of January and per the Bylaws, Vice Chairman Dan Mangus was elected Chairman, and John Williams was elected Vice Chairman for the remainder of the term.

The Multihull Council wants to give a big “Thank You” to Art for all his time and energy,
and especially for his love of introducing youth to sailing.

VI.     Hobie Alter Cup: John Williams, Alter Cup Chairman, reports that the 2004 US SAILING Multihull Championships for the Hobie Alter Cup will be held at Roton Point Yacht Club June 16-20, 2004 on Hobie 16s.

Action Item: Annual Request for $5,000 to support the Hobie Alter Cup event.

The 2005 Hobie Alter Cup event will be held early April 2005 at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach, CA on Hobie Tigers. The sailing venue will be Long Beach Harbor.

John Williams talked about the importance of getting out the free press after the regatta. Paid advertising is expensive. He recommends assigning someone to take digital photos this can be posted on the US SAILING website.

VII.    2004 US SAILING Youth Multihull Championships: MHC Chairman, Dan Mangus, reports that the 2004 event will be held on Hobie 16s at the Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Long Island, NY, June 25-27 with June 24 as the arrival date. We expect 30 teams or 60 youths to participate.

The Youth Task Force plans to enforce the rule about alcohol at youth events. The Board of Directors approved the request that individuals found guilty of this infraction will be removed from the event, disqualified, and sent home.

This year, Youths will be able to register online.

The Multihull Council supports the ban of inflatable life jackets at Youth events and has made it a requirement for our youth championship event.

VIII.   Youth Multihull Update: Dan Mangus reports that there is a proposal in the works by the NAHCA to host the 2005 Youth Multihull Championship on Hobie 16s.

In future events, US SAILING will be requesting that bids from host clubs include all the disciplines, including Multihulls. Multihulls must be included in all future ISAF events.

The Council reviewed the proposed Deed of Gift for the Arthur J. Stevens Trophy which would be given as a perpetual trophy at the US Youth Multihull Championship.

The Council also discussed ways in which they can thank Bill Jolley for his support of the Alter Cup. Mr. Jolley also provided seed money for Fast and Fun. It was decided that a letter should be written to Bill Jolley to acknowledge his contribution. Bill Jolley needs to be thanked at every Alter Cup event.

IX.     Fast and Fun Update: Dan Mangus reports that, upon the recommendations of his doctor, Art Stevens could no longer take Fast and Fun on the road. Art Stevens drove the truck and personally oversaw all aspect s of the program. The equipment was sold to other youth programs. Fast and Fun earned $25,000 from the sail of the trailer and boats. Art was reimbursed $3,000 for his expenses. That left $22,000 to be added to the Fast and Fun kitty. Add to this the $9,000 balance in the Fast and Fun fund. Total $32,000 to be used for future youth programs.

X.      Multihull Council Nominating Committee Chairman: Darline Hobock agreed to chair this committee which will also include Bill Doelger and Gordon Isco. They will seek nominations for the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Area Reps for A, C, E, F and J to be     brought before the Council at the Fall AGM.

XI.     Review Multihull Council Membership: Chairman Dan Mangus is looking for people who want to take an active role in the Council. The Executive Committee consists of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and the ten Area Representatives. The Chairman appoints representatives to the various councils and committees.

XII.    Review New Hobie Class Decision: The NAHCA has made the decision that they will no longer allow mixed fleets to race at Hobie sanctioned events. However, the IHCA and ACA of North America both support US SAILING Area Championships and fleets will be allowed to host Area ladder events for US SAILING Championships with mixed fleets of catamarans racing.

XIII.   Council of Sailing Associations (CSA): Mark Hansen gave a report reminding MHC members that the CSA has more votes than any other Council or Committee at US SAILING and, therefore, a greater voice in the current Restructuring process. Mark spoke about the Restructuring initiative and the ramifications to the Multihull Council. MHC will lose a vote and a direct voice to the Board of Directors. MHC will also lose a vote on the Nominating Committee. The task force aims to have Direct Member Representation by letting members vote for board members on-line. The MHC will be represented to the board under one of six Councils.

XIV.   Offshore Championships: David Lumian reportedly did not have enough time to put together the event as he had hoped in conjunction with the Corsair Nationals. Bert Rice, Chairman of the Corsair Trimaran Owners Class Association, supports a national event and will be working with Patricia Lin from the Corsair Company on a proposal.

XV.    Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 4:40pm. The next meeting of the Multihull      Council will be held in October at Portland, Oregon.

Respectfully Submitted,

Deborah K. Schaefer,
Secretary