December 2024 - Board Meeting

Dear Fellow Folkboaters,

Below are the details of our most recent Board Meeting. The meetings main discussion point centres around a recently published article by the Swedish which has been distributed Internationally.

In the meantime as your Chairman representing NFIA, myself and my colleagues wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year, and looking forward to a very positive 2025 sailing season.

Per Buch

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1: The board discussed the article in the Swedish Folkboat magazine about weight distribution and the work and test in process. The aim of this work is to eliminate potential misuse and stretching of the class rules when making a renovation or an alternation of the boat and suggest further strengthening of the class rules introducing a new rule dealing with floating height of the stern. When the yacht is remeasured by the local class measurer it is imperative that all modifications and changes are highlighted to ensure the yacht is measured in line with the class rules. All changes and modifications should measure accordingly before and after the renovation or alteration to ensure compliance. We suggest for best practice the measurer is involved (where possible) throughout the process.

The board recognizes the work and await the proposal once finalized. However, the class rules have been strengthened over the years, including remeasurement in connection with renovation. If certain boats are under suspicion during races or events, the NFIA board urges the competitors to protest and ask for a full and comprehensive remeasurement of the boat in question. If no one will do this due to comradeship in the Folkboat class, rumour's and doubt will continue about unfair competition in the class and this will be detrimental to the future of the class, which has withstood 82 years.

Ultimately the National Associations must ask for a thorough remeasurement of the boat in question to stop the potential misuse

The board encourages the organizers of Gold Cup and national championships to measure 10 boats before each event done by a qualified measurer.

In order to strengthening the knowledge of the class rules by the measurers, virtual “classes” for measurers will take place in the beginning of 2025.

As mentioned, several times over the years, the Nordic Folkboat is a one design class and not a design class. We must all, sailors and governing organization, work together to maintain this, comply with the class rules, race with fairness and in a good spirit.

The board does not perceive any widespread acute crisis in the class. However, it is important that the rumors are cleared up and immediately remedied. We must take care of our heritage to manage the classic Folkboat in a wise and sensible way. The board feels that most sailors are proud of our one design class Folkboat and respectfully follow the applicable class rules.

Winning by cheating should not be an option.

2: Lennart Magnusson, Technical chairman, informed that Lars Bræstrup has decided to stop as a member of TC by the end of the year. With his vast Folkboat experience and background as a boat builder Lars has made a great contribution over the years and the board thank him for his work. Lars will continue as a measurer in. Denmark.

Jesper Strandberg, Denmark, will replace Lars in TC. We look forward working with Jesper.

3: The international virtual spring meeting will take place 20 March 19.00 CET. An invitation will be sent in due time to all national associations.

4: Next board meeting 21 January 19.00 CET.

For the minutes

Per Buch