2025 January - Board Meeting Minutes
folkboat_webadminPlease find the minutes following the last NFIA board meeting hosted on 21st January 2025.
Minutes from virtual NFIA Board meeting 21 January 2025
Participants: Simon Osgood, Lennart Magnusson, Steffi Westerlund, Konstantin Benisch and Per Buch
1: Swedish proposal about weight distribution made by Anders Olsen and Pär Johanson et al.
The comprehensive and very well-prepared proposal was discussed and the board have the following position:
As written in Class Rule 1.11,
The intention of these rules is to ensure that the yachts are as identical as possible in hull shape, weight, weight distribution and sail plan. The construction of the hull, and the spars, sails and rigging are controlled by these rules. It is impossible to foresee every conceivable innovation which may be thought of in the future and to mention every suggestion that has been ruled illegal in the past. When considering anything in connection with the boat or its sails or equipment which is not clearly covered by the class rules, plans or specifications, you must assume that it is illegal, and must obtain a ruling from the Class Technical Committee before attempting it.
In this view the input is important in order to be on top of potential misuse of the Class Rules.
It is also important to note that Class Rule 1.11 specifically states that the weight distribution in the boats should be as identical as possible.
Also worth to note that this class rule is very old.
We have discussed the proposed change of Class Rule thoroughly, both in the Technical Committee and in the Board. In our view, the proposal will put a significant additional workload on the measurers and potential endless discussions about the salt content etc. with the boat owners. Many external factors can affect the result of a measurement, such as wind, rain, waves, etc. in addition to the salt content of the water. This opens up the risk that sailors might protest against the accuracy of the measurement control at a regatta. (NFIA will suggest to all national associations write this into the event notice of race and event sailing instructions)
Therefore, the Board and Technical Committee suggest a simpler way, a working method, to start with i.e. when the boat is weighed, measure 100 cm (a compromise of the numbers in the Swedish proposal and “translated” into a point on the waterline) from the deck down the transom to the waterline and set a mark. If the boat floats significantly higher than this mark, the measurer will know that something is wrong, the boat does not comply to Class Rule 1.11. The measurer will then be obliged to make further check if the boat comply to Class Rule 12.30 saying: Except for corrector weights in accordance with rule 10 inside ballast is prohibited. Inside ballast like heavy bunks etc. is spotted in this way and boats not complying will not be allowed to race.
Starting this February, all measurers are invited to web seminars where this will be in focus together with a couple of other issues. The Board urges the National Associations to make sure their measurers participate in order to align the measurement internationally. Further, NFIA will encourage organizers of national and international events to measure a minimum 20 % of all boats participating according to this proposal.
We hope these action points will serve the purpose suggested.
2: Status of the spinnaker working group.
Work in progress. Proposal will be presented by the working group to National Associations using spinnaker in the coming month for final decision.
3: Status of updating drawings.
We have received an offer from I-Yacht in Hamburg who made the drawings for Folkbådscentralen in the past and plan to update drawings according to our class rules.
4: International events:
International Teams meeting 20 March
Gold Cup 2-6 July in Copenhagen.
San Fransisco Internationals 31 August -5 September
Sessan Cup, The Netherlands 18-20 September.
5: Next Board meetings:
17 March
24 March.
For the minutes
Per Buch
Kerteminde 29 January
