2025 - April
folkboat_webadminNFIA International meeting 20. March 2025
Participants:
NFIA: Steffi Westerlund, Lennart Magnusson, Konstantin Benisch, Per Buch
Finland: Mikko Pajamies
Sweden: Anders Olsen, Pär Johansson
Estonia: Andres Könd, Mikk Köösel
Denmark: Per Puck, Jesper Strandberg
Germany: Konstantin Benisch
The Netherlands: Albert Ekels
USA: Allen Schlicter
United Kingdom: Kim Morley.
Apologies for absence: Simon Osgood
Agenda:
1: Welcome/Chairman
2: News from NFIA. - Class rule update/TC
-Measurers focus 2025/TC
3: Discussion about weight distribution. Swedish proposal and Swedish position after their Annual Meeting.
TC response and NFIA position.
4: Status spinnaker working group and way forward/ Steffi Westerlund.
5: News from Hellerup Sejlklub about Gold Cup 2-6 July 2025/Søren Kaestel.
6: News from The Royal Dutch Sailing and Rowing Association about Sessan Cup 18-20 September/Yuri Nieuwenhuizen/Sven Karsenbarg.
7. News from the national associations/ All
8: AOB.
1: The chairman welcomed and informed about the work being done by NIFIA, especially by the technical committee in connection with the updating of the class rules and the Swedish proposal of weight distribution.
2: Lennart Magnusson informed about the new class rules as per January 1st, 2025 and the measures virtual meeting held in order to align the work being done by the measurers internationally. It is of vital importance for the Folkboat class to continue being a one design class no matter where the boats are being measured.
The new class rules states that all boats being renovated must comply to the current/updated class rules at all times. Winning by cheating/bending the rules is not acceptable in any form!
Focus areas for the measurers 2025 will be weight distribution as per agenda point 3 and NFIA/Technical Committee encourages that at least 20 % of all boats participating in national and international regattas are being measured by a qualified measurer.
Jesper Strandberg introduced himself as having joined technical committee.
3: Pär Johansson and Anders Olsen informed about the decision from the Swedish Folkboat associations annual general meeting regarding the suggestion to introduce mandatory floating mark on the transom and motivated the proposal.
The proposal has been discussed in the TC and in the NFIA board as per the minutes from the board meeting in January and the NFIA position is as follows:
Purpose of the float mark
The hope is that all Nordic Folkboat sailors generally respect what is stated in class rule 1.10 Purpose of the Class Rules. Our dear Folkboat is one of the oldest sailing classes and today also one of the most active one-design classes. Our class rules have over the years constantly been under review and revision in order to maintain the Nordic Folkboat class as intact as possible.
In CR 1.11 it states: 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.
We know that over the years there are variations in how boats are built in the cockpit and the cabin, but we still must respect and live up to what is stated in CR1.11. ''as identical as possible''
One way to see if the weight distribution longitudinally on the boats is consistent with each other is to place a float mark on the transom. Where such a float mark should reasonably be placed on the transom can be determined based on practical measurements from a significant number of boats. Setting the float mark too tight does not benefit the Nordic Folkboat class. The goal for the float mark is to be positioned so that a boat normally has no problem to maintain the float height.
During the 2025 season, the float height at the stern will be measured at national and international regattas. The results and experience from the measurements will be discussed in the fall of 2025 with a view to possibly introduce a new class rule regarding the float height for the 2026 season.
The float mark shall be measured from the intersection of the top of the stern deck and the transom, in the boat's centerline, along the transom. The boat's conditions shall be the same as when weighing a boat according to CR 10.
Measurements during the 2025 season will be made by placing two float marks on the transom 97 cm and 100 cm measured from the intersection point. A probable range which the boat's float position should be within. A collection of measurement from many boats where the float position is, provides knowledge of where
the float mark should be placed.
The technical committee will provide instructions to all measurers in the coming weeks.
4: Steffi Westerlund and Lennart Magnusson informed that the working group designing as new spinnaker has finished their work. The new design was published in the class rules on February 25th, 2025.
5: Søren Kaestel from Hellerup Sejlklub, being the organizer of Gold Cup 2025, introduced the club and the venue. It will take place 2-6 July and NoR will be published shortly. Hellerup Sejlklub is planning national evenings, where the crews from each country is responsible for some sort of entertainment. Details will follow.
6: Albert Ekels introduced himself as new chairman of the Dutch Folkboat Association and also the Sessan Cup 18-20 September. It is the first time an international Folkboat event is taking place in Holland and will undoubtedly further the interest of folkboating in the coming years.
The Dutch Open Championship will be held the weekend before and Danish top sailor Per Jørgensen will give lectures in Folkboat sailing 17. September.
7: News from the National Associations:
Denmark: Per Puck talked about the good spirit and strong culture in the Danish fleet, originated from the very start of the class organization in 1950. A number of focus areas are set by the board for the coming years.
United Kingdom: Kim Morley told us about the recent annual meeting and the growing interest in participating in the Folkboat week in September. The aim is to be more than 60 boat on the starting line this year, where Folkboat week has 60 years jubilee. Celebration will take place 16-17 September.
USA: Allen Schlicter informed that only 1 European crew had registered for this years International in San Francisco and asked the national associations to send the invitation to their members once again.
Finland: Mikko Pajamies said that the membership is pretty stable, a big part of the finish fleet is cruising boats.
Germany: Konstantin Benisch also mentioned a large part of German members used their boats for cruising and many great articles about Folkboat cruising were published in the German Folke News. Number of boats racing where stable. Konstantin highlighted this year’s German Championship in Niendorf 26-30 August, the week after Tippe Memorial Cup in Kerteminde.
Sweden: Pär Johansson is new chairman following Rolf Upström. He told us about the initiative in Stockholm introducing young crews to sail Folkboat. This years Swedish Championship will be in Kalmar 6-10 August.
Holland: Albert Ekels, new chairman following Yuri Nieuwenhuizen, most boats are used for crusing, Sessan may increase the interest in racing.
Estonia: Andres Könd informed that displaying a Folkboat in the boat show was a success. A lot of races and activities are planned for season.
8: Lennart Magnusson informed that NFIA board has, according to CR 1.91, approved a new boat builder in Turkey to produce wooden Folkboats. As always, all wooden boats must be measured individually. You can follow the boat builder Folkboat Anatolia at Instagram: Folkboat_anatolia.
For the minutes:
Per Buch
Kerteminde 25 March 2025
