Minutes from Fleet 8 Meeting

Date:  December 13, 2008

Location:  St FrancisYacht Club

Attendees (Skippers/Owners): Neil Ruxton(Jam Jam), KevinClark(Smokin), Robert Haarf(Bones), Steve McMillan(Mako), Tom Kassberg(Flygfisk),Andre Peixoto(Trezento), Chris Farkas(Practice Girl), Dan Hauserman(Personal Puff), Tom Klenke(NothingVentured)

Agenda:

1.       Reviewof 2008 Season

2.       FinancialUpdate

3.       2008Season Award

4.       2009Fleet Schedule

5.       Electionof Officers for 2009

6.       USNationals Discussion

Neil provided us with a quick financial update.  The fleet has approximately $4000 in the kitty.  We spent approximately $1500 on windbreakers for 2009.  These will be distributed with Owner and Crew registration for 2009.  When Neil hands off the accounting to the new treasurer we will produce and distribute a full accounting of fleet funds.

2008 Season awards were presented: 

1.       KevinClark, Smokin'

2.       Tom Klenke, Nothing Ventured

3.       NeilRuxton, Jam Jam

2009 Regatta Schedule

We had a lengthy discussion of what events to focus on for2009.  All skippers in attendance very much want to reach out to the Tahoe, Santa Barbaraand Seattle Fleets and with the long term goal that we all make at least one regatta in each venue.   It was note that with the Worlds in 2009 back east that a trip to Seattle was unlikely for most of us this season. 

We had a lengthy discussion of focusing in on one regatta in the Bay Area that we would make an annual regional event and that we would designate as our national ranking event. To take advantage of a hole in the standard schedule, fantastic sailing conditions and the end of the Tahoe Season, we decided to create a three day regatta in Late-September.  Fleet 8 will host this every year and we hope to make this our signature event – the SF Melges Week Regatta.  For 2009, the weekend of September 19 is our first choice. We have several things to confirm before committing to this date.  The tentative plan is to have Friday, Sep 18/Saturday,Sep 19 buoy races and Sunday participate in the distance Leukemia Race.  Outstanding items we need to confirm

1.       Richmond Yacht Club can host (Robert to check with his club)

2.       Noc onflict with Santa Barbara schedule (Tom to confirm)

3.       Noc onflict with Seattle schedule (Tom to confirm)

We discussed the July schedule at length.  After several options were considered and discarded, we decided that the Fleet would attend the Trans Tahoe event on July11.  Working with Tahoe YC, we will have2+ bouy races on Friday, July 10 and race in the TransTahoe distance race onJuly 11.  Dan also noted that the fleet is welcome to race with Fleet 11's Wednesday night races on July 8 as well. 

We determined that Albert T. Simpson would not be a season counter this year, nor the Easom Regatta. We would like to make sure that both the St Francis YC and San FranciscoYC realize that this is a temporary issue due to the US Nationals this season and we anticipate adding one or both of those regattas back next season.

We discussed trying to get Fleet 8 to commit to attending one event at Santa Barbara.  We are most strongly considering the Fiesta Regatta on July 25-26.  We will confirm this with the Santa Barbara Fleet and make a final decision shortly.

We proposed that the Spring Keel (Mar 7-9), TransTahoe Melges Series (July 10-11), Fiesta Regatta (July 25-26) and the Fall Melges Regatta/Leukemia Cup (Sep 18-20) would make up the West Coast DistrictChampionship Series.

Election of Officers:

Thomas Klenke was voted in as the Fleet 8 Captain, Richard Leslie was voted in as Fleet Treasurer, Norm Andersen has agreed to serve as the Fleet Measurer, Andre Peixoto has agreed to help manage the website.

US Nationals Discussion:

Planning for the U.S. Nationals has begun.  We need to develop a firm budget and set the amount of sponsorships and fees required. Tom will contact the National Committee to determine the requirements for judges, etc and determine if they have a suggested budget.  Tom also will see if we can track down a few certified judges from the local area. Tom will report out to the fleet by 1 February or sooner with input fromNational Committee.  We will call a meeting on the Saturday, March 7 to discuss the Nationals.  Email discussion/planning for Nationals will continue this winter as well.

Action Items:

Tom Klenke – Contact US National Committee, Seattle Fleet Captain, Santa Barbara Fleet Captain to coordinate schedules and determine requirements for US Nationals.  Confirm with Richard Leslie and Norm Andersen that they will be Treasurer and Measurer. 

Robert Haarf – Contact Richmond YC to determine if they will host the SF Melges Week Regatta in late-September

Dan Hauserman – ContactTahoe YC to confirm that they will run two additional races Friday for theMelges Fleet early Friday afternoon on July 10 prior to Saturday's Trans TahoeRace.

Meeting was adjourned to the bar (shocker that)

If I have made any errors in these minutes please let me know (and I'll assume that you'll be volunteering to be secretary for the Nationals!)