AGM, Leba '04

International Formula Windsurfing Class is pleased to announce its Annual General Meeting which will be held Wednesday, 4th of August 2004 in Leba/Poland, during the FW World Championships 2004.

PROPOSALS
1 . CLASS RULES .

1.(a) –to adopt the revision of the Class Rules , written in the new ISAF Standard Class Rule format (SCR): see Appendix 1 to the Agenda . 

Proposed by the committee. YES / NO / ABSTAIN

If 1(a) is approved , move to item 2.

If 1(a) is not approved :

1.(b)- to increase the maximum sail size for Junior from 8.5 sq.m. to 10.0 sq.m.

Proposed by the committee. YES / NO / ABSTAIN

1.(c )-to increase the number of fins Youth and Juniors can register at an event from 2 to 3 .

Proposed by the committee. YES / NO / ABSTAIN


1.(d) –to reduce the maximum sail size for women from 11.0 sq.m. to 10.0 sq.m.

Proposed by Arnon Dagan . YES / NO / ABSTAIN


1.(e) –to approve a revision of the Class Rules, written in the new ISAF Standard Class Rule format , including amendments approved by the AGM .

Proposed by the Chairman (CW). YES / NO / ABSTAIN


2.CHAMPIONSHIP RULES .

2.(a)- to approve the Class Championship Rules , as written by the Committee and used in the 2004 Championships : see Appendix 2 to the Agenda .

Proposed by the committee. YES / NO / ABSTAIN

2.(b)-to amend the Championship Rules to include : “1.2 DIVISIONS .

1.2.1 Gender Divisions : (A) -MEN , (B) – WOMEN . 

1.2.2 Age Divisions : (C ) –YOUTH :a man or woman who is less than 20 years old;

(D) – Junior : a boy or girl who is less than 17 years old ;

(G) – Master : a man who has reached the age of 35 , a woman who has reached the age of 30 ;

(H) –Grand Master : a man who has reached the age of 45 ;

1.2.3 A sailor must have reached the minimum age limit in the relevant age division by December 31 st of the year before the year of competition . A sailor must be less than maximum age limit in the relevant age division at December 31 st in the year of competition . “

Note –Divisions highlighted in CAPITALS represent those allocated ISAF WORLD TITLES.

Proposed by the Committee(a previous AGM decision ) YES /NO / ABSTAIN

2.(c)-to amend Championship Rule 7.1 (sail insignia) to revised Class Rule C.8.1

Proposed by the Chairman (CW) . YES / NO / ABSTAIN


3. PRIZE MONEY SPLITS

3.(a)-to approve the revised prize money split-Men /Women- , as per the NOR for 2004 Worlds (Leba) , for future Class Championships .

Proposed by the Committee. YES / NO / ABSTAIN

3.(b)- to link the percentage prize money split between men /women to the size of the fleet-for example :10 women and 100 men = 10% to womens fleets ; 50 men and 50 women = 50% to each fleet.

Proposed by Arnon Dagan. YES / NO / ABSTAIN

3.(c)-if the prize fund for women will be 30% or more , the money shall go down to the top 16, ie same as the men .

Proposed by Arnon Dagan. YES / NO / ABSTAIN


4. 2005 CHAMPIONSHIPS . 

Proposed by the Chairman :

4.(a)- World : Melbourne ,AUS . December .Prize money (tbc) YES / NO / ABSTAIN

4.(b)- European : Rhodes ,GRE, May 7th to 14th . 20,000 euro. YES / NO / ABSTAIN

4.(c )-Festival , inc. Youth Worlds : Christchurch ,UK July 16 to 23rd . YES / NO / ABSTAIN

4.(d)- North American : Vancouver ,CAN. Date tbc. YES /NO / ABSTAIN 

4.(e)- South American : Forteleaza , BRA. Date /prize money tbc. YES / NO /ABSTAIN

4.(f)- Oceanic : Melbourne ,AUS. January. YES / NO / ABSTAIN


Note – A representative from Sail Melbourne will present details of the bid to the AGM .

Alternate bid for Worlds from Arrow Marketing (Forteleaza,BRA) .

See also –"View of AGM from the Chair".


5.ELECTIONS.

5.(a)- that serving PWA Board members should not be elected to the Formula Class committee.

Proposed Arnon Dagan / Ceri Williams. YES / NO / ABSTAIN 

5.(b)- that the FW Committee co –opt the Chairman of the PWA Board (or a PWA appointed representative) - without voting rights .

Proposed by the Chairman (CW) YES / NO / ABSTAIN 

5.(c ) -the following are offering themselves for election :

Ceri Williams (GBR) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Didier Flamme (FRA) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Phil McGain (AUS) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Ian Fox (AUS) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Andrea Cucchi (ITA) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Marcus Huhtinen (FIN) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Dorota Staszewska (POL) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Pieter Bijl (NED) YES / NO / ABSTAIN
Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG) YES / NO / ABSTAIN 

The following has been elected by Womens Open Meeting ,Torbole, during the 2004 Europeans , to represent women sailors on the Committee. A voting position on the Committee requires AGM approval :

Lucy Horwood (GBR)

Proposed by the committee . YES / NO / ABSTAIN 

5.(d)-the outgoing Chairman and Vice Chairman are offering themselves for re election to the posts , if re elected to committee.

Indicate your preference for Chairman in the space provided :


CHAIRMAN 1st ....................... 2nd ........................

--------------------------------
PROPOSALS - MS Word doc file.
Arnon Dagan submission - MS Word doc file. AGENDA

1. Welcome , and registration of delegates and votes.
2. Minutes of the 2003 AGM –Dranske/Germany. (AGM 2003 minutes)
3. Chairmans Report.
4. Financial Statement.
5. Class Rule changes: including the following committee submissions:
  a. Revision in the ISAF Standard Class Rule format; this version has been updated to reflect the changes to ERS 2005-2008. MS Word doc file - Appendix 1
  b. Increase maximum sail size for junior from 8.5 to 10.0 sq.m.
  c. Delete additional limitations for Youth and junior- therefore Youth/junior can register 3 fins (at present limited to 2)
6. Championship Rules: to approve or amend Championship Rules introduced in 2004. (Championships Rules 2004 - - Appendix 2 - MS Word doc file)
7. Future Championship venues:
  a. Presentation by Sail Melbourne –bid for 2005 Worlds.
  b. Options for 2005 Continental Championships and Formula Festival.
  c. 2006, and beyond.
8. Formula website 2005-2008.Concept changes presented by webmaster KJ.
9. Formula competitors database, unified scoring system and electronic systems for improving regatta management –presented by KJ.
10. Elections:
  a. Election of Class Committee.
Current committee are standing down, but are offering themselves for re election.
  b. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman.

NOTES.
IFWCA Constitution
Delegate Registration Form (- MS Word doc file).
Nominations for Committee, and submissions for the Meeting should be forwarded to IWA Office (iwaoffice@internationalwindsurfing.com) no later than 18th July.
Class Rules changes 2005 MS Word doc file

Minutes.
1 . Registration of delegates and votes .
The Chairman welcomed delegates and observers to the 4th annual general meeting of the International Formula windsurfing Class . The format of the meeting and voting procedure was explained .

Committee :
1. Ceri Williams 
2. Didier Flamme
3. Phil McGain 
4. Gonzalo Costa Hoeval 
5. Markus Huhtinen 
6. Pieter Bijl
7. Ian Fox (Proxy –PM)
National Association represented :
8. AUS –(Proxy PM )
9. AUT –Margit Germany
10. BEL –(Proxy DF )
11. BRA –Willhelm Schurmann
12. BUL-email vote
13. EST –email vote
14. FIN –Markus Huhtinen
15. FRA –Didier Flamme
16. GBR –Lucy Horwood
17. GRE –(Proxy CW )
18. IRL –email vote
19. ISR –(Proxy CW )
20. LAT –Maris Smiltenieks
21. NED –Lieuwe Faber
22. NOR –Erik Rondeel
23. POL –Piotr Jankowiak
24. USA –Micah Buzianis

2. Minutes of the 2003 AGM .
The minutes as published on the class website were taken as read , and approved .

3. Chairmans Report .
3.1 General :
- committee achieved most of the goals set by last agm(except constitution review) ;
- 34 countries from 5 continents represented in national association membership;
- the committee met formally only once during the year , at Torbole, all other business conducted by email ;
- biggest championship ever in history of class at 2004 Europeans with 146 men and 21 women competitors ;
- close co operation with ISAF concerning Production Board scheme and verification procedures for 2005 ;
- no Womens Cup series planned for 2004 , progress still slow in developing womens racing outside of Olympic format ;
- Tour agreements signed with Choppy Water for Euro Cup and DMI for Grand Prix . No agreement with PWA.
- further improvements made with website , excellent coverage of the Europeans;
- continued growth of the class worldwide .
3.2 Championships :
- change in the scheduled venue for the Worlds to secure prize money championships and experienced organiser ;
- continentals schedule began with the first Oceanic Championships in Melbourne (January); followed by North Americans at Calema Mid winters (early March);
- Europeans , successful championships on Lake Garda , hard but rewarding racing schedule ;
- Formula Festival (inc. Youth Worlds ) moved to Dranske on Rugen in mid sept ;
- the year concludes with Asian Championship in Taiwan and finally the South Americans in Columbia .
3.3 Tours :
- a disappointing start to 2004 season in Europe with the cancellation or postponement of all planned Euro Cups , the only confirmed events being Lisbon and Dranske ;
- it is anticipated that 3 formula Grand Prix events will take place in 2004 , with the goal of increasing to 5/6 events for 2005 (one per continent );
- no agreement with Pwa for formula world Tour ,but it looks likely that 4 formula racing events will take place ;
- continental tours are developing (eg Australia ) as well as regional tours (Baltic Cup and Formula Super Cup) and national tours (eg Brazil);
- some further rationalisation required in Europe with 2 competing “European” tours (PWA and Euro Cup ) which is not healthy for the sport , and is affecting the regeneration of national tours .

4. Financial Statement .
- a financial statement was not available to the meeting ; detailed accounts were already on the IWA website for 2003 , and the class was operating on budget for 2004 to date;
- the Formula Class is a net contributor to IWA budget , after the Olympic Class it has the largest income ;
- whilst contributing to the overall budget , and therefore promoting the well being of windsurfing generally , the class also had sufficient funding to manage its own projects eg the class website ;
- the outstanding income from 2001 has still not been returned to the class .

5 . Class Rule proposals.

5.(a) –to adopt the revision of the Class Rules , written in the new ISAF Standard Class Rule format (SCR) -posted as appendix 1 to agenda : 
Proposed by the committee. YES 16 – approved 

Items 5 (b) to (e ) not applicable .

6. Championship Rules proposals .

6.1.(a) -to approve the Class Championship Rules , as written by the Committee and used in the 2004 Championships : posted as Appendix 2 to the Agenda :
Proposed by the committee. YES 23 - approved

6.1.(b)-to amend the Championship Rules to include : “1.2 DIVISIONS .

1.2.1 Gender Divisions : (A) -MEN , (B) – WOMEN . 
1.2.2 Age Divisions : (C ) –YOUTH :a man or woman who is less than 20 years old;
(D) – Junior : a boy or girl who is less than 17 years old ;
(G) – Master : a man who has reached the age of 35 , a woman who has reached the age of 30 ;
(H) –Grand Master : a man who has reached the age of 45 ;
1.2.3 A sailor must have reached the minimum age limit in the relevant age division by December 31 st of the year before the year of competition . A sailor must be less than maximum age limit in the relevant age division at December 31 st in the year of competition . “
Note –Divisions highlighted in CAPITALS represent those allocated ISAF WORLD TITLES.
Proposed by the Committee(a previous AGM decision ) YES 23 - approved

6.1.(c)-to amend Championship Rule 7.1 (sail insignia) to revised Class Rule C.8.1
Proposed by the Chairman (CW) . YES 23 - approved

6.2 PRIZE MONEY SPLITS

6.2.(a)-to approve the revised prize money split-Men /Women- , as per the NOR for 2004 Worlds (Leba) , for future Class Championships .
Proposed by the Committee. YES 12, NO 4 , ABSTAIN 8.
Not approved
6.2.(b)- to link the percentage prize money split between men /women to the size of the fleet-for example :10 women and 100 men = 10% to womens fleets ; 50 men and 50 women = 50% to each fleet.
Proposed by Arnon Dagan. YES 5, NO 13, ABSTAIN 6.
Not approved
6.2.(c)-if the prize fund for women will be 30% or more , the money shall go down to the top 16, ie same as the men .
Proposed by Arnon Dagan. YES 7, NO 7, ABSTAIN 9.
Not approved

7. 2005 Championships . 
7.1 Worlds.
- Sam Maffett ,attending the 2004 championships as representative of the Sail Melbourne organisation , presented a comprehensive bid for the 2005 Worlds.
- a great venue ,and an organiser with a track record for delivering first rate regattas ;
- With over 16 months to prepare , the organiser would strive to attract sponsorship /support that would pass on financial benefits /incentives for all competitors , and increase the prize money available .
- Fortaleaza ,Brazil , were also bidding for the championship ; they were not presenting their bid personally to the meeting , but also have a good track record for event management ;
- despite the extra cost that most competitors would incur , it was decided that it was in the best interest of the Formula Class ,as a global class , to select Melbourne for 2005 . vote YES 24 –approved .
- the event will take place in December ,provisionally 13th to 19th , to be confirmed by Sept 30th 2004.

7.2 Europeans.
- a strong case for Rhodes was presented by the Chairman ,supported by Arnon Dagan (ISR) for a 20,000 euro event in May, which was scheduled as a Grand Prix event in 2005 ; vote YES 10 , NO 2, ABSTAIN 12 . Not approved. 
- Tallinn,EST, also expressed interest in this event (probably July) , but were unable to offer prize money ; Markus Huhtinen strongly recommended the venue , in a region that is rapidly developing formula racing ;
- Selecting a venue for this championship was now a priority for the committee.
7.3 Formula Festival.
- Ceri Williams presented a bid for Christchurch ,Dorset (UK –south coast ) , a popular venue with UKWA racers , the facilities ideal for this type of event ;
- It was agreed that the optimum dates for this Championship would be 25th to 31st July . vote YES 22 –approved.
7.4 North Americans.
- It was proposed that Squamish ,Vancouver ,CAN would be the venue for 2005 and that it would be scheduled for July, close to the US Nationals , and therefore of benefit to both events . vote YES 19 –approved.
7.5 South Americans.
- It was agreed that the SA national associations continue to select their next championship , usually confirmed at their annual championships (this year scheduled for Columbia in September);
- Proposal for Fortaleaza : vote NO 20 –not approved
- It was proposed that the scheduling should permit the development of a SA Tour which would include Fortaleaza and the Brazilian Nationals .
7.6 Oceanic.
- Melbourne ,in January, was proposed for a second consecutive year ; important in the build up to the 2005 worlds . vote YES 22 –approved .

8. & 9. Website developments , and other improvements:
- the webmaster ,KJ , presented a brief overview of potential improvements that could be made to the class website ;
- the presentation included compiling a competitor database , unified scoring system and electronic systems for improving regatta management (some had been applied during this championship , and had worked very well );
- a full and detailed investigation would be initiated by the committee.

10. Elections for committee 2005/2006.

10.(a)- that serving PWA Board members should not be elected to the Formula Class committee.
Proposed Arnon Dagan / Ceri Williams. YES 5, NO/ABSTAIN 19.
Not approved 
10.(b)- that the FW Committee co –opt the Chairman of the PWA Board (or a PWA appointed representative ) –without voting rights .
Proposed by the Chairman (CW) not applicable


10.(c ) -the following are offering themselves for election :

Ceri Williams (GBR)   YES 14 -elected
Didier Flamme (FRA)  YES 10 -elected
Phil McGain (AUS)    YES 11 -elected
Ian Fox (AUS)           YES 11 -elected
Andrea Cucchi (ITA)  YES 12 -elected
Marcus Huhtinen (FIN) YES 14 -elected
Dorota Staszewska (POL) YES 12 -elected
Pieter Bijl (NED) 
Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG)

The following has been elected by Womens Open Meeting ,Torbole, during the 2004 Europeans , to represent women sailors on the Committee. A voting position on the Committee requires AGM approval :

Lucy Horwood (GBR)
Proposed by the committee . elected 


10.(d) Chairman – Ceri Williams : YES 14 –elected 
Vice Chairman-Markus Huhtinen : YES 16 -elected