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A full report on the Class activities will be presented to the Annual General Meeting ,and published on this website .My Chairmans report will summarise the past year , but my FOCUS will be on the future of the Class. A casual look back over this year will reveal pleasing progress ; but an overview of the past 3 years since Thailand (dec.2000) is, I feel , of a Class that has failed to realize its full potential . More could have been done !
I am sure this years meeting will stir debate about the best way forward . We have already voted to freeze Class Rules until 2005 –so I have not included Micah’s submission on the Agenda as a voting item .However –time permitting –it can be discussed ; along with any possible future proposals to alter and improve Class Rules .There are items on the Agenda for voting that will have a direct bearing on the future development of the Class.-and this is where we should focus our attention for this AGM .
JUNIOR and YOUTH POLICY.
The Sylt General Assembly recommended –“the clear Youth and Junior policy STRONGLY needs to be decided by the new committee .” This it did –for better or for worse – and now the membership have the opportunity to approve or amend that structure. Equipment issues are likely to be most discussed and it is a difficult one ; hopefully voting representatives will have had the opportunity to discus this widely within their own Associations ,and reached a conclusion . Several submissions are on the table for voting .
The need to ensure that an international calendar is published well in advance of the event (and the requirement to notify ISAF by Aug . 1 st 2003 of the dates for Class World Championships ) means that we are committed to a 2004 FORMULA FESTIVAL in Spain ,where the organisation is already working hard , and I am confident that the Class will have a superb event . It is not an option ,therefore , to combine the Youth Worlds with the Worlds ; and neither is it in my opinion desirable to do so . It is certainly not consistant with the development of confident and growing International Class .
Maintaining clear and separate titles /events for YOUTH (and junior ) is vitally important to FW as a major class ; increasing the age range to under 20 ,and increasing the gap between youth and junior (under 17 ) will contribute to significant growth for 2004 and beyond .
CHAMPIONSHIP RULES .
Whilst these have been reviewed nothing has changed or been published since Thailand . Steady growth over the past 3 years –and the introduction of Continental Championships and Tours –now makes a review necessary ; and the introduction of a Qualification System ,incorporating a structure of major regattas worldwide , will help maintain that growth ,but also ensure the Quality of events is improved . National , Regional and Continental Tours will also benefit –as the international calendar becomes increasingly congested ,and in need of control .
Exercising that control and developing a clear championship structure –which must be in the interests of the class membership –is a fundamental role of the Class Committee.
2.1 .of the Constitution-“Purpose of the IFWC to promote and manage competition at international ,continental and world championship level ---“.
8.7 – “the committee is responsible for the technical management of the class and all other matters not delegated to other bodies by the agm .The committee represents the IFWC to all national and international organisations and event organisers .”
FINALLY –for now – the Class should and DOES represent the interests of ALL formula windsurfing sailors ,worldwide ; and at whatever level of the ability level they are on ; from elite “professional “ racers to “enthusiastic “ amateur”/ recreational sailors ..I am sure this is reflected in the fw membership of all national windsurfing associations .
Every opportunity should be taken to consult with the membership –the sailors –and this years Worlds is no exception . There will be a Sailors Meeting on Wednesday 1 st October (details on the ONB ) chaired by sailors reps on the Committee Pieter
and Dorota , I will certainly be there to answer any questions that get thrown at me !
The IFWC as an International Class and “partner “ in the IWA (International Windsurfing Association) has also a shared responsibility towards the Sport of Windsurfing as a whole . We have actively campaigned to keep “board men “ and board women “ as two events in the Olympic games . We have signed up to the White Paper as a blueprint for the future of Olympic windsurfing – an initiative that ensured the ISAF actively seeks new equipment ,and holds a purposeful Trial ( a report on the first part of this process –the Presentation Event in Cadiz –is on the IWA website ). The major manufacturers of equipment –including the main players in Formula Windsurfing –are actively engaged in this process .
I believe this process should continue unhindered by any of the existing windsurfing classes .
25th September '03
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