International

Flying Dutchman Class Organisation  

Members' Survey

The question of whether the Flying Dutchman class should permit Carbon fibre masts was discussed in Tavira, at the competitors hearing and by the General committee.  Detailed information on the pros and cons has been presented in articles in the FD bulletin and on the FD  website.  The 505 class is also considering this question and there is further information on their website.  The 505 class is conducting a ballot of their members, which will be completed on 7 July 2003. The 505 Class rules require them to hold a ballot of members.  The FD class will hold a further hearing at the European Championships in Dervio, 11-20 July 2003, at which the adoption of carbon masts will be discussed. This discussion will be reported on the FD website.

In order to achieve a broad consensus a survey of all currently paid up members of IFDCO is being conducted, with a closing date of Monday 19 August 2003.  This date should give competitors at the EC time to inform other members of the discussion in Dervio, and at the same time, in the event of a positive result, allow the IFDCO to submit the required rule changes to ISAF, in time for approval in November 2003. The new rules would then come into effect on 1 March 2004, i.e. after the World Championships in Melbourne.

A second proposal is that a new rule 122 will give regatta organisers and National sections the option to either maintain the present mast weight of 11 kg or allow the minimum mast weight to be 8.0 kg  (but not change the CG position). This transition rule will allow regatta organisers to reduce any competitive advantage from the use of carbon masts until sufficient time has passed for suitable masts to become generally available and so that recently purchased aluminium masts will not instantly become uncompetitive. Carbon masts will have to carry correctors to comply with rule 58, unless rule 122 is invoked by the Notice of Race.  The IFDCO feel that this choice is best left to individual regatta organisers.

A third, quite separate proposal is to allow loose-footed mainsails in order to reduce the cost and to simplify the engineering of FD booms.

VOTING PROCEDURE

All FD members who are paid up members of IFDCO for 2003 are entitled to submit a completed questionnaire.

National Secretaries should send copies of this Notice (or a translation of it) to all paid up members of their National FD Association, no later than 22 July 2003.

Boat owners may vote either via the FD website or by mail to Peter Doran, General Secretary IFDCO, 4 Westrup Close, Oxford, OX3 OHZ, England.  No fax or phone please.

The closing date for the questionnaire is 19 August 2003, by which date they must be received by the General Secretary.

Peter Doran

General Secretary

18 June 2003

fdsec@sailfd.org