Present: Sean Carter (Chair), Colin Farr (Principal Race Officer), Mike Joynson (Secretary) and 24 members of the Dinghy Section.

1. Minutes of the meeting held 7 November 2005

NOTED that no Minutes were available.

2. Matters arising from the Minutes

NOTED that there were none (see Minute 1 above).

3. Chair’s Report

3.1 Dinghy Compound

NOTED

• that the new ‘Use it or lose it’ policy would be operated for the first time in allocating berths from March 2007;
• that berths would be allocated in the first instance only to those eligible boats for which berthing requests forms had been received by the specified deadline (normally 6 March) and any other eligible applications received after that date would not be considered until all the other requests had been satisfied;
• that sailing records of both racing and cruising members were being kept during the current season and that these would be used to identify those boats which had not sailed the requisite number of times to qualify for a berth for 2006/7;
• that it was hoped that the compound would be concreted at some stage;
• that it was intended to attempt to mechanically brush the immersed section of slipway in order to improve grip.

3.2 Racing Programme

NOTED

• the considerable difficulties that had been experienced in collecting the annual £20 race entry fee as agreed at the last AGM;
• that it was planned to introduce on-line entry for each series in next year’s programme and that the results for anyone entering late would not be counted for that series;
• that entry for the Wednesday series would automatically carry with it an obligation to undertake at least one duty;
• with concern, the very limited interest and support shown by a significant number of members of the Dinghy Section for supporting the racing programme (and indeed other activities) and that Club representation in some of the Open events during the year had been embarrassing. (See also Minute 5 below);
• the need to encourage more people to participate in the racing programme including those, both junior and adult, finishing their courses at the Sailing School.

• that, for a trial period of one year, no race entry fee be charged for the 2007/8 season;
• that, in order to minimise expenditure, major prizes for the Club series be provided from the existing stock of trophies held within the Club.

3.3 Communication

NOTED that, in future, all communication with members would be by e-mail but that copies of the correspondence would also be placed on the appropriate Club notice boards.

1. Principal Race Officer’s Report

NOTED

• that the Frostbite and Autumn series had been reasonably well-attended but that this had not been the case for the Spring and Summer series;
• that the introduction of a shared racing programme with Cardiff Yacht Club had been successful and generally well-received but that, whilst this meant a welcome sharing of race officer/safety duties, CBYC had not always been as efficient as CYC in providing the appropriate manpower;
• the need for racers to register formal protests with the Race Officer at the time of the incident so that they can be addressed subsequently by a properly constituted protest committee.

1. Financial Report

NOTED

• that the Section had made a notional loss of some £700 for the year although this had been more than covered by the (exceptional) release of funds from two dormant Dinghy Section accounts;
• that the loss would have been further reduced if some of the events had received better support from the Section;
• the need for the Section to ensure that it is not seen to be a drain on Club resources and that all events should be budgeted at least on a break-even basis;
• the view that the allocation of a formal budget for the Dinghy Section would put its financing on a more transparent basis.

AGREED that, if the Section is to continue to receive Club support, it needs to clearly demonstrate that it is well-organised with an active sailing programme and membership.

1. Election of Officers

NOTED that the following officers had indicated that they would be prepared to stand again:

• Chair Sean Carter
• Principal Race Officer Colin Farr
• Secretary Mike Joynson

AGREED that the above officers be reappointed for 2007.

1. Membership of Dinghy Committee

NOTED that the Dinghy Committee had been reconstituted and would henceforth consist of four ex officio members (the Chair, Principal Race Officer, the Secretary and a member of the Dinghy Section on the Council of Management [currently Jeremy Taylor]) together with three nominated members from the Dinghy Section appointed at the AGM.

AGREED that the following be appointed to membership of the Dinghy Committee for 2007:

• Idris Dibble;
• John Gallacher
• Nick Sawyer.

1. Items submitted by members in advance of the meeting

8.1 Points awarded to Race Officer/Safety Crew

AGREED, after a full discussion and vote, that the current arrangements whereby race officers and safety crew each receive two points be continued.