Technical
:: How do we get new boats into the country? :: (818 Reads)
Posted by
warwick
on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 10:23 PM
The three initiatives coming out of discussions between active sailors are:
1. Building hulls locally.
2. Importing a container load of 2nd hand boats.
3. Importing new boats.
Several of these options were discussed at the WC Champs in Saldanha and the following decisions were taken:
The Exco is putting it’s support behind all 3 initiatives to make good quality boats available to active sailors.
The Exco cannot handle all three of these initiatives without assistance and is depending on members who are interested and motivated to assist in their respective areas of expertise.
There are several conditions attached to each of these options in order that we achieve our stated aim and yet do not have a situation where these initiatives compete against each other in a destructive way.
If we take a look at each of the options in turn we can define some guidelines which help to ensure that each individual option comes to a successful conclusion in it’s own right while also helping to achieve the overall aim.
1. Building boats locally
a. The class possesses more than one mould which could be used to build a competitive hull.
b. A task team will be set up to investigate this option and draw up a specification for the hull to be built. CJ Milln made himself available to head up the boat building task team.
c. The task team will request submissions from prospective builders and select a builder based on compliance with the specification and the price for the completed hull.
d. The task team will ensure quality compliance with the specification during the building process
e. The selected builder will build the hulls at his own cost, using the class mould, which he will maintain, and will sell the hulls on the open market.
f. The mould will remain the property of the 505 class association.
2. Importing 2nd hand boats
a. The class Exco will facilitate the importation of 2nd hand boats from overseas by calling for nominations for a task team to oversee this option.
b. A minimum of 6 people/teams committed to buying 2nd hand boats, from Europe, is required in order to make this option viable. This commitment would be in the form of a 50% partially refundable deposit paid into a trust account, administered by the task team which would include at least one member of the Exco.
c. Ex RSA sailors presently abroad have offered their services to inspect boats and report on their condition to the interested buyers.
d. The Exco/task team will request sponsorship of the shipping costs. All other costs are for the account of the teams committed to the purchase of a second hand boat and common costs (such as transport) are shared pro rata on the basis of the cost of individual boats.
e. The task team will co-ordinate packing and shipping of boats from Europe, possibly after the 2010 worlds in Denmark.
3. Importing new boats from Singapore
a. The class Exco will request nominations for members of a task team to investigate the importation of new boats from a manufacturer in Singapore.
b. The task team will investigate and report on the specification and price of boats from this manufacturer.
c. The task team will co-ordinate the procurement and importation of boats from Singapore, at the cost of teams/individuals who have committed themselves to this option. (Similar conditions to those in 2 above)
This is by no means the final document in regard to the options mentioned above but serves to encourage discussion on specific aspects.
For example:
How do we define a good boat? This is not as easy as it seems and is obviously subject to several subjective criteria. We could limit ourselves to a boat from a specific builder (Rondar, Kyrwood, Parker), or a hull number above some benchmark. If we take the local fleet it seems that 8400 upwards seems like a reasonable assumption. Remember however that the Danes won the 2007 Adelaide Worlds in a Kyrwood 8620, second was boat number 8266 and 6th was number 7771! Remember we need to take the budget constraints of the average sailor into account.
Secondly what makes an active sailor? Someone who is involved in regular regattas on a national basis? What about international events like the Europe cup or the Worlds? Does our ranking system give a true reflection of the active and competitive sailors in the fleet? What suggestions do you have for improvements?
Thirdly, who is willing to serve on the two task teams looking into importation of new or second hand boats into the country?
Please comment
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