Minutes of 2017 AGM
Start: 2.15
Attending: Simon Reed, Linda Pheelan, Jill Fowles, Katie Oldrey, Lucy Mattich, Pip Mattich, Duncan Matthew,+ Mr and Mrs John Robinson
Apologised for missing: everyone else
Minutes from last year were read out as there was only one hard copy
Congratulations on the 70th anniversary, sail past and everything else that Lucy and Fiona did.
Measuring Sail changes: LM explained that there is a proposed sail change due to a problem with the sail measurer. Asked DM to explain the problem. DM and RK bought new sails from Suffolk Sails. Finished the Friday before the championships. DM brought his set to Aldeburgh and had them measured by the Club Measurer, who said they were too large. DM went back to Suffolk Sails and had part of the leach cut off the mainsail. However the Measurer had measured the sails incorrectly, as he measured the half-height and so the sails are illegal. DM has paid for the sails, but RK has not. Since the Measurer is a club measurer the club should fund some of the money to make up for his mistake. The Measurer now refuses to measure sails from Suffolk Sails, including the Loch Long sails. LM proposed a rule change to allow the Lapwing class to appoint their own measurer and that Suffolk Sails measure their own sails as most other classes do. SR disagreed with the proposal on the grounds that no sailmaker would not allow their own sails to pass the test. LP, LM and DM explained that the sailmakers would bring someone in for this measuring, and that every other class does this. SR agreed with the proposal. LM reassured people that the old sails are still fine. DM explained how sail measuring works with racing classes, but the Lapwing sails only need be measured once.
Window in Sail changes: LM explained that Steve Liddell last year put a window in his sail that was against the current rules. LM pointed out that several red mainsails have windows in. DM also pointed out that if we were to do this rule change we would need a maximum so people do not turn up to the races with completely clear sails. LP gave the sizes of the windows in the jib as currently at 18” or 45cm. All agree that a maximum is needed. SR points out that we need to sort out the size of the mainsail in general before faffing about with windows. LM and KO mention the safety that comes with a window. All agree that we need to have the dimensions of the window spot on before making any rule changes – a long thin one for the main and a smaller one for the jib. Possibly ask Steve to suggest placement of the window, as long as it is not too large. General consensus of each to their own as long as the sizes are set.
Hull specifications: LM started by saying that Peewit won the Lapwing Junior Regatta class this year despite it being agreed that she would not race as she is not a Lapwing. Lots of people then pointed out that Flo Nichols was sailing her, and that she could probably win in a leaky bathtub. But all agreed that Peewit was not a proper Lapwing as she was built with a sharper bow, allowing her to point higher and without ribs as it was cheaper. Therefore her hull specifications are wrong. LM also said that we now do have the template and some sketches for Lapwings, despite people thinking them lost. DM said that the rules for building Lapwings are inadequate and that they don’t even specify that Lapwings have to be made of wood, and could technically be made of carbon fibre. General conversation about the use of Ash over oak ribs and mahogany ply versus larch hulls. SR was not pleased, until it was pointed out that the weight has to be the same no matter the material. LM said that Upsons built the last one (Quail, 75), but JF said that it was started in Lowestoft. But it was £20-25 grand, while Peewit, without ribs, cost about £9,000. LM said that wood decays, at some point in order to keep the class going we’re going to need more boats made, and who would pay over £10,000 more than necessary for a boat? Should we allow this method of construction as a way of keeping the class alive? Many classes have changed from wood to plastic. But, as DM pointed out, we do not want to create a class within a class like the Loch Longs. Solutions to these problems are: To improve the rules, DM and RK to work on that over the winter, so as to not let Lapwings go out of control (although variations in Lapwings happen anyway and we want to keep the uniqueness of the class). Have more Lapwings built once the rules are finalised and encourage people with Lapwings in their garages to sell them to people eager to sail them or to do them up and sail them themselves.
Captaincy: Fiona and Lucy to carry on for another year, and were both congratulated on their hard work and what they had achieved this year.
LM raised the point that the championships might have been too early last year as so few people came (or just too wedding-y), but SR and DM said that they liked the longer season. JF’sD and LP raised the issue of school holidays not allowing people to come, so possibly moved to later in August? But it was a good distance from the regatta and the Iken races so very nicely spaced. LM said that the junior weekend was a good thing, but that we needed more younger children to come and have a go. People volunteered tiny relatives for next year.
Other Business: Shrouds are only allowed to be attached by lanyards or bottle-necked screws. DM and LM wanted to introduce adjustable shroud plates, so the rule will be looked at over the winter by DM and RK. SR was not impressed with this introduction of new technology and said that lanyards, duct-tape and bottlenecked screws worked fine.
LM to chase the club for money on DM and RK’s behalf for their sails.
Do the Lapwing class under the proposed rule change of #10 appoint a new measurer (DM volunteered to go on a course, or sail-measurer from Felixstowe) or just allow the sailmakers to do their own measuring.
Rule changes of 2018 to supersede all previous rules and amendments.
DM and RK to meet up and talk about the rule changes and sails, then DM to report to LM .
After the recent storms, the Lapwings near the slipway are at risk as the chain is not tight enough. DM said that you had to lift the chain up before tying the boat down. All congratulate him on rescuing many of the Lapwings that had blown over, but some concerns were raised about the raised chain preventing people from dragging their boats in and out of their bays, or the weight of the chain damaging the boats as other boats are dragged across the chain. General consensus on people need to tie their boats down more thoroughly, especially during the autumn months.
LM suggested that plaques to be put in Lapwings to say their number, name, date and who built them.
EGM to be held in spring to go over DM and Rk’s rule changes.
End: 3.50
Start: 2.15
Attending: Simon Reed, Linda Pheelan, Jill Fowles, Katie Oldrey, Lucy Mattich, Pip Mattich, Duncan Matthew,+ Mr and Mrs John Robinson
Apologised for missing: everyone else
Minutes from last year were read out as there was only one hard copy
Congratulations on the 70th anniversary, sail past and everything else that Lucy and Fiona did.
Measuring Sail changes: LM explained that there is a proposed sail change due to a problem with the sail measurer. Asked DM to explain the problem. DM and RK bought new sails from Suffolk Sails. Finished the Friday before the championships. DM brought his set to Aldeburgh and had them measured by the Club Measurer, who said they were too large. DM went back to Suffolk Sails and had part of the leach cut off the mainsail. However the Measurer had measured the sails incorrectly, as he measured the half-height and so the sails are illegal. DM has paid for the sails, but RK has not. Since the Measurer is a club measurer the club should fund some of the money to make up for his mistake. The Measurer now refuses to measure sails from Suffolk Sails, including the Loch Long sails. LM proposed a rule change to allow the Lapwing class to appoint their own measurer and that Suffolk Sails measure their own sails as most other classes do. SR disagreed with the proposal on the grounds that no sailmaker would not allow their own sails to pass the test. LP, LM and DM explained that the sailmakers would bring someone in for this measuring, and that every other class does this. SR agreed with the proposal. LM reassured people that the old sails are still fine. DM explained how sail measuring works with racing classes, but the Lapwing sails only need be measured once.
Window in Sail changes: LM explained that Steve Liddell last year put a window in his sail that was against the current rules. LM pointed out that several red mainsails have windows in. DM also pointed out that if we were to do this rule change we would need a maximum so people do not turn up to the races with completely clear sails. LP gave the sizes of the windows in the jib as currently at 18” or 45cm. All agree that a maximum is needed. SR points out that we need to sort out the size of the mainsail in general before faffing about with windows. LM and KO mention the safety that comes with a window. All agree that we need to have the dimensions of the window spot on before making any rule changes – a long thin one for the main and a smaller one for the jib. Possibly ask Steve to suggest placement of the window, as long as it is not too large. General consensus of each to their own as long as the sizes are set.
Hull specifications: LM started by saying that Peewit won the Lapwing Junior Regatta class this year despite it being agreed that she would not race as she is not a Lapwing. Lots of people then pointed out that Flo Nichols was sailing her, and that she could probably win in a leaky bathtub. But all agreed that Peewit was not a proper Lapwing as she was built with a sharper bow, allowing her to point higher and without ribs as it was cheaper. Therefore her hull specifications are wrong. LM also said that we now do have the template and some sketches for Lapwings, despite people thinking them lost. DM said that the rules for building Lapwings are inadequate and that they don’t even specify that Lapwings have to be made of wood, and could technically be made of carbon fibre. General conversation about the use of Ash over oak ribs and mahogany ply versus larch hulls. SR was not pleased, until it was pointed out that the weight has to be the same no matter the material. LM said that Upsons built the last one (Quail, 75), but JF said that it was started in Lowestoft. But it was £20-25 grand, while Peewit, without ribs, cost about £9,000. LM said that wood decays, at some point in order to keep the class going we’re going to need more boats made, and who would pay over £10,000 more than necessary for a boat? Should we allow this method of construction as a way of keeping the class alive? Many classes have changed from wood to plastic. But, as DM pointed out, we do not want to create a class within a class like the Loch Longs. Solutions to these problems are: To improve the rules, DM and RK to work on that over the winter, so as to not let Lapwings go out of control (although variations in Lapwings happen anyway and we want to keep the uniqueness of the class). Have more Lapwings built once the rules are finalised and encourage people with Lapwings in their garages to sell them to people eager to sail them or to do them up and sail them themselves.
Captaincy: Fiona and Lucy to carry on for another year, and were both congratulated on their hard work and what they had achieved this year.
LM raised the point that the championships might have been too early last year as so few people came (or just too wedding-y), but SR and DM said that they liked the longer season. JF’sD and LP raised the issue of school holidays not allowing people to come, so possibly moved to later in August? But it was a good distance from the regatta and the Iken races so very nicely spaced. LM said that the junior weekend was a good thing, but that we needed more younger children to come and have a go. People volunteered tiny relatives for next year.
Other Business: Shrouds are only allowed to be attached by lanyards or bottle-necked screws. DM and LM wanted to introduce adjustable shroud plates, so the rule will be looked at over the winter by DM and RK. SR was not impressed with this introduction of new technology and said that lanyards, duct-tape and bottlenecked screws worked fine.
LM to chase the club for money on DM and RK’s behalf for their sails.
Do the Lapwing class under the proposed rule change of #10 appoint a new measurer (DM volunteered to go on a course, or sail-measurer from Felixstowe) or just allow the sailmakers to do their own measuring.
Rule changes of 2018 to supersede all previous rules and amendments.
DM and RK to meet up and talk about the rule changes and sails, then DM to report to LM .
After the recent storms, the Lapwings near the slipway are at risk as the chain is not tight enough. DM said that you had to lift the chain up before tying the boat down. All congratulate him on rescuing many of the Lapwings that had blown over, but some concerns were raised about the raised chain preventing people from dragging their boats in and out of their bays, or the weight of the chain damaging the boats as other boats are dragged across the chain. General consensus on people need to tie their boats down more thoroughly, especially during the autumn months.
LM suggested that plaques to be put in Lapwings to say their number, name, date and who built them.
EGM to be held in spring to go over DM and Rk’s rule changes.
End: 3.50