Minutes of the Aldeburgh Lapwings AGM on the 23rd September 2018
Present
Lucy Vinten-Mattich, Liz and Andrew Bicknell, Lucy Williamson, Katie Oldrey, Jill Fowles, Sarah Davies, Richard Keane, Steve Liddell, Duncan Matthew, Simon Reid, Susie and Ian Liddell, Lizzi Thistlethwayte
Apologies
John Robinson, Alice Aiken, Fiona Lewington, Juliet Liddell and Ollie Kmiecik
Minutes
The minutes of the 2017 Lapwing AGM were signed as read.
Sail Measurements and 2017 Mainsails
There was a lengthy and detailed discussion about sail measurements and the problems encountered in 2017 with the new Lapwing mainsails. This primarily affected Richard Keane and Duncan Matthew.
Richard and Duncan have sent a draft of the updated Lapwing Class Rules to Matt Lingley (chairman of AYC Sailing Committee) and the new rules will contain a new sail plan, to be written by RYA measurer David Chivers under World Sailing guidelines. It was agreed by all present this was the best way forward. Once the sail plan has been re-written the class rules will be re-written by the Sailing Committee.
Suffolk Sails will continue to make sails for the Lapwing fleet and as they are a World Sailing standard sail loft they are able to sign off their own sails. The new sails will be, inevitably, different to the old ones re. performance and size but Lucy clarified that old sails will still be legal.
Steve brought up the question of bigger windows in the mainsail and Duncan suggested the Lapwing class look at the dimensions of the National 12 mainsail window.
Buoyancy Testing
This is currently not happening. It is still part of the Lapwing class rules. Sarah suggested we should have a guide/checklist and it should be done early in the season. Duncan suggested it is each boat helm/crew's responsibility to check their own boat every time they go out sailing. All agreed.
But this will need to be approved by the sailing committee when they re-write rules.
Safety Boats
The Lapwing Class would prefer to have two people in a safety boat.
The experiences of the Lapwing fleet on the Saturday of this year's Lapwing Championship highlighted the need for two people in a safety boat.
AYC follows RYA recommendations that a safety boat should have two people in it but it is only that, a recommendation.
Sarah Davies suggests the Lapwing Class put this request in writing to AYC.
Steve Liddell suggests the club ask for volunteers.
Election of Class Captain
Richard Keane proposed Duncan Matthew as our new Class Captain and Duncan was voted in unanimously.
Richard proposed a huge vote of thanks to Lucy and Fiona for the enormous amount of hard work they have put into the Lapwing Class.
AOB
a) Lucy wondered how we might encourage more people into the class and wondered if we should have a Gold and Silver fleet, for instance in the Championships. We discussed both the idea of two races within one race or different fleets racing different courses. This might then encourage the more cautious or inexperianced helms to take part in racing.
Everyone agreed this was a good idea.
Club Sailing and LWL can also be used to encourage people to sail in Lapwings.
b) The club has suggested that AYC hold a Championship of Championships: the best helms from each class to compete against each other in Lapwings.
Richard Keane and Katie Oldrey both said they would not want others sailing their boats.
There was a general murmur of agreement.
c) Reminder to check that all Lapwing events are in the 2019 calendar, including the Championship dinner. However, everyone really enjoyed having the Championship dinner at Lucy's house.
Date of next AGM
It was suggested we hold the meeting earlier in the year next year, in the summer when more folk are about.
Present
Lucy Vinten-Mattich, Liz and Andrew Bicknell, Lucy Williamson, Katie Oldrey, Jill Fowles, Sarah Davies, Richard Keane, Steve Liddell, Duncan Matthew, Simon Reid, Susie and Ian Liddell, Lizzi Thistlethwayte
Apologies
John Robinson, Alice Aiken, Fiona Lewington, Juliet Liddell and Ollie Kmiecik
Minutes
The minutes of the 2017 Lapwing AGM were signed as read.
Sail Measurements and 2017 Mainsails
There was a lengthy and detailed discussion about sail measurements and the problems encountered in 2017 with the new Lapwing mainsails. This primarily affected Richard Keane and Duncan Matthew.
Richard and Duncan have sent a draft of the updated Lapwing Class Rules to Matt Lingley (chairman of AYC Sailing Committee) and the new rules will contain a new sail plan, to be written by RYA measurer David Chivers under World Sailing guidelines. It was agreed by all present this was the best way forward. Once the sail plan has been re-written the class rules will be re-written by the Sailing Committee.
Suffolk Sails will continue to make sails for the Lapwing fleet and as they are a World Sailing standard sail loft they are able to sign off their own sails. The new sails will be, inevitably, different to the old ones re. performance and size but Lucy clarified that old sails will still be legal.
Steve brought up the question of bigger windows in the mainsail and Duncan suggested the Lapwing class look at the dimensions of the National 12 mainsail window.
Buoyancy Testing
This is currently not happening. It is still part of the Lapwing class rules. Sarah suggested we should have a guide/checklist and it should be done early in the season. Duncan suggested it is each boat helm/crew's responsibility to check their own boat every time they go out sailing. All agreed.
But this will need to be approved by the sailing committee when they re-write rules.
Safety Boats
The Lapwing Class would prefer to have two people in a safety boat.
The experiences of the Lapwing fleet on the Saturday of this year's Lapwing Championship highlighted the need for two people in a safety boat.
AYC follows RYA recommendations that a safety boat should have two people in it but it is only that, a recommendation.
Sarah Davies suggests the Lapwing Class put this request in writing to AYC.
Steve Liddell suggests the club ask for volunteers.
Election of Class Captain
Richard Keane proposed Duncan Matthew as our new Class Captain and Duncan was voted in unanimously.
Richard proposed a huge vote of thanks to Lucy and Fiona for the enormous amount of hard work they have put into the Lapwing Class.
AOB
a) Lucy wondered how we might encourage more people into the class and wondered if we should have a Gold and Silver fleet, for instance in the Championships. We discussed both the idea of two races within one race or different fleets racing different courses. This might then encourage the more cautious or inexperianced helms to take part in racing.
Everyone agreed this was a good idea.
Club Sailing and LWL can also be used to encourage people to sail in Lapwings.
b) The club has suggested that AYC hold a Championship of Championships: the best helms from each class to compete against each other in Lapwings.
Richard Keane and Katie Oldrey both said they would not want others sailing their boats.
There was a general murmur of agreement.
c) Reminder to check that all Lapwing events are in the 2019 calendar, including the Championship dinner. However, everyone really enjoyed having the Championship dinner at Lucy's house.
Date of next AGM
It was suggested we hold the meeting earlier in the year next year, in the summer when more folk are about.