French proposal Items to be voted
during the AGM, on July 10th, 2005 in Sopot
A - Modification of ages and
categories.
1 °) To abolish of our texts the “class for under 15 years” mention.
If adopted
2 °) To return to the following categories: - Minim girls
- Minim boys
- Cadet girls
- Cadet boys
As before the LARGS AGM
If adopted
3 °) To define age’s categories
A) Minims (girls and boys) 12 - 13 - 14
Cadets (girls and boys) 15 - 16 - 17
Or, if not adopted
B) Minims (girls and boys) under 15
Cadets (girls and boys) under 17
To return exactly with old ages categories, before
Largs AGM
Argumentation
Sportily
Bic 293 OD is a pleasant board which young people feels like coming to
navigate and to race in regatta so why to limit it to minims?
In France, we kept Aloha, then 293 OD, for our minims and our cadets (in
spite of class age change) for our biggest satisfaction.
We have now a complete functioning season on the 293, until our
championships. We saw that it worked very well, for minims as for cadets and we
are very satisfied with our choices.
Since our choice of the Bic 293 OD, to replace Aloha, we saw the number
of our young competitors to increase, whether they are minims or cadets, while
the choice of our new rigs was not yet made.
In our recent French championship 2005, end of this first 293 season, we
noticed the stop of competitors’ loss. We registered 136 competitors. That made
13 competitors more than last year, shared in all categories minims as cadets,
girls as boys. (While in the same time, number registered competitors in our
junior championship, on Mistral OD, continued to fall)
Contrarily to the fears of some people 293 (with the big fin) is
perfectly adapted, to development practice, regatta initiation and competition,
naturally with rigs corresponding to young competitors morphology minims or
cadets.
With 293 rigs arrival, next season, we are sure that this craze will
continue.
Economically
It seems to us difficult and expensive to have a young people
development policy, limited to 3 years. At these ages where material investment
is not made by the competitor but by his parents, his club, his federation … it
seems to us necessary to have a longer amortization and not to have to invest
only for 3 years.
At present, 293 stay, as was Aloha, the least expensive sail practice.
Why not to take advantage of it for our cadets?
Strategically.
We know that in many countries minims practice is, above all, local even
national and sometime international. That many countries hesitate to send their
minims to international championships especially when these are far and, if
they do it, they limit the number of participants.
Since it’s under 15 limitation, Aloha Class ( 293) does not answer any
more to ISAF requirements of a recognized class.
If we wish that the Aloha Class ( 293) becomes again the strong and
important development class that it was and that it can re-reach the status of
recognized class, then international class, that Aloha has never obtained, but
which seems possible with the arrival of the 293, it seems to us necessary to
abandon this limit under 15.
Explanation on cadets age
First, in France, our windsurfing cadet category was under 17 years. 2
years ago, FFFVOILE decided to harmonize ages categories for all our sailing
series. Having looked other countries and other sports, it seemed to us that a
majority was using 3 young categories: minims 12-13-14, cadets 15-16-17 and
juniors 18-19-20. What we adopted.
We have now one year of observation on this decision. It seems perfectly
to correspond to young people morphologies and evolutions, which is why, we
propose it.
B - Modification of Class name.
Argumentation
Bic Techno 293 0ne Design choice as Aloha replacement allowed to restart
windsurfing young practice, including in countries where there never had Aloha.
For the newcomers, Aloha's name does not mean anything and for the
formers it has an old-fashioned connotation.
To accompany this development, it is so imperative to change the name.
When we speak about the 293, everybody knows about what it is. Some add
to it: One Design or OD, others Techno or Bic and Bic, its builder,
communicates on Techno 293 One Design. It is why, we suggest to take the name
given by its builder; but not the name of Techno alone who the name of a
complete Bic series.
1 °) Techno 293 One Design or OD Class
And, if it is not voted,
2 °) Bic 293 One Design or OD Class
Then if it is not voted,
3 °) 293 One Design or OD Class
Then if it is not voted,
4 °) 293 Class
C - New rigs choices
Argumentation
After many searches, exchanges with sails makers and trials during this
year, we think that, among rigs which were proposed to us during the last
trials at the end of June/beginning of July, there is exactly what we were
looking for, for the 293, namely a rig easy to rig, light to bring out the
water, allowing to navigate by small wind and to pump then allowing to continue
when the wind goes up and this, whit a competitive price.
We took advantage of these trials to determine rigs maximum sizes by
categories.
Several rigs corresponding that we was looking for, we do not retained
OD rigs, but a rigs list in a box. This list being modifiable every 2 years.
This seemed to us more efficient to maintain competition between sails
makers for quality, search and prices.
Here is so what we have chosen and what we propose to the class.
1 °) Approval of a rigs list for minim category girls and boys
2 °) Approval of a rigs list for cadet category girls and boys
3 °) System of approval following:
- Approval rigs for 2 years
- Maximum Club price with VAT, for minim and cadet rig: 700 €,
- Indexed prices on living cost
- Approved rig description will be supplied by manufacturer before the
approval.
- Rig and its accessories frozen for approved period
- Approved equipment will be able to apply for a new approved period
- Rig identification by an engraved marking in factory.
- It is - the committee - the AGM - of the class which approves the
lists of the approved rigs
4 °) It is - the committee - the AGM - of the class which decides on
modifications of the approved system.
5 °) The class can decide on a temporary suspension of a rig approval if
the builder did not respect any more one of criteria of the approval. After a
formal demand stayed without acceptable answer, the class will be able to
decide on a possible definitive suspension. Naturally the corresponding
material and approved before the change will remain approved until date
initially foreseen.
6 °) These first approval lists will come into effect from the sports
season 2005/2006, until the end of August, 2007.
8 °) Approved Rigs Lists:
A) For minims girls and boys: Maximum authorized area 6.8 m2
BIC SPORT: new rig 6.8 with 2 cambers
NORTH: rig R Type 6.5
EXOCET - AEROTECH: rig 6.8, without camber
NEIL PRYDE: rigs Saber 6.8 and V6 6.8
SPACEDOG: Rig 6.8
STARBOARD - SEVERNE: Rig: 6.7, without camber
More all rigs which sail have no camber, nor possibility of installing
it, with an area at least lower of 1 m2 of the littler approved sail, so a
maximum of 5.5 m2.
B) For cadet girls and boys: Maximum authorized area 7.8 m2
BIC SPORT: new rig 7.8 with 2 cambers
NORTH: rig R Type 7.5
COACH: rig 7.8
SPACEDOG: rig 7.8
Those that would wish to use a smaller rig have to choose it in approved
rigs list of the minim series.
9 °) About former rigs
A) To authorize, Aloha's rigs as well as former
Spacedog or Speedester rigs sold by BIC
1 °) until the end of season 2005/2006.
Or
2 °) until the end of the first approved time who is in end of August,
2007
Or
B) Do not to authorize
former Aloha rigs nor former Spacedog or Speedester Bic rigs.