REPORT FROM 470 CLASS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Items on the Agenda included reports on activities over the past year, finance and accounts, future development and sports plans, changes to the class rules, decisions on future venues and the election of the President and Management Committee from November 2016-November 2020. A brief overview of decisions taken, includes:

Class Rule Changes – Eight submissions proposing changes to the class rules were considered, as below, which required a two-thirds majority to be approved.

There was much discussion regarding the changes to the class rules to permit a two-piece carbon mast for the 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition. Whilst the change received a majority approval, it did not achieve the two-thirds majority required to implement a change to the class rules. The plan is that further testing will take place in 2016 and early 2017, and a questions and answers document will be distributed to address queries from NCAs and sailors, with a further proposal anticipated for 2017.

02-16 - Class Rules, Carbon Mast - Not approved
03-16 - Class Rules, Jib Tack & Clew - Approved
04-16 - Class Rules, Sail Reinforcement - Approved
05-16 - Class Rules, Sail Ply Colour - Approved
06-16 - Class Rules, Jib Tack Adjustment - Approved
07-16 - Class Rules, Personal Equipment Heart Rate Monitor - Approved
08-16 - Class Rules, Personal Equipment Electronics - Approved
09-16 - Class Rules, Housekeeping - Approved

The changes to the Class Rules wil now be submitted to World Sailing for final approval and implementation. See links below to review class rule change documents.

Championship Bids – the following venues were approved:
2018 470 European Championship – Yacht Club Port Bourgas, Bourgas, Bulgaria
2018 470 Junior World Championship – Planet Sail Bracciano, Rome, Italy

The venue for the 2018 470 Masters' Cup will be decided by the 470 Masters’ Committee in consultation with the 470 Management Committee.

Tokyo 2020 – noted the confirmation from World Sailing that the ten events for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition will be the same as for Rio 2016. In addition, World Sailing will now consider the possibility of requesting an 11^th Olympic medal and the type of event. Click here for full report.

Honorary Membership - Martin Steiger (SUI) was awarded Honorary Membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the 470 Class over many years, taking on roles in the Management Committee, Masters' Committee and as Treasurer.

Finance – the accounts for year ending 2014 and 2015 were approved, along with the 2017 budget including an increased financial commitment to development programmes.

Election of Management Committee – Dimitris Dimou (GRE) was the only candidate standing as President and was elected unanimously for the four year term from 13 November 2016. There were 11 candidates standing for the 9 positions on the Management Committee, with the following persons elected for the four year term from 13 November 2016:
 
Iulia Fulicea (ROU)
Gonzalo Heredia (ARG)
David Hughes (USA)
Andreas Kosmatopoulos (GRE)
Vincenzo Losito (ITA)
Fernanda Sesto (ARG)
Nino Shmueli (ISR)
Agnieszka Skrzypulec (POL)
Haluk Suntay (TUR)

Deep thanks were expressed to Stanislav Kassarov (BUL), the retiring President who has led and worked tirelessly for the International 470 Class Association from 2008 to 2016.

470 National Class Associations voting at the Annual General Meeting were:
Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, China, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey and USA.