Due to the cancellation of the 2021 Finn World Masters, the Annual Masters Meeting was held online through a Google Form. It was run from around 0900 UCT on Wednesday 26 May and closed after 12.00 UCT on Friday 28 May.
75 Finn Masters responded.
1. President’s Report
Good morning all,
It is with heartfelt thanks that I extend our sincere gratitude to Medemblik and Finn Club Holland for all the input given in attempting to host the Finn World Masters. Subsequent to the cancellation, the FWM committee unanimously decided to offer the 2025 Finn World Masters to Holland, in the hope that it would be third time lucky. We are pleased they have accepted our offer to host in 2025.
On behalf of the Finn World Masters we are also deeply grateful to the Spanish sailing authority and the province of Murcia for stepping in and hosting our championship later this year. We remain hopeful that this can go ahead.
Thank you all for being understanding. You can rest assured that the decisions taken have been guaranteed by the committee and our sole intent was in the interest of the Finn Masters. With this in mind, we will need to tweak our rules to accommodate any future pandemic/catastrophes. We set a task that was effectively a vote on the change for Mar Menor. By setting a target of 100 entries before this AMM, the fact that we had 124 entries on day two of the announcement, was enough for us to proceed.
I would like to welcome Phil Chadwick and Andreas Bollongino to the committee and extend my huge thanks to Philip Baum and Rolf Elsasser, for the time, effort and energy they given to us over many years. Fortunately, it’s not a departure from the class.
Congratulations to Greece and welcome to the new venue on the outskirts of Kavala for 2023 in this pretty unspoilt area of Nea Peramos. Once again, we look forward to the Greek hospitality and the opportunity to sample the fine delights.
The next big event is the Europeans at Thiany, which for a number of you, is a perfect stop off to the world championship. The sponsors and organisers of the Europeans have put a huge amount of effort into hosting the event and I hope that you take the opportunity to get together in large numbers and enjoy a fine regatta.
Hopefully, the world will start to get back to some form of normality and we can resume our business as usual.
See you all soon.
Andy
2. Approval of the 2020 Minutes
The minutes from the 2020 AMM were approved: 70 approved with 5 abstentions.
3. Matters arising
Q: Due to the loss of the Finn from the Olympics, to save the Gold Cup event it may now be necessary to combine it with the FWM. Will the Committee now re-consider this and find a way to make it successful?
A: This is primarily a concern for the IFA AGM and Council and not within the remit of the Finn Masters Committee.
4. Future events
The following Finn World Masters are confirmed:
2022: Helsinki, Finland
2023: Kavala, Greece (approved as only bid for 2023)
2024: Punta Ala, Italy
2025: The FWM Committee offered the 2025 FWM to Holland and this has been accepted.
The next available year is now 2026 and this will be voted on in 2024.
The following Finn European Masters are confirmed:
2022: Hospitalet, Spain (provisional TBC)
2023: Campione, Lake Garda, Italy
Both these were approved by the FWM Committee due to no proposal being presented before the two year deadline.
The next available year is 2024 and this will be voted on in 2022.
6. Election of officers
Phil Chadwick and Andreas Bollongino will join the FWM Committee to replace Rolf Elsasser and Philip Baum
Approved by 72 with 3 abstentions
7. Accounts
FWM Income and Expenditure 2020
Summary
Despite the cancellation of the FWM 2020, a profit was recorded for the year, largely due to the generosity of Masters and FWM2020 sponsors. Travel restrictions also meant that upcoming venues were not visited.
Costs far exceeded income for the 2020 Magazine, so for the 2021 edition costs would be much reduced.
The 2020 IFA fee was €2500 and was received in two instalments.
The Finn Masters committee consider that a minimum reserve balance of £5000 is required to enable it to provide for activities and venue visits, so despite the tough year in 2020, we were able to build reserves slightly, ready for when we are able to travel freely again.
The accounts are now included in the IFA Annual accounting process and as such are audited at the same time.
Andy Denison
Opening Balance £2713.51
Income
IFA Fee £2215.00
Event Fees* £6045.90
Advertising £1123.00
TOTAL £9383.90
Expenditure
Travel £130.00
Staff £3347.71
Magazine** £2533.50
Website £238.50
Misc £85.10
Bank Charges £24.00
TOTAL £6360.81
P/L for 2020 £3023.09
Closing Balance £5736.60
8. Matters arising from the accounts
Q: Agenda item 7 should be entitled Cash Report and should contain a statement of opening balance, income and expenses, and closing balance with all details. This cash report should be prepared by an elected treasurer and approved by two auditors. An account sheet from a bank is of no value.
A: This has been addressed above
Q: Can we see detail behind the Accounts? What is expected to change in light of non Olympic status and when?
A: Masters accounts are unlikely to be changed by Olympic status
9. Rule Changes
9.1 Align Rules for FWM and FEM
Current situation: No rule
Insert
H.1.8 If there is no agreed venue and no proposals are presented to the Annual Finn Masters Meeting (AMM), within two years of the expected start, the location of the Finn World Masters may be decided by the Finn Masters Committee.
Reason
This allows the FWM Committee to seek and decide on a venue if there are no proposals two years in advance. Currently there is no solution if there are no proposals.
Passed: 75 approved (100%).
9.2 To allow President to make decisions in extreme circumstances
Current situation: No rule
Insert
A 1.6 In extreme circumstances (such as event cancellations) and only when required to maintain the continuance of the Finn Masters objectives and events, the President, in consultation with the FWM Committee, can make final decisions regarding any point in this Event Manual, so long as such decisions do not change Class Rules or RRS or significantly undermine the overarching principles of this Event Manual.
Reason
The last year has shown the need for the President, always in consultation with the FWM Committee, to take decisions that would normally be taken by the AMM, but because of the extreme situation, have had to be taken quickly and unilaterally.
Approved: 72 approved with 3 abstentions
10. Magazine
The Magazine more or less broke even this year, which was important after a significant drop in income. The FWM Committee would like to thank all those who sponsored adverts and allowed us to produce the eighth edition.
11. 2021 Events
The FWM Committee look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the 2021 European Masters, in Tihany and at the World Masters in Mar Menor in October.
12. Comment and feedback
1. Dear FWM Committee / President, Thanks a lot for keeping the ball rolling!
2. I wish to thank the committee for their excellent work - well done :-)
3. Thank you Robert an Andy for all the work done !
4. Difficult times well handled, many thanks.
5. My big thanks to Andy and his team. I respect the great work you all do for the class.
6. Thanks for all your work for the Finn Masters!
7. A vote of thanks to the Committee, out going committee members and incoming committee members in these difficult times. Greg Clark AUS 7
8. We need to accept Covid 19 vaccinated and Non vaccinated, whatever vaccine is used as the Russians, Hungarians and one Dutch man are all vaccinated with Sputnik V2.
The date of next AMM will be July 6, 2022, Helsinki, Finland
