TC Members in attendance representing seven fleets:
Steve Moore Manhasset Bay Chair
Steve Braverman Winthrop
Steve Kirkpatrick Scituate
Neal Fowler Hyannis
Don Lovelace Indian Harbor
Dan Ronan Larchmont
Tom Stout Annapolis

One more Steve and Steves will rule!.

Other attendees: Paul Jon Patin and Andy Pimental

Three items were on the agenda:

1. A proposal to allow the sleeeving of broken masts. The problem with sleeving masts is that it changes their bending characteristics, stiffening them and making them faster at least in some conditions. Although Committee members were sympathetic to the fact that our rules effectively prohibit repairing a broken mast, they felt that a sleeved mast would give its owner an unfair advantage. Further, they pointed out that a new Zephyr tube was not very expensive. The vote was 7 No, 0 Yes.

2. A proposal to allow longer sail battens. Proponents suggest that longer battens would increase the competitive life of IC sails. Further, in discussions with the class's sailmakers, the consensus was that they felt it would have no effect on the speed of a new sail. However, the committee felt that the existing sails hold up very well, and therefore changing the sail is unnecessary. The vote was 7 No, 0 Yes.

3. Andy Pimental of Jibe Tech asked to address the committee. He would like to build ICs. Andy suggested that he could lower the price of a new boat substantially if he could go to a deck mould, which incorporated the deck, the partner, the air tanks and the thwart. His estimated price was $4000.

Andy indicated that boats built in this manner would be no stiffer than those which have had their gunwales boxed in and stiffened (about 40 hrs extra labor). Further, he stated that he would be much less interested in building ICs if he had to build them with the old style moulds.

Separately, Andy asked about making carbon fibre blades, which he felt would be less expensive than wooden ones. The committee was concerned with the potential for extra stiffness using carbon. They reserved decision on this one pending more information.

The committee requested a written proposal from Andy, detailing what he had in mind. This document will be circulated amongst the committee members before proceeding with Jibe Tech.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted
Steve Moore