AJAX CLASS AGM 27 July 2018 - St Mawes SC

CHAIRMAN HEREWARD TRESIDDER SECRETARY RICHARD BEAMAN TREASURER MIKE CLAYTON Attendees: Nigel Savage, Keiran Hooper, R.Richardson, Cedric Thomas, G Sutton, Elaine Davey, Lindsay Thomas, Marriane Bryan, John Howard, M Grice, Bob Portway, A Portway, Richard Bown, Jean Bown

1. Apologies for absence

Received from: Alex Davey Richard Townsend Simone Kennett Adrian Haxby Clare Wood Roger Wood

2. Minutes of last AGM held at RHYC on 18 June 2017

Proposed by MC and approved as none other in attendance.

3. Matters arising from the minutes

The issue of the number of people involved in running the class was raised in 2017 and the East Coast fleet felt that it was still correct to have a separate committee for the National Class.

4. Chairman’s Report - Acting Chairman Hereward Tresidder

HT has kindly taken over from Ian Reid in a temporary role for 1 year. HT raised the issue of the Ajax moulds that are stored in a barn in Suffolk. The free storage might disappear. Do we need? HT also mentioned previous comments about the involvement a number of people involved in running the class. HT said it is his belief that too many people are involved in running the class, but that we would happily manage the situation for another year. If we cannot send a Chair to the 2019 meeting one will need to be elected locally.

5. Treasurer’s Report – Mike Clayton

MC ran through the accounts, pointing out the distributions made to the local classes and reported that the class still maintained funds in excess of £4,000 in our bank accounts. MC stated that the class’ only expenditure is currently the RYA subs. No payout was proposed to local fleets this year but possibly that could be reviewed in 2019.

6. Report from East Coast class captain

MC reported that the average turnout for racing 8 so far in 2018. Wigeon has been sold. Renamed Orwell 6.

There was a district requirement on the East Coast to reduce the average age of the helms!

7. Report from South West class captain

Jean Bown reported that numbers racing were down a little to start with, but it has picked up a little now for the championships. Jean said that the fleet was very happy that we are hosting the 50th anniversary and that this would culminate in a gathering of all past and present Ajax sailors in the clubhouse on Saturday 28 August.

9. 2019 Championships – Dates and format at RHYC

For 2018 the East Coast Fleet Champs moved to Sept because of tides and attendance levels. It is proposed that the Class Championships be held 2022 September 2019. The view is that this might encourage attendance from the SW fleet as it is at the end of the season and boats coming out of the water anyway. The class generally positively received this. MC indicated that there would be boats available for SW sailors if required.

10. A discussion on the future of the class

HT said that there were lots of boats not being sailed and we need as a class to encourage these boats onto the water. HT reported the kind donation of Vim to the SW Ajax Association, which was to be used primarily by JST locally in St Mawes. There was a round of applause for the donation. The SW association has also been offered another Ajax, which will be considered. St Mawes SC has the advantage of the JST section, which can lead to potential development of the class. MC reported 20-25 Ajaxes at RHYC but only a few being sailed. MC said many holding onto the boats rather than selling. It is strange that the Ajax class is low in numbers, as other keelboat classes have experienced resurged interest.

11. Any other business

Rob Matthewson Do we have the keel pattern? David Kerridge – apparently has the modification plan for the keel. Keel mould is probably with Henry Irons.

12. Date of 2019 AGM

Friday 20 Sept 2019.

The meeting was closed at 1838