1. Changing of the guard
2. AGM highlights
1. Regional and Standing Committee structure in place and working
2. Clubs called to apply to SAS to become Authorised Agents to deal with new regulations
3. SAS finances show surplus.
3. New communication structure.
4. SAS office moves

Frank Silberbauer, who has served with enthusiasm for the past five years, resigned his position as President of the Association and Chairman of the Council, with acknowledgement from all for a task well performed. On Sunday 22 June Council met and Brian Sutherland was elected to take his place. Peter Vowles succeeds Frank as the Councillor for Western Cape and takes over the Marketing & Communications portfolio.

Copies of the minutes of the meeting will be available to Clubs on request/through the web page. (NB SAS is moving offices and will not be able to deal with requests until mid July)

1. Regional and Standing Committees reported on Activities.

The common thread running through the reports tabled by the Standing Committees was that they had now completed their re-structuring, in terms of the constitutional changes introduced recently and had started functioning in a co-ordinated manner. The following are the Standing Committees:

1. Finance & Administration:
2. Offshore (Inland & Offshore)
3. Sailing Management
4. High Performance
5. Community & Recreational Sailing
6. Marketing & Communication
2. Clubs to apply for recognition as Authorised Agents, through South African Sailing

The topic having the main impact on sailing in the months to come was that of the promulgation of two sets of regulations governing ‘activities afloat’. It is recommended that Club Flag officers responsible read the regulations that apply to their waters. Copies are available by e-mail from the SAS offices, on request.

In essence both sets of regulations place the responsibility with South African Sailing to regulate activities on behalf of government. The regulations require

• registration and certification of ALL pleasure craft 3m and longer in overall length, within twelve months of the date of publication of the regulations.
• certificates of fitness to be issued for a period not exceeding twelve months, (where after the craft will have to be re-examined for the issue of a new certificate)
• a certificate of competence to be held by the master/skipper of the craft

We have less than seven months in respect of inland and nine months in respect of offshore craft.

The onus is on the owner of the craft to have it inspected for the issue of a certificate of fitness, and also to ensure that it is not operated by anyone not having a certificate of competence.

After the period of twelve months grace afforded by the regulations, no craft may ‘put to sea’ unless these two certificates are in place. The term ‘put to sea’ means drop moorings, or launch if trailer borne. Violation of the regulations is a punishable offence, a fine or prison sentence being the options.

SAS is therefore required to ensure that the mechanism to deal with these regulations is put in place without delay. To do this it will appoint affiliated clubs as authorised agents to perform certain of the functions. Authorised agents, i.e. clubs who apply, will act as the authority over their local waters. In many instances this will mean that the sailing club will exercise jurisdiction over the activities of power boats, including non member ski boats/sport fisherman, dive boats, canoeists etc. Details will vary from locality to locality

Safety Officers to be nominated

Clubs wishing to apply would need the following qualified personnel: (Please note that the post carries remuneration which would be linked to inspections completed.)

• A suitably qualified person/s to be appointed as safety officer with authority to inspect and recommend craft to SAS for certification.
• A person willing and able to act as an enforcement officer (this may be the safety officer, or a ranger from the local municipality)

SAS will examine candidates put forward by clubs; where candidates require training suitable training (possibly in conjunction with lectures from SAMSA) will be arranged to ensure competence of an appointee.

It is acknowledged that many clubs have a system in place at present that caters to the regulations that have been in place for some time. SAMSA do not want to deal with a number of individual clubs and have therefore called for SAS to act as the national authority. So even if your club is up and running it needs to register with SAS to be able to continue.

A fair amount of work flows from these regulations and will require punctual response from clubs.

NB Application forms will be forwarded to your club together with qualifications required with the first Bulletin. In the mean time we suggest you canvas your members for candidates.

3. Financial statements revealed no contentious issues. In reply to questions on the Rio Race the Councillor in charge of finances noted that vouchers for two amounts were outstanding, Other than that SAS had received satisfactory documentation for all other aspects of expenditure associated with the event.

Communications as between SAS and Clubs was raised as an issue.

It was acknowledged that communications have left much to be desired. Councillors and Standing Committee members noted the dissatisfaction expressed by member clubs.

Without detailing the various aspects reflecting a lack of communication, it would seem that the system of channeling everything through clubs does not always have the desired effect. Accordingly, the first move to improving matters is to introduce a Bulletin system that is directed to the club secretary and ALL flag officers by e-mail to their nominated e-mail address.

• Bulletin system to be introduced

Bulletins are designated to carry material of a nature that requires attention and response, usually with time constraints.

SAS therefore is calling for each club to furnish it with a list of current Secretaries and Flag Officers’ electronic addresses for the purpose of creating a bulletin address list.

Please note the current communication path is:

SAS to Regional Offices

Regional Officers to Club/Class contacts

Club/Class contacts to individual members

If an individual member feels he/she is not receiving information a complaint should be directed to his/her Regional Office.