This means we will all be sailing as one fleet at the 50^th Anniversary National Championship at Chautauqua this summer in late June!  People may choose either the symmetrical or the asymmetrical configuration for the event, but cannot use both.

Following is a summary of the vote.

Currently the association has 609 members, of which 345 are ‘Regular’ members with voting rights.

By region, the regular memberships are:

          93 (28%) ECESA

          45 (13%) At-Large & MESA

          138 (40%) ILYA

          68 (20%) WMYA

287 ballots were received as of Thursday Dec 20^th that had a valid postmark. Since the Dec 16^th due date was on a Sunday, we accepted envelopes that had a post mark of Dec 17^th or earlier. Like one person suggested, even the IRS gives us that break.  It is likely there will still be a few ballots received that will have a valid post mark, but the results are being presented at this time because we believe any additional ballots will not change the results.

12 ballots were not valid because of membership status or received after the due date.

275 Ballots were counted for the final results. Note:  Not everyone voted on every ballot issue, so the numbers will not necessarily add up to 275.

227 (84%)    Voted in favor of Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

44 (16%)       Voted against Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

187 (69%)    Voted for year 2008 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

83 (31%)       Voted for year 2009 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

265 (99%)    Voted to approve the Region change

2  (1%)          Voted against the Regions change

70 (27%)       Voted a June preference for the National Championships

194 (73%)    Voted a September preference for the National Championships

Of the 12 ballots that were not valid, the results were:

                Asym:                    Yes = 7                  No = 5

                Year:                      2008 = 6                2009 = 5

                Region:                 Yes = 12                No = 0

                Month:                 June = 1                Sept = 11

                                                              The results by Region

Eastern Class E Sloop Association (ECESA):

48 (74%)       Voted in favor of Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

17 (26%)       Voted against Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

37 (60%)       Voted for year 2008 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

24 (40%)       Voted for year 2009 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

61 (98%)       Voted to approve the Region change

1 (2%)           Voted against the Region change

13 (22%)       Voted a June preference for the National Championships

47(78 %)       Voted a September preference for the National Championships

Inland Lakes Yachting association (ILYA):

95 (83%)       Voted in favor of Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

20 (17%)       Voted against Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

75 (65%)       Voted for year 2008 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

40 (35%)       Voted for year 2009 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

114 (100%)  Voted to approve the Region change

0 (0%)           Voted against the Region change

23 (20%)       Voted a June preference for the National Championships

91 80%)        Voted a September preference for the National Championships

Midstates E Scow Association (MESA) & At-Large:

23 (85%)       Voted in favor of Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

4 (15%)         Voted against Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

20 (71%)       Voted for year 2008 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

8 (29%)         Voted for year 2009 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

26 (96%)       Voted to approve the Region change

1 (4%)           Voted against the Region change

11 (42%)       Voted a June preference for the National Championships

15 (58%)       Voted a September preference for the National Championships

Western Michigan Yacht Association (WMYA):

61 (95%)       Voted in favor of Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

3 (5%)           Voted against Scantling Rule changes to allow the asymmetrical Spinnaker

55 (85%)       Voted for year 2008 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

10 (15%)       Voted for year 2009 implementation if the asymmetrical vote was approved

64 (100%)    Voted to approve the Region change

0 (0%)           Voted against the Region change

23 (36%)       Voted a June preference for the National Championships

41 (64%)       Voted a September preference for the National Championships