The Annual Meeting of the NCESA was held on September 4, 2002 on the first floor of the Woodfield Suites Hotel, Madison, WI during the 44th Annual National Championship Regatta held nearby on Lake Mendota. The Secretary reported that 72 boats were in attendance.

The Meeting was called to order by Commodore Robert Zak at 8:08 PM.

The Minutes of the previous Annual Meeting were approved as posted.

OLD BUSINESS:
Three items remained open from the previous annual meeting and were to be discussed.
· Three races per day on the first day of racing
· Time between races, restroom time
· Bowsprints, (to be discussed later)

1. Three races on the first day. Bob Zak spoke briefly about the consensus to encourage the PRO to conduct three races on the first day of Nationals, rather during the usual social event day Friday. This year the social event is on Thursday but the consensus is still to shoot for three races on the first day if possible. No discussion ensued and the message will be passed along to the PRO.
2. Time between races on a three race day. Bob Zak spoke about the requirement to hold a break between races of at least one hour during a day when we have three races in a day. Several mentioned that the dockage situation may be tight and Zak pointed out there are several other places around the lake to dock during such a break.
3. Asymmetrical Spinnakers. Bob Zak indicated that this would be discussed later in the agenda.

REPORTS FROM THE COMMITTEEÕS

RULES - Ted Beier for Buzz Reynolds
Ted Beier reported that the committee had been very active in the last year. Ten boats had received the foil shape rudders for testing. Conclusions are not a distinct performance advantage. Increased safety in heavy air was noted by many testers. The Rules Committee and Board of Directors had both met in August via Teleconference and had approved the idea to change the scantlings. A table of offsets and diagrams will be developed before the November Directors Meeting to create a strict One-Design shape. Anyone can build a set of rudders, not just a Melges product.

Other issues the Committee had been discussing were related to what further development should the class take, should we go slow or should we go fast, asymmetrical spinnakers were a topic. The Committee plans on polling members, to get the opinions of the silent majority. The technique of testing the experiments/ rudders on a variety of boats across the country had worked well and is a model to be used in the future.

REGATTA - Pete Price
I would like to thank to Laurie Jarosz and Dierk Polzin for coordinating the Madison regatta. Please be helpful with parking and do not bring glass bottles down to the launch site.

Rick Turner the chairman of the 2003 Nationals at Chautauqua spoke about the changes since the last time the fleet was hosted there. A new heated swimming pool had been added, the clubhouse had been expanded. Housing will be available within a reasonable distance. Please think about coming.

Price mentioned that a bid for 2004 at Crystal Lake had been received and that other bids were welcome for the following years. Contact him.

FINANCE - Dierk Polzin
Thanks to Sandra Zak for her year as Treasurer/Secretary. This past June/July a transition had been made to Madison and the accounting system was very new to him. Membership income was down due to no membership mailing in the Spring. No summer reaches was published which saved several thousand dollars. At August 31, 2002 the balance in all accountÕs, was and equity of $48,354 versus $59,821 the previous year.

PUBLICATIONS - Bob Zak for Steve Anderson
Bob reported that Steve had been doing a great job and a REPORTER will go out this winter, maybe with less color and fewer pages. Steve is also planning to do a special 50th anniversary issue in a few years and that planning should start now to collect as much information as possible.

JUDICIAL - Ken Fisher
Ken reported that he had taken over for Ted Beier who was now in charge of the Rules Committee.

NOMINATING - Jack Lampman
Jack reported that a slate was proposed at the start of the month but later Buzz Reynolds informed him that he would be unable to fill the post slated. It was proposed that the current slate of Bob Zak and Peter Price continue for another year and that Tom Burton becomes the Rear Commodore. The slate was moved, seconded and approved unanimously.

MEASUREMENT - Bob Zak
Bob reported that the current system is very streamlined, less hassle and spot check of sails and spot checking of boats. Only 5 boats had been weighed all Mendota boats several days before the regatta.

NEW BUSINESS

1. PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SCANTLINGS - FOIL RUDDERS

Bob Zak informed everyone that 2/3 in attendance must approve a Scantling change at the Annual Meeting for it to go into effect.

Rules Committee Chair, Ted Beier reported concept of the foil rudder had gone over well and both the Rules Committee and the Board had approved the concept of adding a new scantling to allow for the foil rudder January 1, 2003. He also mentioned will be essentially three valid rudders, on Janauary 1, 2003.

Discussion
- are we changing the scantlings?
- Beier, I will write the scantling for final approval by Board, will use the ISAF technique for establishing the scantlings.
- Comment was made that it should be a tightly as possible.
- Beier indicated the tolerance would be 1/4 or 1/8 of inch
- No carbon fiber will be allowed
- alum, glass, foam filled.
- minimum weight, yes..
- depth varible, no..
- top side, remove when trailering..
- Harry Melges, no problem, only 4 inches, fit in bottom cover.
- Harry, same connecting system at the top
- some adjustments depending on the age of the boat.
- estimated prices, old Johnson need tube job, about $900
- Lee Alnes, $500 and parts and $400 in labor
- MESA voted unanimously for the Rudder, but they cannot be launched at Wawasee.
- Chautauqua launch site dredged out in anticipation for the Nationals.
- Do scantling include angulation of rudder tubes. yes.
- Do 97 rudders have better attachment
- rudder and boards are not in the same plane, Harry - no not exact match.
- Harry, no drag induced by non-cavitation.
- Casey Call, any mix possible, Beier, no way to combine the boxes of different rudders.
- Beier - new rudder scantling will be a foil shape.
- Tom Johnson - why the procedure now, rather then a mail.
- Zak - we looked at rules and we could do it both ways
- Zak - we wanted to get it done before the 2003 Sailing Season
- discussion closed.
Motion - 35 - 1 pass.

2. SCANTLING TIGHTER OR LOOSER
WHAT DO THE people in this room believe about the prospect of tightening the scantling rules.

Currently now we allow for some variation. That is way we always here.
Lampman - would Ken please speak for the Easterns
K. Fisher - Upon our discussion on approving the rudders, we wanted a very tight scantling on rudders. We also wanted a ten year moratorium on changes to the rudders. That was our feeling..

Comment - Your asking a broader question.

D. Magno - Now scantlings are written to make the boat a development..
plus or minus 4 inches, are we going to stay developmental or do we want to be strict.. That issue needs to go out to the membership.

Everyone who complained in 97 about the rudder changes, many people out east tried to have better rudders. It is a broader question of what the class wants.

Jewett- I-1 all within scantlings, same as ten years ago, have been around for a long time. if you tighten the scantlings this may not be the case in the future..

Biwer - The question is, should the tolerance be so wide to allow those this rig in the future. What do we want as a fleet in the future. Board is tired of being sullied because the question of what changes develop.. How much the same is the same, that is why the question is called.. Nothing to do with it.. Question is this a one-design or a development class.

Zak - Pete Price has old Reporters and the same debate has gone on in the past in 30-40 years ago on how the boat develops.. Aluminum masts..

Brereton - Three things that have made it successful.
1- always been a developmental one-design. Wood to fiberglass, chain plates moved many times, sail cloth always changes, always maintained the best advantages, cannot think of anything that makes it more fun and easier to sail. Change is never easy.

2 - builders always have been forethought, Buddy has done many things and proved his skill and innovation is beyond reproach. Builders have exposure and contact beyond the weekend sailors and bring a lot to our class.

3 - Fleet members always want to race against the best talent and the best mind and we all know that it is part of the fleet. There are always Laser and Thistle.

Finally, the Board are only stewards of a unique sailing experience.
(Full text will be available on the E-Scow.org website.)

J. Lampman - What does that mean for the local fleet, how much change does everybody want.

Zak - We do have a unique success with our current design.

Lon Schoor - The words, Developmental One-Design

Woody Jewett - seems incredible that we won't be looking at a carbon fiber mast. It is coming down in cost and will be less expensive. Will probably be another step in evolution and more tune-able. Aluminum mast made a huge difference. CF will cost less then an aluminum mast tapered. We will be looking. Expect it.

B. Porter - Do you think it will all be good if we all sailed wood spars now?

K. Fisher - What we fear in the East is an Asymmetrical that virtually eliminates tactical racing downwind. You basically set up a asymmetrical and go to the corner and jibe. That is all we fear.

G. Bowers - A-Scows guys know that is basically true. Our philosophy has been a developmental One-Design. J-24 is extremely tight and there is a huge number of boats world-wide. There is a difference in the East and the Midwest. We have a different environment then J-24. J-24 lasts 20 years, E-Scow 8 years gets old..
- Even Laser has changed rules when the need be.
- Some classes like the J-24 cannot respond to changes in technology. The problem is that over the last several years very few new J-24 are being built. We have the advantage of the development of 100 years of scows.
- If I have a choice then I want to change the scow. Nobody wants to change the hull. But the rigging and excitement of the boat is dependent on changes. It has helped our builders stay interested in the class. We are fortunate to have a family of very talented sailors.

Everyone approves by acclamation that Harry has a lot more children to keep the tradition alive.

W. Sherry - sailed Flying DutchmanÕs when fiberglass made obsolete all the wood boats. Class would do well to get some input on what to do with the scantlings.

Zak - We want a pace of change, to have the wisdom so that we can keep the change so we can afford to keep active in the fleets.

Zak Barlow - Support keeping the scantlings loose, to keep the boat fresh. Can keep learning and growing as a sailor.

Zak - Vast majority in favor keeping the scantling loose.

BOWSPRINTS AND ASYMMETRICALS

Bob Zak opened the discussion -
Tim O'Keefe will speak from Delevan Experience.

T. OÕKEEFE -
- Sailed EÕs off and on since 78.
- Our fleet has several 65-75 year olds and some very young sailors with variety of skills.
- Talked wit Melges about setting up proposal to Melges to convert 5 boats and build one new boat for me.
- Experience with M-24 and A-Scows.
- Safer more fun, and took a leap of faith.
- Same area as E-Scow with steep foot of A-Scow Spinnaker, 4 foot extension..
- halyard 20 inches up the mast..
- Tested in april, porter, brereton, melges..
- Adjusted halyard to about 20 inches above current point..
- Spinnaker designed on computer with a high foot..
- Better Performance in heavy air as the bow lifts off the water
- Jibing was easy without the pole, tactical just as fun.
- Traditional and asymmetrical raced on same course.
- Fleet was very exciting, more excitment around the lake.
- Lower skill level sailors found it easier.
- Boats are on the water for another couple of months.
- We respect NCESA if you don't want it.
- Cost came in as replacing 2 spinnakers as the same as bowsprint and one asymmetricals.
- We did not get any new rudders on the new boats.

STEVE SUHR
- Windward Boats and Inland Sails helped set up a boat last year.
- Crew did not particularly like it.
- Viewing was good, safer, a pleasure to sail.
- Better for women on the boat.

A. BRERETON
- after trying it I converted my boat, two spinnaker are just a little bit less in cost.
- Can be agressive in heavy air.
- Better sailors did very well, poor sailors did worse.
- More demanding to steer, have to keep in the grove better.
- Safer, not going to broach downwind.
- Better in big waves,
- Would encourage everyone to try it.
- Try it first and then decide.

B. PORTER
- Went out in the spring at 18 knots..
- Very controllable in jibes and bow was way up..
- For me it would be much easier with less experienced people with big waves and big wind, never slowed down..
- To me the most important thing, what is best for the class, I am going to sail E-Scows no matter what.. The thing I care about is how many people around the country will be sailing this boat in 20 years. I am concerned about the fresh blood.
- What about sailing in SF bay and around the country and get new blood in the class. We don't want this to die in the Midwest. That is

RICK TURNER
- ECESA position that the charter of the board to pace the development. The feeling is that this is quite a radical change and more then the change we are willing to embrace with the changes the last few years.
- Good sailors do well, Sailing Techniques and mixing the fleet.
- There is a genuine concern that this is a radical change and the straw vote was not to

Brian ??? - When A-Scows converted I did not have anything to do. I like jibing the pole and being a critical part of the team. My inclination is to not support it, unless it does significant things for us.

Unknown - One of the great things about the E-Scow is that your a Team. I cannot believe the jib guying nice jibe with an asymmetrical. The great guys can do all the maneuvers, and make it a team sport. Perfect jibes are a great thing.

Lampman - Issue should be tabled now that we have discussed it.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
We previously approved the new Officers.

The new Regional Directors are:
ILYA - 5
Brian Porter - Geneva,
Chrisy Hughes/Barnett - Minnetonka
Rob Evans - Minnetonka
(Bob Biwer serving til 2003)
(Andy Burdick serving til 2003)

WMYA - 2
Douglas McNeil - White Lake
(Glen Hallett serving til 2003)

ECESA - 3
Rick Turner - Chautauqua
George Welch Jr. - Keuka
(Bob Donat serving til 2003)

MESA - 2
Pete Hagar - Wawasee
(Terry Moorman serving til 2003)

Also approved by unanimously.

At 9:38 PM the meeting was duly adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,