[arciandi]

Fortsetzung

...

(8) Formula Kite Equipment – Class Rules. Safety assumptions. (PKA)

Proposal:
Add G.1.4.
After 1st of January 2015 any registered kite after falling into water shall ensure:
a. a safe buoyancy for a competitor. The volume of the inflatable tubes shall be not less than 50ltrs.
b. An improved detection. Not damaged main tube and minimum three struts shall clearly keep the trailing edge of a kite over the surface in the calm water and wind conditions.

Reason:
The ram air kites demolished the inflatable kites in a matter of performance within this season. However, there is a price for it that is safety. On many occasions the ram air kites couldn’t provide safety for competitors once they fell in the water. Couple of events proved ram air kites become a nightmare for many riders and rescue teams. Visual detection of ram air kites is restricted comparing to inflatable ones. During one event of the Polish Cup with light winds we had serious problems to locate the capsized competitors of ram air kites who were just less than a kilometer from the beach. At the same time inflatable kite competitors were easily visible from the double distance. Training on the ram air kites might be extreme, especially in light wind and strong currents areas. We consider them as unsafe for riding without an assistance.

RESULT: NOT PASSED


(9) Formula Kite Equipment – Class Rules. Number of kites (PKA)

Proposal:
Change to C.1.1.(a) (if Submission PL01 approved).
Not more than three kites shall be used by a competitor who specifies kite sizes to be used by her/him during her/ his first sanctioned IKA event after 1st April 2016. Her/his choice remains valid for a calendar year.

Reason:
There are many riders from a middle of the fleet who have competed with only 3 kites since beginning of the kite racing. They do not complain about safety issues with their quiver. Three kites were maximum amount allowed till 2013. Moreover – four kites give a handicap for light weight riders in light wind conditions. However they do not give any handicap for the heavier riders. Three kites quiver would add a handicap for heavy riders in strong winds. It seems to be fair for all. Using four kite quiver will restrict the Formula Kite only for riders below 75kg. Four kite idea was breached by some riders who came for a two, three day event with 5-6 kites and registered their kites matching weather forecast. It is not a fair play. We propose to implement declaration system for kite sizes to be used during one calendar year. It would enforce competitors to compete and train on the same quiver for the entire season.

RESULT: WITHDRAWN



(10) Formula Kite Equipment – Class Rules. Number of kites (PKA) (if Submission PL01 approved but Submission PL04A not accepted)

Proposal:
Change to C.1.1.(a)
Not more than four kites shall be used by a competitor who specifies kite sizes to be used by her/him during her/his first sanctioned IKA event. His choice remains valid for a calendar year.

Reason:
if three kites idea fails we would like still implement a kite sizes declaration system.

RESULT: WITHDRAWN



(11) Formula Kite Events – Fees (PKA)

Proposal:
A competitor entry fee of all IKA events shall not be higher than an equivalent of 20€ per a day of the event. A competitor’s team member fee shall not be higher than 2/3 of the competitor fee. A competitor late fee shall not be higher than 50% of the entry fee.

Reason:
fees are too high. In some cases reached 300€ for a late fee. The competitor should not be treated as a source of income. This really decreases amount of competing riders. IKA should secure contracts with organizers with the proposed limits. There were around 20 riders in Poland who were interested to compete during last Europeans. Most of them gave up seeing a 180€ fee. It might be even more restricting for riders from Asia and Africa. We want to be attractive for more riders.

RESULTS: NOT PASSED



(12) Rankings Formula Kite RAM-LEI (GKA)

Proposal:
To introduce a separate category for LEI and overall (similar to production/custom rankings in the beginning) as an entry level to kiteracing and to give the riders on LEI kites an incentive to compete and a separate podium (mainly newcomers and “bronze fleet” riders). This may be combined with a higher wind limit for LEI kites, i.e. 8 knots. This may develop into separate classes (which can race together though).

Reason:
Availability and manufacturers of RAM kites are limited, and we want to be inclusive and make it possible for all brands to be involved and compete. The LEI ranking could be also open to non-production boards (for discussion) to build a broader base for participation on entry level.
We do not want to limit the high performance aspect of the sport and that means RAM kites, but we need to grow the grass roots and that means easier entry with normal LEI kites for the bigger masses, and RAM kites for the top-end.

RESULTS: PASSED



(13) International IKA Formula Kite Class Rules (GKA)

Purpose or Objective
Limiting cost development of fins in Formula Kite.

Proposal 1
Add to Class Rules new section C.8.3:
Fins shall be made of semitransparent glass/epoxy laminate (“G10” / ”G11” or generic products)

Proposal 2
To amend the class rules so that from the 2016 equipment eligibility date only registered production fins shall be used.
Include fin registration scheme in the current equipment registration paperwork free of charge to allow for a transition period.

Reason
Development in Windsurfing has shown that moulded carbon fins in the high end range may become very expensive. Furthermore, moulded carbon fins are virtually impossible to measure. A registration scheme for G10/G11 can be easily administered and enforced to control cost development.

RESULTS: BOTH PASSED



(14) Event Registration Policy (GKA)

Purpose or Objective:
To grow participation in international events.

Proposal 1:
Amend the Formula Kite event quota and entry system as follow:
Entry is granted to 50 men / 20 women (continental) and 60 men / 30 women (worlds) based on a first come-first serve principle that allows sailors to make travel arrangements immediately after registration. Registration must be accompanied by immediate payment of the entry fee to secure participation. Additional places are granted to the top 10 men / top 10 women (from the continent) respectively top 20 men / top 10 women (worlds) until one month before the event. Places not used by these top riders become publically available up to a total quota of 60/30 (continentals) and 80/40 (worlds).

Proposal 2:
Limit event entry fees to 40 Euro per racing day with the following provision: Registration (and payment) made up to 1 month before the event (see proposal 1) receive a 25 % discount (“early bird”).
This effectively (together with the new registration proposal) limits the entry fees to 150 Euro for a typical continental and world championship, and 120 Euro for a typical 4 day foilboard (or e.g. KTE) event.

Reason:
The entry system currently used resulted in lower participation as starting places were only confirmed shortly before an event. Both proposals follows a discussion with the riders at the 2014 Europeans.

RESULTS: 14.1 PASSED, 14.2 WITHDRAWN


(15) Event Selection Policy (GKA)

Proposal:
Only events with proper race management and jury infrastructure as well as sailor benefits (food, prize money etc) shall be selected for major events (continentals and worlds).

Reason:
The sport side as well as the sailors benefits should not be compromised in order to maximize the number of events. Feedback from the sailors is that they prefer rather less but bigger and better events.

RESULTS: WITHDRAWN



VII. Elections
no positions are currently vacant.





VIII. Any Other Business

a) Policy discussion – separate youth and masters events in racing, or combined with the open events

b) PKRA development

c) Policy discussion – world titles (disciplines and overall world title yes/no ?)

d) Registered Equipment Slalom (Kites and/or boards – foilkites/tubekites ?)

e) Class Separated Sub-AGMs

f) Parafoil kites and the implications of their usage on the international tours (if not covered elsewhere)

g) Formula Kite Registration cycle 2016 – Sailing World Cup Grand Final

h) Scoring time limit "TLE" sailors vs. DNC, DNS, or DNF sailors

i) Participation levels at all international events

j) Update of championship rules and Standard NoR/Sis

k) Sailing World Cup Grand Final Contribution