San Diego

As a PHRF San Diego member, you are most cordially invited to our Annual Meeting and Season Championship Awards Dinner on Saturday January 5^th. 6:00 PM at the Fiddler’s Green Restaurant, Shelter Island Drive. [See attached Flyer]

I encourage you to attend to support your fleet, vote for the 2002 officers, approve any by-law changes, review the Season Championship Race Schedule and Competition Protocols for 2002, and of course, congratulate and celebrate with our 2001 Trophy winners.
It is also customary at this time for the Fleet Chairman to prepare a report concerning our fleet activities.

Our membership held reasonably steady at about 220.

One year ago we selected, and the membership approved 32 races to be adopted for our 2001 Season Championship Series. SWYC, SDYC, CRA, CCYC, CYC, MBYC and OYC supported the Series by hosting the races, and providing Race Committee and scoring services. The weather was not particularly cooperative [even for SD] and we only managed to complete 27 races with some classes completing even less. This put a total of over 100 members in Series sponsored races at one time or another. Winning a trophy in this Series is all about participation, which also happens to be the best way to provide data to the handicapping board for rating reviews [good & bad]. So, let’s see more of you on the water next year.

Our relationship with PHRF of Southern California .

We function as PHRF of San Diego [running our own Season Championship Series etc.] and also as Area G of So. Cal. PHRF. Over the years there has sometimes been friction between the SD and So. Cal. PHRF boards. However, I am very pleased to tell you that the relationship between the two organizations is now much improved. If fact our own Al Poindexter was Vice President of So Cal PHRF in 2001, and will be President in 2002.

· Active racers were more involved in handicapping discussions and decisions.

· Yacht clubs [particularly SDYC] sought our handicapping advice for special events and out of town boats.

· No widespread changes. – A year of consolidation.

· Shorter meetings.

· Timely acquisition and posting of Results, and the Championship Series tables on the web.

· Member participation in some events, particularly The Championship Regatta.

· Your feedback, and recruiting members to step-up to serve on the 2003 board.

Changes for 2002.
The proposed slate of officers for 2002 is provided on the Ballot. Two new incoming members are very active fleet racers [Ron & Bev Coalson] for the Secretary position & David Cattle for Data Systems Officer]. I am very pleased to see the new blood on the board. The balance looks good for Racers to Administrators, and also across the fleets. Please remember however, that the people with the real Power are the club handicappers, elected or appointed by your yacht club. They are the people with the most influence on handicapping decisions, and should give advice to help you prepare your case to present to the Handicapping Board.

We are proposing to add a Public Relations position to the board, and the Ballot reflects this change. Since we do not have a candidate today, this position [if approved] will be appointed by the Chairman in the next few weeks. It would be great to announce this at the annual meeting. Care to step forward? The position will involve some liaison with hosting clubs, working on general publicity for PHRF, and sponsorship for the Championship Regatta.

We have also offered an alternative Season Championship Series to replace our existing Overall and three Mini-Series schedule. There is no board recommendation. We just want to offer an alternative to the more traditional grouping of races. It may be worth trying to increase participation – I leave it up to you to decide.

If we don’t plan ahead, this time next year will see a big turnover of board members, and loss of continuity in key positions. We will therefore understudy the Chief Handicapper and Chair positions to help for a smooth transition.

I have been honored to serve as your Chairman of the largest racing fleet in San Diego, and, if duly elected I will do my very best to serve you adequately for 2002. I offered a second term because it took me at least six months to fully understand the workings of our organization and my responsibilities. I hope to serve you better in 2002.

See you on the Water.

Brian Hull

Tripz 43513