Melges 15 Sanctioning Motion - February 27, 2022

In recognition that:

●  The Melges 15 will provide new revenue streams for both the ILYA and its member clubs. The Melges 15 fleet has many members who were looking for a simple, double handed sport boat to sail that has not been available at the ILYA Regattas or the ILYA member clubs. For 2022, it would be safe to assume this would be 25 to 35 Melges 15s creating new or additional club memberships, boat registrations and regatta entry fees. Forecast looks very strong for continued growth of this fleet.

●  The Melges 15 will help retain youth sailors that age out of the X Boat and keep them sailing in the ILYA events and at ILYA Member clubs.

●  The Melges 15 increases the number of women sailing in the ILYA and at ILYA Member Clubs.

●  For a high-performance boat, the Melges 15 is incredibly stable. This feature helps attract former sailors back into the sport. The stability factor also helps attract new sailors because the boat is more forgiving.

●  Lower price point reduces the barriers for boat ownership

●  Low hull weight allows the boat to be sailed from a dolly, which improves logistics for clubs with limited storage and could improve logistics for hosting regattas.

●  Early results show many teams consist of family members which follows the ILYA tradition of promoting family sailing. The Melges 15 is really the only boat that could spark ILYA clubs to be active again.

●  There are 52 ILYA clubs and only 14 or so attend a championship event. We need to engage the other clubs and the Melges 15 is the boat to do it. The Melges 15 will benefit the ILYA and the other lakes that we need to get involved again.

●  Melges 15 fleets will be actively racing at Pewaukee, Big Cedar, Lake Geneva, Harriet, Minnetonka, Pine, and Oshkosh.

●  Mark Tesar has volunteered to lead a team for Race Committee at the Melges 15 ILYA Championship.

●  John Porter has volunteered to lead a team for Jury work at the Melges 15 ILYA Championship.

●  Long term viability of a healthy Melges 15 fleet within the ILYA looks excellent. Based on early results. Approximately 350 boats have been sold in the US since June 2019. In that same time span, eight ILYA member clubs have added Melges 15 fleets.

●  The competition is credible. In the short history of the Melges 15 fleet, the regatta participation has been incredible. At the last regatta in early January, which was not a class championship, the registration was capped off at 60 boats and it had a waiting list. The next regatta is scheduled for the end of February, registration is capped off at 60 boats and it has a waiting list. Regatta results show that the top of the fleet consists of a wide profile of sailors. For example some of the sailors are All-American College Sailors, Olympic hopefuls and top sailors from the E Scow Class.

●  When considering geographic growth for the association, Melges 15 fleets are already established across the country. The combination of the strength of Melges 15 Fleet brand, the many appealing characteristics of the boat, (Named 2021 Boat of the Year) along with ILYA being the dominant regional concentration Melges 15s in the upper midwest could generate a lot of new interest in non-member clubs that border the traditional ILYA boundaries.

●  Melges has enthusiastically engaged with the fleet committee and document director to ensure a smooth entry into the ILYA system.

●  The Melges 15 class has engaged meaningfully to adjust the class rules to eliminate conflicts with ILYA “norms.”

• John Porter moves that the ILYA officially Sanction the Melges 15 as an ILYA Class and authorizes all necessary bylaw changes to accomplish this goal. The following items will be added to the relevant bylaws, policies, and documents:
  
  ●  A Melges 15 class committee will be created with the initial committee consisting of:
  
     TimRegan–Chair(Minnetonka) New board member–member of fleet council
     Tom Castle (Oshkosh)
     Andy Burdick (Geneva)
     Jeff Nicholas (Clear)
     Bill Lieber (Pewaukee)
  
  ●  No measurement has been requested – the measurer will not need to be onsite at the regatta in 2022.
  
  ●  The annual ILYA Championship will be held on the first full weekend in August with racing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
  
  ●  The annual ILYA Class meeting will be regularly scheduled on the second day of the ILYA Championship.
  
  ●  All fees will be identical to the fees for the ILYA C Scow Championship

  ●  The regatta will be considered a major championship in the context of the Melges 15 class rules.

  ●  The Melges 15 class rules will be controlled by the Melges 15 class.
  
  ●  Class guidelines will be created and maintained to ensure consistency and quality of racing.
  
  ●  The regatta manual will be reviewed and updated as necessary.
  
  ●  Any further changes may be authorized by the Executive Committee.
  
  ●  Purchase keeper trophies for top 5 competitors and seek perpetual trophies.