By-Laws

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Section I -- Meetings and Elections

a. There shall be at least one membership meeting held each year to be called the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting shall be held before the first J/30 one design race of the new season. The order of business at the Annual Meeting shall be as follows:

Call to Order
Roll Call
Reading of Minutes
Reports of Officers
Award of Fleet Trophies
Other Business
Election of the Governing Committee members
Adjournment

b. Special Meetings may be held at any time on request of the Fleet Captain, or by petition of at least (20%) members in good standing. The Secretary, on instructions of the Fleet Captain, shall email or mail a notice to all members in good standing at least 10 days in advance of the date scheduled, specifying the nature of the meeting and the purpose of the call.

c. A quorum must be present at a membership meeting to conduct business requiring a vote. A quorum shall consist of at least 20 percent of the voting members in good standing. One vote shall be allowed for each boat.

d. Elections shall normally be held at the Annual Meeting unless an officer or other member of the Governing Committee fails to complete his term of office. Under these circumstances, an election may be held at a special meeting.

Section II -- Funds and Dues

a. Annual Dues shall be determined by the membership at the Annual Meeting. The Governing Committee shall recommend the amount of the annual dues. In addition to the J/30 fleet dues, the governing committee may also include US Sailing annual dues.

b. All expenditures, other than for postage and other administrative supplies shall be made only with the prior approval of the Governing Committee.

Section III -- Duties and Responsibilities of Officers

a. The Fleet Captain shall preside at meetings and shall rule on procedure and appoint committees, except the standing committees. He shall be empowered to call all meetings and shall designate the time and place. He is the Fleet Executive. The Fleet Captain shall fulfill the duties of the Measurer when the Measurer is not available and/or not elected and when the Measurer is an interested party or has a vested interest.

b. Vice Fleet Captain shall officiate in the absence of the Fleet Captain. In the event that a Secretary or Treasurer is not elected, the Vice Fleet Captain shall perform the responsibilities of the Treasurer and/or the Secretary. The Vice Fleet Captain shall preside on the standing committee meetings or delegate this responsibility to an appointee.

c. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, be responsible for the preparation and distribution to members of all Fleet communications, and shall perform all other duties pertaining to the office. He shall officiate in the absence of the Vice Fleet Captain.

d. The Treasurer shall keep records of membership and registration of boats, deposit all funds, make necessary disbursements, keep financial records and render a report at the Annual Meeting and at such other times as may be appropriate.

e. The Measurer shall inspect and report to the Governing Committee on all matters having to do with the conformity of hull, rigging, sails, and trim, etc. He shall rule on requests for emergency exemption, and shall keep the official one-design specifications of the J/30 class on the Gulf Coast.

Section IV -- Duties and Responsibilities of Standing Committees

a. The Governing Committee shall interpret class rules, schedule Fleet events including proposed one-design races, rule on protests, decide on eligibility for membership, call elections to fill vacancies in office, conduct all business and determine the policy of the Fleet between membership meetings, and appoint the standing committees. Two members shall be necessary for a quorum of the Governing Committee for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise stated herein, an affirmative vote by a majority of those in attendance shall decide all questions, and such votes shall be final.

b. The Nominating Committee shall propose a slate of officers that will be sent to all the members at least two weeks before the Annual Meeting. Additional nominations, with the consent of the nominees, may be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting.

c. The Social Committee shall plan and coordinate Fleet social events including rendezvous, raft-ups and Fleet cruises as well as post race social events as appropriate.

d. The Committee on One-Design Rules and Specifications shall make recommendations to the Governing Committee as necessary to keep the Gulf Coast J/30 Fleet in compliance with the national Class Rules and Specifications. The committee on One-Design can recommend to the Gulf Coast J/30 Fleet Governing committee special standing rules to supercede the One-Design Rules and Specifications.

Section V Awards

a. For purposes of J/30 Class Association award selection a boat must complete at least three races in the qualifying series to be considered to have qualified in the Gulf Coast J/30 Fleet.

b. For purposes of scoring the Low point system will be used.

c. The Perpetual Fleet Trophy is a trophy to be awarded to the top-placing boat. The trophy shall be displayed at the yacht club of the recipient until re-awarded.

d. Other trophies may be awarded at the discretion of the Governing Committee on a year-to-year basis.

Section VI Measurement Protests

a. Members are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of the Measurer prior to making modifications, replacements or alterations to their boats and on all disputes or questions of interpretation of the J/30 One-Design Rules & Specificacions (J/30ODR&S).

b. The Measurer is authorized to issue emergency exemptions to the (J/30ODR&S) for a single race or regatta series. He shall report any such actions to the Fleet Captain within 24 hours. Other requests for temporary exemption must be submitted to the Governing Committee.

c. Protests for alleged violations of the J/30ODR&S shall normally be lodged while racing in accordance with the Sailing Instructions and the International Yacht Racing Rules as adopted by US Sailing. The protest committee, after a hearing, may rule based on the evidence presented or may refer the issue to the Gulf Coast J/30 Fleet Governing Committee in accordance with the racing rules.

d. Administrative protests for alleged violations of the J/30ODR&S may be lodged in writing by members without regard to whether the boat in question was racing. A Letter-of-Protest, signed and dated by the protestor, shall be addressed to the Fleet Captain with a copy to the owner of the protested boat. The protest shall include a statement of the issues the protestor wishes to have resolved, a detailed description of the alleged defects, identification of the applicable rules and any relevant evidence

Section VII Administrative Protests

a. The owner of a boat protested in accordance with the provisions of Section VI(d) for alleged violations of the J/30ODR&S shall file a written reply to the Fleet Captain within 10 days. If he elects to concede the protest, promptly corrects the violation and, if applicable, withdraws in writing from all affected races, the Governing Committee shall take no further action. If he fails to comply with all of the above within a reasonable time or refuses to cooperate in providing for measurement when required in the course of investigation or fails to abide by the decision reached by the Governing Committee in accordance with paragraph (Section VII (b.)) The Governing Committee shall revoke his membership and advise all concerned, including the local organizations within whose jurisdiction the boat normally races.

b. The Governing Committee shall decide the issue based on the available evidence and any additional evidence obtained in the course of investigation or measurement. They may consult with the national class or other appropriate authorities. The Governing Committee shall rule as promptly as circumstances permit and shall communicate their decision in writing to both parties and to the membership in a timely and appropriate manner. Participation in further racing by the protested boat may be permitted but subject to the results of the protest.

c. The unsuccessful party shall pay any fees or expenses of investigation and measurement incurred by the Governing Committee.

d. Decisions of the Governing Committee regarding compliance with Gulf Coast J/30 exceptions to the national rules are final. Decisions regarding national rules may be appealed to the J/30 Class Association. If written the Governing Committee does not receive notification of appeal within 10 days, the right to appeal is revoked and the Governing Committee's decision is final. Participation in further racing by the protested boat is permitted but subject to the results of the appeal.

Section VIII -- North American Championships

a. The Governing Committee shall designate a minimum of number of races, which shall be used as a qualification series for the selection of the Fleet representative to the North American Championships of the J/30 Class.

b. Finishing positions in each race of the qualifying series shall be determined by the race committee of the sponsoring club, modified by any ruling on appeal. If an appeal is still pending as of two weeks after the last race of the series, the protest committee ruling will be used for scoring the series.

c. For purposes of J/30 Class Association selection criteria, if any, a boat must complete at least three races in the qualifying series to be considered to have qualified in the Gulf Coast J/30 Fleet.

d. When the Gulf Coast J/30 Fleet hosts the Championships, the final standings of the qualifying series will be used to select participants (top-to-bottom) and loaner boats (bottom-to-top).

Section IX -- Amendments to the J/30 One-Design Rules and Specifications (J/30ODR&S) for the purposes of the Gulf Coast fleet.

a. Class Rule 6.2.1 - Modify to allow the #2 Genoa to be optional.

b. A new owner of a J/30 will be granted one year from the date of purchase to comply with the J/30 One-Design Rules & Specifications.

Last Updated on:
December 29, 2002 6:10

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