KATHY LAMMERS RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CSA Friday 28th October 2016
At last weekend’s, Annual General Meeting held at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Antigua, incumbent President Kathy Lammers, also Chairman of the Regatta Organising Committee for Antigua Sailing Week, was voted back in to lead the organisation for a further year.
Alongside Kathy will remain Past President. Peter Holmberg, and Directors Pam Fuller (Treasurer), Mike Green and Alison Sly-Adams (Vice Presidents). Newly elected directors include Mei Ling Evan-Wong (Secretary), Vice Presidents Ian Hope Ross and Mark Theron and Chief Measurer Bastien Pouthier who will also act as Chief Technical Officer.
Of her re-appointment Lammers says: ‘The Caribbean Sailing Association has grown and progressed over the past several years and we are very proud of its many achievements. It’s a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated and hard-working people – members and co-directors alike - and I look forward to working together to progress our many projects in the coming year.’
The CSA Annual Conference provides a unique opportunity to bring regatta organisers, Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Rating Rule measurers, race officials, Member National Authorities, yacht club managers and youth sailing co-ordinators together for a weekend of discussion, education and inspiration.
One of the major outcomes of this year’s meeting was the further endorsement of the importance of regional sailing development and support of youth programmes. The members clearly see a need to assist in support and coordination of sailing at the grassroots level because it’s a great opportunity for regattas and clubs to give back to the communities in which they operate with the positive outcome of increasing home grown Caribbean sailors who will get involved in the sport either recreationally or as a career, which can only strengthen the sport in the region.
Members agree that coordination of the international events calendar continues to be used as a best practice model across the world for how a region can work together and promote its events as a single voice. Calendar Committee Chair Peter Holmberg says of the calendar: ‘Each event has its own dates on the calendar allowing it to maximise participation and hence ultimately deliver economic growth to each of our island nations while providing a five-year planning calendar for race campaign managers.’
Bastien Pouthier was elected Chief Measurer by the measurers group. Measurer discussions at the Conference identified the need to restructure operations within the measurers group. Bastien will be assisted by a board of ‘elders’ from the measurers’ group who will act as his advisory team. The team comprises Sandy Mair, David Walworth, Bob Phillips and outgoing Chief Measurer Jeffrey Chen. The measurers also discussed a number of improvements to be made to administration of the CSA Rating Rules in time for the racing season ahead, all of which will be announced in the coming weeks.
A number of presentations over the course of the weekend provided food for thought and offered challenges to the regatta organisers. They included sponsorship presentations by David Pritchard of Gill North America, Pascale Sold of Remy-Cointreau, Robyn Albritton of Sailors for the Sea and professional sailor Peter Holmberg.
The CSA thanks event sponsors including host venue Jolly Beach Resort and Spa, LIAT, The Caribbean Airline, as well as the conference planning team for ensuring the conference ran smoothly. Plans are already afoot for 2017 when the conference will once again be held in Antigua over the weekend of October 13–15.
For more information visit www.csaconference.org and for the full regatta calendar, ratings and news updates visit www.caribbean-sailing.com.
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