RS700 Weight Equalisation System Vote Results
The RS700 Weight Equalisation System vote closed on 18 Jan 16. The “yes” vote was to accept the proposed changes to the weight equalisation system. The “no” vote was to continue with the current system. There was a 72% turnout of eligible voting members with the following result recorded:
Yes – 26% No – 74%
Click here to see the results.
This means that the proposed change to the weight equalisation system was not supported and the current system as described in the Class Rules remains in force. All 2016 RS700 Calendar Events will therefore be raced using the existing system.
I would like to thank Ian Swann, Jerry Wales and Alex Newton-Southon for their considerable work developing the new proposal and to Clare Sargent for coordinating and administering the vote. Whilst I appreciate that a quarter of the fleet will be disappointed with this result, we need to recognise that we had a high turnout and a decisive result. I believe that the aspiration to bring more of the sailors within the weight equalisation system is still valid and certainly wasn’t the reason for its rejection. I suspect the proposed increase in boat weight and reduced rack width was unappealing to the majority of the Fleet. Whilst I don’t want to see an immediate re-run of the vote with a hastily modified proposal, I’ll be open to suggestions which may be more palatable for future consideration.
Cédric Fraboulet’s feedback from the French fleet mentioned that the system isn’t a “Weight Equalisation System”, but rather a “Weight Compensation System”. Having discussed this with Alex Newton-Southon (Builders Rep), we propose to start referring to the system as a “Weight Compensation System” from now on. While this won’t change anything physically, it will at least provide some “expectation management” as to what the system actually does.
I’d like to thank everyone for their engagement and careful consideration of this matter, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the water over the coming season. I’ll be releasing some good news shortly about the 2016 Calendar.
Regards,
Richard Wadsworth
UK RS700 Class Association Chairman
21 Jan 16
