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During the last year the National committee has been trying to address the issue of
reducing the amount of money in the fund, which has become known as the Nordic
Fund. This is money held by the Association from issuing Nordic racing certificates
and at last year’s AGM we agreed to find projects worthy of financing. To this end we
canvassed opinion from the Nordic fleet and the clear response was to spend some of
this fund on promoting the Folkboat fleets at other locations than the Western Solent
and also to purchase a Load Cell for use by the fleet.
We duly purchased the Load Cell and have been looking at an alternative venue
for holding the Southern Areas with the favourite being part of the Hamble Classic
Regatta. Unfortunately, this year the date clashes with the date we have selected for
the Nordic Folkboat Nationals in Lymington, so we will have to pursue this some time
in the future - along with a decision on the best place and time to hold both events.
Tony Blachford our secretary is retiring from his post in the next few months and I
would like to thank him for all he and his wife Debbie have done for the Association.
He has kept the Association running smoothly during his time in office. He has also
completely reorganised the database so that we now have a modern Excel based
system which can easily be modified and has introduced and electronic yearbook
which has saved the Association a great deal of money in production and posting
costs. He has also been a great source of knowledge about Folkboat matters and I
am sure he will still be able to help with this in future.
I would like to welcome Nicky Henderson who is taking over from Tony. Many of you
will know her from Yarmouth where she was Sailing Secretary for the Royal Solent
and has been involved with Folkboat and X Boat sailing for many years.
I would like to thank David Gredley our technical chairman who sorts out all the
details, which keep us racing within the Class rules as well as offering guidance to
potential new owners and anyone restoring older boats.
I think the last four years have seen the Folkboat Association maintaining a great
Class with both Nordic and Classic fleets. I am sure the Class will thrive on future and
wish you all well.
Secretary’s Report - Tony Blachford
The situation regarding membership, changes little from year to year. A with almost
every long established class, there is an annual downturn. Normally it is a quest for a
refreshing change, but with the Folkboat class, it is more focussed on the lack of new-
builds, and the economics of importing boats from Europe, owing to the unfavourable
exchange rates, and the closure of the convenient ferry crossings, which give easy
access for importing. Having said that, our record is pretty good for a cruiser racing
keelboat, designed over seventy five years ago.
