International Radio Sailing Association

Permanent Committee

Chairman	Mike Clifton	For 32 years I was running a family retail business selling all aspects of gentlemen’s clothing. In 1997 I sold the business and spent 2 years enjoying life before looking around for something different. I have been involved in dinghy sailing since the age of ten and built most of the boats that I sailed. In 1976 I side tracked and became involved in Sailboarding and ran one of the Countries first retail outlets which I finally sold in 2002. So perhaps it was only natural that I ended up starting my own Radio controlled business, CM Yachts in 1999. I started sailing radio controlled boats in 1997 and have enjoyed sailing the International One Metre, International Ten Rater, International Marblehead, 6 Metre, RC Laser and the Micro Magic. During that time I have also involved myself with the MYA as Secretary to Council and then Chairman and was then honoured with the position of Vice President. I enjoy putting something back into the sport, in the hope that others may find out what enjoyment can be had from it.
Vice Chairman	Des Fairbank	I stated sailing when still at school on Dabchicks. A few years went by before I built and sailed my own Fireball and in 1977 I bought my first Radio Controlled RM. I was involved in the organisation of the 1978 RM and R10R Worlds in Durban. Ever since then I have competed in various International events in the R10R, RM, IOM and RCL Classes. I have won numerous National and Regional Championships in all these classes as well as with our own 36” Shipmate Class. I am currently only sailing an IOM, RCL and 36” Shipmate. I also make and supply all the sails for the 36” Shipmate Class. I have served several terms as Secretary and President of MYASA now SARSA and am currently serving my second consecutive term as Chairman of SARSA.
Secretary / Treasurer	Bruce Andersen	I’ve been sailing 40 years or so, starting in Inland Lake E and A Scows and moving through Lasers, Stars, J-24’s and larger keelboats up to 66 feet on the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay/Annapolis, and South Florida. I started R/C sailing in Marbleheads about 15 years ago in Central Park, New York and have sailed IOM’s since they were introduced into the US. I have served 2 terms as Commodore of the Central Park Model Yacht Club and as IOMICA VC Events for 2 terms,when I supervised and helped organize 2 World and an European Championship. I’m married with 2 children and run an amateur machine shop at night, building bits & pieces for R/C boats. My day job is as a Neurosurgeon in Boise, Idaho, USA. Prior to entering private practice, I was in academic neurosurgery for 12 years, advancing to the post of Department Chairman. I also earned a PhD in neurophysiology and do basic science research on the bio-energetics of axonal transport with colleagues from NIH at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. I have no commercial interests in R/C sailing and have no business attachments with anyone who does.
Racing Chairman	Roy Granich	Having sailed competitively in dinghies at both national and international level as a youth my introduction to radio sailing in 1993 showed me just how competitive and enjoyable this discipline of sailing can be. I have owned IOMs exclusively but been involved administratively with the Marblehead and a local designed class. For most of my time in this sport I have been involved in club administration as either secretary or sailing master. From the beginning of 2008 I have been Chairman of the N.Z.R.Y.A. and have directed my efforts at reviving interest in an organisation that was starting to become disconnected from its members, and for the same reason as the RSD – lack of communication. As Chairman of the Racing Rules Committee my primary focus will be how we can reduce the cost of hosting major regattas, with the aim of seeing a revival of international competition across the classes.
Technical Chairman	Val Provoost	I started sailing aged 6 and over the years sailed in a wide variety of boats, including Fireball, Tempest and the English National Swallow class keelboat. My measuring career started in 1965 and over the years since then I have become (and remain) an Approved class Measurer for many classes, as well as an approved Sail Measurer, of the Royal Yachting Association. I also served 12 years as an ISAF International Measurer for the International 505 and Tempest classes including 9 years on the Technical Committee of the International 505 class. For me, measurement and certification are fundamental to sailing and racing at any level, but since we all buy our boats to go sailing, the process of measurement needs to be as easy as we can reasonably make it. So rules need to be clear and simple, which should make them easy to use. My aim would be to see that the rules are up to date and properly drafted and that RSD Technical helps the divisions to support the work of measurers, both by sending out information and by listening to the problems that arise.
Publicity Officer	Robert Hobbs	I ran my own Acoustic Company working throughout the world for 30 years. Model yachting has stimulated me for the last 16 years finding the A Class and wooden vintage yachts particularly interesting. Together with an Erica and Italico I have 16 other yachts. I was responsible for the IOM Triple Crown Project, the Combined Strength Initiative, the MYA Handbook and the MYA Footie whilst working as their Publicity Officer. In 2007 the MYA were kind enough to make me a Vice President. I was responsible for negotiating the new Club House building and organising the RA World Championships at Gosport Model Yacht and Boat Club where I am in my second term as Commodore. When not at the computer writing articles, I am in the workshop restoring or building plank on frame yachts from 21” to the mighty A Class and making many of my own fittings thus enjoying all aspects of model yacht sailing.
Organisation & Policy Chairman	David Coode	I started sailing radio control yachts in 1974 having previously sailed Firefly dinghies form about 1952. I currently sail Marbleheads, 10 Raters and RAs. I have had the opportunity through my work to sail in Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, France Italy, USA, Sweden and of course the UK. I have served as Principal Race Officer at a number of IOM World Championships and the last RA World Championship. I was formerly the Secretary/Treasurer of the International A Class owners Association. I have been a member of the Permanent Committee of RSD for the past 20 years and hope that with new Committee our sport can be taken to new heights and greater participation for all with a single organisation representing all the classes.
Regional Officer Americas	Roy Langbord	I started sailing when I was fourteen years old and quickly got hooked on competition and until college raced Moths and other small boats in local competition. Living and working in New York City makes it somewhat difficult to regularly sail “big boats”, but over the years I have crewed on various racing yachts and was honored to be the “17th Man” on Dennis Connor’s “Stars & Stripes” for one of the 1995 America’s Cup selection series and was a part of the founders’ organization for Paul Cayard’s “America One” campaign in New Zealand. I started radio sailing in New York’s Central Park in 1975, since when I have actively raced in the 10R, Marblehead, 36/600 and IOM classes. I have served as the Vice Commodore of the Central Park Model Yacht Club for over ten years and two terms as the Vice Chairman, Technical of IOMICA. I have organized and served as the race director of various US radio sailing national championships and participated in US, Canadian and World Championships in the IOM and other classes. In the “real world”, I am a lawyer focusing on corporate, entertainment, sports and intellectual property issues.
Regional Officer Europe	Bernard Merlaud	At present I still work as an Anaesthetist. First sailing was on centreboards 420 or 470, then keelboats (Dragon, Requin) and, furthermore in offshore races on little yachts (1/4 and 1/2 tonners). I discovered radio sailing 25 years ago and have since sailed exclusively Marblehead, until the past year, when I bought a Micro Magic and build a 10 Rater. I have been European Officer in ISAF RSD permanent committee from 2000 to 2003 and also organized the French National Marblehead Class Association of which I am the chairman and also participate into the FFVoile RC sailing committee. In the new Permanent Committee I wish to review the different status of radio sailing organisation and class association in each country, review the boats eligible to international class. Help the future webmaster to make the ISAF RSD site alive with: forums, news, race results, links etc.….
Regional Officer Oceania	Ken Dobbie	I started radio sailing in 1988 after nearly 40 years in centre boarders and keelboats including International Dragons and offshore classes. I have held the office of National Secretary of the Australian Radio Yachting Association (Inc) from 1995 – 2005 and 2009 and was previously a member of the RSD Permanent Committee from 2001 until 2005. I was also a member of the Working Party which formed IOMICA. My belief is that radio sailing would be best represented by a single International organisation and see a revitalised RSD as being in the best position to provide that leadership.

11 January 2010