Dear members/prospective members

It seems incredible that it is now just over 4 years ago since my father and I sent out the invitation asking you to meet up at Johan Anker’s house, Lillehaugen, to found the Union (which took place on 30 August 1996), hosted by Ludvik Sandnes at Christiania Bank..

We have had our ups and downs since then, but progress has been made, as witnessed by an increasing regional cooperation and some important restorations of historic yachts. At headquarters, we are most grateful and interested to receive the Old Gaffers Log, Freundeskreis and the DFAEL magazines. We also hear from Austria, W. France (La Rochelle) and Switzerland fairly regularly. The Swedish clubs were real pioneers in the use of internet. ECYU has now finally jumped on to this bandwaggon and, thanks to the sponsorship of Ludvik Sandnes, now at PricewaterhouseCoopers, it looks as if we shall be able to make a worthwhile contribution here. However, it takes time to establish the necessary link-ups and compose the pages and we welcome your contributions here.

We have managed to publish a number of interesting articles in English for the benefit of the ECYU readership in the KTK’s membership journal, CLASSIC LINES (Klassiske Linjer). There is now going to be an English ECYU article in the spring number of Freundeskreis. Time will show what we can publish on internet. A lot of information has now hopefully been amassed by our metre boat registration enthusiasts, which we hope to partake eventually. Should we try to have our own ECYU newsletter on a regular basis, like that of the European Maritime Heritage (a cooperation between maritime museums?)

In the realm of Classic Yacht Events, the establishing of the Henry Rasmussen Memorial Race in 1998 has opened for a "Nations Cup", which neighbours to the Kiel / Laboe area can compete for. So far, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the British Kiel Yacht Club have entered this competition in 1998 and 1999.

The main activity envisaged for ECYU in our statutes was to hold "Europe Weeks". Stockholm (1998) and West Mersea (1999) have now been held, and building upon such experience, I hope the Europe Week 2000 event over a fortnight in the Oslofjord will be memorable. We have had a very good entry response so far (from Germany and Sweden especially). There are also plans for 2001 and 2002, which will be presented at our 4th AGM for final approval.

I think the main problem we have faced in the running of ECYU is that most of us already have demanding voluntary jobs to do in our own clubs, so that it is hard to find the energy to do more for an umbrella organisation. Also, in most of our clubs, elected officers come and go, so that we cannot necessarily expect the same degree of enthusiasm all the time, and club resources are limited. We need communication not only between the Board and the member associations, but also sideways between the member associations During 1999 we held two working meetings, a major one at Hamburg and a more informal one at W. Mersea, plus the 3rd AGM at Bremen. I would like to close by thanking those of you who have had the time and really have worked hard for the ECYU idea. Ludvik Sandnes and I would like to be able to hand over the torch after the 4th AGM knowing that ECYU is in good hands and hope to have a new team to present as candidates for the Board up for election in July.

We look forward to meeting you during Europe Week 2000.

The 4th AGM of ECYU will take place in Vollen, up the fjord from Oslo, on Sunday 23rd July, starting at 09.00 hours sharp, and closing at 12 noon. In the afternoon, the assembled fleet will sail/motor into Oslo, arriving at Oslo Harbour ca. 18.00 hours, to be welcomed by the Mayor of Oslo, who also opened our first AGM in Oslo in 1997.

Those delegates requiring hotel accommodation should contact the ECYU headquarters as soon as possible. We should be able to arrange special rates at the Holmen Fjord Hotel, not far from Vollen.

We remind all prospective member associations that the ECYU entrance fee of 100 EURO must be paid in advance of attendance at the AGM to ensure voting rights. Payments should be made to:

Christiania Bank, Post Box 1166 Sentrum, N-0107 OSLO, Norway
to the Account no. 6001.04.47111 of
European Classic Yacht Union
c/o Peter Ennals
Huldreveien 16,
N-0389 Oslo, Norway

AGM Agenda