Constitution 

1.    The full title of the Association shall be “The "W" Boat Association”.

2.    The objects of the Association are to promote and further the interests of the "W" Boat Class and to represent the interests of owners of "W" Boats as follows:

  1. To keep members informed of developments concerning the class and any proposals concerning class rules.
  2. To organise open championships and to coordinate the programme for other races for the Class.
  3. To encourage competition for the Class.
  4. To promulgate information on technical development within the Class.
  5. To keep an Association Register.
  6. To make itself aware of and understand legislation that might affect the "W" Boats. (i.e. EC directives, concerning engines, holding tanks, etc.)
  7. To develop and maintain constructive links with other relevant bodies.

3.    TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1. “The Committee" shall mean the committee of the Association, consisting of duly elected committee members.
3.2. "The Association Rules" shall mean the rules governing the conduct of the  Association.
3.3. "The Association Register" shall mean the register of the owners of "W" Boats  with their addresses, name and number of boat, to be kept as hereinafter provided.
3.4. "The Class" shall mean the class of sailing yachts designed by Berthon Boat Company and made in accordance with their drawings and specification, and known under the name "W" Boats.
3.5. "The Measurement Rules" shall mean the rules relating to measurement, construction and racing conditions of the class and governing the building of each "W" Boat and its rating as a recognised boat within the class for class racing purposes.
3.6. "The Registered Number" shall mean the sail number allocated to the boat.
3.7. "The Class Secretary" shall mean the duly elected Honorary Secretary or duly appointed Secretary as the case may be, of the Association.
3.8. "Certificate" shall mean a certificate to be issued, ratified and endorsed as hereinafter provided and recording:
a) The registered number and inital ownership of a W Boat and any changes in ownership.
b)The fact that such W Boat originally complied with the Class Rules on completion or restoration, together with such particulars as may be required by the Class rules.

4.    MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING RIGHTS

4.1. Applications for membership to the Association shall be addressed to the Committee and the names of applicants shall be proposed and seconded by members and will be submitted to the Association for election. A two thirds vote in favour shall secure election. One boat one vote. The following classes of membership shall be recognised:
a) Full Membership
b) Associate membership
c) Honorary Membership
4.2. Full membership shall upon election and the payment of the prescribed annual subscription be open to owners and part owners of a "W" Boat.
4.3. Associate Membership shall, upon payment of prescribed annual subscription be open to all individuals or clubs being interested in the "W" Class. All non-owners taking the helm of a 'W' Boat during Class racing will be required to take membership. A helmsman would be defined as a person who took the helm for the start of a race or steered a boat for a substantial part of a race.
4.4. Honorary Membership shall be open to any person having an interest in the Association who is proposed by a Full Member and seconded by at least one member of the Committee and is elected by Members of the Association at any General Meeting of the Association.
4.5. Members shall be bound by the Association rules.
4.6. Members acting as helmsmen or entering "W" Boats in races which consist of, or include, the class shall be bound by the measurement rule.
4.7. Each boat whether solely or jointly owned shall be entitled to one vote at a General Meeting of the Association, or in a postal ballot. Associate and Honorary members shall be entitled to attend and speak at any General Meeting, but not to vote.
4.8. Conduct of Members. Every member agrees to be bound by these Articles and to support the objectives of the Association and the decisions of its meetings. Where in the opinion of the Committee the conduct of a member is or has been prejudicial to the interests of the Association, the member is liable to expulsion by the Committee. The Committee shall invite a written explanation of that member's actions and give the member a full opportunity of explanation in person to the committee. A resolution to expel a member shall be carried by a simple majority of those members of the committee present, and they shall vote by secret ballot on the resolution. There shall be no appeal to a decision under Rule 4.8.

5.    MANAGEMENT

5.1. The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the Committee, which shall be the only body empowered to make recommendations to the "W" Boat Association for changes in the Measurement Rules.
5.2. The Committee shall consist of not less than five and not more than ten full members of the Association, elected annually at a General Meeting of Members, or by postal vote, as elected Committee Members.
5.3. The committee shall have powers to co-opt any person to assist it, whether a full member of the Association or not, but such members shall have no vote in Committee.
5.4. The Committee need not fill a vacancy unless the total number of Committee Members has dropped below the minimum of five.
5.5. At its first meeting to be held immediately after the Annual General Meeting of the Association the Committee shall:
a) Elect one of its members to act as Chairman of the Association for the following year.
b) Elect an Honorary Secretary or appoint a Secretary, who shall keep correct minutes and records of all Committee and General Meetings, together with the  Association Register, and shall be responsible for communicating the decisions of the committee to members of the Association and when directed by the Committee to owners and joint owners not being members of the Association.
c) Elect an Honorary Treasurer, who shall control the funds of the Association: make such disbursements as the Committee shall direct: present an annual financial statement at each Annual General Meeting. This audit may be made by two members of the Association. The Secretary or Honorary Secretary may act as the Treasurer. The funds of the Association will be held in a bank or similar account.
5.6. At meetings of the Committee five shall form a quorum.
5.7. The Committee shall have power to make recommendations to the members in general meeting, or by post, for alteration in, or additions to, the Association.
5.8. The Committee may arrange an Annual Championship of the W Class.
5.9. Notice of the date, place and agenda for any committee meeting must be given in writing by the Secretary to each Committee Member at least ten days in advance. Any business by correspondence shall always be circulated through the Secretary.

6.    POWER OF THE COMMITTEE

6.1. Subject to the provision of these rules, and in particular to the object of the Association, as expressed in Rule 2, the General Committee shall be empowered to perform all functions of management and administration.
6.2. The making of payments and receipts of monies shall be validly evidenced only by the signature of the Treasurer and one other member of the Committee.

7.    CONDUCT OF MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION

7.1. The annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in November or December, either in West Mersea or any other place agreed by the committee to be most convenient to the majority of members of the Association. The precise date, time and place to be at the Committee's discretion.
7.2. A special General Meeting shall be called by the Chairman or Class Secretary upon receipt by the Class Secretary of a written request signed by not fewer than six members of the Association.
7.3. At least three weeks' written notice shall be given to members of any General Meeting.
7.4. At any General Meeting or Committee Meetings decisions shall be limited to matters on the agenda, other than those concerning measurement rules and shall be carried by a majority vote. Voting shall be by a show of hands, unless a poll is demanded by not fewer than three of the full members present. At any meeting the Chairman shall have a casting vote. The Secretary shall be responsible for circulating all members or in the case of Committee Meetings, all Committee Members, with the result of any voting. In the event of a postal ballot, all returns shall be made to the Secretary within two weeks of the date of posting the ballot paper.
7.5. At any General Meeting of the Association, five shall form a quorum.

8.    SUBSCRIPTION AND REGISTRATION FEES

8.1. Subscriptions for all classes of membership shall be payable annually and shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting and shall become due immediately.
8.2. An initial boat registration fee of £20 shall be payable by all new owners.
8.3. Unless otherwise determined by the Association the annual subscription for full and Associate Members shall be £10.
8.4. Any member whose subscription has not been paid within three months of the date due may have his name removed from the list of members of the Association by the Committee. A member's name may be restored to the  Association Register at the discretion of the Committee, on payment of any subscription due. Any person whose membership has lapsed may re-apply to the committee for membership under Rule 4.1.

9.    ACCOUNTS

9.1. The committee shall cause true accounts to be kept giving particulars of:
a) All monies, assets and liabilities of the Association.
b) All monies received and expended by the Association and the reasons for such receipts and expenditures.
c) All sales and purchases by the Association.
9.2. A copy of the annual financial statement, duly audited, shall be prepared for presentation at the Annual General Meeting.