2025 505 North American – Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Friday, August 22nd @ 09:00 – Kingston, ONT
Officers and Attendees:
President – Tim Murphy
Vice President – Blaine Pedlow
Treasurer – Miles Johannessen
National Measurer – Eric Anderson
Information Officer – Adam Wolnikowski
Marketing & Communications Director – Lexi Pline
Secretary – Chris Pittack
Count of attendees not available with 6 online via Zoom.
Tim Murphy (Class President) opened the meeting with a brief summary of the year.
The class continues to show slow but steady growth
Currently there are 103 active members, up from 93 in 2024 but down from 116 in 2023
The “Benefactors” option for members continues to show strength with 26
Dues are steady and are anticipated to remain stable
Current structure:
<30 - $40 annually
Single - $60 annually
Family - $75 annually
Benefactor- $150 annually
Areas of focus remain:
Class marketing and continued growth
Increasing breath and scope of marketing efforts
Attracting new and/or young sailors to the class
Sorting the national and regional e-mail lists
Adam Wolnikowski (Information Officer) provided an update on several backend projects
Club Spot change over is complete and stable
Website is stable but seems to be stale & in hibernation
Website content needs to be refreshed more frequently to maintain relevance
Website responsibilities time consuming - split into two parts (webmaster & content/media)?
Website needs to be maintained as the online “face” of the class
Site should continue to be the official website of the class
As the official webpage it should a professional look and feel
It was discussed that the site should serve more as a reference or research guide, for example content might be include tips on what type of boat to buy, information on particular boats, rigging the boat, frequently updating for sale section, sail plan optimization and how-to videos
Longer discussion on how to reach young people - websites have fallen out of favor
Recommended that information officer be responsible for establishing WhatsApp groups
Recommended creating WhatApp groups for individual regattas
Discussed creating a national WhatApp group for more real time information exchange
Miles Johannessen (Treasurer) provided an update on the class’ financial standing.
The class’ cash on hand at the start of 2025 was $25,175 (down $5,225 yoy)
Decline in the cash balance was due to increased spending on media and marketing
Specifically - increased expenses due to ongoing social media management and PCC’s coverage
Forecast cash balance at the end of 2025 is expected to be $19,550
Decline is year-end cash balance is due to ongoing social media management and NA’s coverage
Class revenue continues to be 100% generated by member dues and donations
Class collected some $6,560 in dues in 2025
Class membership stands @ 103 members in good standing
Reminder to class to please pay dues even though you are not attending a national events
Proposed Budget 2026:
Beginning Cash Balance: $ 19,550
Dues/Donations $ 6,500
Social Media ($ 4,800)
Event Coverage (2) ($ 6,500)
Training Reimburse ($ 1,000)
Web Fees ($ 300)
Ending Cash Balance: $ 13,450
Lexi Pline (Marketing & Communications Director) provided some insights on successful marketing
Frequently posting on Instagram and Facebook
Videos generate the most number of impressions
High octane sailing (drone videos and wire reaching) are most popular
Interviews with sailors are also very successful
Nick/Eric interview generated 20k views
Bellingham PCC’s garnered some 45k views
Recommendation was made to partner/share with Sailing World
Group Discussion:
Class member Augie Diaz floated two discussion topics.
Augie lives in Miami where sailors are training and trying out for the US Olympic Team
Suggested the class approach some of the Olympic sailors and offer to take them out in a 5o5
5o5’s are boats you sail for a lifetime while Olympic dreams might not last
Argues that a 5o5 is just as fast and as fun as a 49er
Create an official class loaner boat program
Publicize the loaner boat program, especially at spot where Olympic sailor can be found
Many boats sit unused with owners unwilling to part with them - put them in the loaner program!
Proxy Voting - during the voting for 2026 NA’s venue the issue of proxy voting surfaced. During the voting process several members made claims that they had been given authority to vote via proxy for one or the other venue. After discussion it was determined that the rules around proxy voting were unclear. Could members physically present be the only ones eligible to vote or were proxy votes eligible to be counted or should another national voting system be utilized? Because the by-laws were unclear it was decided that the executive committee would research and advise the members on next steps. Outcome to be determined.
Regatta Schedule:
2026 North Americans - West River, MD
Options offered - Corpus Christie, TX, West River, MD, Newport, RI
After a long and protracted discussion on proxy voting (see above) it was decided by vote that the 2026 NA’s would be held in West River.
2026 Worlds - Hayling Island UK
2027 Worlds - ABYC, Long Beach CA
Last week in September 2027
Focus on food and sponsorship - Tom Hurwitch to sponsor with additional support from a “class partner”.
Floating lay-day (?) - race committee decision
End of Meeting