VODA, you have all read or heard about it but what is it?

VODA stands for Vega One Design Association. It was founded in 1974 and is the governing body of Vega Racing. Every two years VODA puts on an International Friendly Regatta and invites one of the six European Clubs to be the host nation. The last IFR was in Holland and the next one will be in Denmark in 2002. VAGB hosted the 1998 IFR on The Medway.

The first President of VODA was Lars Lemby of Sweden and the first Secretary was Jan Vis of Holland. Together they guided Vega Racing through seventeen regattas and twenty-three years until Lars retired in 1997 and Jan Vis sadly passed away in 1999. The President is Walther Nerving of Denmark and the Secretary is Elly van Soest of Holland. At every Regatta, which lasts about five days, there is a VODA Meeting where all participating nations can vote on any changes to Vega Rules. The number of votes per nation is dependant on the number of  members in its club (every 50 members = 1 Vote). VAGB has three votes. Each club has a VODA Representative (see below).

The regattas are known as the "Olympics" of the Vegas. The Vegas race on equal terms in either of two calsses, Racing or Cruising. The host nation decides how many races there are for each class and they administer the racing, under international rules but incorporating any specific Vega Rules. There has been a proposal for Rule Changes which will be discussed at the next IFR Meeting (Arhuis - July 2002). To download the PDF file please click below.

PROPOSAL

Date: 19-06-2001

Joop Wagenmakers

Subject: Regrouping for Racing

1. Introduction

Racing makes only sense, if submitted to a well defined set of rules. Such set is the VEGA Class Rules; these may be revised at the occasion of a VODA-meeting. As all our Albin VEGA's do not meet the present VEGA Class Rules and many of their crews still like racing very much, the Dutch racing group has thought about how to deal with that. Their proposal is to create a third racing category apart from the existing Racing Class and Cruising Class, to be called Touring Class. These classes are defined as follows.

2. Classes

Racing Class. The VEGA Class Rules are met in all respects.

Cruising Class. The VEGA Class Rules are met in all respects. Spinnaker not allowed.

Touring Class. The VEGA Rules are not met. Spinnaker not allowed.

3. Some remarks In the Touring Class we may find unmeasured boats and boats obviously deviating from VEGA Class Ruses (hull, rudder, sails, spars, engine weight, ?.

Particularly during I.F.R.'s with their vast fleet, introduction of said Touring Class is a must in order to be able to race honestly. Whereas a couple of years ago deviating boats were rare, nowadays their percentage is climbing, not only due to worn out engines, but equally due to additions or design changes.

4.. Procedure

It will be proposed by the Kring van VEGA Zeilers to put the above proposal of 3 classes on the agenda of the VODA-meeting of July 2002.