AYRS Constitution
The AYRS is a UK company limited by guarantee. It has two governing documents (like most UK companies)
- A Memorandum of Association – which sets out the objectives of the organisation; and
- Articles of Association – which set out the rules by which the Society is run
These can be amended by a two-thirds majority vote at a General Meeting. They were last amended in 2020 to allow:
a) To shorten the period of notice required for AGM business to 31 days before the AGM date.
b) To permit the Committee to meet by video conferencing etc and to be quorate while so doing.
c) To permit the Society to give notice of general meetings by email and by posting business on the website instead of in the magazine or in letters.
The AYRS is a UK registered Educational Charity, No 234081, with a formal objective of promoting the study of yacht science.
Who runs AYRS ?
Technically, AYRS is managed by a Board of Trustees, who we call the Officers and Committee. Our Constitution allows for a President & Vice-Presidents, five Officers and up to 12 ordinary Committee members. The Committee is empowered to co-opt extra advisers as it feels necessary.
The Officers serve for a two-year term, which is renewable, and are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting (two one year, and the rest the next). The ordinary Committee Members are similarly elected at the AGM, and a three year term which is renewable. The longest-serving third stand down each year and are eligible for re-election if they so wish.
AYRS President – Paul Larsen
AYRS Vice-Presidents
Dave Culp, – California, USA
Michael Ellison – Torpoint UK
Officers
as at January 2025
Chairman – John Perry
Devon, UK. Email: chairman@ayrs.org
Vice-Chairman – Jasper Graham-Jones
Email: office@ayrs.org
Honorary Treasurer & Membership Secretary – Mark Hillmann
Cumbria, UK. E-mail: treasurer@ayrs.org
Honorary Secretary – Marcus Turle
Surrey, UK. E-mail: office@ayrs.org
Honorary Editors – Robert Biegler – Trondheim, Norway. Email: editor@ayrs.org
– Jasper Graham-Jones E-mail: editor@ayrs.org
Ordinary Committee Members
- Niels Dakin – Hampshire, UK
- Andrew Ford – Middlesex, UK
- Tim Glover – London, UK.
- Chris Gould – Ayrshire, Scotland, UK
- Mark Salvage – Gloucestershire, UK..
Regional Organiser
The AYRS has an active local group which arranges meetings in the north west of the UK. The contact person for information about this group and their meetings is Colin McCowen – Merseyside, UK. Email: nwuklocalgroup@ayrs.org