2.	Flag
	The class flag shall be:
	Dark blue ground with red ball.
	For Class racing International Numeral Pendant 8 shall be used.

3.	Objects
	The objects of the Federation are to promote and further the interests of the International Fireball class throughout the world by:
3.1	Maintaining the One-Design characteristics of the International Fireball dinghy.
3.2	Co-ordinating and managing the affairs of the Class.
3.3	Making recommendations to and agreements with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) concerning the Rules of the Class.
3.4	Encouraging and co-ordinating national and international competition in the class.

4.	Interpretation and Definitions
4.1	The official language of the Class is English and in the event of dispute over interpretation the English text shall prevail. The word "shall" is mandatory and the word "may" is permissive.
4.2	Throughout this Constitution (and the Class Rules) the following defined terms shall be used:
	(a)	The Federation shall mean the united body of International Fireball National Class Association, Individual Members and Honorary Life Members named "Fireball International (FI).
	(b)	"Honorary Life Member" shall mean any person so appointed by the Council under sub clause 8.5(a).
	(c)	"National Class Association" (NCA) shall mean the International Fireball Class National Association organised in individual countries and officially recognised by FI.
	(d)	"National Authority" shall mean the officially recognised authority or organisation controlling and organising the sport of yachting and sailing on a national basis in any country.
	(e)	"The Council" shall mean the council of FI consisting of the nominated representatives of NCAs.
	(f)	"The Executive" shall mean the Executive Committee of FI consisting of the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodores, Secretary, Treasurer, a representative of the largest NCA (in voting terms [5.3]), a representative of the Technical Committee, a representative of the Sponsor, the Designer, and such other members as the Executive may from time to time co-opt.
	(g)	"The Secretary" shall mean the duly elected Honorary Secretary or the duly appointed Secretary as the case may be of FI.
	(h)	"The Treasurer" shall mean the duly elected Honorary Treasurer or the duly appointed Treasurer as the case may be of FI.
	(i)	"The Constitution" shall mean the rules governing the conduct of FI.
	(j)	"The Class" shall mean the class of sailing dinghies designed by Peter Milne and named "International Fireball".
	(k)	"The Class Rules" shall mean the rules relating to measurement, construction and racing conditions governing the building of each International Fireball and its rating as a recognised boat within the Class for racing purposes.
	(l)	"The Sail Number" shall mean the Class registration number allocated by the ISAF to the National Authority and issued to the builder of an International Fireball (the ISAF may delegate this authority to FI).
	(m)	"The Fleet Number" shall mean the series number allocated by FI to a group of not less than four in number International Fireballs racing regularly together.
	(n)	"Licensed Building" shall mean a person, persons or corporation for the time being holding a licence from the ISAF for the production of International Fireball dinghies and/or kits.
	(o)	"Measurement Certificate" shall mean a certificate to be issued as provided in the International Fireball Class Rules.
	(p)	"Valid Measurement Certificate" shall mean a certificate in which:
	(a)	The particulars of ownership are up to date and entered on the Class register.
	(b)	Any endorsement required by the class rules has been duly entered.
	(q)	"Certified Hull Moulds" shall mean a serially numbered registered mould to be used in the production of hull shells in fibre reinforced plastic.
	(r)	"The Sponsor" shall mean Norris Brothers Limited of Burrell House, Burrell Road, Haywards Heath, Sussex, England.
	(s)	"The Designer" shall mean Peter Milne MSIA.

5.	Affiliation and Voting Rights
5.1	FI is a Federation of the International Fireball NCAs, Individual Members and Honorary Life Members.
5.2	All NCAs shall be members of FI.
5.3	Members of the Executive and registered Fireball owners domiciled in a country not having an NCA may become individual members of FI.
5.4	An NCA shall have a voting power according to the number of its paid up members existing at the 31st December in the preceding year and notified to the Secretary at the 1st April in each year on the following basis:
	Up to 25 members	One vote
	26-50 members	Two votes
	51-100 members	Three votes
	101-150 members	Four votes
	151-250 members	Five votes
	251-350 members	Six votes
	351-500 members	Seven votes
	501-650 members	Eight votes
	651-850 members	Nine votes
	851-1050 members	Ten votes
	Plus one vote per two hundred additional members.
5.5	The Commodore of FI shall have a casting vote.
5.6	Individual and Honorary Life Members shall not have voting rights.

6.	Fees and Subscriptions
6.1	FI shall be financed by annual subscription fees from the NCAs and Individual members and the receipt of a proportion of the International Class Fee (International Fireball Class Rule 3) paid by the Builders of International Fireballs.
6.2	NCAs shall pay a subscription for each of their voting members but subject to such minimum subscription as the Council may from time to time determine.
6.3	(a)	Individual members shall pay such a subscription as the Council may from time to time determine.
	(b)	Honorary Life Members shall not be required to pay a subscription to FI.
6.4	(a)	Proposals for change to the rate(s) of subscription shall be circulated by the Secretary to members of the Council by not later than 1st March in each year.
	(b)	The rate(s) of subscription shall be determined by the Council by not later than the 15th April in the same year.
	(c)	NCAs shall be notified of the new rate(s) of subscription by not later than 1st June in the same year.
6.5	Annual subscriptions shall be payable by the 31st December in the same year and any NCA in arrears shall have its voting rights suspended until the overdue subscriptions shall have been paid. The membership of an NCA or Individual member whose subscription is unpaid at the 31st March in the following year may be terminated.

7.	Management
7.1	The affairs of FI shall be managed by the Executive subject to the authority of the Council. A quorum for Executive meetings shall consist of four members.
	The Executive shall be empowered to make payments and receive monies. Payments shall be validly evidenced only by the signature of the Treasurer or his deputy as appointed by the Executive
7.2	Each NCA shall nominate a representative to the Council and advise the Secretary accordingly. Nobody shall be elected, nominated, appointed (Commodore, Rear Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, member of Executive, member of Technical Committee, Editor, Honorary Officer, etc.) without the preliminary agreement and support of his own NCA.
7.3	(a)	The Commodore and Rear Commodores (Flag Officers) shall be elected by the Council.
	(b)	Flag Officers shall hold office for a term of three years and may be re-elected for an additional term or terms.
	(c)	Flag Officers shall, subject to the provisions of Clause 7.2, be nominated by an NCA supported by not less than one other NCA. Nominations shall be notified to the Secretary by not later than the 1st April in the final year of office of the Flag Officer concerned.
	(d)	In the absence of a nomination by an NCA for the office of Commodore the Executive shall submit nomination(s) to the Council.
	(e)	In the absence of a nomination by an NCA the Executive shall as occasion arises appoint a Rear Commodore in a particular area.
7.4	The Commodore shall, subject to the approval of the Council, appoint (and as occasion arises terminate the appointment):
	(i)	A Secretary, who shall be responsible for the maintenance of the records of FI, the conduct of postal ballots and the dissemination of information to the Officers of FI, the members of the Council, the members of the Executive and the NCAs.
	(ii)	A Treasurer who shall have charge of the funds of FI and make such disbursements as the Executive shall direct, keep an accurate record of the financial affairs of FI and present a draft annual statement to the Executive by 1st May each year.
	(iii)	An Auditor, who shall certify the annual financial statements.
7.5	The Executive shall form a Rules and Technical Committee, which shall be responsible for advising upon the interpretation of Class Rules, for considering the requirements for amendments or addition to such rules, and for making recommendations to FI.
7.6	The Executive shall be responsible for the issue of sail numbers and fleet numbers.
7.7	The Executive shall arrange World Championships of the Class, and co-ordinate the dates of National or Regional Championships as may be required. All matters pertaining to World Championships shall be settled by the Executive in consultation with the sponsoring club(s) and/or relevant National Authority.
7.8	The Executive shall be entitled to act in emergency without reference to the ISAF by issuing amendments and interpretations to the Class Rules provided that such amendments and interpretations shall be promptly notified to the ISAF, to NCAs and to professional builders. Such amendments and interpretations shall be operative upon approval by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the appropriate ISAF Technical Committee and shall be submitted for ratification to the ISAF at its next meeting. (ISAF Rules for the adoption and control of International Class refers.)

8.	Powers of the Council
8.1	Subject to the provisions of these rules and in particular the objects of FI as expressed in Rule 3 of the council shall have absolute authority in the management of FI and the administration of its funds.
8.2	The Council shall be the body with power to make recommendations to the ISAF for changes in Class Rules.
8.3	The Council shall have authority on a simple majority of the votes cast to change the Constitution of FI subject to the approval of the ISAF.
8.4	A two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Council shall be required to alter the Class Rules subject to the approval of the ISAF.
8.5	The Executive may in recognition of exceptional services to the International Fireball Class nominate and the Council appoint:
	(a)	Honorary Life Members.
	(b)	Honorary Officers (e.g. Admiral) who shall hold office for life.
	©	Honorary Officers shall be ex-officio members of the Council and the Executive.

9.	Meetings and Postal Ballots
9.1	Meetings:
	(a)	A general meeting of the Council shall be held during the World Championships. The date time and place to be published by the Secretary. Officers and Honorary Officers and officially nominated representatives of NCAs, whose names shall be advised to the Secretary not less than 30 days before the opening date of the Championships, shall be entitle to attend such meetings.
	(b)	Council meetings may also be convened by the Executive to discuss the affairs of the Class and to plan its development and future conduct. No decisions to change Class Rules or the Constitution of FI shall be taken at such meetings.
9.2	Postal Ballots:
	(a)	Voting of the Council shall be by postal ballot.
	(b)	Proposals for changes to the Constitution of FI or the Class Rules may be made by the Executive or an NCA. Proposals by NCAs shall be submitted to the Secretary by not later than 15th April in each year.
	(c)	Proposed amendments to the Constitution of FI or the Class Rules shall be circulated to members of the Council not later than 1st June in the same year. The exact figures of the Members' voting powers shall be circulated, together with the proposals.
	(d)	Members of the Council shall record their votes upon nominations and/or proposals made under sub-clauses 7.3(c), 8.5(a) and (b) and 9.2(b) and (c)with the Secretary within 80 days of the issue of the notice by him. The detailed and complete results, mentioning all the members and their votes shall be circulated within 30 days.
	(e)	Class Rule changes shall be put into effect after agreement with the ISAF.
	(f)	Changes to the Constitution of FI shall be put into effect one month after the publications of the results of the ballot, and approval by ISAF.

10.	Accounts
10.1	The Executive shall cause true accounts to be kept giving full particulars of:
	(a)	All monies, assets and liabilities of FI.
	(b)	All monies received and expended by FI and of the matters in respect of which such receipts and expenditure arose.
	(c)	All purchases and sale of goods by FI
10.2	The Executive shall cause to be prepared and circulated to the Officers of FI, members of the Council, members of the Executive and the NCAs not later than 1st June in each year an annual financial statement which shall have been audited by the Auditor.
	Members of the Council are required to vote on the accounts within 80 days of the day of issue and approval by a majority of those voting shall constitute acceptance of the accounts by the members of FI.

11.	Protection of One Design
11.1	The International Fireball Dinghy may be built only by amateurs and professional builders licensed by the ISAF. Before licensing a builder the ISAF shall receive the advice of the sponsor and FI.
	The number of licensed builders may vary in each country but where a territory is adequately served others will not normally be granted rights.
11.2	FI shall collaborate with the ISAF, National Authorities and the Sponsor in allotment and issue of International Class Fee plaques and sail numbers for the International Fireball, and in the keeping of the fleet register, a register of licensed builders and a register of certified hull moulds.

12.	National Class Associations
12.1	NCAs shall establish their own constitution incorporating the relevant provisions of the Constitution of FI and the Class Rules. The Constitution of NCAs shall be approved by the Executive and be subject to ratification by the Council.
12.2	NCAs shall co-operate with the Executive and where applicable National Authorities in the control of the issue of sail numbers and the measurement and certification of International Fireball Dinghies.
12.3	NCAs shall be responsible for the collection of building fees from amateurs and their transmission to the Secretary of FI.

13.	Racing (World Championships)
13.1	International Fireball World Championships shall be open to all NCAs.
13.2	The direction of World Championships shall be the responsibility of the Executive (7.8) who will:
	(a)	Organise World Championships on an annual or biennial basis.
	(b)	Select the sponsoring NCA and approve the venue.
	(c)	Establish the number of entries and allot places.
	(d)	Supply technical advisors and co-operate with the host club and sponsoring NCA in the organisation of the event.

14.	Disclaimer
	The ISAF, FI, NCAs, the Sponsor and Designer accept no responsibility in respect of the Constitution of FI or the Class Rules or any claim arising therefrom.

15.	Dissolution
	Dissolution of FI shall take place by resolution of the Council passed by two-thirds majority of those voting. In this event and after payment of all liabilities the assets and funds of FI shall be disposed of as shall be directed by the Council on a simple majority of those voting.

Revised: 1 March 1992