Article 1
1.1. Name
The name of the Association shall be the "International 5.5 Meter Class Association".

Article 2
2.1. Object
The object of the Association shall be to promote and develop 5.5 Meter racing throughout the World.

Article 3
3.1. Membership
Membership shall be open to all 5.5 Meter owners. They have the right to vote. 3.2. Friends
In addition, membership shall be open to interested sail makers, designers and other persons generally interested in the welfare of the 5.5 Meter Class If they do not own a 5.5 Meter yacht, their advices are very welcome but they have no right to vote.

Article 4
4.1. Dues
The Association shall be supported by dues which shall be paid by each National 5.5 Meter Association, or-if there is no 5.5 Meter Association- by each National Authority which is affiliated. The dues shall be on a flat rate per nation which shall be fixed at each Annual General Meeting.
4.2. Further
An additional fee per yacht may be levied.

Article 5
5.1. Officers The Association shall comprise a President, Vice-Presidents for nations in which a number of 5.5 Meter yachts race, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Information Officer and a Technical Commit tee.

Article 6
6.1. Election of officers
The election of officers shall be held during the Annual General Meeting Officers (AGM), which shall normally coincide with the World Championship.

Article 7
7.1. Procedure
The Secretary shall lay before the Association an agenda which at the AGM consists of such matters that have been brought to his attention at least three weeks prior to the Meeting. 7.2. Matters
Matters which will be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting shall be: 1. Matters arising out of the minutes of the previous Meeting.
2. Matters on which the officers have acted upon since the last Meeting.
3. Matters which have been placed on the agenda.
4. Other new business.
5. The election of officers.

Article 8
8.1. Voting
At an Annual General Meeting each owner of a 5.5 Meter yacht present - whether he is racing in the series or not -has one vote.
Owners racing in this series but unable to attend the AGM are entitled to appoint an alternative with a written proxy to vote on his behalf.
Owners of yachts racing in this series may give a proxy to the helmsmen which entitles them to vote on behalf of the owner.
The ultimate decision of persons entitled to vote in circumstances other than those mentioned is in the discretion of the Class-Officers in attendance at the meeting.

Article 9
9.1. Technical
There shall be a Technical Committee of the Class Association which shall Committee consist of such designers, sail makers and measurers as may be elected at the AGM, plus such other persons as may be appointed between the AGM by the President.

9.2. Technical
All matters relating to design, building, sails, etc., shall be referred to this Matters Committee so that the Committee may consider ma king recommendations to the AGM, or between AGM's, for submission to be presented to the International Sailing Federation (I.S.A.F.).

Article 1O
10.1. Informations
There shall be an Information Officer. He shall collect race reports and other interested data and distribute them to other media.

Article 11
11.1 Relationship with ISAF
The president and the Honorary Secretary shall maintain close liason with the I.S.A.F. and in particular shall prepare for submission to the I.S.A.F. any matters which may be agreed upon by the Class Association at its AGM, or by circulation after the AGM by way of a referendum.

11.2. Referendum
The referendum shall be dealt with as follows:
1. A written submission from any country or class-member shall be received by the President or Secretary and circulated to all National Authorities and/or individual owners as are registered with the Secretary.
2. A report of the decision taken at an AGM shall be reported by the Secretary to the I.S.A.F. for the appropriate action.
3. If the mat ter cannot be dealt with at an AGM before the appropriate Meeting of the I.S.A.F., then the Secretary shall report to the I.S.A.F. the results of the referendum.

Article 12
12.1. World Championship
There shall be held in each year a World Championship in accordance with Championship the Rules governing the World Championship (WC).

12.2. Other events
In addition there may be National and a Continental Championships. But no European Championship shall be held in the year when the WC is held in Europe.

Article 13
13.1. Fixtures
Each National Class Association shall send a fixture list of their racing- activities planned for the following year to President or Secretary, not later than by the end of January.

13.2. Reports
Each National Class Association shall contribute to the 5.5 Bulletin with (at least) one report on their activities during the year.

Article 14
14.1. Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution and the Rules governing the WC may be made at any AGM, provided that notice of the amendment is in the hands of the President or Secretary and circulated not less than three months prior to the AGM at which it is intended to deal with the revision. Amendments shall take the form of the words to be deleted and the words to be inserted.

14.2. Interpretations
In interpreting these rules the English text is decisive. Janael, Flensburger fjörde, 2003