PART I – BYLAWS OF THE BUDD INLET STAR FLEET

ARTICLE I: NAME
The organization shall be known as the Budd Inlet Star Fleet, hereinafter referred to as “BISF.”

ARTICLE II: PPOSE
The Budd Inlet Star Fleet (BISF) was established to create an enjoyable and affordable sailing environment for participants. The organization aims to prevent the typical “arms race” where competitors seek advantages through boat and equipment enhancements. BISF is dedicated to promoting safe, fun, cost-effective, and competitive sailboat racing.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership to BISF is open to any individual interested in the art and science of sailing and racing Stars. Including, but not limited to Star owners, Crew, Someone who is interested in Stars, and people who like sailors. Voting on fleet business is limited to one vote per member.
It is suggested that at least one member of the crew or the owner of a Star boat be a member of the South Sound Sailing Society (SSSS). While it is encouraged for BISF members to join the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA), it is not mandatory for participation in fleet racing. To maintain fleet status with ISCYRA, a minimum of three boats must be registered with the association.

Section 1– Skipper membership dues shall be set at the first meeting of the year and paid by the second race night.

Section 2– Crew membership dues shall be set at the first meeting of the year and paid by the second race night.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS 
Section 1 – The elected officers shall be Fleet Captain, Executive Officer (XO), Secretary, Treasurer, and Race Chair. A member may be elected to, and hold one or more of the offices during a given year, but shall have only one vote on fleet business.
Section 2 – The term of office shall be from November 1 through October 31.
Section 3 – Duties: 
A. Fleet Captain: Shall preside at all meetings of the organization, casting a vote only in case of a tie, and shall be responsible for the efficient operation and good order of the organization. In the case of absence the Fleet Captain, the Executive Officer will preside over meetings.

B. Executive Officer: Shall preside at all meetings of the organization, cast a vote, Assist Captain with the efficient operation of the organization, and shall take the place of the Captain and perform the Captain’s duties whenever the Captain is absent or unable to act.

C. Treasurer: Shall keep all financial and property records in coordination with SSSS; shall account for, receive and dispense all monies; shall submit two financial statements to the Star-Board per annum.

D. Secretary: Shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall maintain and preserve all records, reports and documents of the organization, and shall be responsible for gathering nominations and publicizing the slate of officers for election.

E. Race Chair: Shall be responsible for organizing and conducting the annual racing program of the organization.

ARTICLE V: STAR-BOARD
Section 1 – Officers: The Star-Board shall consist of the elected officers. 
Section 2 – Duties: 
The control and conduct of the business of BISF shall be vested in its Star-Board, which shall: 
A. Set and publish the dates of meetings. 
B. Approve all expenditures made by the Treasurer on behalf of BISF. 
C. Act on a request of the membership to recall a member of the Star-Board. The request shall be made by petition signed by twenty percent or more of the membership. An affirmative vote of all the other board members shall serve as recommendation to the membership for its action. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership is required to recall a board member.

ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES 
Section 1 – The Fleet Captain shall nominate the Chair and any other members of the Technical Committee and any special committees with the approval of the Star-Board. All committees shall serve at the pleasure of the Star-Board.
Section 2 – The Technical Committee shall decide all questions of the interpretation of the Fleet Rules of Part II. The decisions of the Technical Committee are final.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1 – Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the conduct of all meetings. Email serves as notice as required in these bylaws
Section 2 – The annual meeting shall be held by the end March, notice of which shall be sent at least ten days prior thereto.
Section 3 – Other meetings may be called by the Star-Board provided that at least ten days notice of the purpose and date of such meeting is made to the members. 
Section 4 – A petition to the Star-Board of twenty percent or more of the members to hold a special meeting shall be recognized by the Star-Board and a meeting shall be called in a timely manner. 
Section 5 – Quorum: 
A. The members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum. 
B. A quorum at a special meeting shall be as in Article VII, Section 5A except that in addition, the presence of at least one Star-Board member shall be required.

ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS 
Section 1 – Elections shall be held at the annual meeting. 
Section 2 – Nominations for office may be made any member and publicized by the Secretary to the fleet at least 5 days prior to the annual meeting. 
Section 3 – No person may be nominated without their consent. 
Section 4 – Voting shall be by voice vote unless an office is contested, in which case voting shall be by paper ballot for the contested office.
Section 5 – In the event that there is no nominee for an office, a majority of the Star-Board may appoint a member to serve in that position, provided, however, that the member has given their consent. 
Section 6 – If an officer is unable to fulfill their term, a majority of the Star-Board may appoint a successor to complete the term.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws shall be adopted and may be amended by two-third affirmative vote of the members present at any meeting, provided that proposed amendments hereto have been sent, together with notice of the meeting, to each member at least ten days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION 
Section 1 – BSIF may be dissolved by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership by written ballot following thirty days notice of such action. 
Section 2 – Any and all assets shall be distributed according to the discretion of the Star-Board.

PART II – BISF RULES

Racing is open to any “Star boat”, meaning a boat assigned a hull number by the I.S.C.Y.R.A. and deemed by the BISF Technical Committee not to have been significantly modified.

Section 1 – BISF Star Definition
BISF Stars are defined as follows:
1. Shall have a hull number at least 20 years old.
2. Sails shall have at least one season of use before they are used in a BISF sanctioned event. The Technical Committee shall be the sole judge of the acceptability of all sails.
3. A boat shall not be hauled out during the racing season, except for needed repair or to race in another location.

4. Bottom paint must comply with Washington State law and Federal regulations.

Section 2 – Requirements
Each vessel shall carry the following:
1. Bow numbers are required to race in BISF races. The numbers are assigned by the Technical Committee, which shall be the sole judge of the size and placement. Sail numbers are not required to match the hull number. The boats will be identified by bow number only.
2. Coast Guard approved life jackets for each member of the crew. Inflatable life jackets will be permitted if they are worn on the outside of all clothing including foul weather gear. 
3. A tow line of 60 feet in length.
4. Sound Signaling device (whistle or horn)
5. Paddle
6. Bailing bucket or pump

Section 3 – BISF Season Championship
The fleet will award a Season Championship yearly. It will be based on scores from a wide sampling of the year’s races and scored as described in the sailing instructions and approved at the annual meeting by the fleet members.

Section 4 – Fleet Representative to the Worlds
The Worlds are currently open. If that changes, then the most recent season championship will provide the representative as the top skipper willing to attend.

Section 5 – Sailing Instructions
The sailing instructions for the conduct of BISF racing are contained in Appendix 1. They may be modified as required by the Race Chair. The Sailing Instructions will be updated yearly and posted on our web site at least a week before the first race of the year. The most current version of our Sailing Instructions will be posted on BISF website at least two days before any race; this supersedes all earlier versions, including those published in the SSSS Handbook.

Last Updated: March 2025