Measurements at Championships

By Antonio Bari – Rules Committee Chairman

Serious Sailing is part of our motto (the other side, serious fun, is not the responsibility of the Rules Committee…) And Serious Sailing requires serious measurements, to ensure a fair competition.

In the past, international championships were sailed by very small fleets and the regattas were scheduled with 2 days of measurements and 5 or 6 days of racing (depending on the spare day, if present or not).

Now that fleets have grown dramatically (and this is positive, in my opinion), with 100 boats entering a regatta, measurement takes too much time. It was reported that at the 2017 Worlds it lasted 6 days. More days to measure than to sail.

…

It is obvious that the old system (to measure on site any part of the boats) cannot be used anymore. No need to explain why.

But, what can we do to change this situation?

We could go back to the past, reducing the number of competitors. Smaller quotas for each nation, and sailing championships with 50 boats maximum. This would reduce the measurements to 3 days and allow a full measurement process as today.

Does the class need this? If yes, no problem. Quotas can be revised in about 2 hours.

If no, we should find a different system to check the boats.

Another option could be to reduce the items to be measured to those that mainly affect speed and safety; sails should already be measured so they will only need to be stamped.

Another may be to use a sort of “in house measurement” where boats are verified in each nation by local measurers appointed by the National Secretary. This system was successfully tested at last year’s European Championship when about 110 boats passed the “check in” in 3 days.

The “IHM” consists of a full measurement of boat, appendages and rig made by a National Measurer in each competitor’s Country. The measurer will apply a sticker (at the Europeans the stickers were provided by the organizers, but the standard SCIRA stickers may be used) on any checked item. Any NS shall then send a list of the boats measured to the Organizing Committee stating that they comply with the rules. At the event, the measurers shall verify the presence of the stickers, the location and amount of the correctors weight listed on the Measurement Certificate, randomly check the boats (weight, MOI, mast…) and the safety equipment. That’s all. After the races, as per our Rules, any boat might be checked for compliance. If in fault, the crew shall be DSQ.

This will save time, on one side, but on the other side the IHM process will probably increase the costs to rent boats.

But this is another story.

 

Note:

The current rules state:

Measurement at Events

The following are the minimum measurements to be conducted at each level of event:

Local Events:

√	each fleet shall weigh all boats at the start of each season. All new sails, before their use, shall be measured. Verify the sails have proper royalty labels
√	verify that the spars have required stripes and stoppers to limit sails dimensions
√	verify safety equipment: 2 lifejackets, a paddle, and a towing line of 10 meters length by 6 mm diameter
√	Verify current SCIRA decal on starboard aft side by transom

 

 

National Championship:

√	weigh   boats, measure and stamp sails, verify safety equipment
√	verify SCIRA decal of the year, stickers, royalty labels
√	at the discretion of measurers, check spars, rudder and centreboard
√	no more than two suits of sails per boat may be measured. It is strongly suggested that the use of an ink stamp (water proof) of the championship be used to identify measured sails.   Ensure proper sail cloth is being used.
√	the same boat and measured equipment must be used throughout the entire event
√	petitions for replacement of irreparably damaged equipments shall be addressed in writing to the SCIRA Representative

 

 

International Championship:

Unless the Deed of Gift has different prescriptions, these rules should be followed as per the Rules of Conduct, Section 3.3:

√	weigh   boats, measure and stamp sails, measure spars (dimensions, weight, center of gravity, stripes and stoppers) rudders (shape, weight position), centerboards (shape, safety line, centerpunch, verticality)
√	randomly verify MOI
√	verify safety equipment
√	fully measure at least one hull of each builder
√	verify SCIRA decal of the year, measurement stickers and sail royalty labels
√	no more than two suits of sails per boat may be measured. It is strongly suggested to use a stamp of the championship. Ensure the proper sail cloth is being used.
√	the same boat and measured equipment must be used throughout entire event
√	petitions for replacement of irreparably damaged equipment shall be addressed in writing to the SCIRA Representative