What is Changing After the Recently Approved New Rules

Rules expert Antonio Bari explains the new rules

Right now, nothing. The approval of the new rules is pending by World Sailing and, if approved, will be effective beginning January 1st (hopefully…)

But, will the new rules significantly change something in our boats? Let’s see…

Hiking straps

F.7 RUNNING RIGGING F.7.2 OPTIONAL

(i) Any hiking straps or any kind of line or cord attached to the boat within 203 mm of not higher than the top of the deck. The location and number of hiking straps is free.

Basically, nothing will change. All hiking straps are currently attached according to the new rule. Please note that it’s not allowed to fix a line to the daggerboard handle to hold the crew.

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Daggerboard

C8.4 DAGGERBOARD a) LIMITATIONS

3) The daggerboard retracted position limit mark shall be:
• When positioned with the top of the mark even with the top surface of the deck at the centreline of the boat the lowest point of the daggerboard to its closest point on the hull shall be minimum 305mm.
• Minimum 25 mm high.
• Minimum 350 mm long extending from the front of the daggerboard
• Painted using varnish or permanent marker in a contrasting colour and on port and starboard sides.

• Perpendicular to the upper front edge of the daggerboard and the top of the limit mark will be located at no less than the result of 615mm plus the distance from the top forward of the daggerboard case to the deck at the centerline of the boat.
• Painted in a contrasting color.

• 25 mm high
• No less than 350mm long extending from the front of the daggerboard.

4) The top of the daggerboard retracted position limit mark shall not be above the top surface of the deck at the centreline of the boat.

This rule will significantly change the approach to the whole matter.
The 305mm rule won’t exist anymore, the band shall be painted in a specific position and the band itself will become the limiting position of the daggerboard when at the max height. This will result in less mistakes when measuring, less discussions with the crews, evident non compliance when racing.
This rule works perfectly on all boats produced after 2001, not sure it works for older boats. Will check…

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Corrector weights

C.6.2 CORRECTOR WEIGHTS
(a) Corrector weights shall be permanently fastened in a visible position. If located inside the tight compartment they must be visible through the inspection ports. Visible position is a position that permits to see the weight of the corrector weight, if marked, or to calculate its dimensions.
For hulls built after Jan 1st, 2024, corrector weights shall be multiple of 0.5Kg

This rule will allow to check the corrector weights easier when inspecting the boats at events. One doubt only: if the amount of the corrector weights is 7.3kg can a builder or an owner use 0.3 kg?

Tow line

C.5.2 NOT FOR USE (a) MANDATORY

1) Any floating single towing line of minimum 15m long and not less than 8mm in diameter. It shall not be stored inside watertight tanks. The towing line shall be attached to the boat.

No particular issue to comply with this rule, but shall the towline itself be attached or storing the towline in a dry bag attached to the boat is OK?

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Mast partner

C.9.3 CONDITIONS FOR USE, MAST

(g) Movements of the mast shall be restrained by fore and/or aft guys or mechanical restraint connected to the mast below the lower point, or blocks at deck level. Blocks of any material, may be added to both sides of the mast spar hole to limit the side movement of the mast.

I don’t see any problems here.

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Rule 23.6, Extraordinary circumstances

I commented this rule several times in the past and I believe it was time to delete it. Giving unlimited power to the Board is not the solution for extraordinary circumstances. The solution is to write the rules in a flexible way to allow the Board to decide in the best way within the Constitution limits.

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Sail cloth

G.3 CONSTRUCTION

(a) Any type of woven polyester fabric or polyester film/scrim three ply laminated material shall be used as long it has a minimum weight of 130 g/sqm for the mainsail and 160 g/sqm for the jib. Laminated ply materials approval is limited to commercially manufactured, readily available materials with woven ply materials and which have been specifically approved by SCIRA on a case-by-case basis. See Part III.H.6 for the complete list. The list is promulgated as a Circular Letter by the SCIRA Rules Committee Chairman.

This is a good solution. I would suggest to change “Rules Committee Chairman” with “Technical Committee Chairman” to comply with the Constitution.

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Mainsail

G.4 MEASUREMENT
Mainsail battens shall be in place removed.

Sails shall be measured according to the International Measurer’s Manual

This is also a good solution. No need to have specific rules on this matter. The new rule will also simplify measurements.