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Peter
Hinrichsen
The
2003 European Championships were a huge success and most enjoyable for
everyone. We hope that the competitors were not really aware that there
were some problems with the chain of command at the measurement. It is
part of the FD championship rules that the FD Chief measurer is in charge
of measurement at World and European championships. This conflicted with
the Italian sailing federation rules that they are responsible for all
measurement at regattas in Italy. The class therefore made a submission to
the ISAF November meeting in Barcelona in order to clarify this situation
for the future. It turned out that other classes had had similar
experiences and although our submission was not adopted, the ISAF council
adopted a similar submission, which achieved the same objective. This
means that in future the class will have jurisdiction over measurement at
championships.
The class
measurer made all measurement arrangements with Sandringham Yacht club for
the 2003 World Championships, but unfortunately family commitments
prevented me from attending the championships. The class is very fortunate
to have an excellent measurement team, which was by all accounts ably led
by John Best in my absence. I was confident that this would be the case,
but would like to express my appreciation to John for stepping in at very
short notice and not only complete the regatta measurement, but also do
some fundamental measurement of local boats.
During 2003 Cle
Jeltes and I spent an inordinate amount of time bringing the class rules
into conformance with the ISAF Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS). ISAF has
been encouraging all international classes to adopt not only the ERS but
also the Standard Class Rules format (SCR). After careful consideration we
decided only to adopt the ERS and not the SCR as our rules have some
aspects that do not fit easily into the SCR format. The changes in the
rules were presented to ISAF at the November 2003 meeting and after
detailed consultation with Sebastian Edmunds of ISAF were finalized and
came into effect on March 1 2004, i.e. after the Worlds in Melbourne. The
first major application of the new rules will therefore be at the 2004
Worlds in Warnemunde.
Although there
are many minor changes in wording to bring the FD rules into conformance
with the ERS definitions, the main changes are in the sail measurement and
especially the spinnaker. A significant effort was made to ensure that
these changes did not materially affect either present or future FD sails.
So why change? Well after 50 years things have progressed and there are
more modern ways to do things. Secondly it is beneficial to use a common
set of definitions so that sailors and measurers from other classes can
quickly adapt to sailing the FD. The 2004 Fd rules have been posted on the
FD website.
In Melbourne the
class used a platform scale to weigh the boats, rather than the hanging
crane scale we have used in the past, and by all accounts this was a great
success. Finding a lifting gantry and arranging a lifting bridle, have
always been a nuisance which will be eliminated by a platform scale. It
has therefore been suggested that the class purchase a platform scale and
Paul Hemker
is bringing one he has had good experience with to Warnemunde. We will
compare it with an electronic crane scale and
Cle’s tried and true Salter
scale. In the past Cle has always brought all the measuring equipment with
him to regattas and looked after it, and the class would have been in dire
straights without him. A further suggestion has been that the class should
now produce an FD measurement kit, which contains all the templates and
jigs in a sturdy box that can easily be shipped in a container with FDs.
This suggestion will be discussed in Warnemunde where we hope that Adriaan
will tell us that the class has the funds to go ahead.
The class
meeting in Melbourne
approved the adoption of carbon masts by the FD class, to come into effect
on 1 March 2005, i.e. not for Warnemunde. This decision has been embraced
by a number of FD sailors, and a major mast manufacturer, who have gone
ahead and purchased and developed carbon masts for the FD, despite the
fact that the specific rule change has not been finalized. The rule
permitting carbon masts will be discussed in Warnemunde and when approved
it will be submitted to ISAF by 1 August 2004 as required.
It is generally
agreed that the mast weight will be lowered to 8.0 kg from the present 11
kg, and that the minimum CG height remain as at present. A point that will
be discussed is the suggestion that there be minimum section dimensions
below the hounds in order to discourage the use of expensive high modulus
carbon. The suggested minimum dimensions are 50 mm athwartships and 75
fore and aft (including the sail track). These suggested dimensions will
ensure that all present masts are legal, but are open for discussion and
the advice of mast manufacturers.
A further point,
which need to be decided, is the wording and time frame of the proposed
transition rule, i.e. a time period during which present FD sailors can
sail competitively with their aluminum masts. The idea is that sailors
with carbon masts will be required to carry a 3 kg mast corrector during
this transition period. In order to make the weight distribution of the
carbon masts similar to that of the present aluminum masts this 3 kg
should be carried at the spreaders, but it is suggested that putting it in
a clearly visible place at the gooseneck would be a good compromise. A
second compromise would be to allow this 3 kg to be carried in a visible
place above the deck near the mast partners. A third suggestion, which I
do not favor, is to increase the sailing weight to 141 kg, i.e. the
present hull weight of 130 kg plus 11 kg for the mast. Finally, the
easiest but probably not the best option is to just forget the transition
period. My feeling is that if FD sailors with aluminum masts are to feel
that they are not at a disadvantage then the 3 kg must be clearly seen to
be being carried, not hidden below decks. Furthermore to make measurement
easier this mast corrector should be presented with the mast for weighing,
i.e. a total of 11 kg. Weighing the hull and mast together is always a big
nuisance. However, I do appreciate that others have other opinions and
that a decision, which is in the best interests of the class will be made
in Warnemunde.
8 July 2004
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