As we get into the Nationals planning home stretch, the measurement team wants to convey some useful information about what we are going to measure and how you can prepare so you don’t have to scramble to fix anything at measurement time.
From the Notice of Race: 6.4 All boats shall be presented for inspection during the scheduled measurement to include at a minimum the following: weight, sails (2 sets maximum, sails with prior measurement stamps do not need to be remeasured), paddle, 15m long/8mm diameter towline, personal flotation devices, corrector weight location, mast step, daggerboard safety line/retaining system and rudder retaining system.
Let’s delve into each of these so make sure everyone is on the same page. The references to these rules are all located in the class rules at snipe.org and World Sailing (https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/SNICR20210101-[26861].pdf):
Weight
The measurement weight is 381 lbs. We are using our tried and true balance beam scale that we have used for 30 years so no worries about temperature sensitivity. One thing that is changed in the rules recently is to clarify that “the boat weight includes both main and jib sheets.”.
The boat shall be presented in dry conditions (no water inside, no wet sheets…) with the following equipment:
- Hull fittings and equipment
- mast, complete with rig and fittings
- boom and whiskerpole
- main and jib sheets
- rudder
- tiller and extension
- compass
The following equipment shall not be included:
- Safety equipment (Paddle, Towing Line, 2 PFDs)
- Personal tools or equipment
Corrector weight location:
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.
PFDs
The US Sailing Prescriptions no longer include a requirement for a US Coast Guard approved PFD. The class rules on PFDs state:
C.3.1 PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE
(a) The boat shall be equipped with a personal flotation device for each member of the crew to the minimum standard ISO 12402-5 (Level 50 Newtons), or USCG Type III, or AUS PFD 1, or EN 393, unless an equivalent standard is prescribed otherwise in the Notice of Race.
That said, the state of Maryland law requires that boats like Snipes carry USCG approved PFDs. However, this is outside the scope of the of the regatta. ie we do not require it for a valid entry, but we have no control over whether law enforcement decides to do an impromptu inspection of any vessel on the water.
Mast Step
Some DB Snipes No US build boats (JibeTechs or any older manufacturers like Persson) come with adjustable mast steps and conform to the rule below, so should just be a check the box. However, if you have a boat that came with or an aftermarket adjustable mast step, we will check that it meets this rule:
C.9.3 CONDITIONS FOR USE, MAST
(c) The mast spar shall not be adjusted at the mast step while racing. The butt of the mast shall be limited at the mast step by one transverse pin. Any mast step with a sliding adjustment system is allowed, providing that the position of the slider is fixed by a bolt and nut or a screw.
Rudder Retaining System
You must have a way to keep the rudder from coming out if the boat is capsized. Typically, this is a clip on the transom that has to be moved out of the way to slide the pintles out of the gudgeons, but any method that prevents it come coming out is acceptable. We will check that it will not come put.
C.8.5 RUDDER
(a) LIMITATIONS
1) The rudder shall be fitted to the transom in such a manner that it will not detach from
the hull if the boat capsizes.
Centerboard Retaining System
This rule has some new parts to it and is one of the reasons we are checking it. There are some subtitles that need some explanation.
First the relevant parts of the daggerboard rule:
C.8.4.(a)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 [1″] 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.
C.8.4.(a)4) The top of the daggerboard retracted position limit mark shall not be above the top surface of the deck art the centreline of the boat.
C.8.4.(a)5) The daggerboard shall be attached to the hull with a non-adjustable safety single line at all times while racing (unless for a short period for cleaning garbage or seaweed). The safety line shall be cut to eliminate excesses, and shall be fixed to any part of the daggerboard case and directly fastened with a metal shackle or carabiner above the line connecting the lower part of the stoppers on the daggerboard.
C.8.4.(a)6) The maximum length of this safety line from the top of the daggerboard case to the inner part of the shackle pin shall be 610mm. [24″]
So what does this all mean?
Band on the board:
- When your board is held in the “up” position, typically by a “flapper” (might be a hook in an older boat – but a line holding it up is no longer legal), the top part of the 1″ band on the board must not be above the deck (and 12″ of board must be showing below the boat). If you have your stock flap, this will be correct.
- Make sure the line on the board is dark and well defined. It wears off easily. If your line is clearly visible, just darken it with a black Sharpie. If you are not positive where it is, the best way to find it is to put the board in the boat with 12″ showing and project a line across the deck, use a T square to draw a line, tape off a 1″ wide band below and fill it in.
For the restraining line:
- The clip to the board MUST connect directly to a hole in the board. You can not have a piece of line tied to the board that a clip hooks into
- The length of the retaining line from the top of the daggerboard trunk to the inside surface of the clip can not be longer than 24″.
Here’s a diagram that shows all of this:
Annapolis Snipe Fleet 532 