2005 MEASUREMENT RULES OF THE “W” CLASS ONE DESIGN
10. GENERAL NOTES
After many years during which the stringent one design nature of the rules were relaxed to create a restricted class it is expected that some "W" Boats will not conform to the following rules. In order to encourage racing and restoration of the class some leeway will be given by the Committee upon application to race by an individual boat. Such an application should indicate which rules are being infringed, and should be accompanied by a statement of the owner's intention to rectify the situation, giving an estimation of the length of time it is expected that such works will take. A Licence to race in Class events may be issued for the season of application, and will be reviewed annually.
11. HULLS
11.1. Hulls to be in accordance with the original plans by Berthon Boat Company of Lymington.
11.2. Only traditionally constructed, carvel built wood hulls will be accepted.
11.3. All scantlings to be the same or greater than those originally specified.
11.4. No alterations to hull, keel or rudder will be accepted.
12. DISPLACEMENT
In the event of restorations utilising the West, SP Epoxy systems it is expected that weight differences will occur and that if these are substantial then boats will be weighed and weights fixed throughout the boats to bring them to their marks. All boats will be stripped out to their bare inventory as required in Rule 16 for the purposes of weighing. Boats should weigh no less than 4.4 metric tonnes.
13. THE CHAINPLATES
The chainplates may be positioned no further inboard than 3 inches. This will be equal to the transverse thickness of the nearest grown frame adjacent to the mast gate.
14. MAST AND ALL SPARS
14.1. Mast and all spars to be of wood, except the spinnaker pole, which the material is unrestricted.
14.2. The mast to be no more than 40 feet above deck.
14.3. The boom to be no more than 22 feet.
14.4. No permanently bent masts or booms. The boom shall not be made permanently concave in a fore and aft direction. A boom which bends either vertically or horizontally shall be permitted, unless the bend is accentuated or induced by a force physically applied for the purpose of bending it. Kicking straps, solid or rope or of any other material are prohibited.
14.5. The spinnaker boom must be no longer than 12 feet 3½” inches / 3.750 metres.
15. FORESTAY LENGTH
15.1. The forestay length may be no longer than 34 feet 8 inches.
15.2. The forestay shall lead from the aft side of the stem.
15.3. Single or twin forestays are left to the owner's discretion.
16. STANDING RIGGING
16.1. Standing rigging to be of galvanised or stainless steel wire, and to exclude rod rigging.
16.2. Unstayed masts will not be allowed.
17. RUNNING RIGGING
17.1. Running rigging may be of flexible wire or rope. (Spectra, Kevlar or similar materials are permitted.)
17.2. Barbour haulers are defined as lines or tracks which can be adjusted to move leads for sheets in an athwartship direction and are outlawed.
17.3. Strops used from a single position to adjust the sheeting angle and controlled from the cockpit are permitted in the place of jib cars. However, this position must be situated over the beam shelf where the jib tracks would be bolted.
17.4. Horses are permitted for the mainsheet, but mainsheet travellers and cars are outlawed. The horse will measure 30 inches stop to stop.
18. SAIL AREA
18.1. At no time may boats carry more than the maximum permitted sail area, except when carrying a spinnaker.
19. SAIL MATERIAL
19.1. Sail material to be of woven polyester or terylene. It excludes all exotic materials including Kevlar, Mylar and other materials which may be developed.
19.2. Windows in sails are prohibited.
20. NUMBER OF SAILS
20.1. New sails will be allowed at the rate:
i) One new heavy weather jib per annum
ii) One new genoa per annum
iii) One new spinnaker per annum
iv) One new mainsail every two years
20.2. All sails used by boats racing in Class must be measured by the Official Measurer.
20.3. When racing boats may carry any number of sails, but only one spinnaker may be used.
21. THE MAINSAIL
21.1. The mainsail will be measured as a triangular sail, using the three thimbles of the tack, clew, and headboard as the three points of the triangle.
21.2. Luff grooves are not allowed. Foot grooves are permitted.
21.3. Mainsail
All reef points must be fixed at 4 foot, 8 foot and 12 foot intervals.
Cloth weight: 8.5 ounces US (± 1 ounce)
P (Gooseneck to Headboard): 37 feet 3
inches (fully stretched)
E (After mast position to limit on boom):
21 feet 2 inches (fully stretched)
L: 40 feet 10 inches (fully stretched)
Roach, width restrictions to mainsail,
measured across the sail at right-
angles to luff (ie arced)):
¾ height leech = 6 feet 9 inches
½ height leech = 12 feet 0 inches
21.4. Battens: The mainsail shall have four equidistant battens. Top batten 1.25 metres / 4.10 feet, and remainder 1.80 metres / 5.91 feet in length.
21.5. Mainsail headboard must not exceed a head width of 195 mm / 7.75 inches, including all bolt ropes.
21.6. No cut down, long on the luff and short on the foot mainsails to be hoisted in adverse weather conditions.
22. FORESAILS
22.1. No jib shall have a club or foot yard or more than one sheet or other device for extending it to other than a triangular shape.
22.2. The luff length of any jib must not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.
22.3. No battens or headboards are allowed.
22.4. Foresail measurements are from eye to eye.
22.5. Heavy weather jib
Cloth weight: 8 ounces US
Luff: 28 feet
Leech: 23 feet 9 inches
Foot: 10 feet 2 inches
22.6. Genoa
Cloth weight: 6.2 - 6.5 ouces US
Luff: 28 feet 6 inches
Leech: 27 feet 3 inches
Foot: 12 feet 9 inches
23. SPINNAKER
23.1. Maximum of two spinnakers are allowed per boat when racing. The luffs and leeches of spinnakers shall be taped with stretch resistant tape.
23.2. Spinnaker
Spinnaker No 1:
Shape: Symmetrical
SL: 29 feet
S: Max. width 18 feet 6 inches
Spinnaker No. 2
Shape: Symmetrical
Area: 50 square metres (as measured by the IRC method)
23.3. All spinnakers shall have the boat's sail number prominently displayed.
23.4. Spinnakers will be hoisted by a halliard where the forestay joins the mast and must be set on the spinnaker boom in accordance with the RYA Rules.
24. STORM SAILS
24.1. Racing may be cancelled in severe conditions when storm jibs and trysails would be required.
24.2. However, all boats should carry storm sails as part of their inventory or pay an equivalent weight penalty (1995 AGM).
25. INVENTORY
25.1. All boats will be raced in cruising trim (to include all hatches and doors) in keeping with the ideal of sailing from Regatta to Regatta.
25.2. The following minimum items are required to be carried on board:
Main anchor, 20 lbs minimum
Kedge anchor, 15 lbs minimum
Ten fathoms 5/16" chain
Six fenders
Cooking facilities
Harnesses for all crew
One lifebuoy
Life jackets / buoyancy aids, one for each member of crew
VHF radio (portable or fixed)
Compass
Distress signals, three red parachute, two white hand flares. three red hand flares, two orange smoke flares
One bilge pump of adequate bore
One first aid kit
One fire extinguisher (powder)
Four warps (two springs, one bow and one stern)
Five litres water
One bucket
26. PAID HELMSMEN AND CREW
No paid hands will be permitted on any boat while racing.
27. GENERAL
27.1. No rope, wire, rail, handhold or other special device shall be used by any member of the crew for the purpose of supporting his weight out board of the sheer-line. However, the use of the headsail, spinnaker and mainsheets held solely by the hands, for hiking purposes is permitted. When hiking in the sitting position no part of the crew's body between the middle of the thigh and the feet shall be outboard of the sheer-line. When hiking in the prone position, at least one full arm and one full leg shall be inboard of the sheer-line.
27.2. Nothing herein contained shall prevent an owner making such changes to the interior of a boat, to deck and hull fittings, including the installation of an engine, as long as such changes are not specifically prohibited in the rules.
27.3. No boat shall attempt to gain an unfair advantage by utilising equipment (i.e. hydraulic rams) which is not of traditional derivation, or was not generally available before 1945. If in doubt the owner should refer the matter to the committee.
27.4. Boats are encouraged to adopt different hull colour schemes.
27.5. All boats must race with a minimum of third party liability insurance in the sum of £500,000. It is the responsibility of each owner to ensure compliance with the rules applicable to individual races or events organised by other clubs or organisations.
27.6. Sponsorship is prohibited save by the written permission of the Committee