Centerboard Retaining System – Rule Change Proposal
Rules Change – Submitted Proposals
Please leave a comment or send us an email to editor@snipetoday.org
From : Pietro Fantoni – SCIRA Secretary
Email: pfantoni@hotmail.com
Summary: Centerboard retaining system – General Restrictions (rule 18)
Affects:
Class Rules
Objective:
Avoiding that sailors raise and held up the daggerboard too much (so that the centerboard band is above the deck) when sailing downwind.
Rules Change – Submitted Proposals
Please leave a comment or send us an email to editor@snipetoday.org
From : Pietro Fantoni – SCIRA Secretary
Email: pfantoni@hotmail.com
Summary: Centerboard retaining system – General Restrictions (rule 18)
Affects:
Class Rules
Objective:
Avoiding that sailors raise and held up the daggerboard too much (so that the centerboard band is above the deck) when sailing downwind.
Proposal (include current & proposed changed wording- changes to be shown in red): Example: By Laws: Section 1. Racing Season
The official racing sailing season of this Association shall extend for the full twelve months of the year starting on January 1st and ending on December 31st.
General Restrictions – Centerboard Daggerboard
18. The centerboard daggerboard must be restricted while racing in such a manner that no point of the bottom edge extends less than 305mm (12”) below the keel. To permit checking the position of the centerboard daggerboard while racing a band of min 25mm (1”) wide and 150 mm long shall be painted on each side of the board. The top of the band being even with the surface of the deck at the centerline of the boat while the board is raised on this maximum height. A safety line must be used on centerboard daggerboard while racing. The safety line length may shall be long enough to permit, when completely tight, to raise the board up to max 50 mm over the upper part of the board band to deck, and shall not be adjustable and shall be fastened to the boat and to the centerboard by a shackle or snap of suitable dimension. Any type of retaining system may be used, the centerboard safety line length shall be long enough to permit, when completely tight, to raise the board up to 50 mm over the upper part of the board band to deck and The retaining system shall either consist of a flipping tablet or/and a hook and cutouts on the daggerboard and shall permit the crew to extend the board completely when the boat is capsized without swimming under the boat. Only one centerboard daggerboard may be used during a regatta unless irreparable damage has occurred.
Reasons:
In the recent years we have seen a growing number of sailors who don’t respect the rule and sail downwind with the daggerboard too high (and often with the safety line unlocked). This is a major advantage over the people who sail fair and this issue is becoming a growing problem. We think that in many cases the cheaters use a shockcord as retaining system. Ruling about the legal retaining system,, would make it more difficult to cheat.
“Safety” is also an issue, especially in windy or wavy conditions and in cold water. Boats that capsize without a board take longer to help – this often requires the help of a support boat that may be needed for other activities during the race (moving marks).
14-02_Centerboard_Retaining_System-1.pdf
Dear Pietro,
I perfectly understand the reason for clarifying the rule to avoid having sailors raise the board too high. However, I do not see why the retaining system part of the rule has to change. My new snipe has velcro in the daggerboard drum and it works fine. My previous snipe had a line strap arrangement with an emergency cleat opener by the shroud that could be unfastened in a capsize. That worked well too (I have tried it a couple of times).
Please reconsider how the proposed amendment is worded.
Best regards
Lars
SWE 31200
As written, it does not permit unhooking and raising board all the way up to get kelp or seaweed off! It down not permit the “Old Man System” that all of us here use with an extra piece of line for safety if you tip over when de-weeding or de-kelping. You need an extra sentence at the end saying this. It should start, “Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent…”
It’s good and NECESSARY! It just needs that last sentence added.
Peter Commette
Peter,
I agree. Also in the Adriatic sea we have seaweed, so I understand the problem.
My proposal doesn’t change the current rule 18 about the safety line (please look at the red words).
My proposal is only about the retaining system (only a hook or a flipping tablet are allowed).
Under the current rule you can unhook the safety line and raise the board all the way up only for a short period of time for cleaning garbage and seaweed (this is allowed).
Note also that my proposal wants to change the current rule (only retaining system), BUT, as you know, ISAF is approving the new Snipe Class rules (rewritten according to Isaf standards).
Look at this link:
http://www.snipe.org/images/2014/2014Rules/Snipe_Class_Rules_2014-2016v3.pdf
Well, the new ISAF rule C.7.2(a) will state: “The daggerboard shall be attached to the hull with a non-adjustable safety line at all times while racing (unless for a short period for cleaning garbage or seaweed).”
I couldn’t submit a proposal to change a rule (a ISAF Class rule) not yet effective, but only the current Class rule 18.
This proposal, if approved, will change Class rule 18 and if – meanwhile – the ISAF Class rule C.7.2 will be effective, we will add a new part about the retaining system.
Pietro Fantoni
Absolutely agree with you 100%. Good proposal and definitely needed
Peter Commette
I too agree. We have lots of kelp / sea weed here in San Diego but with this wording you only need to raise/lower the board a couple of time to get the weed off.
Hi, I think that this should be amended to make tighter restrictions on movement of the dagger board height while racing….I see too many violations of the intended “good spirit” of this racing rule. Maybe we should require the top 5 finishers of each race, in Nationals, (and higher regattas) to be checked for this systems intended restriction…after each race? Honesty plays a big part in this.. You might (in the regatta’s NOR) state that you can call on the water penalties, …., 360 deg turns?? That would stop the problem fast, especially if it was done to top 15 boats, or so, downwind??
To eliminate disengaging retainer..you should require it to be attached with clevis pins and ring cotter pins at both ends…and use cable.. no tied lines…..not as easy to fool with it
Jack Gannon