SMERALDA 888 CLASS RULES

1. CLASS RULES AND OBJECTIVES

1.1. The “Smeralda 888” is a one-design boat designed by German Frers.
The boat has been developed to promote competitive sailing activities among yacht club members.
The boat has a fixed keel with ballast and sloop rig for a crew of 4 or 5 persons. It is suited to both fleet and match racing and can be handled by smaller crews where the hiking position of the body is strictly controlled. The design characteristics make the sloop suitable also for short-distance cruising with two persons. The boat is watertight and self-draining under normal weather conditions.

1.2. The Smeralda 888 boats constitute a Class called “Smeralda 888 Class”.
The Class emblem is an emerald green bow cutting through a wave. This emblem must be reproduced on the hull and on the mainsail of each boat.

1.3. The Class Rules have the following objectives:

  • -  To assure the correct control and management of the Class
  • -  To define and preserve over time the detail and characteristics of the original design and to avoid anymodifications to the hull or the rigging and fittings.
  • -  Ensure the correct use of the boat.

2. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CLASS

2.1. Class Authority

2.1.1. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is the Class promoter and maintains control of the production moulds (which remain the property of Costa Smeralda Yachting S.r.l., a YCCS subsidiary), and therefore the licensed boatyards, Class rules and activities.

2.1.2. The YCCS maintains the contact with both the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) and the IYRU who must be informed of all national and international Class and racing Activities.

2.2 Class Management

The Class’s affairs shall be managed by a five member committee.
This committee shall consist of the Smeralda Class president and four of its owner / members.

2.3. Language

The Class’s official language shall be English.

2.4. Construction and Purchase of “Smeralda 888” Boats

The right to build a Smeralda 888 One Design shall rest exclusively with boat builders duly licensed by the Class association. The current licensed builder is Cantieri Galetti, Italy.

The YCCS will determine, on a case by case basis, which boatyards will be granted use of the moulds for Smeralda 888 construction.

Contracts will precisely define the builders’ working procedures as regards to the rules herein and the attached specifications.

“Smeralda 888” Class boats can be purchased by YCCS members and members of other recognized yacht clubs or sport associations which guarantee the constitution of a fleet of at least two boats within the club itself. Purchase applications must be forwarded to the YCCS through the offices of the members’ club.

The owners and their clubs must agree to faithfully adhere to all Class rules as stated herein.

2.5 Measurements, Certificates of Origins

The Class Measurer will be appointed annually by the YCCS and will be responsible for assuring that all boats that are built conform exactly to the technical requirements defined in these rules.

Each boat constructed must be fitted with an identification plaque containing its serial number, which corresponds to its sail number, permanently installed on board, as well as a Certificate of Origin reporting the weights of the keel, rudder, complete hull, mast, boom and spinnaker pole, plus the presence and location of any corrector weights.

The Certificate of Origin must be signed by both the Class Measurer and the builder.

Copies of the certificates will be kept with the association secretariat at the YCCS.

After the completion of the measurement checks any modification to the boat its rigging and fittings or its equipment is prohibited. In the case of repair work being undertaken following any damage, a recertification by the Class Measurer may be necessary.

2.6 Measurement Controls

The Measurement Controls of the boats are entrusted to the Class Technical Delegate who is appointed annually by the YCCS and who is responsible for the management of all boats belonging to the Smeralda 888 Class. When considered necessary, or upon the request of a competitor before an event, the Technical Delegate, who may be assisted by the Class Measurer, can carry out the following checks:

  • -  inspection of safety equipment
  • -  inspection of the inventory of sails and their compliance with their management and specifications
  • -  inspection of the deck layout, standing and running riffing and fittings
  • -  boat’s weight check
  • -  rudder weight check

2.7. Restrictions and Penalties

These Rules are binding for both clubs with Smeralda fleets and for the boat owners. The technical specifications, in particular, must be rigidly adhered to and the rules relating to the use of the boat in regattas must be applied in all regattas in which boats of the Class take part, even when other Classes are racing.

A club or an owner who violates the letter or the spirit of these rules, either regarding the technical specifications or the use of the boat, can be brought before a Disciplinary Committee appointed by the YCCS which, in the most serious of cases, may decide :

  • -  to either permanently or temporarily ban the offending party from the Class; or
  • -  suspend or disqualify the offending party for one or more competitions.3 CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS3.1. HullThe hull and deck of the boat must be constructed by a licensed builder on approved moulds according to the lamination specifications and following the specific construction procedures as supplied by Costa Smeralda Yachting. The total dry-weight of the boat, including rudder, keel and fittings, must not be less than 1505 Kg nor more than 1530 Kg.Weight check will be made without:
  • -  the mast, boom and spinnaker pole;
  • -  the mainsail, genoa and spinnaker sheets and winch handles or safety and navigation equipment. Thelocation of corrector weights, if needed, shall be determined by the Technical Delegate, in agreement with the Class Measurer and the builder, and the weights shall be installed and scaled in a way to be easy to inspect.The weight and location of any weight correctors must be declared on the Certificate of Origin.The corrector weights must not exceed a total of 25 Kg.
    No additional ballast of any kind may be used.
    The shape of the hull can be checked by means of garboards kept by the Class Measurer.3.2. KeelThe keel fin must be made based on the original mould. Its weight, construction materials and shape must conform to the specifications and plans supplied by Costa Smeralda Yachting. The weight of the keel must be corrected, if necessary, to have a total weight of 991 Kg with a tolerance of +/- 1 Kg.The weight of the keel must be reported on the boat’s Certificate of Origin. The shape of the keel fin and bulb can be checked by means of garboards kept by the Class Measurer.3.3. RudderThe rudder must be made using the approved moulds and to the specifications and plans provided by Costa Smeralda Yachting. The weight of the rudder, including tiller and lower bearing, must not be less than 12 Kg, and must be reported on the Certificate of Origin.3.4 Deck FittingsThe Deck Fittings and their relative layout must conform, with a tolerance of +/- 10 mm,, to the positions indicated on the attached Plan 1.

3.5. Mast and Standing Rigging

The mast must be made using an approved cross-section type aluminium extrusion, and in compliance with the measurements, weights and centre of gravity indicated on the attached Plan 2 and follow its specifications with a tolerance of +/- 5 mm. Any needed corrector weight must be reported on the Certificate of Origin, as must the weight and centre of gravity position of the mast including standing riffing, but excluding running rigging.

3.6 Other Spars

The boom and spinnaker pole must conform to the specifications reported on attached Plan 1. Their weights must be reported on the Certificate of Origin, and cannot be less than 12 Kg and 4 Kg respectively.

3.7 Running Rigging

The running rigging must be in compliance with the attached Plan 2 specification in terms of materials, layout and dimensions.

3.8 Sails

The rights to provide the Sails for Smeralda 888 One Design shall solely rest with Sailmakers duly licensed by the Class association. The current licensed sailmaker is North Sails Italy

The approved sail inventory is as follows:

  • -  masthead spinnaker, 5 ounce Nylon
  • -  fractional spinnaker, 75 ounce Nylon
  • -  self-tacking jib
  • -  genoa Mylar/Polyester
  • -  mainsailLaminates containing carbon fibre are prohibited.Windows of transparent plastic laminate in the sails are permitted, but their total area shall not exceed the 3 % of the total surface area of the sail.The sails must all be measured according to the specifications of the attached Plan 3.
    The mainsail and the spinnakers must display the sail number as prescribed by IYRU regulations with the exception of the national letters.3.9 Safety EquipmentThe boats must always carry on board the equipment as required by Italian law for navigation within 3 miles of the coast:
  • -  1 hand bilge pump
  • -  life-jackets
  • -  2 paddles, one fo which fitted with a hook
  • -  17,5 Kg anchor and 30 metres of 10 mm line
  • -  1 horseshoe life-buoy with 30 metres of floating line
  • -  1 distress signal pack (2+2)
  • -  1 360 torch
  • -  1 fog horn
  • -  1 CASE PHARMACY

With the exception of the paddles, the safety equipment will be kept whilst racing in a bag located below deck in front of the mast step.

3.10 Electronic Devices

The on-board installation of any electrical or electronic instrument other than a compass is prohibited.

4 USE OF THE BOAT
4.1. Competition Levels
Three levels of competition are foreseen:

  • -  club races
  • -  inter-club races
  • -  International regattas in which the boats of members may be entrusted to other crews.According to the racing level the organizing club will provide additional rules and restrictions which are to be detailed in the notice of race and sailing instructions.4.2 Notice of Race and Sailing InstructionsIn all races involving “Smeralda 888” boats the IYRU rules are to be applied. Additional rules may be notified in the Race notice or the sailing instructions relating to:
  • -  helmsman and crew
  • -  use of sails
  • -  types of course
  • -  point scoring4.3 Other Restrictions4.3.1. SailsMore than one complete set of sails (mainsail, genoa, jib, masthead and fractional spinnakers) may not be taken aboard boats while racing.The maximum number of new sails that each boat can submit for approval each year is as follows:Mainsail 1 Genoa 2 Jib 1 Masthead spinnaker 2 Fractional spinnaker 1Any damage to sails must be repaired and only in exceptional cases will the YCCS allow the purchase of new sails beyond those numbers established above.
    The fractional spinnaker cannot be hoisted from the masthead halyard.4.3.2 Crew WeightFree.
    The maximum number of crew is 5.

4.3.3. Crew Placement

The use of hiking straps, trapezes or other devices to move the weight of crewmen overboard is forbidden.
Two of the crew members must keep their legs within the cockpit whilst racing.

4.3.4 Crew Classification

Free.

4.3.5 Helm

Except for Owners or for emergencies involving the safety of either the yacht or the crew, Group 3 competitors are prohibited from taking the helm while racing in sanctioned One Design Class events, or in any One Design Class racing. Group 1 Owners and Group 1 alternate helmsmen may helm any Smeralda 888.

4.3.6 Limit

The mast spinnaker wind limit is fixed at 18 knots. There are no restrictions for the use of the genoa. The security limit is fixed at 25 knots maximum, beyond which no racing may take place.

4.3.7 Championship Classification

An owner can be substituted for a regatta by a member of his normal crew; however the substitution must be approved by the other owners. His substitute may not be Classified in ISAF Group 3.
All races of the season program are to count for the championship.

4.3.8 Advertising on Boats

Advertising on Smeralda 888 Class boats is totally forbidden.
Upon written request of the organizing body of particularly important sponsored events, the YCCS may allow the application of article 1.9 Appendix 14 of the IYRU rules.
Individual advertising is prohibited
Advertising is only permitted when applied to the complete fleet.

4.3.9 Class Contribution

For the 2015 season, the regatta entry fees for the Class will be either 150 Euros per boat per regatta or 800 Euros per boat per season payable at the first regatta.

4.4 Race Penalty / Foul Reparation

If a foul is committed within a distance of three boat lengths of a mark, the applicable penalty shall be will be TWO turns (720°).
If a foul is committed out of the three boat length distance from a mark the applicable penalty shall be ONE turn (360°).

Any failure to perform the applicable penalty may result in race disqualification.

Last modified: 10th February 2015

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