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The new MUSTO PERFORMANCE SKIFF class rules explained
Well, they might not be everyone’s idea of essential
bedtime reading, but for those of you who are intent on racing in
MPS events this year you will need to be familiar with the
amendments.
So why was there the need to amend them I hear some
of you ask. Well, the reasons are varied, but importantly they bring
us up to date on a number of fronts.
Firstly, the original rules were based on those taken
from the 29er class, as they were deemed a good example of strict
one-design rules. Secondly, since this time and, in the last year in
particular, the class has witnessed solid growth and, with
demonstrable evidence of many sailors seeking to ‘customise’ their
boats to their liking. If left unchecked, the creep of customisation
could have served to undermined the class.
In response to this, a pragmatic view had to be taken
as to what was deemed healthy to protect both the letter and spirit
of the one-design status, the integrity and longevity of the
principal elements of the hull platform, the overall appearance of
the boat, whilst also reflecting the needs of the sailors to make
elements of boat control easier, without endorsement to fundamental
performance advantages that could have been derived from some areas
of customisation.
Whilst it is advisable to read the whole document,
the principal areas of change and rewording can be viewed in Section
C - ‘Conditions for Racing’ (especially C.2.2. Additions,
Modifications and Replacements) and, Section G – ‘Sails. The
later section was reworded to allow competitors to use more than one
sail in a regatta, as if, for example, it is blowing hard one day,
some competitors might want to switch to their old kite. And for
those of you with two mains, well you are just damned greedy!
For those of us lucky people competing in the
forthcoming Europeans at Denia in Spain, random checks will be
undertaken and the new rules enforced. So I would advise all sailors
to ensure you are fully compliant and, that includes having national
letters on your sails.
Read
the rules >>>
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