Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the IM24CA
Dear World Council members of the International Melges 24 Class Association,
Per our Bylaws, the Executive Committee is calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) that will take place virtually on Zoom on Wednesday, September 22, 2021. The topic of this meeting will be to approve the class rule changes that are necessary to allow for the new mast design. Much care has been taken to create a mast that is comparable to those currently used. Please also understand that we attempted to find a weekend date for this meeting and were unable to do so due to conflicts with regattas/sailing! As we understand that this will be during the workday in parts of the World, please do take the opportunity to send a representative or a proxy prior to the meeting date if you cannot attend.
Time: 12 am PT, 3 am ET, 8 pm UK, 9 pm CET, 10 pm EET, 6 am (Sep 23) Sydney, AUS
Duration: Maximum of 1 hour, hopefully shorter
IMMEDIATELY following the EGM, the Technical Committee will host a meeting to discuss any technical submissions that have been made to the AGM so that questions can be answered and drafting changes made as needed in advance of the AGM.
Class Rule change proposals
2021 Rule Change F.3.2(a) Rev 1 - Construction(s)
2021 Rule Change F.3.2(d) Rev 2 - Construction(s)
2021 Rule Change F.3.3(b) Rev 1 - Fittings
2021 Rule Change F.3.4 Rev 1 - Dimensions
2021 Rule Change C.9.3(a)(2).1 Rev 1 - Mast Use
IM24CA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE RULE CHANGE PROPOSAL 2021 - Mast - PDF
Subject: Masts
Date: August 10, 2021
The Technical Committee has been asked to identify all changes required to the current class rules to allow Selden Masts UK to be able to be approved as a licensed builder and supplier of spars for the Melges 24.
After reviewing the class rules, it is in our opinion that the following rules must be modified or added to accommodate this new mast:
C.9.3(a)(2) MAST USE
Current Rule:
C.9.3(a)(2). The spreader connector bar shall not be modified or changed during a regatta.
Proposed New Rule:
C.9.3(a)(2) The spreaders shall not be adjusted during a regatta.
Reason:
This change is required to allow for the different spreader root design as supplied with the Selden Mast while still covering the original masts. Not all spars will have spreader bars.
F.3.2(a) CONSTRUCTION
Current Rule:
F.3.2(a). The spar shall be built from approved mounds approved by the Copyright Holder and World Sailing and to the approved building specification.
Proposed New Rule:
F.3.2(a). The spar shall be built to the approved building specification.
Reason:
The class rules need to allow for both closed mould and spiral wound spar construction techniques.
F.3.2(d) CONSTRUCTION
Current Rule:
None
Proposed New Rule:
F.3.2(d). External re-enforcement used as per the licensed builder’s specification, shall not be measured as part of the spar’s cross-sectional dimensions.
Reason:
With a spiral wound mast, the re-enforcing is located on the outside of the spar section as opposed to inside on the moulded spars. This additional thickness may exceed the maximum allowable cross-sectional dimensions. The class rules need to allow the licensed builders to be able to re-enforce the spar build using either construction technique.
F.3.3(b) FITTINGS
Current Rule:
F.3.3(b) Spreader, including the spreader bar, to the approved design shall only be supplied by the licensed builder. The spreader shall be connected with the spreader bar only.
The upper shroud shall be retained in the spreader tip in one of two ways:
- For newer style, black spreaders: the upper shroud shall use the builder supplied retention clip or,
- For older style, white spreaders: the upper shroud may either be captive (as originally supplied) or retained with seizing wire in a slot cut into the spreader tip, parallel to the leading edge, no greater than 5.4mmin width and extending no further inboard than the original hole. Seizing wire may be threaded through two additional holes of the minimum necessary diameter, drilled for this purpose.
Stop swage balls are required above and below the spreader tip in all applications.
Proposed New Rule:
F.3.3(b) Spreader, including the spreader base, shall only be supplied by the licensed builder.
The upper shroud shall be retained in the spreader tip only using equipment supplied by the licensed builder at time of certification except for older style, white spreaders which may be modified to retain the shroud with seizing wire in a slot cut into the spreader tip, parallel to the leading edge, no greater than 5.4mmin width and extending no further inboard than the original hole. Seizing wire may be threaded through two additional holes of the minimum necessary diameter, drilled for this purpose.
Stop swage balls are required above and below the spreader tip in all applications.
Reason:
The Selden mast does not utilize a cross bar design so the class rules must be altered to allow for a different spreader base design as supplied at the discretion of the licensed builder with class approval. With the new wording of this section, it is not required to describe the retention of the shroud at the spreader tip unless it differs from the originally supplied part with the exception as described with the modification allowed on the older white spreaders.
F.3.4 DIMENSIONS
Current Rule:
F.3.4
Mast spar cross section above the mast foot
fore-and-aft, minimum 115mm maximum 122mm
transverse minimum 74mm maximum 78mm
Mast spar cross section at upper point
fore-and-aft minimum 77mm maximum 88mm
transverse minimum 62mm, maximum 70mm.
Spreader
aft side of mast to taut line on aft side of shrouds minimum 230mm maximum 260mm
(The remaining dimensions in this section not listed here are not affected by this rule change.)
Proposed New Rule:
F.3.4
Mast spar cross section above the mast foot
fore-and-aft, minimum 115mm maximum 134mm
transverse minimum 74mm maximum 78mm.
Mast spar cross section at upper point
fore-and-aft minimum 77mm maximum 106mm
transverse minimum 62mm, maximum 78mm.
Spreader
aft side of mast to taut line on aft side of shrouds minimum 220mm maximum 260mm
(The remaining dimensions in this section not listed here are unchanged.)
Reason:
Mast spar cross section above the mast foot - The Selden spar has a cross section at the foot fore/aft of 132mm with its external sail track design. We need to adjust the maximum fore/aft cross section dimension from 122mm to 132mm to allow this mast to fall within class rules at the foot.
Mast spar cross section at upper point - At the upper point the Selden spar has a cross section at the foot fore/aft of 106mm with its external sail track design and transverse width of 78mm. We need to adjust the maximum fore/aft cross section dimension from 88mm to 106mm, and transverse from 70mm to 78mm to allow this mast to fall within class rules at the upper point.
Spreader – Because this measurement is taken from the back edge of the spar/sail track and because the Selden spar has a larger fore/aft cross section, the class rules must be adjusted to allow the spreader seep to be maintained at the same angle as the current class mast.
These rule change proposals are tendered for the consideration of the Executive Committee. If these rule changes are ratified, it will constitute the approval of Selden Mast UK as a licensed builder in so far as the class is concerned.
Mike Gozzard
IM24CA Technical Committee Chair
Branko Parunov
IM24CA Chief Measurer and Technical Advisor