Prepare for Measurement at the Worlds

The World Championships are rapidly approaching and as usual measurement will be high on the agenda for the organisers. You don’t want to have to spend time correcting your boats, so now is the time to make sure everything is correct and within the rules before you arrive. As usual it is again time to remind people the basic principle of the class rules. “If it does not say you can, you can’t!”

The organizers can measure and inspect a boat when ever they wish, before and during the regatta. From various things that have been asked or observed, here are some items to check before you travel to Hyeres.

SAILS:
These must be measured by an official Melges 24 Class measurer before you arrive at the championship. There will be no facilities to measure new sails at the regatta so please do not arrive with un-measured sails. As usual all boats will have to register the sails they intend to use for the regatta and a close check will be kept of measurement stamps and signatures etc. There will be full measurement of a selection of sails from all the different sail lofts.

Please be aware that we have recently found problems including spinnakers with leech dimensions below the minimum and jibs that do not weigh enough. There are also some sails that have been measured by non approved class measurers and these will have to be rejected.

BOATS:
We have noticed people adding cleats where they are not specified and using shock cord to retract the bowsprit. This is clearly against the rules.

A number of boats will be selected for weighing, so to save yourselves time, make sure your boat is dry and you can quickly unload all the unnecessary items.

Do check your hiking lines regularly throughout the regatta and make sure they are always within the rules. The measurement team will be on the look out for any loose wedges to alter the mast and for anyone changing spreader bars. These are not allowed under the rules. These are just some of the things that might be looked at.

Please make sure you have read the rules and checked your boats. Much better to be sitting by the harbour with a glass of wine and a good meal than working late correcting your boat.

D Chivers
13th July 2006