RRS 43.1b Trapeze harness and sailing kit weight
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 2:18 pm
Hi,
See RRS below for weight requirements of sailing kit. I did an experiment a few months ago where I weighed all my kit according to appendix H. I found one of my old harnesses was over 2kg and my sailing kit weighed according to appendix H was just over 8kgs (this was for an average temp day in April). My sailing kit is quite light and I don't wear full length steamers like some others do. I have also since learned that one of the popular harnesses used by many skiffs sailors is also over the 2kg limit. I haven't heard of anyone being DSQ for sailing kit being over weight since 1996, so perhaps World Sailing just turns a blind-eye these days? My opinion is that the rules either need to be changed or adhered to, otherwise it just makes a mockery of having them in the first place. I see a few options:
1) Leave it as it is. Some people may inadvertently be cheating, but unless you start putting lead weights in your sailing kit (which is illegal under 43.1a) then who cares. (You could still be protested by another competitor though)
2) Enforce the current rules which will mean some have to buy new kit.
3) Change the class rules (we can allow up to 4kg for harnesses and 10kg for sailing kit, as per rules below)
My personal opinion, after weighing a few harnesses, is that 3kg is a more sensible limit in order to cover the ones currently available on the market today. For sailing kit weight, I think 8kg is fine as long as we have our major events in warm places. Perhaps this should be increased for races held in less than 14 degrees C? (Stone Nationals in 2012 is one that springs to mind)
See RRS below for weight requirements of sailing kit. I did an experiment a few months ago where I weighed all my kit according to appendix H. I found one of my old harnesses was over 2kg and my sailing kit weighed according to appendix H was just over 8kgs (this was for an average temp day in April). My sailing kit is quite light and I don't wear full length steamers like some others do. I have also since learned that one of the popular harnesses used by many skiffs sailors is also over the 2kg limit. I haven't heard of anyone being DSQ for sailing kit being over weight since 1996, so perhaps World Sailing just turns a blind-eye these days? My opinion is that the rules either need to be changed or adhered to, otherwise it just makes a mockery of having them in the first place. I see a few options:
1) Leave it as it is. Some people may inadvertently be cheating, but unless you start putting lead weights in your sailing kit (which is illegal under 43.1a) then who cares. (You could still be protested by another competitor though)
2) Enforce the current rules which will mean some have to buy new kit.
3) Change the class rules (we can allow up to 4kg for harnesses and 10kg for sailing kit, as per rules below)
My personal opinion, after weighing a few harnesses, is that 3kg is a more sensible limit in order to cover the ones currently available on the market today. For sailing kit weight, I think 8kg is fine as long as we have our major events in warm places. Perhaps this should be increased for races held in less than 14 degrees C? (Stone Nationals in 2012 is one that springs to mind)
COMPETITOR CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
43.1 (a) Competitors shall not wear or carry clothing or equipment for
the purpose of increasing their weight.
(b) Furthermore, a competitor’s clothing and equipment shall not
weigh more than 8 kilograms, excluding a hiking or trapeze
harness and clothing (including footwear) worn only below the
knee. Class rules or sailing instructions may specify a lower
weight or a higher weight up to 10 kilograms. Class rules may
include footwear and other clothing worn below the knee
within that weight. A hiking or trapeze harness shall have
positive buoyancy and shall not weigh more than 2 kilograms,
except that class rules may specify a higher weight up to
4 kilograms. Weights shall be determined as required by
Appendix H.