Paragraph 5.12.6.1 (.5 oz spinnaker) and Paragraph 6.2.1 (2nd spinnaker)

Like most of you, I appreciate the cost control provided by our one-design rules. We replace our primary kite every 3-4 years. I might be persuaded if someone convinced me that J/30s would soon treat the .5 oz as our primary spinnaker and the boat would be more fun to sail with it. Some of you PHRF sailors are using one. What is your experience? Do you use it all or most of the time? What’s the max wind range for your .5 oz? What do you use when you exceed that wind range, .75 or 1.5 oz?

I’d still stick to the existing limit of only one spinnaker replacement per year, regardless of weight. Additionally, it might be wise to allow use of the second spinnaker if it were damaged or (this is new) likely to be damaged due to high winds conditions. I think the chance of this may be greater if we go to lighter weight cloth.

In 6.2.1 I don’t see the point of notifying the RC—it’s not their responsibility to enforce class rules. If you think someone is has not complied, you must file a protest anyway.

Bob - you brought up a good point on the time frame for spinnaker replacement. Here is a question for people to respond to. How would people feel if the 0.5 oz spinnaker change were to be voted on now, but effective 3 years from now? That would provide a time frame for those who recently bought a 0.75 oz spinnaker to get use out of it and allow a slower ramp up for bringing in the lighter weight spinnaker.

It is apparent from the class feedback that changing to a lighter weight spinnaker as currently proposed is not desirable.


Reef Points
Ok - devils advocate here on the reef points....

Does sailing with a main with or without the reef points provide any performance difference (assuming you aren't reefing)? If the answer is no, and the sailmaker quotes a lower price without the reef points, wouldn't that be a cost advantage?

How many J/30 one design distance races have people sailed in? (Zero for me)

Now my thought on a cruising main - I want the reef points to be able to use when cruising if I need to. When cruising I don't have a full crew to flatten the boat and want the flexibility. My cruising main is always a well used passed down racing sail. If it didn't have reef points, I could add them later.

Lighter is usually faster and cheaper, but won't last as long.

The Chesapeake J/30 fleet schedules five distance races and scores a series: an overnight of 44 miles, a 30 miler with a shorter 20 mile return the next day, a one way 20 miler, and a government marks twilight tour that used to be 12-16 miles (though lately somewhat less).

I used a .5 oz chute in PHRF for a couple of seasons several years ago. I was able to sail lower angles and keep the sail full in light stuff, and in very light the sail would stay full in conditions where the 3/4 turns into a wet blanket. I was able to carry the sail up to about 15 plus true, after which I would switch up to the 3/4 so as not to stretch the light sail.

IMHO, that sail made the boat more fun to sail in conditions that the 30 hates, and for PHRF made a substantial difference in competitiveness. I think having the choice in OD would just add another element of competitive decision making. And if we limit purchases to one spin per year, there would be no real increase in cost over the limits now.

I have a question for everyone that sailed in the NA last year. If we had .5 oz chutes do you think we could have sailed another race on Saturday? If the consensus is that we would have, then that makes a good case to carry a lighter cute.

Being that if you spend time and money to travel to a regatta then we should make it possible to sail as many races as practical.

I am really on the fence about this that is why I ask.

David

The 2009 Rules Changes as voted on by the Board of Governors are attached in the Word file with revisions turned on. This will be vetted over the next few days for any typos, then the official version will be posted on the class web site.

This is a link to the draft updates on the website that will have the final approved 2009 Class Rules. Draft 2009 Class Rules Website
Note: Added Link to Final 2009 Class Rules

Highlights of the 2009 edition of the Class Rules and Specifications:

• Makes the quarter-berth cushions optional so they may be removed for racing (5.3)
• Competition Composites/Phil’s Foils of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is added as an approved source for replacement rudders built to J/30 original specifications and specifies a minimum weight of 60 pounds. (5.6.1)
• Provides administrative reference to J/30 insignia on sail plan that was misplaced when rules were updated over time (5.15.3)
• Updates the list of required safety equipment referring to Coast Guard regulations, and augments the list with one design required equipment and suggested optional safety equipment. The list has been reordered and grouped as Coast Guard Required, One Design Required, and Optional Suggested. (6.4)

Bob Rutsch sent me some typo corrections and cleaner figures. The updated draft is attached and the link to the draft online version is here.

I am thrilled to see a move toward change in keeping our boats together and competitive with other classes and in PHRF. Unfortunately, the OD aspect has been lost on alot of J30 owners who cannot race against other J30s. I hope there is a continuing effort to offer up loaner boats ats fleet events ....so that "out of towners" can take a chance at sailing OD and learn sooooo much about their own boats. If you are doing a regatta, and have room for another J30 afficianado, get it out on the site... its good for everyone!!!

We have a .5oz Chute that we use for PHRF racing. Only carry it in 12 knots of breeze or less. Our only other chute is a .75 oz .