J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum One Design Class Rules Proposed change in class rules for mainsail cloth materials

in a quick discussion with Mr.J at the Newport boat show this weekend, he said he maintains hands off class discussions on sail material, BUT he was fully aware that phrf racers have to go high tech mains to compete against fleets where high tech is the norm.

His favorite play boat appears to be the J80, but where he races it it's phrf... and he is going high tech on his main next summer.

It is unfortunate we can't come up with some sort of compromise where the different boat materials can be used in a NA race. With the J30 vs J30 ... it's all about crew training/and tactics first.

Might you suggest a compromise Capt Vic?

Would it look like:

"J/30 OD mains are dacron. J/30 handicap mains are open/composite."

I thought we just put that issue to bed twice and for all so I'm not going to be the one to suggest that we put this out for discussion. But it crossed my mind that this might make sense on some ridiculous level.

no ... that's not the idea ... the idea is to get more J30s at an NA other than 4 locations in the country.

Try this one:
Six races W/L Dacron on Fri./Sat.
One race "round the Island" whatever on Sunday.

or reverse with a round the island on Fri and W/L the rest of the regatta.

Or Try this one:
Two starts: class A and class B and two different first places with a match race of the two 1sts.

with the first NA of this kind up here in Narragansett Bay.

we have so many rules and structures facing a slowly diminishing fleet ... it would be good to be able to encompass more of the boats.

Phrf remains the dominant racing mode for j30s in most of the country. and participating in one or two OD races a season vs a dozen phrf races is the norm.

AND AS of YET NO ONE has really proven that the main sail material really makes a significant difference one on one.

or is there someone who has actually tested it out there?

The local fleets have the ability to modify class rules if desired for their events If a given fleet elected to approve alternate materials they may perhaps in doing so it will allow for a better evaluation of Dacron vs plastic for both performance and life

The lack of hard data on performance vs cost to purchase vs life expectancy was key in the vote that was made

Hey Bill-

When will the minutes be posted? Or, did I just miss them?

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff - Minutes will be posted next week after the BOG reviews what I wrote up for accuracy.

Gents,
It's time to move on, the Association has decided. I'll do my best to quit being a dh about the sail.
Bottom line, I still want to race One Design. But, I'm still going to race PHRF agressively and maintain my high tech sail inventory too since that will be the majority of my sailing.
So... and I ask this seriously, what are my options for a "cost effective" way to get a competitive "white - ugh" main.
Vic - want to team up and go halfsees on a new main for NO and the next on after that? I'll drive one, you drive the next.
I probalby shouldn't hold out any hope of Bob buying me one? (alright that was ajoke)

Might want to talk with Zephyr. They might have a gorgeous main just laying around.

I hope i didn't give anyone the impression I would ever buy a 3DL main ... duh ... if it is like my last 3DL genny, I wouldn't get one year out of it.

But the nice thing about a high tech main is that you can see when it falls apart and looses shape. My favorite main is 7.8 oz dacron and i don't think that one is ever going to stretch out, and if it did I don't think I would be able to tell for a couple of years. Full battons, two reefs ... go anywhere anytime.

No, I am a died in the wool dacron main guy ... tied into heavy stainless steel tides marine slides, heavy batten pockets etc.

I wasn't planning on sailing up to NO although it would be a straight shot NNW. I have yet to see any video out of NO that would raise my pulse from it's medically controlled state.

do they get waves on that lake? it's got to be like Bristol.

My second Dacron 7.2 oz main North continues to dick around with trying to solve an inverted batten problem in light air. I hate light air.

Don't beat up on the new guy, but has the association ever considered the one design sail program that the J/44 association uses/used (not sure if they still do it)? It could be a good compromise to the Main sail issue at hand as well as promote future one design sailing for the association.

Here's the Deal: The association purchases a pre determined amount of Class Legal Mains (start small and grow with interest/success). The Mains are to be used for 2-3 years and then they can be sold back to the general membership as excellent cruising or Beer Can racing Mains. The program then goes full circle. The mains initially benefit the racing members and then will eventually benefit the non racing members when they are sold back. The Mains can be utilized at sanctioned one design events for those boats that do not have a Dacron Main (first dibs) or for those boats that don't necessarily have a racing quality main. This would promote participation in the class at both ends of the racing spectrum (Those that don't use Dacron and those that don't race because of the condition of their Main). It's a pretty cool concept and a reasonable compromise.

I know the initial push back will be the cost for putting the program in place. Those are the details that need to be worked out. I personally would not mind investing in a program that promotes growth as this one could. Bottom line, if this idea is dead on arrival due to cost, then cheers to the BOG for making the right decision this past week.

Best wishes,