J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum One Design Class Rules Headstay Ruling

Since there have been recent posts regarding One Design rules regarding the chainplates and bow vent , I must bring up another rule clarification.

First some history, my father purchased hull # 124 in the fall of 1979. We raced and cruised her hard replacing the twin stay twice. In 1992 we sold # 124 and purchased #530 used because we loved the boat so much. As owner in 1995 the twin stay separated and I decided to not replace it and go with hanks on the genoa since we were racing in a 5 boat J/30 fleet locally with mostly PHRF racing everywhere else with few long distance races that required the twin stay for a quick sail change. At the time I was also cruising extensively with my wife and two daughters under the age of seven. As the years have gone by we have raced PHRF and have replaced numerous genoas with hanks. (More Weight Aloft)

In 2008 we decided to make the trip via trailer from Oswego, NY to NA's in Bristol, RI and got the One Design fever ( Headsails and Rig measured in fine) we returned to the NA's the next year in Westport, CT ( Sails and Rig measured in fine) again having a great time. We did not attend in 2010 because NA's were in the middle of summer. This past fall 2011 we trailered to Annapolis for NA's . The measurer there informed us that the hanks and lack of twin stay were illegal but allowed us to compete.
How is removing the twin stay illegal when you have to remove it to install a roller furling unit ?

We are planning on trailering to New Orleans for 2012 NA's . However, I need to be sure that we are legal before committing time and much expense to be told we are not class legal.
The J/30 is a Great Racer/Cruiser and the teams that attend NA's are very competitive and great people let's NOT make class rules that limit NA participation be so onerous to make it an exclusive group. Let's remember the currently NA's draw about 3% of boats built and the BOG is trying to increase participation at NA's .

additional data... some of the newer roller units like Harkens slide over the headstay and so can be slid on or removed from the headstay completely. on the olde J24 we are playing with down here it is hank on. So add to the question ... do NAs allow rollers ... like most of the "current" Js are equipped with?

I truly doubt the "OD" guys are trying to add to the OD racing fleet by forcing a complicated list of stuff for NAs.

Vic - this is an easy answer for roller furling. Class rules specifically allow roller furling.

5.8.1 Permitted Alternatives:

5.8.1.1 Jib roller furling system to facilitate sail handling.

I defer to the class measurer on hanks. I know there are boats that have raced with hanks at the NAs and previously measured in. I think hanks meet the intention of the rule below, since the fore and aft dimension is not exceeded (e.g. hanks are 0" groove)

5.8.1.2 Jib luff groove systems other than that which is provided standard shall not have a fore-and-aft dimension exceeding 31 mm.

We request that everyone go to this link and respond to the poll on how you attach your jib to the headstay.

The poll is non attribution intended just to gather numbers. Feel free to discuss the topic as a reply to the poll.

Please leave this thread in the One Design Class Rules forum for official rules request and determination.

The measurement committee will review and advise shortly

Early J/24s like the late '70s one we once sailed came with a twin luff groove system. Sometime prior to the 1991 copy of their rules I have on my bookshelf, it became an option and a specification was added for the size and spacing of cloth hanks, although bronze hanks are also used particularly for the jib. J/24 Class rules also allow a jib Cunningham and require only one jib halyard.

My experience from serving as bowman on a J/24 in their Nationals a few years ago is it's easier to raise and lower the jib or Genoa. The sail stays on deck when you drop it so you don't need to go to the point to pull it down or feed it. Easing the halyard allows scallops in the luff as opposed to wrinkles with the a luff groove system. There is also the question of whether there is less weight aloft.

Even though this was overlooked or ignored during two measurements and your boat got a pass this year, I don't see how this could be construed as legal unless it has now become 'accepted practice'.

I think there is probably a fairly large weight difference between hanks and a twin foil.

Reducing weight aloft/forward can have an impact on performance-and I think that should be the primary guideline for whether a deviation from OD configuration is permitted on a case by case basis or not.

nowhere near the difference between legal carbo twin foils and legal roller twin foils ... let them have their hanks and you can have carbo.

A downside to hanks of course is that it's a bit more difficult to change headsails while you're on a beat. Having a body on the bow is a known performance reducer on a J/30.

I've never seen anybody actually change headsails upwind during the NAs I have been to.