Advertising via sail numbers? 55

Originally posted by sandgrounder <span style="line-height: 1.4;">Most clubs will turn a blind eye to a back marker using a replica sail, its just good to get them out learning and enjoying an open.  However, if you stand any chance of being near the front of the fleet then I think you really should be fully within class rules (whatever class that is).</span>

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I guess the best arbitrator is the guy with common sense standing at the bar wondering where the 100+ boats at the weekend down his local club went....

Most clubs will turn a blind eye to a back marker using a replica sail, its just good to get them out learning and enjoying an open.  However, if you stand any chance of being near the front of the fleet then I think you really should be fully within class rules (whatever class that is).
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Originally posted by fudheid Errrrr i think not. (nice myth that they are carrying on British built my arse!) Think you will find that these speed sails/banks sails (tape drive copies) are from China Sail Factory. They are easy to spot as The tape drive / 3DL / D4 membranes are PATENTED so all CSF can do is straight lines and not follow the catenary paths of the loads like a true load path sail....... Yes they still make sails in their loft but they also import from China Sail Factory...... There are not that many facilities to make this sort of sail so unless it is a Uk tape drive, north 3dl or a Dimension polyant D4, ullman membrane, you are likely to be looking at a China sail membrane.

Speed used to built tape drive sails in their loft in Aldridge. The technology is available to any sailmaker who cares to buy it. That the tapes don't exactly follow the load paths is immaterial on a dinghy sail.

Originally posted by boatshed Originally posted by pondmonkey so you'd not let some one race at a PY race with a rooster sail on a Laser?  I'll answer with a question.   Could one enter the Laser Olympics with a Rooster sail ?

2 points -

1. the NOR should clearly state what the policy on out-of-class boats will be. This could be a PY penalty, or the creation of a separate Experimental category with separate prize, or some other solution. All competitors should know how this will be dealt with before entering.
Maybe, the big winter events could get together and agree a common policy - perhaps with advice from the RYA.

2 The class rules that apply must be the version that is freely available. For International Classes the ISAF website version should be the one that applies - When there is a rule change the class should hassle ISAF IT to ge the new version posted. For other classes the rules themselves should stipulate where the authoratitive version is to be posted. It would be totally unfair if the class rules that apply were an unpublished version voted in after a heated debate at an AGM after several  ammendments.... with the authoratitve version being a piece of much scribbled upon piece of paper lying in the Hon Secs 'to do' tray