Class rules can change certain RRS. For example the Flying Dutchman Class Rules [and other classes no doubt] allow 3 pumps per....  I presume in a handicap race this will still be the case and therefore some classes will be sailing to the 1 pump and some to the 3 pumps per...  rule.

Do you agree with this interpretation?

Any other class rule v handicap anomilies?

surley the sailing instructions should take prestance over the class rules for any event other then a class event,IE the RS classes are allowed to touch the marks but only in RS events.

Otherwise I would protest you under rule 42 

These are the 2001-04 rules as the only ones I could lay my hands on quickly

The prescriptions of a national authority, class rules or SI may change a racing rule only as permitted by rule 86 which says a...,b..., c) class rules may only change racing rules 42, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 & 54.

So my interpretation unless - unless SIs say class rules doesn't change the RRS you can pump 3 times per wave in a handicap race if sailing an FD.  Unless, of course the class rules say only at... events

Garry

Yep; the boat must conform to class rules when MEASURED, so all up weight  and any equalisation systems etc; but you usually use the unmodified RRS for Hcap events.

This would be a good one for someone from the RYA technical committe to give a view on.  (or a para in roll tacks... Andy talked to the RYA about...).  Another idea for the magazine... what about a reader passionate about a topic doing some research and an article, Radio 4 does this very successfully from time to time, giving a member of the public a tape recorder and then putting together a programme.

Does Jim's interpretation mean a sailboard competing in a handicap race with dinghies is barred from pumping? 

Yup, Stewart Cresswell or some other yardstick guru.

I think this is a matter of practicality, not 'pure' rules.

Rule 86.1 says MNA prescriptions and SI may NOT change rule 42, but that Class Rules (CR) MAY.

Rule 87 says SI may change a CR ONLY if permitted to do so by the CR or Class Association.

Rule J1.1(4) requires the NOR to include 'the classes to race'.

Definition 'rules' includes CR (for a boat racing under a handicap or rating system the rules fo the at system are 'class rules'), but there is nothing to stop the CR of a Class Association and a handicap system rules operating at the same time.

Where this gets us is that if the NOR/SI provides for, for example FD, to race as a Class, then the CR will apply and within that Class, three pumps will be OK, but, of course they won't be racing on yardstick against boats of other classes.

On the other hand where the NOR/SI provide for boats belonging to a class to race in a race under a handicap system, but do not provide a distinct Class, then the CR, as a whole, will not apply, even if the NOR/SI incorporate some parts of the CR, such as by providing that 'boats shall comply with the measurement requirements of their CR'.  In this case, there is nothing to modify or turn rule 42 off, and no pumping is allowed.

I think the PY position would be that PY data cannot be collected from boats racing in one design classes, therefore all PY data would/should be relevant to boats of a class racing in handicap fleets with no pumping, therefore FD's PY is for 'no pumping'.

I see it differently for sailboards:  as I understand it, sailboards always pump:  wherever sailboards sail so as to generate PY data, they will have been pumping, so their PY yardsticks will be based on pumping, and they should be excused rule 42.

Given that PY racing is 'all chums together', I don't see any real problem with this differential approach based on practicalities.

As I understand it, because the boardsailor holds directly onto the boom, every balancing action the boardsailor takes is technically a rock-pump, to that, in effect it is impossible to determine whether a boardsailor is rocking/pumping contrary to rule 42 or not.

I would be happy to defer to anyone with more on-water judging experience than I have.

Gordon.....Your view?