The BOD at its winter meeting in January authorized the formation of an SS23 Class Rules Committee (see post following) to write and implement a set of Class Rules. The members of the committee are Paul Sollito (elected Chair), Bob Rude, Carter Hall, Bob Catani, and Brian Anderson) The draft is published in this post below.

There will be a comment period of approximately one month. Please send suggested changes with explicit language you would like to see in the rules and your reasons for your proposals to either Paul or any other member of the Committee (emails can be found in Membership List…all are from RI). The Committee will reconvene to consider submitted changes, and will promulgate the final set of Rules in May.

Here is the draft:

 

SEA SPRITE 23 RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS
(DRAFT FEB 11,2015)

Purpose: The purpose of these rules is to promote and develop Sea Sprite Class racing and to maximize and maintain the one design characteristics of the boat.

The Boat: The boat is a 22.5 foot fiberglass sloop designed by Carl A. Alberg in 1957, both Weekender and Daysailor configurations.

The Standards: The original plans and specifications, as drawn by Carl Alberg and now held by the Peabody/Essex Museum in Salem, Mass, shall be considered the official standards of the boat. All boats shall comply with said standards except as modified herein, so as to ensure that the one design aspect of the Class is preserved. Copies of the original line drawings shall be made available on the SSA website for a small fee.

Hulls: All hulls shall conform to the design and specifications as set forth by the Designer. Amplifications and exceptions include:

The removal of thru-hull fittings shall be allowed.
Hiking straps shall be permitted.
Plugging and/or filling of the outboard motor well shall be allowed. Exterior and interior bulkheads, bunks, etc. shall not be removed. Combing boards, toe rails and other trim shall not be removed.
No interior trim shall be removed.
Pulpits and life lines shall be optional.
Drag reduction films/hull etching/other texturing of the hull shall not be permitted.
Fairing flaps between the keel and rudder shall not be allowed.
Use of a compression post shall be permitted.
Spars: No change in the dimensions, location, weight, shape, material or configuration of the spars shall be allowed. Amplifications and exceptions include:

The spinnaker pole shall not exceed 7.5 feet in length.
A whisker pole shall be permitted for use with jibs and genoa jibs and shall be the same length as the spinnaker pole. A spinnaker pole may be used as a whisker pole. Use of the spinnaker pole and the whisker pole at the same time shall not be permitted.
Spreaders shall be no less than 28” long.
Standing Rigging: No change in the location or strength of the standing rigging shall be permitted from the original design. Amplifications and exceptions include:

An adjustable backstay shall be allowed.
Roller furling headsails shall be optional.
1X19 wire and turnbuckles shall be used on headstay, uppers (5/32” dia) and lowers (1/8 dia). Other materials and thicknesses are permitted for backstay and jumper stays.

Running Rigging: The layout of the running rigging, its material, and its associated tackle shall be at the discretion of the owner. Amplifications and exceptions include:

The fittings for halyards shall not be altered so as to change the point of attachment to the mast.
Internal halyards shall be allowed.
Halyard tails may be lead across the top of the cabin so as to allow adjustment from the cockpit.

Ballast: The use of additional ballast shall be permitted. The amount and location of ballast shall be optional. However, once placed at the beginning of the racing season, the amount and the location of the ballast shall not be changed.

Sails: Sail specifications are as follows:

Mainsail Sails shall be crosscut
Sail material shall be 100% woven polyester
Any luff attachment system may be used
Foot may be loose or attached
Four (4) battens shall be used
Batten length is optional as long as it is IMS minimum
or greater
Windows are allowed
Sail shall have a sail number
The sail insignia shall be a circle which encloses a double “S”

luff 27.00 ‘ foot 11.33’ MTW 4.30 ‘ MHW 7.36’
Genoa/Jib Sails shall be crosscut
Sail material is open, with the exception of no string (continuous fiber) sails
Maximum LP shall be 135%
Windows are allowed
Sail shall have a sail number
Maximum number of 2 genoas/jibs shall be used during a race series

LP 10.46’ HHW 5.23’

Spinnaker SL 24.87’ SMG 13.95’ SF 13.95’

Exceptions: It is clear that there can be significant variations between boats. Construction standards of the SS23 varied over the years as the boat was produced by several different boat building firms. Also, over the years, significant additions and subtractions to interior configurations often have been implemented by various owners to fit their own sailing needs and to produce a safe repaired old boat.

Therefore:

1. It is expected that owners will embrace the integrity of the design,
and shall make every effort to conform to the spirit of these class
specifications.

2. Repairs shall be permitted that ensure the structural integrity of
the hull.

3. Reconfigured interiors and exterior trim changes shall be
grandfathered in as acceptable as of May 31, 2015.

4. Questions and concerns shall be directed to and adjudicated by
a Rules Committee appointed by the SSA Board Of Directors.
Such adjudication shall be guided by the intent of these
specifications that have been written to ensure the one-design
integrity of the class.

Effective date: These rules shall become effective on May 31, 2015.