Purpose: The purpose of these guidelines is to promote and develop Sea Sprite Class racing and to maximize and maintain the one design characteristics and aesthetics 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 PeabodyEssex 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 an administrative fee as determined by the SSA BOD.

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.
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 the j-measurement.
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 as measured from the side
of the mast to the end of the spreader casting.

Mast head crane shall not be lengthened.
The mast step shall be permanently fixed.
Any tapered mast currently in use shall be allowed; however,
in the event of the need for replacement thereof, the
replacement shall be a standard, non-tapered section.
All masts, including any grandfathered tapered masts, shall have
standard sized jumpers installed no later than June, 1, 2017.
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
shall be permitted for backstays and jumper stays.
No check stays or running backstays shall be allowed.
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. Once placed at the beginning of the racing season, the amount and the location of the ballast shall not be changed.
Sails: Only one set of new sails shall be used per racing season.

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 shall be 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 shall be open, with the exception of no
no string (continuous fiber) sails.
Maximum LP shall be 135%.
Windows shall be allowed.
Sail shall have a sail number.
Maximum number of 2 genoa jibs shall be used during a race series
One working jib (100%)shall be allowed.

LP 10.46’ HHW 5.23’

Spinnaker SL 24.87’ SMG 13.95’ SF 13.95’

Enforcement:
The SS23 Class Rules shall be written, implemented, and adjudicated by a 5- person 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.

It is expected that owners shall embrace the integrity of the design, and shall make every effort to conform to the spirit of these class specifications. As such, conformance to the class specifications shall be self monitored.

Waivers to these Rules may be granted by the Rules Committee for pre-existing modifications. Waivers may be time restricted and conditional, and shall transfer with ownership of the boat.

Implementation:
It is clear that there can be significant variations among SS23s. 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 modifications to interior configurations often have been implemented by various owners.

Therefore, adjudication of these guidelines shall recognize that costs to conform may be high, and that time may be needed to bring a potential racing boat into compliance. The Guidelines implementation shall gently move the SS23 Fleet into compliance so that over time the Fleet shall become a true one-design fleet.

Loophole exploitation, so called, shall not be tolerated in the
interpretation and application of these guidelines.

These Class Guidelines shall be implemented May 31, 2016. However,
it is hoped that in the spirit of fair racing racers will attempt to
comply with the Guidelines in time for the 2015 racing season.