INTRODUCTION
The 18-Footers Class was born in the 1890"s to satisfy a need for a boat which was within the means of the "average man" and would provide good competitive racing to attract public interest.
These rules have been framed to uphold this philosophy.
Their aim is:
- to provide good, fair, close racing;
- to minimise the cost of competition;
- to produce an attractive vehicle for public entertainment;
- to improve the quality of international competition;
- to provide enjoyment for all competitors and
- to encourage new recruits.
In all cases of dispute, the intent and spirit of the Rules will take precedence.
1. Length
Overall length of the hull is not to exceed 5,486m (18ft) or be less than 5,41m (17ft 9in). This is measured between the stem and transom.
2. Beam
(a) The minimum beam measured between the gunwales at the widest point is not to be less than 1,828m (6ft). Maximum width between outer gunwales is not to be more than 2,44m (8ft).
(b) Maximum overall horizontal width of all extensions, wings, planks or any other appendages (specifically excluding tiller extensions) measured in the most horizontal position is not to exceed 2,135m (7ft) from the centreline.
3. Hull
Only one hull is permitted and, at or about the point 2,743m (9ft) behind the stem, which shall be vertical, no concave sections are permitted in the skin.
The hull width measured from the centreline at the longitudinal positions and heights shall not be less than the minimum nor more than the maximum values specified in the table below:
longitudinal positions (from transom): 0m, 1.3715m, 2.743m, 4.1145m
Heights: 50mm, 150mm and 300mm above the keel band.
| Width in |
50mm |
150mm |
300mm |
| 0.000m |
810-1090 |
1260-1420 |
1470-1720 mm |
| 1.372m |
630- 830 |
1230-1320 mm |
- |
| 2.743m |
350- 520 |
820- 900 mm |
- |
| 4.115m |
230- 270 |
420- 500 mm |
- |
In case of doubt, the owner has to show up a Murray or Bethwaite Design boat, built before 1.1.2000, at which he can demonstrate that his boats widths are within the limits of the table.
A hull may only be constructed from approved materials.
Approved materials from which hulls may be constructed are: Closed Cell Foam, E-Glass, R-Glass, Aramid, Spectra, Carbon Fibre, Polyester, Vinyl Ester, Epoxy Resin, Nomex. Resin systems requiring a curing temperature in excess of 80°C are specifically prohibited.
No bobstay or bowsprit shall provide additional buoyancy other than that of the allowable construction materials. Within the total vertical area formed by the stem, bowsprit and forward edge of bobstay at least 30% shall be void.
Forward of the stem no part of the hull, including bobstay, bowsprit and spinnaker pole, shall be thicker than 20mm from a distance of 100mm below the sheer line at the stem.
With the exception of a wire or rod bobstay for the spinnaker pole, the bobstay may not join the stem any lower than 100mm above the keel line.
The jib position to be a max of 600 from the stem.
3.1 Weight
The weight of the boat ready to sail including wings, foils, spars and sails shall not be less than 170 kg. If the boat has more than one mast, jib, mainsail or spinnaker, this shall be measured with any working combination of rig.
From the 1st January 2003, the minimum weight shall be 162,5kgs. From the 1st January 2005, the minimum weight shall be 155kgs.
The crew and its personal equipment is excluded.
3.2 Licencing
From 1st January of 2002, hulls may only be built from licensed boat builders according to the European Eighteen-Foot Skiff Association Rules.
Licenses are defined in ANNEX 2 of the constitution and are valid for 2 years. A boat builder has to make a detailed offer including minimum and maximum price for a hull (including or excluding riggs, foils, fittings, painting etc.), maximum delivering time, design and shape he uses for the hull, used materials and kind of building, structure of interior. He may change and developp his concept during the 2 years of licencing, but he still has to be able to sell the boat to his first offer.
There shall be at least 3 boatbuilder licenced worldwide. If a boatbuilder does not act in the sense of this rule he can loose his license immediatley through changing ANNEX 2.
Sense of the rule is to support controlled developpment and prices.
4. Depth
The depth of the hull shall be measured 2,743m (9ft) aft of the stem. At this point the vertical depth between the plane of the gunwale and the outside of the skin at the centreline shall not be less than 0,508m (20in).
The depth of the hull shall also be measured within 75mm of the stem. This vertical depth shall not be less than 0,3m (11in).
5. Sheerline
There shall be no convex sheer in the gunwale line. The transom may not be exceed a fore and aft slop of 45 degrees.
6. Wings
Wings must be constructed and attached to the hull in such a way that they are not capable of adding additional righting moment, from whatever sources, beyond their own weight, and the weight of the crew they support.
Wings must be constructed from approved spars materials and be constructed from substantially circular/round tubing.
7. Decking and Buoyancy
Placement of buoyancy is optional. There shall be a cockpit between the chain plates and transom of depth not less than 200mm measured along the centreline and perpendicular to the plane across the sheer line.
8. Sails
Each boat shall only race with registered sails. Registered sails shall be indelibly numbered and recorded on their registration certificate. A boat may participate with each registered sail, also if it has been registered in the years before or even registered with other boats. A boat may have a maximum of new (not yet registered) sails to register at the sailing registration date:
2 MAINSAILS
2 JIBS
2 SPINNAKERS
A boat attending a championship event in another hemisphere from its normal home continent shall be allowed to replace 2 sails.
One set of reef points will be permitted in the smallest mainsail.
Mainsails, Head sails (jibs) and spinnakers may only be constructed from approved materials.
Approved materials from which Mainsails and Head sails (Jibs) may be constructed are: Mylar, Dacron, Aramid, Spectra. A minimum weight of 154 grams per square metre applies to all approved materials.
Approved materials from which Spinnakers may be constructed are HST, 30-30, Trilite, Dynalite, 0.9oz Silicone Coated Polyester. A minimum weight of 38 grams per square metre applies to all approved materials.
9. Masts
At the Registration date each boat shall have indelibly numbered and recorded the masts in use at that time.
Each boat may have a maximum of two (2) masts.
Each mast will have a maximum height, which will be measured from the sheer line at the mast step:
No. 1 10,225m (33ft 7in)
No. 2 9,200m (30ft 2in)
Alternatively, only one (1) mast, adjustable to the two (2) height positions, is permitted.
Masts may only extend more than 102mm (4in) above the headboard when the Mainsails is reefed.
Masts may only be constructed from approved spars materials.
No stumps of any type will be permitted in a mast.
10. Booms and other Spars
Booms and other spars must be constructed from approved spars materials.
A maximum of one (1) Boom shall be allowed.
11. Spinnaker Poles
Spinnaker Poles shall be constructed from approved spars materials.
Only one (1) spinnaker pole shall be allowed.
Any pole have a maximum length of 3.8m (12ft 5in) from the stem.
12. Crew
There will only be a crew of three. The minimum age of any crew member will be 14 years.
13. Hydrofoils
There shall be no hydrofoils allowed except for hull, centerboard and rudder.
14. Centreboards and Rudders
A maximum of one (1) centreboard and one (1) rudder may be used at any one time.
No foil(s) may extend more than 1.6m (5ft 3in) below the keel.
Centreboards and rudders may only be constructed from approved materials.
Approved materials from which Centreboards and Rudders may be constructed are: Closed Cell Foam, E-Glass, S-Glass, R-Glas, Aramid, Spectra, Carbon Fibre, Polyester, Vinyl Ester, Epoxy Resin. Resin systems requiring a curing temperature in excess of 80°C are specifically prohibited.
At the Registration date each boat shall have indelibly numbered and recorded the centre-board and rudder in use at that time.
Each boat may have a maximum of one (1) centreboard and one (1) rudder.
15. Rigging, Fittings
Titanium, or similar materials are not permitted in rigging, fittings or fastenings. Rigging wires supporting mast and spinnaker pole will only be made from Stainless Steel. For the rigging wires supporting the spinnaker pole sideways to the wings, armid, spectra, or similar materials maybe used.
16. Boat Numbering
Each boat is identified by an unique number assigned by the European 18foot Skiff Class Association. This number has to be displayed on both side of the mainsail, in the back of the lower part, prefixed by the 3 letters identifying the country of the team.
The minimum height for the characters is 300mm. The minimum space between characters and from edge of sail is 60mm.
This number won"t change during the whole life of the boat.
17. Rule Exemptions
All boats of Murray or Bethwaite design built prior to 1st January 2000 will be subject to all rules described herein, EXCEPT that existing hull designs will be permitted to be used until such time as their replacement/alteration. Such replacement/alteration must conform to the current rules.
18. Rules Compliance
It is the skippers and owners responsibility to ensure that their skiff complies with the rules at all times and that registration is completed by the due date.
The Governing Body, or its approved representative acting on behalf of the Governing Body, is responsible to ensure compliance with these rules.
Skipper/owner must take the skiff available for scrutinising at the request of the Governing Body or its approved representative.
19. Alterations & Exceptions to the 1997-2000 ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing
Alterations & Exceptions to the 1997-2000 ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing and corresponding National Rules
a. Rule 1.2 (life-saving equipment) is not applicable
b. Rule 43 (competitor clothing and equipment) is not applicable.
c. Rule 50 (setting and sheeting sails) is not applicable.
d. Rule 51 (Moving Ballast) is not applicable.
e. Rule 54 (forestay and headsail tacks) is not applicable.
f. Appendix J. The maximum weight of clothing and equipment is 10kg per person.
g. Any rules to lifejackets do not apply. A crew is allways responsible for their safety. Wearing lifejackets is in any case up them.
20. Safety
A knife has to be fixed at the port side of the transom next to the centerline so that it is accessible in normal as well as in capsized.position. The knife has to be sharpened to cut ropes and belts from at least 6mm diameter within a max. of 2 seconds with using only one hand. It has to be fixed so that it can be taken off with only one hand and without additional tools.
DEFINITIONS
1. Hull
That integral part of the boat constructed so as to provide buoyancy, by the containment of air, or the partial or complete exclusion /displacement) of water. Specifically excluded are spinnaker poles, bowsprits, wings, hydrofoils and rudder fittings.
2. Gunwale
The points at which the plane of the outside of the hull skin, or its extension, would or does, meet the plane of the top of the deck or its extension.
3. Outer Gunwale
The outer-most edge of the hull and deck excluding removable appendages.
4. Stem
The most forward extremity of the hull.
5. Deck
A two dimensional (2D) surface, (or near 2D surface, allowing for the sheer of the gunwale), real or imaginary, that as or would have the effect of forming a lid for the skin.
6. Transom
A surface at the aft extremity of the hull.
7. Skin
Continuous outer layer of the hull, which below the waterline, when afloat is in contact with the water. The skin includes the surfaces above the waterline extending there to the gunwale.
8. Masts
Integral structure supporting, and/or forming whole or part of the sails, in vertical dimension. For the purposes of the restrictions of Rules 8 and 9, a sail comprised entirely of the mast shall be regarded as a mainsail and mast.
9. Mainsail
A sail aft of the mast.
10. Head Sail (Jib)
A sail set with its luff in front of the mast; not permitted to be lowered while racing.
11. Spinnaker
Any other sail set during a race.
12. Bowsprit
A bowsprit is a structure extending in front of the stem, which is used to support the tack of the jib and may support the spinnaker pole/bowsprit.
13. Spinnaker Pole
A spinnaker pole is a structure which is used for the purpose of supporting the tack of the spinnaker in a substantially horizontal manner away from the mast.
It is measured as a separate hull extension provided that it is not a permanent/ unremoveable part of the hull.
14. Hydrofoils
Devices comprising surfaces attached directly or indirectly to the hull; and which are designed to provide hydrodynamic force that will affect the hull while sailing
15. Wings
Wings are any structure, that extend beyond the gunwale in an outward direction, which are attached to the hull, and whose principle purpose is to increase righting moment by moving the crew outward.
16. The Registration date
In case that the approved Championships is a single event, the Registration date is one month before heat 1. In case that the approved Championships is a tour or Grand Prix, the Registration date is the last heat at the regatta before the last, but at least one month before the first heat of the finals.
Hull, sails, masts, boom, spinnaker pole, centreboard and rudder have to be registered.
17. Measurements
Points of reference:
For the purpose of these rules, and the directions herein, the word vertical shall refer to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
The Longitudinal axis is the axis from the transom bottom to the furthest, right-angled on this axis, part of the stem below the gunwale. If no right-angled part at the stem exists, it is the axis to the point 0.2m below the intersection between stem and gunwale.
Upward shall refer to the vertical direction away from the waterline and toward the deck.
Outward shall refer to a position extending furthest from the centreline of the hull in a horizontal plane.
18. Fittings
Fittings and other hull attachments that are for the purpose of attaching or supporting fittings, may be excluded from measurement, provided that in the measurers opinion flaunt the rules, that they do not affect the skiff hydrodynamically, and that they are functional.
19. New vs. Repair
A sail, mast, hull or any other item mentioned in these rules will be deemed new if more than 25% of its original area, volume or weight is replaced or altered.
Any alterations and/or repairs to any registered item (i.e. sails, masts, etc.) or repairs to the hull must only be done with written permission of the Governing Body, or its approved representative.
20. Approved Material for spar
Aluminium, E-Glass, R-Glass, Aramid, Spectra, Carbon Fibre, Polyester, Vinyl Ester, Epoxy Resin. . Resin systems requiring a curing temperature in excess of 90°C are specifically prohibited.
21. Governing Body
The European 18 Foot Skiff Association is the Governing Body
DIRECTIVES
1. All rules are originally written in English; in cases of interpretation dispute, the accompanying and the common (English) usage will apply. In the case of inconsistency, the definitions will prevail.
2. No artificial distortion, whether fairing, bumps, hollows or other localised discontinuity which would affect the approved hull shape allowed.
3. The Governing Body, or its approved representative has absolute discretionary powers to withhold a Measurement Certificate until he/she is satisfied, though observing sailing or such other method deemed appropriate, that any boat submitted for measurement complies with spirit and letter of the rules.
4. Instructions to intended builders. Builders intending to construct boats for measurement under these Rules are advised to submit details to the Governing Body, or its approved representative, any feature which may impinge upon the spirit or letter of these rules. Upon submission of full drawings and explanations, a confidential advisory ruling may be obtained without obligation.
5. Figures in brackets are only for convenience. Metric measurements are binding
Last Modification : 1.11.2005