Top

It has come to the attention of the excom that the use of pros in the newly scheduled YRA, or Level B, season has raised the question of whether pros may be paid to sail on J105 race days. After due consideration and deliberation, the excom hereby rules that:

"NO Compensation may be paid to any crew during any J105 one design sanctioned race other than occasional reimbursement for reasonable out-or-pocket expenses of travel, living accommodations and meals necessary for participation in an event." This ruling shall take effect immediately.

The spirit and intent of forming the Level B YRA season was to create one design race opportunities for Fleet 1 boats to have a category 2 or category 3, as defined by the RRS, on board in order to help accelerate the learning and performance curve of the crew and boat. It was NOT intended to create a venue to have paid professionials crewing for a campaign in order to ensure the highest place finish for a series or schedule.

The National J105 Association Consititution is very clear in both its Objects (Arcitle 2: ... the objects of the Class are ... to preserve...the low cost of ownership...) and its Class Rules (Section 3.8 No crew aboard may be compensated in any way or receive financial benefit for racing in a J/105 sanctioned event. However, a crew may occasionally accept reimbursement for reasonable out-or-pocket expenses of travel, living accommodations and meals necessary for participation in an event.) Our Fleet 1 Articles also set forth "low cost of ownership" in its Aricle III: Purpose of the Association. Further, a directive from the National Association president strongly urges Fleet 1 to comport to the National Association Constitution and Rules.

While Fleet 1 may have inadvertantly opened the issue of paying pros to sail during a Level B event by adopting the YRA season at our last annual meeting, the 2003 excom hereby rules that no crew shall be compensated in any Fleet 1 J105 one design event except for occasional reasonable out-or-pocket expenses of travel, living accommodations and meals necessary for participation in an event.

The entire Level B YRA season is a one year only schedule that will be reviewed at the 2003 Fleet 1 Annual meeting. Members are strongly encouraged to vigorously support the spirit and intent of this ruling and to avoid indirect compensation as well. However, ample opportunities exist for member owners to hire professional coaching and training during any non race day or weekend. Excom recognizes that sailmakers and other pros may not be able to particpate in Level B events to the extent that these events conflict with other paid race days in other fleets. Appropriate amendments to our Fleet 1 Articles will be submitted for class approval at the 2003 Annual Meeting.

Top

Cut-to-the-chase Summary (for those folks not looking to read/understand the details)

• An owner who gets to buy three ("any 3") in 2003 can buy an 89sm spinnaker before end of this year (2002), and then buy a main, jib, and another 89 sm spinnaker in 2003.
  
• An owner who gets to buy two ("any 2") in 2003 can buy two 89 sm spinnakers before end of this year (2002), and then buy a main and jib in 2003.

I. 3/2/3 Rule

This is actually quite simple. Ignoring any interplay with the transitionto the 89sm spinnaker, your first 3 year is the second year after you purchased your last mainsail. For example, if you purchased your last mainsail in calendar year 2001 then 2003 is a three sail year (you can buy any three sails). If you purchased a new main in 2002, then 2003 is a twosail year.

II. Transition to 89 square meter spinnaker

This is somewhat more confusing and as a result we asked for guidance from National to simplify the implementation. The interpretation is copied below:

"I would like to confirm for the folks in Fleet #1 (or anyone for that matter) that any owner can buy two 89s (or more) prior to January 1 (by National Rules) and that such purchase will not affect their purchases (any two, any three) after January 1. All it means is that they do not get the "extra" under 6.6.4. This solves a problem that Jaren though they had due to their late adoption of "any 2, any 3".

Nelson Weiderman, J105 National Class Secretary/Treasurer:

What this means is that if you want to have two 89s (so that you have a back-up 89) for racing in 2003, you may purchase those spinnakers in 2002 without impacting your 2003 sail allotment. The 89s you purchase in 2002 will both be tagged so you can use them in class racing as well as the North Americans which are in San Francisco this coming August.

In Summary:

(1) If you want to have two tagged (i.e. legal for use in class racing) 89s for 2003 and 2003 is a two sail year for your boat then you should buy two 89s before the end of 2002 (if you plan to buy two white sails in 2003). This is because purchasing any sail (i.e. an 89) in 2003 will go against your "any 2" sail allotment in 2003 and would prohibit you from buying another sail.

(2) If you want to have two tagged (i.e. legal for use in class racing) 89s for 2003 and 2003 is a three sail year for your boat then you should buy one 89 before the end of 2002 (again, if you plan to buy two white sails in 2003). This is because you can purchase your two white sails plus one 89 in 2003 under the 3/2/3 rule and so you only need to purchase one 89 in 2002 to end up with two 89s for 2003.

Although this seems confusing, remember that these are transition issues and, as such, will only impact us this (2002) year. Starting 2003 everyone will be using 89s and we will all be on the "any 2, any 3, any 2" program which is relatively easy to understand. Also remember that the above sail purchase limitations deal with the maximum number of sails you can purchase under the rules. While having fresher sails generally is an advantage, not all boats purchase the maximum sail allotment every year. Each boat will clearly want to have at least one 89 square meter spinnaker for 2003 and beyond but having a back-up or buying replacement sails in future years is, as always, up to each owner based on budget, preference, etc.

The Excom proposed an alternate penalty rule to be used during the Spring One Design that would modify the rules via the Sailing Instructions to allow for an alternate 360 degree turn to exonerate certain fouls. The proposal was made to the Fleet Membership on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at the StFYC and such motion was unanimously approved by acclamation. After using the alternate penalty in the season opener, owner feedback will be solicited by the Excom to determine if the alternative penalty rule will be amended, applied or used in the future. The following is the language proposed to be included in the Sailing Instructions.