SONAR
CLASS ASSOCIATION
CLASS RULES v1.13
Effective June 10, 2015
The Sonar was designed in 1979 by Bruce Kirby and was adopted
as an ISAF Recognized class in 2000.
NOTE: Rules preceded by a *** indicate changes from the previously adopted rules.
Class Rules v1.13.doc - Revised 06/10/15
SCA Class Rules v1013.doc Page 10 of 26
INDEX
SCA Class Rules v1013.doc Page 10 of 26
PART I – ADMINISTRATION Section A – General
A.1 Type of Class Rules
A.2 Language
A.3 Abbreviations
A.4 Authorities and Responsibilities
A.5 Administration of the Class
A.6 ISAF and SCA Rules
A.7 Sailing Instructions
A.8 Amendments to the Class Rules
A.9 Interpretation of Class Rules
A.10 International Class Fee(s) and ISAF Plaque
A.11 Sail Numbers
A.12 Initial Certification
A.13 Validity of Certificates
A.14 Re-Certification
Section B – Boat Eligibility
B.1 Certificate
B.2 Responsibility
B.3 Class Membership
PART II - REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
Section C – Conditions for Racing
C.1 Advertising
C.2 Crew
C.3 Equipment
C.4 Boat
C.5 Hull and Deck
C.6 Hull appendages
C.7 Rig
C.8 Sails
Section D – Hull and Deck
D.1 Parts
D.2 Construction
D.3 Measurement
D.4 Certification
D.5 Identification
D.6 Builders
D.7 Assembled Hull
Section E – Hull Appendages
E.1 Parts
E.2 Measurement
E.3 Keel
E.4 Rudder Blade, Rudder Stock and Tiller
Section F – Rig
F.1 Parts
F.2 General
F.3 Mast
F.4 Boom
F.5 Spinnaker Pole
F.6 Whisker Pole
F.7 Standing Rigging
F.8 Running Rigging
Section G – Sails
G.1 Parts
G.2 Measurement
G.3 Certification
G.4 Sailmakers
G.5 Mainsail
G.6 Headsail
G.7 Spinnakers
PART III - APPENDICES
Appendix A – Documents
Section H - Official Plans and Forms
Appendix B – Alternative Rules
Section I – Conditions for Racing
I.1 General
I.2 Definitions
I.3 Advertising
I.4 Eligibility
I.5 Crew
I.6 Equipment
I.7 Boat
I.8 Running Rigging
SCA Class Rules v1013.doc Page 10 of 26
Part I – Administration
Section A – General
A.1 Type of Class Rules
A.1.1 These are closed class rules. The Constitution, By-Laws and class rules shall be interpreted to insure continued competition between boats of identical design and construction.
A.2 Language
A.2.1 The official language of the class is English and in case of dispute over translation the English text shall prevail.
A.2.2 The word “shall” is mandatory and the word “may” is permissive.
A.2.3 The term “secured” shall mean held in place by positive means.
A.2.4 The term “fastened” shall mean held in place with bolts or screws.
A.2.5 The term “permanent” shall mean unable to be removed with simple tools.
A.2.6 The term “alteration” shall mean a substantial change from the original condition.
A.3 Abbreviations
A.3.1 ISAF International Sailing Federation
MNA ISAF Member National Authority
SCA Sonar Class Association
NCA National Class Association
ERS Equipment Rules of Sailing
RRS Racing Rules of Sailing
IFDS International Foundation Disabled Sailing
A.4 Authorities and Responsibilities
A.4.1 The international authority of the class is the ISAF, which shall co-operate with the SCA in all matters concerning these class rules.
A.4.2 Unless otherwise designated by the SCA, the certification authority shall be the SCA.
A.4.3 The SCA shall appoint official measurers or shall authorize a certification authority or an NCA to do so.
A.4.4 Neither the ISAF, the MNA, the SCA, an NCA, the IFDS, the certification authority nor an official measurer is under any legal responsibility in respect to these class rules or accuracy of measurement and no claim arising from them can be entertained.
A.4.5 Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the certification authority has the authority to withdraw a certificate and shall do so on the request of the ISAF.
A.5 AdministratiOn of the Class
A.5.1 ISAF has delegated its administrative functions of the class to SCA. The SCA may delegate part or all of its functions, as stated in these class rules, to an NCA.
A.6 ISAF and SCA Rules
A.6.1 These class rules shall be read in conjunction with the ERS and the RRS. Where a term is used in its defined sense, it is printed in “bold” type if defined in the ERS, in “italic” type if defined in the RRS and underlined if defined by the SCA.
A.7 Sailing Instructions
A.7.1 Sailing instructions shall not vary these class rules except with the consent of the SCA.
A.8 Amendments to Class Rules
A.8.1 Amendments to these class rules shall require approval by the Executive Committee and the ISAF.
A.8.2 Proposed amendments may be made in writing to the Executive Committee of the SCA by the Technical Committee of the SCA.
A.9 Interpretation of Class Rules
A.9.1 General
Interpretation of class rules, except as provided by A.9.2, shall be made in accordance with the ISAF Regulations.
A.9.2 AT A REGATTA
A jury may make any interpretation of class rules required at a regatta. Such interpretation shall only be valid during the regatta and the organising authority shall, as soon as practical after the regatta, inform the ISAF and the SCA of such interpretation.
A.10 International Class Fee(s) and ISAF Plaque
A.10.1 Builders shall be licensed with the approval of the SCA and ISAF.
A.10.2 The International Class Fee(s) shall be paid by the licensed builder.
A.10.2 ISAF shall, after having received the International Class Fee for the hull, send the ISAF Building Plaque and a measurement form to the licensed builder and forward the appropriate portion of the Class Fee(s) to the SCA.
A.11 Sail Numbers.
A.11.1 Sail numbers shall be issued by the SCA and shall be sequential.
A.11.2 A boat’s official sail number shall be the same as the hull.
A.11.3 An owner shall possess an SCA assigned sail number.
A.12 Initial Certification
A.12.1 For a hull not previously certified, all items required to be measured by the measurement form shall be measured by an official measurer and the details entered onto the form.
A.12.2 The measurement form, together with any certification fee, shall be sent to the certification authority within two weeks after completion of measurement.
A.12.3 Upon receipt of a satisfactorily completed measurement form, the certification authority shall issue a certificate. The certification authority shall retain the original measurement form.
A.12.4 If a licensed builder has been determined by the Executive Committee of the SCA to have signed a measurement form for a hull that did not measure correctly, it shall be required to rectify the error to the satisfaction of the certification authority, and may have it’s license as a builder withdrawn.
A.13 Validity of Certificates
A.13.1 A certificate becomes invalid upon:
(a) invalidation or revocation by the certification authority, or;
(b) any alteration or repair to items required to be measured by the measurement form, other than permitted routine maintenance.
A.14 Re-Certification
A.14.1 Upon invalidation the owner shall apply to the certification authority for a new certificate together with any re-certification fee that may be required. A new certificate shall then be issued to the owner.
A.14.2 Upon alteration or repair to an item required to be measured by the measurement form, the relevant item shall be re-measured by an official measurer and the details entered on a new form. The new form and any re-certification fee that may be required shall be sent to the certification authority within 4 weeks after completion. A new certificate, showing the dates of initial and new fundamental measurement, shall then be issued to the owner.
A.14.3 Upon alteration to corrector weights the boat shall be re-weighed by an official measurer and the details entered on the hull certification mark and the changes registered with the certification authority.
Section B – Boat Eligibility
For a boat to be eligible to race, she shall comply with the SCA By-Laws and the rules in this section.
B.1 Certificate
B.1.1 No Boat shall be entitled to race as a bona-fide Sonar unless:
(a) an owner holds a valid certificate in his own name for the yacht concerned and;
(b) the annual dues have been paid to the SCA and;
(c) a current SCA Membership Sticker and hull certification mark are affixed to the hull in accordance with rule C.5.1.
B.2 responsibility
B.2.1 An owner shall agree to the one-design principle of the class and shall do nothing during the course of ownership to cause this principle to be violated.
B.3 Class membership
B.3.1 An owner shall be a current Active Member of the SCA.
Part II – Requirements and Limitations
· A boat and its crew shall comply with the rules in this Part when racing.
· Measurement required by these rules, except for Section C, is part of fundamental measurement that shall only be carried out by an official measurer.
Section C – Conditions for Racing
C.1 Advertising
C.1.1 LIMITATIONS
***(a) Advertising shall only be displayed in accordance with ISAF Advertising Code Regulation 20.
C.2 Crew
C.2.1 Limitations
(a) During a regatta the crew shall consist of a minimum of three persons and the number shall not change.
(b) A crew member shall not be substituted during a sanctioned event without the prior consent of the jury.
(c) A crew member shall be seated inboard of the toe rail (including legs) but the upper body may lean outboard.
(d) A crew member shall not use standing rigging for the purpose of accentuating a tack or jibe.
(e) A crew member shall not be permitted below decks except to temporarily retrieve or stow equipment or to facilitate repairs.
C.3 Equipment
C.3.1 For Use
(a) Mandatory
(i) Personal buoyancy for each crewmember, each having positive buoyancy of not less than 6 kg.
(ii) One throwable flotation device such as a cushion or ring with positive buoyancy of not less than 3 kg.
(iii) One hand bailer or bucket of not less than 6 liters capacity.
(iv) One hand bilge pump.
(v) One anchor of not less than 3.6 kg in weight and with not less than 30 m of continuous line of not less than 8 mm in diameter.
(vi) Hatch covers for the companionway opening with a removable lower cover not less than 15 cm in height.
(b) Optional
(i) Electronic or mechanical timing devices.
(ii) Analog or digital compasses.
(iii) Except at sanctioned events, electronic navigational device without chart capability.
(iv) Spinnaker pole.
(v) Spinnaker boxes, buckets or turtles.
(vi) Whisker pole.
(vii) Flares.
(viii) Fog horn.
(ix) Running lights.
(x) Mast head fly or telltales.
(xii) VHF or marine band radio.
(xiii) First aid kit.
(xiv) Mast partner blocks.
(xv) Adaptations for disabled sailors as in accordance with Appendix B of these class rules.
(xvi) Any additional equipment as required to be carried aboard by local or national governmental authority, not limited to safety equipment.
(xvii) Permanently mounted, manual bilge pump and associated fittings shall have its lowest discharge point not more than 150mm below the top of the toe rail.
(xviii) Mast partner adjustment shall be block and tackle located below the deck and may be cleated only for the purpose of moving partner blocks.
C.3.2 Not For Use
(a) Mandatory
One paddle or oar extendable to at least 1.5 m in length.
(b) Optional
(i) Mooring lines and towing ropes.
(ii) One outboard engine and bracket.
C.4 Boat
C.4.1 WEIGHT
The dry weight of the complete hull and rig as raced including the following, shall not be less than 950 kg:
(a) One set of sheets only.
(b) Hatch covers.
(c) Mast partner blocks.
(d) Fastened or permanent equipment including:
(i) Compasses (excluding batteries).
(ii) Running lights.
(iii) Bilge pump.
(iv) Mast head fly and telltales.
(v) Lifting slings
C.4.2 Corrector Weights
Corrector weights shall be added to the hull as prescribed below when the boat weight is less than the amount specified in section C.4.1. Corrector weights shall be noted on the hull certification mark.
(a) Boats weighing between 940 kg and 950 kg: Corrector weights shall be placed in the keel sump.
(b) Boats weighing between 922 kg and 940 kg: Corrector weights in the amount of 9 kg shall be placed in the keel sump. The balance shall be divided equally and secured in the aft lazarette and forward of the aft face of the mast.
(c) Boats weighing between 897 kg and 922 kg: The total corrector weight shall be divided into three equal portions. One portion shall be placed in the keel sump. The balance shall be divided equally and secured in the aft lazarette and forward of the aft face of the mast.
C.5 Hull and deck
C.5.1 MARKINGS
(a) A current SCA Membership Sticker shall be affixed on the hull on the starboard side, at the aft starboard corner within 25 mm of the toe rail.
(b) The hull shall have a valid hull certification mark including corrector weight details, affixed to the aft, forward facing seat back, on the starboard side, within 50 mm of the deck.
C.5.2 Maintenance
Routine maintenance such as painting and polishing is permitted without re-measurement and re-certification.
C.5.3 FITTINGS
Fittings type, quantity and placement shall be in conformance with Section D.
C.5.4 LIMITATIONS
(a) Application of fillers to the hull for fairing is prohibited, except within 70 mm of the bailers.
(b) Sanding on the hull is permitted to the extent that the laminates shall not be exposed.
(c) The hull may be repaired provided that the shape, structure and characteristics of the original are not altered.
C.6 Hull Appendages
C.6.1 Dimensions
The keel and rudder dimensions shall be in compliance with Section E.
C.6.2 Maintenance
Routine maintenance such as painting and polishing is permitted without re-measurement and re-certification.
C.6.3 KEEL SUMP REPAIR
The sump may be reinforced by the two following methods:
(a) Two panels of either marine plywood or glass fiber may be fitted into the base of the keel sump and extending up to within 25 mm of the cockpit floor. The panels may span completely across space available running awartships. The panels may be attached with glass fiber to the sides. Final panel thickness shall not exceed 18 mm. Holes or spaces shall be left in the panels to allow any water to flow from one side to the other so that bailing may be unimpeded. The panels shall not interfere with access to the keel bolts or cause chafe on lifting slings.