PART 3 - SAIL SPECIFICATIONpecification

3.1 Sails

Contessa 32 Class Sails must be constructed from material authorised by the Technical Committee. The Official Measurer will maintain the definitive list of authorised materials, which shall be made entirely of conventionally woven polyester or nylon and may be impregnated but not coated. Laminates are not permitted when racing in Class. When racing offshore, any material may be used for headsails in accordance with IRC regulations but any yacht so doing will not be eligible for Class points or prizes.

Battens may not be carried in headsails. Sails are to be measured in accordance with the RORC method. Sails shall be measured in a dry state and laid on a flat surface with just sufficient tension to remove wrinkles if necessary with block and tackle across the line of the measurement to be taken. Sails shall be limited in numbers and sizes as follows:-

MAINSAIL

Maximum measurement Feet Millimetres
 
Luff 32.00 9,756
Foot 10.00 3,049
Leech 34.00 10,336
Headboard 0.50 152
Girth - 3/4 up Leach 3.75 1,143
Girth - 1/2 up Leach 6.25 1,905

(Note: CO insignia required on both sides above numbers.)

BATTENS:
Maximum four.  Length free.  Outer point of the battens must be on the leech.  the distance from the back corner of the headboard, aft head point, to the top of the edge of the highest batten pocket (measured down the leech) must be at least 6.40 ft (1,950 mm.)

Mainsail measured prior to 1st February 2002 may comply with the following dimensions:

Battens - Top 2.00 ft 610 mm
Middle x 2 2.83 ft 864 mm
Bottom 2.42 ft 737 mm

(Note: the CO insignia is required on both sides above the numbers.)

RORC Storm Trysail - Maximum area: 56 sq.ft.

 

SPINNAKERS

Large Small
Feet Millimetres Feet Millimeters
 
Luff/Leach - minimum 36.5 11,128 34.5 10,515
- maximum 37.5 11,433 35.5 10,819
Width - minimum 21.8 6,646 19.5 5,944
- maximum 22.8 6,951 20.5 6,248
Cloth Weight - minimum 0.75oz U.S 1.25oz U.S.

 

HEADSAILS

No. 1 Genoa No. 2 Genoa No. 3 Genoa No. 4 Heavy Weather No. 5 Storm Jib
Feet
Luff - min 36.5 35.0 32.0 - Max Area
Luff - max 38.0 36.0 33.0 33.0 69 sq.ft.
L.P. - min 18.0 16.5 14.0 -
L.P. - max 19.0 18.0 15.0  
 
Millimeters
Luff - min 11,128 10,671 9,750 - See above.
Luff - max 11,585 10,976 10,061 10,061
L.P. - min 5,488 5,030 4,268 -
L.P. - max 5,793 5,488 4,573 3,201
 

 

Notes:1.

  1. Grooved forestays: all L.P measurements to be reduced by twice the fore and aft width of the foil.
  2. Battens are not permitted in headsails.
  3. Minimum cloth weight for sails made prior to l5th January 1993 3.8oz U.S. (162 gsm)
    Minimum cloth weight for sails made after January 1993 as follows:
    Mainsail 7.0oz U.S. (300 gsm)
    No.1 Genoa 5.75oz U.S. (243 gsm)
    All other Genoas 6.5oz U.S. (275 gsm)
  4. Mainsails may be loose footed.
  5. Sailcloth may be material that is not laminated, highly resonated (i.e. impregnated not coated) or not conventionally woven Terylene/Dacron, Nylon or Cotton.  The following cloths are allowed:
    • Contender: High Aspect Polypregs, Low Aspect Polypregs, Heavy Weight Polypregs, One Design Polypregs, Super Cruise Polypregs (Polykote is illegal)
    • Polyant: All balanced one design, Balanced Heavy Fabrics, Touring NF, Strong Warp, Square, All Purpose and Strong Fill. Finish must be MT, FT or HMT (HTP is illegal).
    • Bainbridge: High Aspect, Low Aspect, Bermuda, Dinghy One Design and All Purpose in their resonated forms (NYT finish is illegal)
    • North: North 4800 Dacron, North Premium Dacron.
    • Hood: Hood Dacron
  6. Old sails: for designated old No.2 and No.3 Genoas, owners may apply to the Technical Committee for dispensation where the luff is below the old minimum providing the area is within the maximum and sails have not been re-cut.
  7. Where a full roller forestay system is in use, the minimum luff measurement of the No.1 Genoa may be reduced to 35 feet (10,671mm), but all other sail measurement requirements shall be complied with.

3.2 Grooved Forestay

When a grooved forestay system is used, the L.P of the new headsails shall be penalised by adding twice the fore and aft width of the foil when calculating size, e.g. Maximum L.P. of No.l Genoa - l9ft (5,793mm) (2 x foil width). Such penalty shall be marked on the Measurement Certificate.

3.3 Sail Numbers

Mainsail, spinnakers, No.l and No.2 Genoas must carry sail numbers on both sides either RORC, CO or RYA. The mainsails must also carry the insignia CO on both sides above the sail number. Minimum size of letters and numbers to ISAF Rule 25.1 (e). Height 1.0ft. Width (excluding number 1 and letter I) 0.7ft. Thickness 0.15ft ( 1.8").

3.4 Use of Sails

Headsails may only be used with the luff attached to the forestay by hanks or in a groove. Only one headsail may be set at any one time except when in the process of changing headsails. Only one spinnaker may be flown at any one time except when in the process of changing spinnakers.

3.5 Number of Sails

Only one suit of sails may be used in a Class series (see 1.8 above). A No.2 Genoa, No.3 Genoa and Storm Jib must be carried on board at all times whilst racing. If a sail is torn beyond repair, it may be replaced by a similar one, such replacement subject to approval by the Technical Committee. (See 1.11.2 Class Certificate conditions).

Spare sails may be carried on board for a passage or cruising use, but shall not be set when racing.

3.6 Offshore Rule

In races designated offshore by the Sailing Secretary:

In addition to the suit of sails specified in 3.5 an additional spinnaker (large or small) may be set subject always to rule 3.4. Spare sails may be carried for subsequent cruises but shall not be set when racing. Headsails may be set and sheeted as a spinnaker where either of the following conditions apply:-

  1. In heavy weather when no other sail is set in the fore triangle and the apparent wind is abaft the beam.
  2. When all spinnakers aboard have been damaged beyond repair during the race and a jib so set may have either its tack or clew to the spinnaker pole.