PART 3           - Sail Specification

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 ISAF 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:

3.1.1          Mainsail

Note:  CO insignia required on both sides above numbers.

Maximum Measurement

Feet

Millimetres

Luff

32.00

9,756

Foot

10.00

3,049

Leech

34.00

10,366

Headboard

0.50

152

Girth-3/4 up Leech

3.75

1,143

Girth-1/2 up Leech

6.25

1,905

 

3.1.2          Battens

Maximum of four.  Length free.  Battens shall divide the leech into five equal parts + or – 50mm.

3.1.3          Storm Trysail

Must conform to ISAF Special Regulations.

3.1.4          Headsails

 

SPINNAKERS

 

LARGE

SMALL

 

 

feet

millimetres

feet

millimetres

Luff/ Leech

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

0.75 oz U.S.

 

1.25 oz U.S.

 

 


HEADSAILS

 

No.1 Genoa

No2 Genoa

No3 Genoa

No.4
Heavy weather

No.5
Storm Jib

Feet

Luff min

36.5

35.0

32.0

Must

Must

conform to

ISAF

Regulations

 

Luff max

38.0

36.0

33.0

conform to

 

LP min

18.0

16.5

14.0

ISAF

 

LP max

19.0

18.0

15.0

Regulations

Millimetres

Luff min

11.128

10,671

9,750

 

 

 

Luff max

11,585

10,976

10,061

 

 

 

LP min

5,488

5,030

4,268

 

 

 

LP max

5,793

5,488

4,573

 

 

Notes:

a.      Battens are not permitted in headsails.

b.      Minimum cloth weight for sails made after January 1993 as follows:

c.       Mainsail 7.0oz U.S. (300 gsm) except for a shelf not exceeding 300mm in width or 3.8ozs  U.S. (162gsm) No.1 Genoa 5.75oz U.S. (243 gsm).  All other Genoas 6.5oz U.S. (275 gsm).

d.      Mainsails may be loose footed.

e.      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             Sail Numbers

Racing Rules of Sailing 77 Appendix G applies.

3.3             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.

3.4             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 Sail which complies with 4.26.4(f) of ISAF Category 4 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.

3.5             Offshore Rule

In races designated offshore by the Sailing Secretary, in addition to the suit of sails specified in 3.4 an additional spinnaker (large or small) may be carried subject always to rule 3.3.  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 applies:

a.                     In heavy weather when no other sail is set in the fore triangle and the apparent wind is abaft the beam.

b.                    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.