Dick Carver wrote:I can find no restriction in E1.1, E4.5, or anywhere else, on when a boat can be taken ashore (and have her battery replaced).
Hi Dick
We are talking at cross-purposes here, unfortunately. Of course a boat can 'replace her battery' at any time, provided she does so in a similar position and with a similar replacement. This is not in dispute!
This whole discussion is intended to be about 'replacing her battery' in a different position and with a battery of a different weight, and provided always that no other class rule is affected -- that is, she remains above 4 kg and her draft does not exceed 420 mm and so on.
I'll take a guess here, but apparently they feel that when a boat is no longer racing (ie: between races) the Section C rules are no longer in effect. Therefore, battery weight and position can be changed between races.
IMHO no need to guess. This is what the class rules currently say.
In my opinion, at a minimum, this violates the spirit and intent of the IOM Class Rules, and is a somewhat devious attempt to get around the restrictions spelled out in C.5.3(d).
I'm really sorry to see that you feel the need to characterise other people's opinion as 'devious' and 'violating the class spirit'. Neither of these characterisations is remotely true. Why do this? You'll certainly have seen the bad tempered exchange I've had with Val. Why must you now call me names like "devious" and "in violation of class spirit"? I understand you disagree with my opinion -- leave it at that!
Maybe we should add a sentence to the Class Rules stating that Section C – Conditions for Racing rules shall remain in effect throughout an event.
I think you may be in danger of creating effects you have not thought through -- there is more to section C than just restrictions on battery placement.
But certainly, if it is your opinion that battery placement should be as per the section C rule for the whole of an event, just suggest adding that phrase to the relevant section C rule.