IOMICA Forum

Jim: I don't think you are right on the weight question. I do not think the rules freely allow you to add weight to an IOM whenever you choose so long as you are above minimum weight. I also know some pretty successful sailors who balance out their IOM's by moving battery weight back and forward and...

Alright, everyone this is your chance to be heard. The next IOMICA AGM is coming in June. Things seem to be running pretty smoothly in the class at present. However, to the extent you believe there are changes that need to be made in the class rules, this is your opportunity to put them up for discu...

Maybe I'm making too much of this, but I have to disagree. If you read the rule originally it did not allow the jib to attached via a string to the bottom of the boat, the jib was supposed to be attached to the "deck". I don't think expanding the plain and simple meaning of deck to permit the practi...

So, the question comes down to, do we propose a rule change that clarifies that batten materials are unrestricted or do we things be? Any NCA want to submit a proposal?

Val: Couldn't agree more. Any proposed rule change has to be very carefully worded. A problem area that comes to mind--should we permit battery readers that flash a light or make a sound that is audible/visible from the control position? If we think that is permissible, I don't see how we can let ou...

Perhaps then, the real answer to this question is that we need to update our pre-race measurement practices to require the measurer to note the battery location in the boat and to weigh all of the batteries proposed to be used by a competitor.

Robert--Nothing I saw in the "old rule" limited the shape of decks. The point was should the jib be attached to the "deck" (something pretty obvious to just about anyone) or the bottom of the boat. I believe the tech committee should never have changed this rule by "interpretation", right or wrong i...

A little bit of history---the original IOM rule required essentially that the jib be attached by a hook to the "deck". At some point in time, someone raised the argument that there was no way to accurately define a "deck" and that accordingly jibs should be allowed to be attached through the bottom ...

I've thought about whether or not the provision sited by Lester is applicable to the battery. Is a battery "remote control equipment"? Current practice in the class is to move the battery around the boat and to have battery packs of different weights, so it would seem many do not have the same sense...

I have always believed that the class rule interpretation that changed the practice of having to attach the jib to the deck because the then technical committee could not define "the deck" of an IOM to be wrongly decided. I think the "deck" is rather obvious on almost all boats, and in all events th...

It has recently been raised here on the forums that the current IOM class rules do not specify permitted materials for sail battens. As a practical matter, the class has always acted as if sail batten materials are unrestricted. Is there a sense that we need to change the rules for clarification?

With the next AGM coming up shortly, I thought it important to raise the issue of battery weight and placement. Currently, IOM weight and balance can be altered during a series of races by changing both the placement of battery packs and by putting in packs of heavier weight. It has been suggested t...

The next AGM is coming shortly and I thought it important to bring up the issue of making the inclusion of on-board battery meters legal under the IOM rules. These devices are currently not permitted, would be an added cost, but don't appear to be a performance advantage. Lurking in the future shoul...

To be clearer "the kicking strap" can work in tension only. I sometimes (incorrectly) use the terms "gooseneck" and "kicking strap" interchangeably.

Sorry, I meant to say "main sheet post", and English is my native language!

Carbon Fiber can be used in the keel and the rudder and under the newly voted in rule change, rig fittings. Mast tubes (if not permanently fixed to the boat) can also be carbon fiber. As to battens, nothing in the rules specifies batten materials, so as is the usual problem with our closed class rul...

I'm not sure where other people fall on the question, but as a personal matter I don't (i) think the class's "21st birthday" is as significant as the 25th anniversary. To me "21st birthday" is like "Sweet 16" it belongs to people not things; and (ii) see much point in the idea of having everyone try...

Alfonso: Thanks for the heads up. As Ken has pointed out, like most motions passed at an AGM, the exact language to be inserted into the rules usually requires a little tweaking after the vote to get it right. The intent here was and is clear. We'll make it work so that the second owner of a boat ca...

To make it simple--the rule has been longstanding and straight forward--the gooseneck can act in tension only. Hence the compression vang contemplated is not IOM class legal.

First, I agree that port tack boats piling into the zone at the upwind marks are a huge problem. Perhaps one remedy is that if you foul another boat coming in on port, you should be subject to a two turn penalty. Second, if the mark is set at the limits of visibility the course isn't right, period. ...

no....

Pedro: A while ago, the exact question you posted was asked on the World Council section of this forum and our chairman, Andy, answered by saying the ultimate question of awarding a World Championship was probably in the hands of the IOMICA executive committee and its events sub-committee under the ...

For those of you traveling internationally, one possible way to reduce costs is to look into flights from your home country to New York, Los Angeles or Miami in the United States and then a separate rate to Barbados. Usually, there is a bargain rate to major US cities and then the cost to get to Bar...

At least in Australia the first leg was really, really short. At most two or three tacks up the whole leg and there weren't many tactical options. We really do need to look at leg length and visibility. One other issue on the question of sight lines. I have seen some suggestions that in the upcoming...

On another thread here, Zoran brings up what I think is a very important point--if you can't easily see boats on the course,you are inviting bad racing. I couldn't agree with this more. I have seen the growing trend that says courses must be set true to the wind and if that means that competitors ha...

Graham: Would really appreciate more on how the mid race measurement system can work. If it's not a random drawing, how do you select boats for spot measurement? How long does it take per boat and how many people do you need to do the measurement? How many boats do you check? Do you also do measurem...

I was initially a believer in the concept of mid-race measurement, but I don't see how it can really work at the worlds. If you pick a boat that is being promoted for example, you have to stop the racing to do the measurement. If you limit boats to be checked to those that aren't being promoted, you...

This is an open forum where all thoughts and ideas are welcome. Statements suggesting that some are posting "without really knowing the situation of the IOMICA events" or demanding "exact numbers" when there is disagreement does not foster a free flowing discussion. I believe all the posters here ar...

All very good points here. A "cap" on entry fees going forward seems to be a reasonable reform we should be able to put in place. It also seems like we should continue to explore the question of a smaller World Championship that runs a week from measurement to closing. As a first matter, it appears ...

Just for clarification, the current World Championship format usually requires a two week commitment for an entrant. That includes time for travel to and from, measurement and practice days and a lay day in the middle of the regatta. The "shorter" formats that I have heard proposed would have measur...