ISMA News - Association Suisse 6mJI

ISMA News International 6mJI Association Bulletin 1/2004
As per 5. above .
8. All Classic Six-Metres shall hold a valid measurement certificate.
This surely is the major problem that confronts the Classic fleet .
My study of the subject of Deep Flotation that was circulated last year identifies the effects in terms of stability
and wetted surface .
Possession of an old Certificate and some marks does not mean that a boat rates 6.00m .
The Actual Rating has to be established with L marks at 90mm above the actual flotation . If a boat does not float
to its marks then it is very unlikely to rate 6.00 metres with its existing sail area .
Rule 29 identifies the Owners’ responsibility but I wonder just how many Classic Sixes ( which as we know put on
weight with years ) would pass a rigorous flotation check . That is why I suggested a ‚ Classic margin „ of say 2cm
but it may well be that such is not sufficient to cover the needs of the fleet . Some real data would be
useful here but as competition gets tighter it will need to be addressed .
If a Six weighs the same number that is on its certificate then there is a good chance that it will float correctly but
only an accurate flotation will properly confirm this .
For owners who want to do this I would recommend flotation sticks on stem and stern as it is notoriously difficult
to measure freeboards or sight marks hidden under counters Float the boat - mark the sticks and then when the
boat is back on dry land pick up the stick marks and the waterline etc with a theodolite . This is how a good
measurer works - and whilst this is a demanding process such rigour is likely to become essential to ensure that no
boats gain unfair advantage .
Ian Howlett, Oxford 2004
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