Class Rules

THE NORFOLK 14-FT ONE DESIGN DINGHY CLASS

(Effective 19 October 2012)

1. The Norfolk 14-ft One Design Dinghy Class shall be under the management of a Committee consisting of a Captain, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and four members, all of whom shall be Norfolk Dinghy Owners as defined in Rule 13, except for the Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.  The immediate past Class Captain shall be deemed a member (ex officio) for one year following his or her term of office.
2. An Annual General Meeting of Owners shall be held not later than the end of October each year, at which Owners shall receive the report of the Committee of the activities of the year just ended, statements of account thereof, and elect Officers and a Committee for the ensuing year.
3. A Special General Meeting of Owners may be called at any time by a resolution of the Committee or on request of six Owners by a letter addressed to the Honorary Secretary, specifying the object of such Meeting.
4. Not less than eight days notice of the Annual General Meeting and five days notice of a Special General Meeting shall be given.
5. At a Committee Meeting three, and at a General Meeting six, shall form a quorum.
6. At all meetings a Chairman shall be elected.  In the event of a tie in the voting, the Chairman shall have the casting vote in addition to his own.
7. No alteration or addition to the Rules shall be made without the consent of a majority of the Owners present and voting at a General Meeting. Any proposal to alter or add to the Rules must be inserted in the detail in the notice convening such Meeting.
8. Advertising is permitted in accordance with the ISAF Advertising Code section 20.3.1 and 20.3.2 (a) (Category A).
9. The Norfolk One Design Dinghy (The Dinghy) shall be built to the accepted design as amended of Mr Herbert Woods, moulds, drawings and specifications of which are the property of the Class.

The amendments to the above-mentioned design are:-

a)      Around the mast of each dinghy a black band two inches wide shall be painted 3 feet 7¼ inches from the hog.  The lower edge of the sail shall not be hoisted above the upper edge of this band.

b)      The centreplate must weigh not less than 68lbs and the only finish permitted is hot dip galvanising.  The slots in the centreplate case, hog and false keel have a minimum measurement of one half inch.

c)      Except where otherwise provided all woodwork shall be clear varnished.

d)      Copper or brass buoyancy tanks of traditional design shall be positioned under the mast thwart and side seats.

e)      In all races at sea dinghies must be fitted with additional buoyancy in the bow in a form approved by the Committee.  Such buoyancy may be used on other occasions and in addition a similar form of buoyancy shall be situated anywhere in the boat.  An anchor with appropriate line shall be carried.

f)       The downhaul on the boom shall not be positioned more than 20 inches from the aft side of the mast.

g)      At least one paddle shall be carried at all times.

h)      The wire shrouds and centreplate wire shall be not less than 4mm.

i)       The halyards may be of suitable material and dimension.

j)       The sheets may be of suitable cordage, but must be of constant diameter throughout their length.

k)      The position of the jib fairleads on the gunwale is optional.

l)       Floorboards will be fitted.  They may be of plywood, not less than 8mm.

The following equipment of a type previously approved by the Committee may be fitted:-

i.         A universal joint between the tiller and the tiller extension.

ii.        The tiller extension may be of any material, but must not exceed 30 inches in length.

iii.       A topping lift.

iv.       An additional block may be inserted in the centreplate tackle to improve mechanical advantage.

v.        Toe straps.

vi.       Jamming cleats for the jib sheets.

vii.      When sailing at sea an additional single sheeve (not jammed) block may be used for controlling the main sheet.  If fitted it must be positioned either on top or on the aft edge of the centreplate case, but not more than three inches from the upper edge and aft corner of the said case.

viii.     Spray sheets.

ix.       A pole for booming out the jib.

x.         Paint is permissible inside the boat beneath the floorboards.

xi.        An eye bolt may be fitted on the aft of the head of the gaff to secure the mainsail. It must be secured over the centre of the existing hole.

Notwithstanding the foregoing the question of whether a dinghy conforms to the generally expected form shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee.

10.  An Official Builder, an Official Sailmaker, an Official Measurer and an Official Sail Measurer shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.  No boat, mast or spars shall be eligible in the Class unless built or made by the Official Builder, or sails made by the Official Sailmaker.

11.  Sails for all new dinghies and replacement sails for existing craft made after 1^st January 1989 shall be to the measurements and specifications shown on the Official Sailplan (1988 edition) and may be measured at random at the discretion of the Committee.

12.  Every new boat and new sail shall be examined, measured and passed by the Official Measurer, at the expense of the owner, before being raced.  The Committee have the power at any time to have any or all the sails, masts and spars measured, or any boat removed from the water for inspection, measurement or weighing.

13.  A register of Dinghies and Owners accepted in the Class shall be compiled and approved by the Committee with power to amend at their discretion.  To be eligible for inclusion in the register, every Owner or Joint Owner must be a member of a club affiliated to the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association, and must be an amateur as defined by the IYRU. Upon registration, such registration fee as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Committee shall be payable.

14.  There shall be not more than two Owners of each Dinghy, and if there are two Owners, one must be appointed as acting Owner, who shall be responsible to the Committee.

15.  In all Class Events only boats included in the Class Register, and helmed by the Owner, his or her spouse or their close relatives, may compete, provided that the Committee may, in relation to any particular event determine that this rule shall not apply.

16.  The Class Racing Flag is Code Flag U (red and white squares).

17.  Any reefing signals will be hoisted half an hour before the designated start of the race, and will consist of the Class Flag with one cone beneath for one reef, and two cones beneath for two reefs in the mainsail.  The reefing signal denotes the minimum number of reefs; further reefing is optional.  Sails may be reefed even if no signal is hoisted.

18.  The Committee shall have the power to act as they deem fit should anything arise which is not provided for in these Rules.