Message from the Class Chairman - April 2021

published 04/23/2021

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Etchells Owners and Co-Owners
IECA Members
World Sailing Licenced Builders
Sail Makers
Licensed Spar Makers

Dear Member of the Etchells Family,

This letter is being sent to all Etchells Class owners, members and to manufacturers of Etchells boats, spars, and sails. The purpose of this communication is to help protect the spirit of one-design in the class, to avoid existing boats becoming less competitive and less valuable due to innovations, and to limit escalation in costs.  I have already written about the Class Audit in my letter January, 2021 letter.  The audit process is well underway and when finished will result in a number of rule changes and rewordings which will make it clearer to builders, suppliers and owners exactly what is allowed and what is not.

Here is how things stand at the present time:  In the Introduction of the Etchells Class Rules (https://etchells.org/assets/documents/Etchells_Class_Rules_effective_1_March_2021.pdf) you will find the following sentences:

• ETCHELLS HULLS, HULL APPENDAGES, RIGS AND SAILS MAY, AFTER HAVING LEFT THE MANUFACTURER, ONLY BE ALTERED TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED IN SECTION C OF THE CLASS RULES.
• IF THESE RULES DO NOT SAY YOU CAN, THEN YOU CANNOT.

In Note 1 to the Etchells Class Construction Diagram (https://etchells.org/assets/documents/3MKB-10G_Construction.pdf) you will find the following sentences: (For IYRU now read World Sailing, and for E-22 now read Etchells)

• THE HULL (INCLUDING DECK), KEEL, SKEG, RUDDER, STANDING RIGGING, SPARS AND SAILS ARE STRICTLY CONTROLLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL E-22 CLASS RULES PERTAINING TO ONE-DESIGN CONTROL.
• THE OFFICIAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, MEASUREMENT FORM, MEASUREMENT DIAGRAMS AND CONSTRUCTION MANUAL, MATERIALS, LAYUP SCHEDULES, ASSEMBLIES, FITTINGS, PARTS, STRUCTURAL MEMBERS (SEAT, BULKHEADS, KNEES, BOW STRINGERS, DECK STIFFENERS) AND STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT SHOWN ON THIS CONSTRUCTION PLAN ARE MANDATORY UNLESS SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS “RECOMMENDED (REC.)” OR “OPTIONAL (OPT.)”.
• IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MENTION EVERY SUGGESTION THAT HAS BEEN RULED ILLEGAL IN THE PAST, AND TO FORESEE EVERY INNOVATION WHICH MAY BE THOUGHT OF IN THE FUTURE. THEREFORE WHEN CONSIDERING ANYTHING IN CONNECTION WITH THE YACHT OR ITS SAILS OR EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT CLEARLY COVERED BY THE PLANS, SPECIFICATION AND/OR RULES, IT MUST BE ASSUMED ILLEGAL UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM I.Y.R.U. THROUGH THE E-22 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

What this means is that if you have a new idea for a fitting or a construction change, don’t do it without getting prior approval. The procedure for this is available at https://etchells.org/assets/documents/Class_Interpretations_Protocol.pdf and the Etchells One-Design Technical Committee (“ODTC”) and Class Measurer are standing by to discuss your ideas and respond promptly.

Interpretations previously made by the ODTC can be found at https://etchells.org/class/interpretations/interpretations-and-rulings/rules.

The ODTC is currently working through a list of items that have started to appear on boats over the years but which aren't "clearly covered in the Plans, Specifications, and/or Rules” and for which no "prior approval has been obtained". Examples include mast gate inserts, deck recesses for control lines or tracks, and floorboards. As you can imagine, the decision of how to deal with each of these items is not simple:

- quite a few innovations have become standard practice even without formal approval

- each innovation has a different (and often debatable!) impact on performance

- the decision to allow retrofitting or enforce removal/rectification has cost implications.

So please accept this message as clear notice that when considering innovations (literally anything not specifically covered in the plans, specifications or class rules), interpretation of our rules by manufacturers or Class members is not permitted.  Innovations must go through the prior approval process. 

Respectfully,

Andy
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Andrew Cumming, IECA IGC Chair

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