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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
28 the Stewart 34 Summer Championship.Recognizing this as an opportunity,one enterprising staff member at Hood Sailmakers came up with an idea to help boost the year end sales figures. He offered a group of top Stewart owners a deal on new No. 1 genoas using 5.4 ounce NYT Dacron sail cloth. The Stewart class rule specifically states that the weight of the sail cloth be 6.5 ounce Dacron. When asked by one of the owners how this sail would meet the class rules,Hoods sidestepped the issue by claiming that British and US sail cloths of the same weight actually varied and that this would be a legal cloth. Soon after, Pahi, Patiko, Phantasy and Premier all rocked up to the start line sporting these new lighter weight genoas. North Sails answered with a similar sails built for Phlyer, Psyche and Psychic. Clearly these sails gave their owners a speed advantage in lighter airs, resulting in discontent amongst the class. Finally, in a race in late November of that year Pahi flew her new 5.4 ounce NYT genoa to a victorious finish and the contentious Chris Packer, owner of Prince Hal, responded with a protest. The Squadron protest panel correctly threw out the protest on the grounds that there was ambiguity in the rules and that there was some doubt about the actual weight of the 5.4 ounce NYT cloth. This only served to create more dissatisfaction for Stewart owners who did not have the faster, but questionable sails. The Stewart Association called for a Special General Meeting to address the issue with a firm new rule. The motion was made to require the sail to be built from cloth with a minimum true weight of 6.5 ounces. To pass this rule required a 75% majority according to the Constitution of the Stewart Association. With seven owners now in possession of the new sails, and only 12 members racing at the time, this seemed nearly impossible. In preparation for this meeting, efforts were made to get accurate information from the sailmaker’s overseas suppliers regarding the actual weight of the cloths being used. Bainbridge USA claimed that their 5.4 ounce cloth actually weighed 5.9 ounces. Bainbridge Holland said that their 5.4 was actually 6.2. Both of them asserted that it was“close enough.” For government work, perhaps, but not for Stewart Class yacht racing! To the amazement of all, world renowned sailmaker, designer and America’s Cup tactician Tom Schnackenberg,at the time working for North Sails,claimed,probably with tongue-in-cheek,that he could, upon request, get Bainbridge to send a telex to the Association saying they would be happy to put a 6.5 ounce label on their 5.4 ounce cloth. The only thing about the whole situation that became any clearer than mud was that“truth in labelling”didn’t seem to be embraced by sail cloth manufacturers. Arguments became heated, and all thanks to a couple sailmakers and a few owners who were trying to get an edge on the opposition. Some found this situation unbelievable considering all the efforts that had been undertaken to measure sails, correct illegal sails and let local sailmakers know that sails not conforming to class rules would not be allowed. In an incredible display of spirit, even some of the most passionate defenders agreed to put the good of the class ahead of their personal desires, and ultimately voted in favour of a ban on lightweight sails. They further went on to amend the class rule to read: “If a measurer suspects the cloth is not up to the minimum actual weight required he may request that a sail maker’s half yard be actually cut from the brand new sail and weighed to test that weight.” This effectively sealed up any“ambiguities” in the rule and since 1985 no significant attempts on the part of sail makers have been made to breach the Class Rules. Nonetheless, at Annual General Meetings it is often mentioned that sailmakers occasionally may consciously or unconsciously act in conflict with the Class, so it is important to remain ever vigilant. Following the 1984“Genoa-gate” fiasco, the Stewart Association re-focused itself on the“intent” rule that stated that all boats should be as equal as possible,so that racing would be a test of sailing ability only. To this end,a member came up with the idea of creating“one design No. 1 genoas.” He suggested that the Association go to a sailmaker and buy up to 20 genoas at one time. Not only would there be a volume discount, but the sails would all be identical. On race day, each skipper would draw for a sail and in theory, each boat would sail with a different sail each week, eliminating any advantage due to a newer sail inventory. While this revolutionary idea was well received by the association it was defeated in a vote cast on 21 April,1985. The idea was allowed to germinate in the minds of the owners and was brought to a vote again in December of that year, when it passed by a small margin. It took some time to work out the fine details of the program, and develop rules to govern it, but it was put in