Mast Step

The new rules for the Bermudan mast say the mast front measurement is MAXIMUM 2145 and MAXIMUM 2175 mm forward of the forward face of the aft transom. Can someone confirm that this is an error and should be MINIMUM 2145 (or 2160+- 15mm).
Interestingly Trident have increased the price of the Bermudan significantly, so much for the arguments for cheaper repairs, anything to do with the Worlds ??

Interesting. I always check the Gospel when looking or checking the measurement rules. The Gospel is ISAF. I have just checked this measurement and the answer is. THE MAST STEP RULE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO BERMUDA RIG. For Gunter centre step 2145mm-2175mm from aft transom inner edge. This is from the very very top ISAF. So there you go, you can put the mast step anywhere you want if you have a Bermuda but please ensure you do not loose it in a triangle!

G. McGILL.

I think you are looking at the old rules. There are amendments on this site on the New Rig link.

Yes this is a typo, 2145 is the minimum, Martin Egan in his role as Technical officer is still trying to get ISAF to update accordingly.

At the Worlds mast positions were checked accordingly.

With regards Trident prices, I cannot see any increases, they are selling the Selden for £268 same as last year. At the Worlds we saw a variety of different masts, including several home made ones or conversions from discarded spars from other classes. In the UK we have at least four manufacturers creating competition which should all keep costs low.

MCA Secretary

Thanks Simon. The Seldon stayed the same but Superspars jumped.
Have ordered mine from another supplier.

Hi Toddy

Hear you have a blog on boat building? Where can this be found. Hope all is going well with the project.

Trevor, link is www.buildingamirrordinghy.piczo.com They are basic photos <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Well I've just checked the current class rules on the ISAF web site and the wording is;

1.6.13 For boats equipped with a gunter rig the following shall apply. The centre of the mast step shall be minimum 2145 mm and maximum 2175 mm forward of the forward face of the aft
transom at deck level.

For boats equipped with a Bermuda rig the following shall apply. The Intersection of the fore side of the spar and surface of the foredeck butt strap shall be minimum 2145 mm and maximum 2175 mm forward of the forward face of the aft transom at deck level.

So I don't know what Toddy and Gerry are looking at ??? There was a typo in this paragraph (two maximums), but it was corrected a little while ago.

Here are some instructions on finding the class rules on the ISAF site

1. Go to the ISAF site www.sailing.org/

2. From the Menu bar at the top (Making Waves, News, Organisation,....) put your cursor on "Rules" and and a drop down menu will appear. Select "Technical" from the drop down, this will load the ISAF Technical Microsite in a new window.

3. From the ISAF Technical Microsite under the heading "Class Rules" select "Current Class Rules"

4. From the "Current Class Rules" page select "Centreboard Boats"

5. From the "Centreboard Boats" page select "Mirror" from the left hand column in the list of classes. At present there are two entries for Mirror, but it's clear which are the 2006 rules and these are now effective.

6. A PDF file will load in a seperate window which you can save to your own computer (by using the disk icon in the Adobe toolbar) or print.

It is better to use the above procedure, rather than just follow a link to the .pdf file (for example www.sailing.org/classes/classrul ... 260406.PDF ) since ISAF may update the .pdf file to correct a mistake etc in which case the name of the file will change and you could end up picking up an uncorrected version.

Martin, the typo is on this site. On the home page : New rig , download new rules.
I will now use the ISAF site.

If you switch to the new rig do you have to change the position of the mast step. Fat Boy Alan Blay was giving out about having to drill holes in Vengeance because it didn't measure with a new mast, was he right or has he just made a fool of himself once again?!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Yes, Alan was right! When Vengeance was built for Juliet the one piece masts wern't legal for racing so the conventional mast / gaff was used. When Alan changed to the one piece he needed to move the mast step aft to be within the new rules and thus needed to drill 4 new holes in the boat. Ouch!

Steve Long

So have I read the rules right...

If I want a bermudan rig, and my mast step is as far forward as the gunter rules allow, then I have to move the step towards the transom by the radius of the mast?

Yes, thats how I read it. As long as your mast section is round ! If not do it as the new rule says

according to my reading of the ISAF rules, the only method of attaching the shrouds to the mast is still by looping over the mast-head. Has there been further ammendments or are all those with one piece masts illegal?

would some-one from the rules area like to comment on rule 5.5.20?
why are sheave boxes allowed for control lines when only the main halyard is to be internal?
Also rule 6.1.2 Standing rigging states that all rigging is to be looped over the mast head. No mention of the bermuda mast. Is this an oversight ?