Date: Middelfart, DENMARK, October 16, 2008
To:Hobie Cat FX-One sailors, IHCA Council members and IHCA Regional Associations.
From:IHCA Rules Committee
Subject:Interim IHCA supplement to the Hobie FX-One Class Rules for FX-One-2 class racing
The following proposal adding a new appendix D to the Hobie Class Rules has been received from the German Hobie Class Association. The administration part is a result of consultations between the German Hobie Class Association and consultations with the chairman of the IHCA Rules Committee.
PROPOSAL:
Appendix D
Interim IHCA supplement to the Hobie FX-One Class Rules for FX-One-2 class racing
HOBIE FX-One-2
- When this Appendix is taking effect by mention in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, it forms part of the IHCA General Class Rules and the Hobie Cat FX-One Class Rules.
- The use of this supplement must be included in the notice of race and sailing instructions and permission is required from the International Hobie Class Association prior to use.
- A maximum of two trapeze wires are allowed on each side of the boat.
- The 3,98 m2 jib and jib self tack-assembly including roller furler must be HOBIE CAT CO. supplied and installed to HOBIE CAT CO. specifications.
- The pin connecting the jib tack to the furler shall not be lower than 675 mm (measured from an imaginary line from across the top of the decks right behind the bow tangs).
- The Hobie FX-One-2 shall have a minimum combined crew weight of 115 kg.
ADMINISTRATION
Subject to application from a national association and following approval from the IHCA it shall be allowed to use the interim supplement to the Hobie FX-One Class Rules for a minimum period of 3 years starting as of January 1st, 2009. Until a new decision is made, it shall be permitted to use this supplement on an experimental basis for national and fleet level events inside the national association’s area of jurisdiction. All participation statistics shall be reported to the IHCA for record purposes, i.e. boats sailing in FX-One and FX-One-2 configuration, crew ages and weight.
If failing to report back to the IHCA by the 31st December of each calendar year the agreement with the IHCA has not been completed and the use of the interim supplement will be withdrawn by the IHCA.
REASON FOR CHANGE:
The Hobie FX ONE was originally designed mainly for one up sailing. Hobiecat Europe has so far sold app. 500 boats, of which the biggest part stayed in Europe.
Due to the volume of the hulls, the boat is suitable for sailing two up as well, if using a jib, a gennaker and double traps on both sides. This principle makes the boat unique and attractive for people, who enjoy sailing both ways or do not have a regular buddy for sailing or racing.
Sailing the FX ONE two up makes sense especially for those people, who do not possess the minimum weight of 140kg or the physical condition for handling a Hobie Tiger especially onshore or after capsizing and yet like to race a competitive and modern Hobiecat catamaran. Furthermore, there is no alternative within the Hobiecat product range. As Hobiecat Europe supplies a jib and a gennaker kit, sailing the boat two up has become more and more popular over the last years. Throughout Europe there are various crews participating in open regattas sailing the boat two up. The Hobiecat class rules though have not been adjusted to this development, so racing the fx one two up in class regattas is not attractive at present. Although the current class rules do not limit the number of sailors aboard, not being allowed to use a jib and double traps will pose a significant disadvantage, as there is no compensation for the additional weight. On the other hand, only very few sailors are racing the boat single handed. Just five Boats entered the European Championships in Italy 2007 and the European Championships in Copenhagen 2008. National events in Germany look basically the same. The proposal therefore has the purpose of opening the one design fx one class to double handed sailing and still keep it attractive for the one up people. Without those changes, the Hobie family might loose fx one sailors to other classes like the “Classe 104”, where racing the boat two up is possible or to other boats, which would be even worse.
Racing the FX ONE should be independent from the number of sailors aboard for several reasons: at present, it seems that the performance of a boat equipped with one sailor, main and spinnaker is equal to the performance when equipped with two sailors, main, jib and spinnaker. For various reasons, racing should take place within one fleet, although the FX ONE and the FX ONE-2 will have to be treated as two different classes. Due to the almost identical Texel rating (105 for the FX ONE-2 and 106 for the FX ONE), the two classes will not interfere with each other at the start. And big fleets are a lot more attractive to compete within. But what is most important, racing the two classes within one fleet will enable us to ensure a qualified monitoring of the project. Potential handicap ratings, scoring etc. should be handled by the regional or national class organizations.
At present, we do not know exactly the effects of the proposed changes. The DHCKV points out, that the aim is not terminating the single handed racing of the fx one but leaving it up to the sailors deciding about the setup ahead of each regatta. Apart from that, we try to attract more sailors to fx one racing offering the two up crews a possibility to compete within a one design fleet of the Hobie family. As we are aware, that the situation might look different in other countries, the decision about applying the proposed supplement should be left to the national class organizations. Furthermore, the development of the fx one class should be monitored in order to review the supplement within a adequate time span.
The German Hobiecat Class Organization has officially decided to support the changes mentioned above.
The proposal is hereby distributed for comments according to General Class Rule 24. Comments to be sent to: . Please state your full name and the Hobie Association/Fleet you are a paid up member of when making your comment. Deadline: January 31, 2009.
The proposed change is supposed to go into effect as of April 1, 2009 if agreed by the IHCA Council.
Erik Olsen
IHCA Rules Committee Chair
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