40.7 Class News-
40.7 Class News- Recently there has been some great discussions regarding formalizing some class rules for the 40.7 fleets across the USA and Canada. Additionally there has been talk of a National or North American championship regatta. I have been representing what I believe to be the local interest in discussions with Beneteau, and the fleets throughout the US. There has been a fairly complete set of proposed class rules which were recently drafted. I will not go into specifics on the rules but will be providing a copy to everyone very shortly. Once everyone has read these rules and my summary, I would strongly encourage all 40.7ers to contact myself or Gary Edelman of Beneteau to voice your opinions. As a long time one-design person and someone who has sailed the 40.7 a fair amount I will briefly touch on a few of my own opinions. The following is a summary of a 40.7 Conference call from November 16th. The participants included owners from fleets in San Diego, NJ, RI, Chicago, and Rochester. Sails-(brief summary) Only 2 new sails are to be purchased each year A Sail Button program will be instituted where as each sail carries a button(~$10 per sail) and registers that sail for each boat, and also generates revenue for class management and events. Mainsail & Spinnaker sizes are to be to PHRF/IRC/ORR maximum without penalties Genoa – 155% max. Allow asymmetrical spinnakers, code zeros, and jib tops for distance racing only. Equipment- Allow Carbon Poles(Talk to myself or Corbo, we are working on a very good fleet price!) Allow additional purchase and blocks for outhaul, jib cars, and backstay. Hydraulic Backstay can be replaced with high tech line(except PBO) Crew/Driver- Basically an owner/driver rule, however long term/regular crew is OK, and pros only if they own the boat. Crew weight limit will be max number of people allowed under PHRF/IRC(11 I think?) Weights of boats was discussed, however some of the heavier boats, of those already weighed, have been winning so the requirement to weigh all boats was thought to be unnecessary. Website- The class is in the preliminary stages of setting up a national site to facilitate events, class discussions, and all kinds of boatspeed tips & tricks, etc… Now for the exciting stuff!!! Regattas! A National or North American Championship, as well as regional championships is something which everyone wants. Beneteau is very committed to making this work and is looking into discounted trucking or transportation, as well as local regatta support. It is my recommendation to the class that this 1st regatta could be somewhere on the Lakes. Although Rochester would certainly accommodate, it is probably the most fair to have it in Chicago or maybe even Toronto or Buffalo, based on the travel distance for boats on both coasts. If this sounds like a great idea then voice your support and opinions! The local area should be very proud to have such a strong 40.7 fleet, only San Diego and Chicago have fleets anywhere near the size of Lake Ontario! Wouldn’t it be exciting to go head to head with the rest of the country at a National Championship, imagine 25+ 40.7s on the line! Help me make this happen. Kris Werner RCR Yachts Rochester NY
40.7 Class News- Recently there has been some great discussions regarding formalizing some class rules for the 40.7 fleets across the USA and Canada. Additionally there has been talk of a National or North American championship regatta. I have been representing what I believe to be the local interest in discussions with Beneteau, and the fleets throughout the US. There has been a fairly complete set of proposed class rules which were recently drafted. I will not go into specifics on the rules but will be providing a copy to everyone very shortly. Once everyone has read these rules and my summary, I would strongly encourage all 40.7ers to contact myself or Gary Edelman of Beneteau to voice your opinions. As a long time one-design person and someone who has sailed the 40.7 a fair amount I will briefly touch on a few of my own opinions. The following is a summary of a 40.7 Conference call from November 16th. The participants included owners from fleets in San Diego, NJ, RI, Chicago, and Rochester. Sails-(brief summary) Only 2 new sails are to be purchased each year A Sail Button program will be instituted where as each sail carries a button(~$10 per sail) and registers that sail for each boat, and also generates revenue for class management and events. Mainsail & Spinnaker sizes are to be to PHRF/IRC/ORR maximum without penalties Genoa – 155% max. Allow asymmetrical spinnakers, code zeros, and jib tops for distance racing only. Equipment- Allow Carbon Poles(Talk to myself or Corbo, we are working on a very good fleet price!) Allow additional purchase and blocks for outhaul, jib cars, and backstay. Hydraulic Backstay can be replaced with high tech line(except PBO) Crew/Driver- Basically an owner/driver rule, however long term/regular crew is OK, and pros only if they own the boat. Crew weight limit will be max number of people allowed under PHRF/IRC(11 I think?) Weights of boats was discussed, however some of the heavier boats, of those already weighed, have been winning so the requirement to weigh all boats was thought to be unnecessary. Website- The class is in the preliminary stages of setting up a national site to facilitate events, class discussions, and all kinds of boatspeed tips & tricks, etc… Now for the exciting stuff!!! Regattas! A National or North American Championship, as well as regional championships is something which everyone wants. Beneteau is very committed to making this work and is looking into discounted trucking or transportation, as well as local regatta support. It is my recommendation to the class that this 1st regatta could be somewhere on the Lakes. Although Rochester would certainly accommodate, it is probably the most fair to have it in Chicago or maybe even Toronto or Buffalo, based on the travel distance for boats on both coasts. If this sounds like a great idea then voice your support and opinions! The local area should be very proud to have such a strong 40.7 fleet, only San Diego and Chicago have fleets anywhere near the size of Lake Ontario! Wouldn’t it be exciting to go head to head with the rest of the country at a National Championship, imagine 25+ 40.7s on the line! Help me make this happen. Kris Werner RCR Yachts Rochester NY