AC40

[accnick]

Still intrigued by the sequencing of deliveries vs repairs/modifications

The protocol is pretty weak on the subject,
It says "Competitors will be allocated their AC40 Yachts in the following order of priority:..."

Pretty weak, but since NZ and UK have been allocated theirs, other entrants could I guess argue they should be allocated before those teams boats are modified

The only consideration for what happens after that is that each team is responsible for identifying maintenance and whether it is safe to sail (but not for structural integrity testing).

I can't find the AC40 class rule to see if there is any more in there. Anyone know where I can find it?

The AC 40 class rule does not exist,

 

[The_Alchemist]

The only thing I could find is in the Protocol v7, where it stated that there is an AC40 Class Rule:

 

[mad]

Ironicly, if this had happened a week or two ago, they could have roled out Te Kahu, or started modifying their second AC40. But now they have already made this an LEQ12 they can't now use a new platform.

That may change if a boat is written off... surely there must be something in the rules thay covers that. But as I understand it they will have to repair this hull before they can start LEQ12 testing again

How much can they change/repair under the rules?
Cut the whole bow off back to the mast and graft a whole new section on?

 

[enigmatically2]

How much can they change/repair under the rules?
Cut the whole bow off back to the mast and graft a whole new section on?

The changes will be well outside what is allowed for an LEQ12, so presumably they will have to have an exemption

 

[atnan]

The changes will be well outside what is allowed for an LEQ12, so presumably they will have to have an exemption

It seems reasonable that if you damage an LEQ12 hull, you should be able to repair it such that the hull conforms to the AC40 class rule without the hull repair being considered a LEQ12 restricted hull surface component modification.

As stated above the AC40 class rules don't seem to exist or at least haven't been published, however the AC Technical Regulations say:

7.2 The AC40 Class Rule may be amended at any time by the Defender.​

I think it goes without saying that the AC40 class rules are going to deal with repairs, so other than time and effort I don't think there are any glaring rule compliance problems for NZ as a result of this damage.

 

[Stingray~]

GD suggested they are going to be okay because they have their 2nd AC40 arriving soon. That suggests he thinks, or is arguing for the idea, that ETNZ can now go put the rig and the new foils on that 2nd boat without them violating the LEQ12 one-boat restrictions. Maybe I misread him?

 

[JALhazmat]

Someone has been conspicuous by his absence.. maybe downloading that latest spin firmware from the server?

 

[enigmatically2]

GD suggested they are going to be okay because they have their 2nd AC40 arriving soon. That suggests he thinks, or is arguing for the idea, that ETNZ can now go put the rig and the new foils on that 2nd boat without them violating the LEQ12 one-boat restrictions. Maybe I misread him?

I think he could put the rig and foils on another AC40 as long as he doesn't change a second hull. @Mozzy Sails and others think he can't.

 

[Stingray~]

I think he could put the rig and foils on another AC40 as long as he doesn't change a second hull. @Mozzy Sails and others think he can't.

But LEQ12 foils? I will be surprised if that's legal but I guess we'll see.

It is unfortunate that we can't seem to find the AC40 Class Rule anywhere, for in case it helps clarify things.

 

[Sailbydate]

Having seen many of McConaghy's creations J-70s, Patches, 80' Cruising cats etc I would tend to agree with you Sailbydate not to mention WOXI and others in the Aussie yard

I was thinking, SS that if any boatbuilding advice was needed for chopping the bow off that AC40, the McConaghy team who worked over WOXI would be pretty handy.

 

[Stingray~]

Another possibly-interesting wrinkle to the Implications subject that Mozzy introduced, is if ETNZ's AC40 plans will now have to change. For example, if they'd originally planned to keep the second AC40 as OD for use as their W/YAC race boat (if not being allowed to switch two of them to LEQ12's) then even if they can do a bunch of changing to that second AC40 then maybe they will need a third AC40, for the W/YAC racing.

There were also reports from Barcelona about them supplying 2 AC40's to a Team Barcelona for those events. Perhaps that will get scaled back to 1 AC40, if they can get out of it?

 

[enigmatically2]

But LEQ12 foils? I will be surprised if that's legal but I guess we'll see.

It is unfortunate that we can't seem to find the AC40 Class Rule anywhere, for in case it helps clarify things.

It won't, because once they are changed they aren't AC40s. It's the Tech Regs that say thes rules. Have a read and see what you think.

But they certainly cannot change anything on the deck or hull skin. So the 2nd one will always be revertable to an AC40

 

[ChairborneRanger]

GD suggested they are going to be okay because they have their 2nd AC40 arriving soon. That suggests he thinks, or is arguing for the idea, that ETNZ can now go put the rig and the new foils on that 2nd boat without them violating the LEQ12 one-boat restrictions. Maybe I misread him?

I think all he was saying, is they will be able to continue sailing. There is no way, the new AC40 can become another LEQ12.

 

[JonRowe]

I think he could put the rig and foils on another AC40 as long as he doesn't change a second hull. @Mozzy Sails and others think he can't.

I agree with you with the caveat that if they have modified the AC40 hull it becomes a LEQ12 hull but @Mozzy Sails also mentioned an interpretation which I haven't read, if one of the teams has asked about this and confirmed that installing foils onto an AC40 hull makes that boat the one and only LEQ12 hull they're a bit stuffed.

 

[Horn Rock]

I was thinking, SS that if any boatbuilding advice was needed for chopping the bow off that AC40, the McConaghy team who worked over WOXI would be pretty handy.

McConaghy's also built One Australia, that boat that never left San Diego.....

 

[enigmatically2]

I agree with you with the caveat that if they have modified the AC40 hull it becomes a LEQ12 hull but @Mozzy Sails also mentioned an interpretation which I haven't read, if one of the teams has asked about this and confirmed that installing foils onto an AC40 hull makes that boat the one and only LEQ12 hull they're a bit stuffed.

I hadn't realised it was an official interpretation. If so then of course he is right. I thought it was just a different understanding

 

[Sailbydate]

McConaghy's also built One Australia, that boat that never left San Diego.....

She was built exactly to designers scantlings and specs. though, HR.

 

[Sailbydate]

Just out of interest, how does a team go about reclaiming in-Class status, for an ex AC40, LEQ12?
I'm assuming:
1) Delete modifications
2) Restore to Rule
3) Get boat remeasured & certified

 

[ChairborneRanger]

Just out of interest, how does a team go about reclaiming in-Class status, for an ex AC40, LEQ12?
I'm assuming:
1) Delete modifications
2) Restore to Rule
3) Get boat remeasured & certified

Sounds about right

 

[Sailbydate]

Sounds about right

Any idea of a typical timeframe for the remeasuring and certification process, CB?