Following the email vote at the end of 2019, the 2020 edition of the Class Rules has been published and is now available on the World Sailing website.
The rules can be downloaded here and came into effect from 11th May 2020.
https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/OKD2020CR20200506-[26308].pdf
The amendments are listed here:
https://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/OKD2020CRC20200506-[26307].pdf
It has been a long process to get these out due to time pressures with World Sailing and then, just as they were about to be published, the staff were all furloughed because of COVID-19.
The main changes that everyone needs to note are:
• The tow rope must now be carried outside a buoyancy tank, and not inside a hatch.
• The way the mast movement is measured has been changed depending on whether it sits in a fore and aft direction or perpendicular to the centreline
• The definition for allowed PFDs have changed
• There is now a provision to limit equipment (masts, hull appendages, booms) to one of each at championships. It needs to be invoked in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions and it is expected to be introduced from 2021.
• Masts are now allowed to be built and separated into three pieces.
The more keen eyed will also notice some improvements in the formatting and punctuation.
Please read the list of amendments to understand all the changes.
It is planned to explain all the changes more fully in the next edition of the OK Dinghy Magazine.
– Robert Deaves
