Back to LMSRF home page

SNAPSHOT BACKGROUND

In US SAILING’s database, there are a number of J/35 boats that have had complete hull, freeboard, and inclination measurement. It was found that while we think of J/35’s being a “one-design” that the boats in measurement trim (definition found at - http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/Americap/Meas%20Trim.pdf) weighed between 9,500 and 11,500 pounds. Similar data was found with other one-design boats. Keep this in mind as you weigh (pun intended) through the following tips.

FIRST TIP

TO YOUR BOATS RATING ADVANTAGE (HANDICAPPED BOATS ONLY)

The vast majority of the 2002 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac boats have standard hull forms in the US SAILING database. A hull form is a three-dimensional computer image of the hull shape. For those of you who are lucky to be in this group (it costs a bit of money to get a new hull shape into the computer!) we have learned that it is in your best interest to have a one or possibly two additional measurements made of your boat before the 2003 race.

To assure every one can race, a lower quality “Great Lakes AMERICAP II Certificate” has been created. What this type of certificate does is eliminates any additional measurement above the hull form that US SAILING already has. What is your rating going to be with this type of certificate? Using the J/35 example above, your certificate would automatically rate your boat using the 9,500-pound weight and you will receive a rating that says your boat speed is faster than it actually is. When you have, your boat weighed and it comes in at 11,500 pounds you will receive a rating that says your boat speed is slower than the quote-unquote sistership, giving you an accurate rating for the reality of what your boat’s weight actually is. Changes of weight can have a 9-second per mile rating advantage! Do you want to give this away?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO GET THE FIRST TIP?

To “weigh” your boat is a simple process. Make an appointment with a “Certified Freeboard Measurer” which there are 23 of around Lake Michigan. After your boat is launched in the spring, you will need to find a quiet day, the downwind end of a finger dock, no boats running around making wavelets and a light breeze or no breeze. Most of the time you will find this measurement performed close to dawn. Your boat will need to be in measurement trim – stuff that comes off the boat; this is your job, not the measurers (checklist found at http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/Americap/Meas%20Checklist.pdf). The measurer and you will complete a Measurement Inventory Form – stuff that stays on the boat, prior to measurements being taken (http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/Americap/Meas%20Inv.pdf). The freeboard measurer will measure the height of the measurement points on the bow and stern off the water which tells the computer how much of the hull form is in the water, which calculates the “displacement,” or weight, of the boat.

The worst-case scenario for all of your efforts is that your boat could measure in at 9,500-pound example, and your effort will be fruitless and you receive the appropriate rating for your boat, which is not all bad. The best-case scenario is that your boat actually weighs more and you get the best rating possible for your boat and receive a complete full AMERICAP II Certificate.

HOW DO YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CERTIFIED FREEBOARD MEASURER

Go to http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/Americap/Freebrd_Msrs.htm. Pick and call a measurer and set up an appointment as soon as you possibly can. If you wait until the last minute, the weather can prevent a measurement of your boat and you could miss the deadline for measurement. Give yourself ample time.

SECOND TIP

TO YOUR RATING ADVANTAGE (HANDICAPPED BOATS ONLY)

US SAILING shall review each displacement measurement. If your boat weighs significantly more than the lightest sistership in the database, US SAILING will let you know immediately (one quick cell phone call with the freeboard measurements) that an incline measurement needs to be performed on your boat. Less than 5% of the fleet may need an incline measurement performed. What this test does is establish the center of gravity (with the question answered, where is all of that extra weight placed, up high, or down low?) and the stability of the boat which are important measurements for your boat’s rating, again giving your boat an advantage over the automatic conservative measurement US SAILING will assign without this measurement. If it is determined that your boat needs an inclination test after the weight test, you may elect not to have this performed; you can still get a Great Lakes AMERICAP II Certificate. We do not recommend this measurement if it is not determined to be necessary by the Offshore Director of US SAILING, Dan Nowlan.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO GET THE SECOND TIP?

What is an Incline Test? Your spinnaker pole is mounted on the deck perpendicular to your boat, the distance from the centerline is measured and weighed jugs of water are hung off the end of it and the number of degrees the boat tilts is measured. This is repeated with the pole set out the other side from the first measurement, Then back again to the original side. From this, your boat’s righting moment can be determined

Currently the special “Freeboard Measurers” are not certified to do this work. It requires hiring an AMERICAP II/IMS certified measurer. Find them here http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/measure.htm

WHAT IF YOU DO NOT OPT TO GET ANY MEASUREMENTS MADE?

By now, it should be clear that the best advice is to get these relatively simple measurements made to your boat by certified measurers. If you run out of time and can not schedule a measurement of your boat, there is the back-up system in place of acquiring what is called a “Great Lakes AMERICAP II Certificate.” Though it will include the lightest weight for your boat, which will be a disadvantage to you before you even cross the starting line.

THIRD TIP

ONE-DESIGN FLEETS ONLY

A few classes are certified under AMERICAP II as One-Design classes (Farr40OD and Tartan 10).  What this means is that the quality of manufacturing has been proven through measurements of a statistical sampling of random hulls within the class that their weight came out equal (within an acceptable tolerance). If your boat is certified under AMERICAP II as a One-Design class (no AMERICAP II measurements are needed), we recommend that you purchase a full AMERICAP II which will require you to provide a copy of your 2003 letter to your class that certifies that your boat is in class measurement, along with your AMERICAP II application form.

If your class is not certified under AMERICAP II and racing boat for boat is all that matters, we recommend that you and your friends racing your sister ships each purchase a Great Lakes AMERICAP II Certificate and skip any measurement. In the J/35 example, you will each receive the 9,500 pound certificate. We urge you to recognize that measurement rules pick up differences in measurements from one boat to the next. If you feel it “unfair” that a measurement rule rates a one-design boat different than its sister ship, we recommend that you go to your one-design class and recommend new one-design rules and class measurements that make your boats alike (within acceptable tolerances). To become a certified class, a statistical number of the class boats will need complete measurement before the class can receive class certification in AMERICAP II.

DEADLINE

Chicago Yacht Club has established a rating submission deadline of June 27, 2003.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF ANY OF THIS?

Fortunately, the Chicago Yacht Club Mackinac Committee has made a special deal with US SAILING. Normally, a full AMERICAP II Certificate, after Freeboard and possibly Inclining Measurement would cost you: $10 + $3/ft. LOA.

For this year and this race only, a one-time special full AMERICAP II Certificate (Best Handicap Rating for You) or Great Lakes AMERICAP II Certificate (Disadvantaged Rating for You) which also is not transportable to other AMERICAP II races in the U.S will cost you: $2/ft. LOA. US SAILING is giving you the incentive to get a full AMERICAP II Certificate this year.

Freeboard Measurement: Since this is the first effort to certify measurers, we recommend that you call around. We have heard that some may donate their time, others may ask for a donation for their favorite junior sailing program, and others may charge a simple fee (one suggested $50).

Inclining Measurement: Approximately $400

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE LMSRF MEASUREMENT RULES COMMITTEE?

We want to provide our members and member clubs with a measurement rule on Lake Michigan, where physical measurements of each boat provides the best possible outcome of quality and fairness for the entire fleet. This is a quality control effort. We recognize that from the time of launch to the start of the Race to Mackinac will be a push for all boats to get measured. To this end, we have set a goal to see that 97% of the fleet receive full AMERICAP II Certificates. We will monitor the complete AMERICAP II certificates issued vs. the number of boats for the Chicago Mackinac race that apply for the lesser quality Great Lakes Certificates and post this percentage on the LMSRF website at www.lmsrf.org/americap.

QUESTIONS?

Any question about this advice should be directed to Tom McIntosh (LMSRF) at mcmisty@ameritech.net (847) 438-2425 or Glenn McCarthy (LMSRF) gmccarthy@myersbriggs.com (312) 425-2369.

Any question about Americap II measurement, fleet certification, whether or not inclination test is needed, should be directed to Dan Nowlan (US SAILING) at DanNowlan@ussailing.org (401)683-0800

Tom McIntosh,
Measurement Rules Committee Chair