1997
B14 CLASS RULES
Authority* : International Sailing Federation
Draft 4 Nov 1997
The B14 was designed in 1986 by Julian Bethwaite.
Section A Fundamental Rules
A.1 Type of Class Rules
A.1.1 These are closed class rules.
A.1.2 Any alteration of the: form or construction of the hull or foils, equipment, fittings, spars, or running rigging, as supplied by a B14 licensed builder or supplier, unless specifically approved by these rules, is prohibited.
A.2 Abbreviations
ISAF International Sailing Federation
MNA ISAF Member National Authority
ICA B14 Class Association
NCA National Class Association
ERS Equipment Rules of Sailing
RRS Racing Rules of Sailing
A.3 Authority
A.3.1 The international authority of the class is the ISAF which shall cooperate with the ICA in all matters concerning these class rules.
A 3.2 The ISAF, an MNA, the ICA, an NCA or an official measurer is under no legal responsibility in respect of these class rules.
A.4 Language
A.4.1 The official language of the class is English and in case of dispute over translation the English text shall prevail.
A.4.2 The word &laqno;shall» is mandatory and the word &laqno;may» is permissive.
A.5 ISAF Rules
A.5.1 These class rules shall be read with ERS and measurements shall be taken in accordance with these unless specified. Where a term is used in its defined sense, it is printed in &laqno;bold» type if defined in ERS and in &laqno;italic» type if defined in RRS.
A.6 Interpretation of Class Rules
A.6.1 Any interpretations of the class rules, except as provided in A.7, shall be made by a ICA chief measurer, subject to ratification by ISAF in cooperation with the ICA.
A.7 Interpretation of the Class Rules at an Event
A.7.1 Interpretations of the class rules at an event shall be made in accordance with the RRS and the race organising authority shall, as soon as practical after the event, inform the ISAF and the ICA of such a ruling.
A.8 Event Measurement
A.8.1 In the case of a measurement dispute on any part or item of the boat, the following procedure shall be adopted;
A sample of 5 other boats, shall be taken and measured using identical techniques. The dimensions of the disputed boat shall be equal to, or between, the maximum and minimum dimensions obtained from these 5 boats. If the boat in question is outside these dimensions the matter, together with any relevant information, shall be referred to the ICA, which shall give a final ruling. If any of the dimensions of the sample are considered to be unusual, all relevant information shall be referred by the ICA to the ISAF.
Section B Organisation
B.1 Administration of the Class
B.1.1 The class is administered by the B14 Class Association.
B.2 International Class Fee and ISAF Plaque
B.2.1 The international Class Fee shall be paid by the licensed hull builder to the ISAF.
B.2.2 All hulls shall bear the ISAF class plaque.
B.3 Measurement Certificate
B.3.1 Measurement certificates are not issued.
B.4 Amendments to Class Rules
B.4.1 Amendments to the class rules shall be proposed by the ICA in accordance with its constitution and submitted for approval by ISAF.
Section C Conditions for Racing
The crew and the boat shall comply with the rules in this section before the preparatory signal and when racing.
C.1 Identification on Sails
C.1.1 The sail number shall be the number shown on the ISAF class plaque.
C.1.2 The national letters and the sail numbers shall comply with the RRS except where specified otherwise.
C.1.3 The national letters and the sail numbers shall be wholly between the 2nd and 3rd batten pockets from the head point.
C.1.4 The base of the national letters and the sail numbers shall be approximately parallel to the batten pockets.
C.2 Equipment
C.2.1 LIMITATIONS
(a) Apart from what is permitted by C.2.2-4, only equipment listed in the part list Appendix 1 shall be used.
(b) Apart from what is permitted by C.2.2-5, no function may be extended or added.
(c) No part of a boat shall be replaced during an event, other than to replace equipment damaged beyond repair before the next race. Such replacements may be made only with the approval of the race committee, and no re-substitutions of the original equipment may then be made, except with the approval of the race committee.
(d) Standing rigging shall not be adjusted when racing.
(e) The forestay shall be fitted to either a track or to a bow ring. If a bow ring is fitted then a highfield lever may be use to apply rig tension.
(f) No holes may be made in the hull or deck mouldings, except for the fitting of Optional Items (a), and (d) and the purpose of making replacements or repairs see C2.5
(g) The vang may be led to a cleat either side of the boat restricted by Appendix 2 Area A or to the forward outrigging wing tubing provided that the total purchase of the vang does not exceed 16:1.
(h) The mainsail cunningham may be led to a cleat either side of the boat restricted by Appendix 2 Area A or to the forward outrigging wing tubing or cleated to the mast provided that the total purchase does not exceed 8:1.
(i) The headsail sheets may be led through non ratchet blocks attached to the headsail clew or led through the clew to effect 2:1 headsail sheeting.
(j) A system for the sole purpose of opening or closing the gennaker bag is allowed using not more than two non-ratchet blocks and a single cleat. One length of shockcord and one line may also be use for this purpose.
(k) Padding may be used in the centreboard case - the thickness of such padding may be varied to provide an optimum friction fit for the centreboard, but it shall be of substantially uniform thickness for the length of the centreboard case.
(l) The bowsprit shall not project more than 3760 mm from the reference point described in Appendix 2.
(m) The jib and gennaker halyard shall be limited to 1:1 purchase.
(n) The distance between the top shrouds at the spreaders shall be 730mm ±20mm.
(o) The distance between the bottom shrouds at the spreaders shall be 900mm ±10mm.
(p) All boats shall comply with Appendix 1,2 & 3.
C.2.2 OPTIONAL
(a) Timing devices, removable for weighing.
(b) Mechanical wind indicators.
(c) Tuffs or ribbons in the sails and rigging.
(d) Maximum two compasses, removable for weighing.
(e) A single non-ratchet block for the gennaker sheet with a sheave diameter of 30-40mm attached in Area B as describe in Appendix 2.
(f) Shockcord tails in ropes.
(g) A single non-ratchet block, in the gennaker halyard between the sail and the mast spar, with a sheave of not more than 20 mm diameter and attached with a shockcord tail leading to the mast heel via the opening for the forestay or a hole drilled below the forestay opening.
(h) Maximum 1 toe strap on each wing for which eyelets may be attached to any part of the outriging tubes of the wings. Additional shockcord and rigid material may be added for the sole purpose of supporting the toe straps.
(i) Storage devices within the cockpit.
(j) Non-skid tape or patches provided they are not more than 3 mm thick, made from a flexible material and attached to the deck moulding or the wings.
(k) One tie down loop, bolted through the gunwale flange on each side to be totally within 600 mm to 1000 mm behind the chainplates, to facilitate securing the hull to a trailer or dolly.
(l) A tube of not more than 25mm in diameter and less than 1000mm in length may be fitted over the lower part of the forestay.
(m) Wedges may be fitted under jib sheet, vang, cunningham, gennaker halyard, gennaker tackline cleats for the sole purpose of providing a fairer lead to the cleat jaws.
(n) A chainplate may used to secure the jib tack.
(o) A 2:1 purchase can be used on the main halyard.
(p) Chocking is permitted around the mast gate.
(q) Lengths of shockcord maybe add at the stern of the boat to avoid sheets and tiller extensions from wedging or fouling.
(r) Bobbles may be added to lines and halyards provided they do not introduce a new function that can be achieved otherwise.
C.2.3 MODIFICATIONS
(a) The tiller may be modified.
(b) The hull, daggerboard and rudder blade may be sanded and painted and polished.
(c) The trampolines may be substituted by any material provided the area enclosed by the wing tubing cannot be penetrated by a sailors foot.
(d) The mainsheet shall be rigged either:
(i) with a ratchet block as the last block shackled to the boom spar, in which case a fairlead may be attached to the floor plinth; or
(ii) with a block with a 30-40 mm sheave as the last block shackled to the boom spar and block attached to the floor plinth via a shackle or a swivel base, which may include a cleat.
C.2.4 REPLACEMENTS FROM OPTIONAL SUPPLIERS
(a) Replacements shall be fitted in the same position as the standard fitting, or as close as is structurally possible.
(b) Any cleat may be replaced with a cleat of any material and of substantially the same size and design.
(c) Any block may be replaced with a block of the same number of sheaves and substantially the same sheave diameter.
(d) The tiller extensions may be replaced without any restrictions as to design and material.
(e) Sheets, lines and gennaker halyard may be replaced without any restrictions as to length, diameter and taper providing no part is made of wire.
(f) Main/jib halyards and Main sheet strop may be replaced by lines or wires of any material.
(g) Rig pins may be replaced by quick pins or any other type of pins.
(h) Standing rigging may be replaced and shall then comply with the following:
(i) The forestay length shall be minimum 5260 mm and maximum 5360 mm, measured between the bearing points of the T ball and the pin which intersects the bow ring or track eye. If a highfield lever is used then this shall be taken into account.
(ii) The forestay and lower shrouds shall be 3.0 - 3.5 mm diameter 1x7 stainless steel wire.
(iii) The upper shrouds shall be 2.3 - 2.6 mm diameter 1x7 stainless steel wire.
(iv) The supplied shroud plates may be replaced, but shall of normal commercial availability, and have a minimum increment of adjustment of 4 mm.
C.2.5 REPAIRS
In the event of damage to any part of a boat, necessary repairs may be made provided repairs are made in such a way that the essential shape, construction detail or other characteristics are not materially affected. Fittings shall be attached in the same position as before the repair, or as close as is structurally possible.
C.3 Buoyancy
C.3.1 The watertight integrity of the hull shall be maintained.
C.3.2 A breather hole in the main bulkhead just above the receiving tube may be drilled.
C.4 Location of Hull Appendages
C.4.1 The daggerboard blade shall have a rope handle attached to two holes drilled through the top and may be secured to the boat by shockcord which may have a snap hook. The shockcords may be attached to any existing fitting.
C.4.2 The holes in the daggerboard blade for the lifting handles shall not be below the case top edge.
C.4.3 The rudder blade may have a downhaul and a cleat. A locking devise shall be fitted to lock the rudder blade in the virtical position.
C.5 Crew
C.5.1 The crew shall consist of 2 persons.
C.5.2 RRS 43.1.b and Appendix J.1 is amended so that total weight of all clothing and equipment worn is not greater than 8 kg when weighed in accordance with Appendix J as modified. The sailing instructions may increase this maximum weight to 10 kg.
C.6 Crew Weight Equalisation
C.6.1 No crew Equalistaion System shall be used.
C.7 Membership
C.7.1 At least one crew member shall be a current member of the ICA or a member of a regional, national or district class association duly established in accordance with the class constitution.
Section D Hull
D.1 Measurement
D.1.1 The hull and wings shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of manufacture. Hull fittings shall comply with the current class rules.
D.2 Builders
D.2.1 Hull builders shall be licensed by the designer, or after his death or retirement, the copyright holder of the B14 class design.
Section E Hull Appendages
E.1 Measurement
E.1.1 The hull appendages shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of manufacture.
E.2 Manufacturers
E.2.1 Manufacturers shall be licensed by the designer, or after his death or retirement, the copyright holder of the B14 class design.
Section F Rig
F.1 Measurement
F.1.1 Spars shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of manufacture. Rigging shall comply with the current class rules.
F.2 Manufacturers
F.2.1 Spar manufacturers shall be licensed by the designer, or after his death or retirement, the copyright holder of the B14 class design.
F.3 Restrictions
F.3.1 No yacht may start with mast or boom which has a permanent bend.
Section G Sails
G.1 Measurement
G.1.1 Sails shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of manufacture.
G.1.2 Measurement shall be carried out in accordance with the ERS.
G.2 Sailmakers
G.2.1 Sailmaker is optional.
G.3 Mainsail
G.3.1 CONSTRUCTION
(a) The construction shall be: Soft sail, single ply sail.
(b) The body of the sail shall be constructed of Dacron, or laminated ply throughout. Where a sail is laminated the film shall be of Polyester and the ply fibres shall be of Polyester and/or Kevlar.
(c) Reinforcement shall consist of the same materials permitted in the body of the sail. Patch size is unlimited.
(d) Windows, if fitted, shall consist of single ply transparent material.
(e) The sail shall have a maximum of Five glassfibre battens.
(f) All batten pockets shall be full length.
(g) The sail shall be loose footed.
(h) The following are permitted: Stitching, glues, woven and PTFE tapes, adhesive Dacron for chafe points and seam reinforcement, bolt ropes, corner eyes, Tack and Cunningham eye or pulley, batten pocket end protectors, batted retaining devices, mast and boom slides, leech line with cleat, two windows located below the halfway width measurement, sailmaker labels, sail numbers, class insignia and tell tales.
G.3.2 DIMENSIONS
Minimum Maximum
Leech Length 6410 mm 6460 mm
Foot Meridian 6250 mm
Half Width 2025 mm
Three Quarter Width 1400 mm
Greatest Dimension of
Headboard from Head Point 120 mm
Head Point to intersection of
luff and centreline of uppermost
batten pocket 1200 mm
Length of uppermost batten pocket 1360 mm
G.3.3 CLASS INSIGNIA
The class insignia shall be silk-screened, glued or sewn onto the sail all within 1st and 2nd batten pockets from the head point.
The class insignia can be either
G.3.4 USE
(a) The sail shall be hoisted on a halyard. The arrangement shall permit hoisting and lowering of the sail at sea.
(b) The highest visible point of the sail, projected at 90° to the mast spar, shall not be set above the upper point. The leech, or its extension, shall not intersect the upper edge of the boom spar beyond the boom point.
G.4 Jib
G.4.1 CONSTRUCTION
(a) The construction shall be: Soft sail, single ply sail.
(b) The body of the sail shall be constructed of Dacron, or laminated ply throughout. Where a sail is laminated the film shall be of Polyester and the ply fibres shall be of Polyester and/or Kevlar.
(c) Reinforcement shall consist of the same materials permitted in the body of the sail. Patch size is unlimited.
(d) Windows, if fitted, shall consist of single ply transparent material.
(e) The sail shall have a maximum of Three glassfibre battens.
(f) All batten pockets shall be full length.
(g) The sail shall be fitted with a zip luff or jib hanks.
(h) The following are permitted: Stitching, glues, woven and PTFE tapes, adhesive Dacron for chafe points and seam reinforcement, corner eyes, clewboards, batten pocket end protectors, batted retaining devices, two windows located below the halfway width measurement, sailmaker labels and tell tales.
G.4.2 DIMENSIONS
Minimum Maximum
Luff Length 5100 mm
Leech Length 4450 mm
Foot Length 2235 mm
Head Width 65 mm
G.4.3 RRS 50.4. - Headsails, shall not apply
G.5 Gennaker
G.5.1 CONSTRUCTION
(a) The construction shall be: Soft sail, single ply sail.
(b) The body of the sail shall consist of woven fibres throughout. The ply fibres shall be of polyamide. The use of Polyester cloth is prohibited.
(c) Reinforcement shall consist of the same materials permitted in the body of the sail. Patch size is unlimited.
(d) The following are permitted: Stitching, glues, woven tapes, corner eyes, one window located below the halfway width measurement, sailmaker labels and tell tales.
G.5.2 DIMENSIONS
Minimum Maximum
Luff Length 7800 mm
Leech Length 6350 mm
Foot Length 4050 mm
Half Width 4300 mm
Foot Median 7300 mm
G.5.3. The gennaker may be modified by having graphics cut in, which shall not extend within 800 mm of the head point or tack and shall not extend into the outer panels or the luff, leach or foot. Such actions may not alter the original shape of the sail.
G.5.4. RRS 50.4. - Headsails, shall not apply, except that for the purposes of Appendix G Advertising, the gennaker shall be deemed a spinnaker.
APPENDIX 1 - PARTS LIST
Standard fittings list part # Options or restrictions
Mast Mast B14/Mast Licensed Builder only
Top spreader B14/LowSpr Licensed Builder or equivalent
Bottom spreader B14/TopSpr Licensed Builder or equivalent
Gennaker halyard sheeve HA15B 2mm +/- dia sheeve
Main halyard sheeve HA9B & HA10 2mm +/- dia sheeve
Jib halyard sheeve HA15B 2mm +/- dia sheeve
Gooseneck B14/Gooseneck Licensed Builder or equivalent
Main halyard wire rack HA345 Or equivalent
Main halyard turning block HA4288 & HA4250P Or equivalent
Jib halyard cleat lever CL211 Mk11 Or equivalent
Jib halyard tuning block HA4288 & HA4250P Or equivalent
Gennaker halyard cleat HA77 & HA888 pad Or equivalent
Cunningham block on gooseneck HA4350 Or equivalent
Mast heel plug B14/plug Licensed Builder or equivalent
Wires Main shrouds B14/Main Shroud Or equivalent
Upper shrouds B14/Upper Shroud Or equivalent
Forestay B14/Forestay Or equivalent
Shroud chainplate HA4772HT Minimum of 4mm adjutment and commercially available
Forestay highfield lever R4550 Or equivalent
Boom Boom section B14/Boom Licensed Builder only
Mainsheet block HA4621 Or equivalent
Outhaul B14/Outhaul Or equivalent
Bowsprit Bowsprit B14/Bowsprit Licensed Builder only
Bowsprit end plug B14/Bowsprit end Licensed Builder or equivalent
Bowsprit cheek block HA4686E Or equivalent
Bowsprit inner tube B14/Bowsprit inner Licensed Builder or equivalent
Inner tube through block HA4451 Or equivalent
Bow ring Bow ring B14/Bow ring Licensed Builder only
Jib Sheeting Deck block HA4978 Or deadeye
Turning block HA4386E Or ratchet with 30-40mm sheave
Jib cleat HA76 Or equivalent
Chainplates Chainplates JHF488 Or equivalent
Stainless backing bar B14/Chainplate Licensed Builder
Wings Wings B14/Wings Licensed Builder only
Trampolines B14/Tramps Licensed Builder or eqeuivalent
Wing pins B14/Wing pins Licensed Builder or equivalent
Wing pin deck fittings JHF388 Or equivalent
Wing horns B14/Wing horns Licensed Builder only
Gennaker turning block HA4280SC Or equivalent
Gennaker ratchet block HA1034 & HA4621 Or equivalent
Rudder/ Rudder gudgeons HA4840 (x2) Or equivalent
Daggerboard Rudder pin B14/rud. Pin Licensed Builder or equivalent
Rudder stock B14/stock Licensed Builder only
Rudder B14/rudder Licensed Builder only
Daggerboard B14/Daggerboard Licensed Builder only
Fittings Mast step B14/Mast step Licensed Builder or equivalent
Gennaker bag B14/Gennaker Bag Licensed Builder or equivalent
Cascade vang B14/Vang Licensed Builder or equivalent
Transom bar B14/ Transom Licensed Builder only
Mainsheet strop/block B14/strops & HA3280 Or equivalent
APPENDIX 2 - DECK RESTRICTIONS
All measurements in millimeters.
All measurements are taken from a point at deck level where the two bulkheads meet.
1.1 Area A - Both Vang and Cunnigham cleating positions shall lie in this area or be attached to the forward outrigging wing tubing.
1.2 Area B - A single turning block which may include a ratchet and a single cleat for the purpose of sheeting the jib shall lie in this area.
1.3 Area C - All Gennaker Sheeting turning blocks shall attach to a point on the wing within this area. Up to two turning block may be used of which only one can have a ratchet mechanism.
1.4 Area D - The Chain plates shall attach in this area.
1.5 Area E -The Mast shall pass through this area.
1.6 Area F -A single cleat for the pole outhaul shall lie in this area.
1.7 Area G -A single non ratchet turning block for the pole outhaul shall lie in this area.
1.8 Area H -The primary jib sheeting point shall lie in this area. The load bearing point shall be no more than 30mm above the deck in this area.
1.9 The rotation point of the rudder shall not be more than 2468mm from the reference point.
1.10 Cockpit kick blocks shall not be higher than or wider than 45mm. Non-skid tape is not included in this measurement.
1.11 The forestay shall intersect the forward deck level no more than 2010mm from the reference point.
1.11 The outer tubing of the wings shall be more than 450mm aft of the reference point.
APPENDIX 3 - FURTHER RESTRICTIONS
Mast
The main reference point of the Mast should be taken from the lower end of the main section of alloy.
Main Mast Alloy Tube
Grade of Alloy 6082 T6 / 6351 T5
Wall Thickness 1.6mm ± 0.1mm / 1.7mm ± 0.1mm
Overall Length 5150mm ± 5mm
Angle of cut off Max 25 ± 1
Outer Diameter 64mm ± 1mm
Inner Sleeve
Grade of Alloy 6082 T6 / 6351 T5
Wall Thickness 2.0mm ± 0.2mm / 1.9mm ± 0.2mm
Overall Length 1000mm ± 10mm
Angle of cut off Max 45 ± 2
Outer Diameter 60mm ± 1mm
Position of Sleeve Against foot
Topmast
Mast Assembled (measured from bottom of mast, ignoring mast step foot)
Overall Length 7190mm ± 5mm
Beginning of Track 1100mm ± 10mm
Lower Spreaders 2860mm ± 10mm
Upper Spreaders 5090mm ± 10mm
Shroud Holes 4985mm ± 10mm
Forestay Hole 5020mm ± 10mm
Cap Shroud Holes 6490mm ± 10mm
Gennaker Pulley (centre) 6430mm ± 10mm
Main Halyard Pulley (centre) 7150mm ± 10mm
Gooseneck (centre) 880mm ± 10mm
If the gooseneck does not lead to the centre of the boom, then the above measurement shall compensate for this fact.
Main Halyard cleating point 650mm ± 50mm
Jib Halyard cleating point 350mm ± 50mm
Shrouds (from load bearing edge of T-ball to centre of lower hole)
Main Shroud Length 4750mm ± 30mm
Upper Shroud Length 6250mm ± 30mm
Forestay Length 5310mm ± 50mm
Spreaders
Lowers
Length (from mast to shroud hole) 465mm ± 5mm
Distance between Shrouds 900mm ± 10mm
Uppers
Length (from mast to shroud hole) 365mm ± 5mm
Distance between Shrouds 730mm ± 20mm
Mast Foot
Protrusion from end of main alloy 30mm ± 5mm
Mast Step
Thickness of bearing point 5mm ± 2mm
Boom
The main reference point of the Boom should be taken from the mast.
Grade of Alloy 6082 T6 / 6351 T5
Wall Thickness 1.6mm ± 0.1mm / 1.7mm ± 0.1mm
Overall Length (from mast) 2610mm ± 10mm
Outer Diameter 64mm ± 1mm
Fittings (measured from mast)
Vang attachment (top of boom) 750mm ± 10mm
If the vang is attached to the lower side of the boom, then the above measurement shall compensate for this fact.
Main Ratchet Block 1080mm ± 10mm
Hull
No hull shall be less than 62kg. All permanently attached fixtures and fittings shall be included except those described in C.2.2.
Wings
All wings not supplied by a B14 Licensed Builders but built before 1st Jan 1997 carry a grandfather rule and are permitted.
Foils
All wooden foils built before 1st Jan 1997 carry a grandfather rule and are permitted.
APPENDIX 4 - EVENT RULES
1.1. The minimum wind speed for starting will be that in which the race committee considers the boats have sufficient capability for pre-start manoeuvres.
1.2. Races should not start, or races in progress should be abandoned when:
(a) wind gusts exceed 25 knots for more than 30 seconds
(b) wind gusts exceed 30 knots for any duration
(c) the race committee considers conditions are unsafe for sailing