America's Cup Measurement rules published by Swiss Defender
by Richard Gladwell on 7 Aug 2009
BMW ORACLE Racing - Another tonne of live crew weight will dramatically sink the 5.5 tonne BOR90 - extending the waterline as the overhang is immersed BMW Oracle Racing Photo Gilles Martin-Raget
http://www.bmworacleracing.com
The simple measurement rules for the 33rd America's cup have been published ahead of the New York Supreme Court hearing on 10 August to consider the Customs House Registry issue.
Societe Nautqiue de Geneve has defined a set of seven measurement rules for the Deed of Gift event.
In an accompanying letter, SNG officials state:
'The purpose of the measurement will be to confirm that the dimensions of GGYC challenging vessel are the same as the dimensions certified by you, yourself as Commodore, in the Certificate of name, ownership, rig and specified dimensions, which was attached to your notice of challenge dated July 11, 2007.
'The requirement to match these dimensions as measured using these procedures shall apply for measurement prior to the start of racing and for any measurement checks during the racing period.
'We confirm that the same procedures shall apply to the vessel that the Defender will name on the start of the first race and which will have to comply with the dimensions of the load water-line as per the Deed of Gift requirements.'
At first blush the rules appear to be quite standard, however as with everything in this America's cup there is a sting in the tail with the boats to be measured with crew aboard, to be in 'load' condition.
Normally waterlines are measured with all sailing gear aboard, and with the crew weighed separately, off the boat, if there is a weight restriction.
The rules sting could work against BMW Oracle Racing, at this stage, as they do not have a motor on their trimaran BOR90 to power winches, and instead carry an extra eight grinders - or close to a tonne of live weight.
Given that BOR90, and Alinghi 5, both feature long overhangs believed to be in excess of the 90ft permitted by the Deed of Gift for maximum waterline, the 'sink' effect of another tonne of live weight aboard a yacht displacing about 5.5tonnes is significant, and would dramatically increase the length of the yacht.
It is not known if BMW Oracle Racing have designed their yacht to include crew to stay within the 90ft Load Water Line parameter or if the crew were excluded from their design calculations.
Alinghi 5's designers would have known the measurement long before they were published, and presumably took into account the live crew factor. Although to be fair, the weight of the grinder system is generally reckoned to be lighter than the hydraulic system favoured by Alinghi 5, and that is without the weight of the engine, mounted on the rear crossbeam. However the nett effect is still believed to give Alinghi 5 a weight advantage, when live weight is taken into account.
The rules also imply that water ballast tanks will be weighed empty, another factor in favour of the light weight Alinghi 5.
The published Measurement Rules are:
Measurement procedures for 33rd America’s Cup issued by SNG 6 August 2009
1. For the purposes of measurement, the 'length on load water line' is the distance between a line perpendicular to the yacht’s centre line and passing through the furthest forward point of intersection of the yacht with its water-line plane, and a line perpendicular to the yacht’s centre line and passing through the aftermost point of intersection of the yacht with its water line plane.
2. For the purposes of measurement, the 'beam at load waterline' is the distance
between a line parallel to the yacht’s centre line and passing through the
furthest starboard point of intersection of the yacht with its waterline plane, and a line parallel to the yacht’s centre line and passing through the furthest port point of intersection of the yacht with its water-line plane.
3. The center board(s) or sliding keel, if any, shall not be considered a part of the yacht for any purposes of measurement. The 'draught of water' shall be
measured with such center board(s) or sliding keels fully retracted.
4. The 'length on load water line', 'beam at load water-line', and 'draught of water' shall be measured with the yacht in 'load condition'.
5. 'Load condition' shall mean the yacht has on board all equipment aboard while racing and shall include all sails, spars, computers, spares, consumables, anchors, warps, safety equipment and crew. All of the above shall be in their
normal position. Ballast used during measurement shall be maintained in the same location whilst racing.
6. The 'extreme beam' shall be measured in accordance with the instructions published on the website of the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center.
7. For the purposes of measurement, the yacht shall be floated in 'load condition' in calm water of a specific gravity of 1.025, at the venue of the Match, at a location designated by the measurer.
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