Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

International Etchells Class statement on Mould 11 yachts

by Sherri Campbell 11 Mar 2021 23:45 AEDT
Victorian International Etchells Championship © Julie-Ann McPherson Photography

In accordance with a ruling by World Sailing ("WS"), the International Etchells Class Association ("IECA") confirmed today that boats produced by Pacesetter Etchells Pty ("Pacesetter") since 2011 from Mould 11 ("M11") are not valid Etchells Class Yachts under the Class Rules of the IECA.

As indicated on its website, WS has issued an Interpretation of the Etchells Class Rules, stating, among other things, that a) the IECA Class Rules require WS's approval of moulds; b) having a Hull Certificate alone renders a boat neither eligible to compete nor built in compliance with the Class Rules; and c) simply meeting the measurement criteria of the Class Rules renders a boat neither eligible to compete nor built in compliance with Class Rules.

M11 was built by Innovation Composites Pty ("IC") under subcontract to Pacesetter in 2011. To date, 25 boats have been built from M11, and have been shown using laser scan technology to be significantly different in shape than Etchells Class Yachts. Specifically they have a longer water line, less rocker, a higher degree of bilateral symmetry, and more buoyancy in the ends. WS has already established that M11 was never validated or registered by WS.

The International Etchells Class Association of Australia ("IECAA") is the owner of M11. The IECAA has steadfastly maintained that M11 boats are Etchells because they have a Hull Certificate and measure as Etchells.

Today's Interpretation establishes that these two criteria are not sufficient. The boats also have to come from a WS-approved mould. Control of the tooling for building Etchells is the cornerstone of the Strict One-Design ethos of the Class. Control of the tooling means that when a new mould is built it undergoes a rigorous validation process, as overseen by WS, to ensure that the hulls it produces are exact copies of the official Etchells shape, to within manufacturing tolerances. This process was not followed for M11 and has resulted in boats that are not the correct shape.

The IECA recognizes that this outcome may be devastating news for owners of M11 boats. They are victims of circumstances entirely not of their making and beyond their control. Regatta results prior to this ruling will not be revisited or revised. The IECA is aware of the damage to the Class that this situation has wrought, especially in Australia where most of the M11 boats are owned. While not seeking remedies retroactively, the IECA is committed to working with the IECAA, Pacesetter, IC, and other stakeholders to find solutions for these unfortunate boat owners.

The IECA is in the process of communicating with stakeholders most affected by this situation, including the owners of the 25 boats that have been built to date from M11. We are working with WS to try to enact a temporary Rule Change that will allow M11 boats to continue to compete in regional and national regattas within Australia, provided the Australian Membership is in favour of that.

The Etchells is the premier one-design keelboat and has attracted the best talent from around the sailing world to compete for bragging rights as "the best" for the past 50 years. The IECA and Etchells sailors everywhere expect to move past this unfortunate situation and continue to be the Champion's Class for the next half century and beyond.

For more information on the IECA please visit etchells.org

Related Articles

Inaugural Eastern Asia Offshore Race start
Seasoned sailors beat through the harbour in super light winds 14 boats set off from Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour in the Inaugural Eastern Asia Offshore Race, taking competitors on a 350nm journey to Tainan, the southwestern tip of Taiwan Island. Posted on 29 May
Jura Scottish Series runners and riders
Fleet are mustered in Tarbert Habour, Loch Fyne, ready to race Competitors at the Jura Scottish Series may not be assured of continued sunshine, the like of which has blessed the north of Britain for the last few weeks, but they should be blessed with breezes which seem set to build progressively. Posted on 23 May
Scottish Series champions will be back to defend
Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne starts soon Last year's overall winners of the Jura Scottish Series, Allan Manuel's Etchells 22 Bounce Back, are returning to Tarbert, Loch Fyne over the coming days looking to defend the class title which they won with a convincing scoreline. Posted on 20 May
Etchells North American Championship overall
Luke Lawrence and team win at San Diego Yacht Club The competitors for the Etchells North American Championship in San Diego left the dock Sunday morning for the final two races of the regatta with a lot of work still in front of them to determine the winner. Posted on 19 May
Etchells North American Championship day 2
Three more races held on Saturday The 2025 Etchells North American Championship continued with 3 more races on Saturday. Conditions were more favorable for racing today with wind in the 8 - 12 kt range. Posted on 18 May
Etchells North American Championship day 1
A strong day for Masfen, Cooke and Wilkinson give the NZL team top position Day one of the Etchells North American Championship started off under an AP flag with mostly cloudy skies. After an almost 90 minute delay, Race 1 got under way at 12:55 with a course bearing of 235 with 1.2 nm legs. Posted on 17 May
2025 Etchells North American Championship Preview
Racing set to Kick Off Friday May 16th in San Diego San Diego Yacht Club welcomes 39 teams competing in the 2025 Etchells North American Championships - a 3-day regatta May 16-18. Posted on 15 May
BMW Spring Regatta 2025 at RHKYC
Attracting 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture The BMW Spring Regatta attracted 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture - across four Big Boat divisions & eight one-design classes including Dragons, Etchells, Flying Fifteens, Impalas, J/80s, Pandoras, Ruffians, and Sportsboats. Posted on 13 May
Tomes Cup 2025 at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
Sixty-seven boats enjoyed fair wind in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour The finale of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2024-2025 took place in Hong Kong on Saturday 3 May, completing the series of four pursuit races to determine the top-performing boat for the season. Posted on 6 May
Jesberg Wins Etchells Orca Bowl
Busch/Madden Win Etchells West Coast Spring Series The Orca Bowl wrapped up the 2025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series on April 26-27 with a 5-race regatta sailed by 33 teams on the ocean course off of Point Loma in San Diego, CA. Posted on 29 Apr
Sea Sure 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design