Update On Revisions To Class Rule C.7.2.(A)(5) - Hiking Lines

At the IMCA AGM on 19 November 2011 the World Council voted to revise rule C.7.2.(A)(5) to reduce the hiking line deflection.  Although the principle of this rule change was agreed, the exact amount of deflection, if any, could not be decided without further testing.  The AGM instructed the Technical Committee to undertake urgent tests to identify the correct deflection amount so that a final figure could be proposed and approved by the World Council delegates and ISAF in order that the rule change could come into force on 15 March 2012.

It was not possible in the time available in Key West to complete a full cycle of tests on additional deflection distances and so to date the Technical Committee has not been able to identify the correct deflection figure for use in this rule.

Obviously the cold weather in much of Europe and North America is restricting the opportunities for testing at the current time and without further testing it is impossible to decide on the correct deflection in time for this to be included in the Rule Changes to be ratified by ISAF on 15 March 2012.

This is a very important rule change and the Technical and Executive Committees feel strongly that it must not be rushed through without proper testing and consultation. Therefore the Executive Committee has decided that this rule change will be delayed to allow the full testing and consultation to be completed.  

The Technical Committee has been instructed to continue with its series of formal tests and seek additional input from sailors so that they can present a full and detailed review of the tests and their recommendations for the hiking line deflection to the 2012 AGM in November. A final decision on the wording of this rule change can then be made by the World Council to come into force in 2013.