Created : 22 june 2001
Last updated : 24 februari 2003
Classification : general publication
Copyright : restricted shareware
Status : Finished, valid from dec. 2002
Comments : These are the Formula 16 rules that were validated by the member vote in november 2002 with a 85 % majority
2.1.1 The full name of the class is "Formula 16 class for High Performance Catamarans"; and her official abbreviations in order of preference are Formula 16, F16, Formula 16 HP and F16 HP .
2.2.1 The Formula 16 class authority will be formed by the founder (chairman) of the class and appointed local representatives and related officials. The official communication will be handled via the official Formula 16 webpage and e-mail adress which at this time are :
www.geocities.com/F16HPclass and [email protected]
2.2.2 The Formula 16 class authority will govern both the "Formula 16" class as well as the "Open Formula 16" class. (See section D : definitions)
2.2.3 The local representatives may act as the local head of the Formula 16 class within the guidelines and restrictions layed down in the Formula 16 class framework. The decisions made by the local representatives are binding for the time till an appeal made to a higher class authority has lead to a final decision.
2.3.1 Formula 16 class rules are mildly restricted class rules indicative of a controlled development class.This means that small advancements in handling and general behaviour of the designs are allowed as long as the spirit of the rule is preserved and the continued existance of the class is assured.
2.3.2 The Formula 16 class authority however reserves the right to disallow any feature or to change, amend or add new rules to the Formula 16 rules in order to either ensure safety, garantee the class's survival, protect the class's character (spirit), satisfy the class goals or facilitate the growth of the class. This right will only be excerted with great caution and non-urgent changes, amendments or additions will be put on a pre-next-season notice and only become effective the next season.
2.4.1 When needed, and after having consulted the Formula 16 authority body, the Formula 16 class chairman shall give an interpretation on all points of the Formula 16 rule framework.
2.5.1 For the interpretation of the rules, the original text in English and SI units (metric system)
shall prevail over all translations and non SI unit conversions.
2.6.1 In case of doubt, the intention of the rule makers, which is the spirit, shall
take precedence over the letter of the rule.
2.6.2 The spirit of the rule includes, among other principles, the following considerations :
2.6.2.A Preserving general equality in overall performance between crafts of different make, accepting small variations, in order to garantee fair racing between designs of different make.
2.6.2.B Maximizing the freedom to optimize a design to personal preference and to improve the performance of a given crew and craft through refinement.
2.6.2.C The allowance to gently improve, by design, the handling and overal behaviour of a craft in small controlled steps which don't upset the balance in the class to the extend that the continued existance and growth of the class are no longer garanteed.
2.7.1 Any Formula 16 class member may propose amendments, additions or changes to the rule. They will be supported in their efforts by the Formula 16 authority with respect to communication and be given the means to propose the amendments, changes or additions to the class as a whole.
2.7.2 Only the Formula 16 authority may formalize amendments, additions and changes to the rule and will do so while consulting the class.
2.7.3 All amendments, changes or additions shall be placed on one pre-next-season notice unless the Formula 16 authoriy considers it to be essential to act immediately to prohibit or penalize a dangerous feature.
2.8.1 No class emblem is specified at this time but will be established later. Crews are however allowed to carry the character strings : "Formula 16" ; "F16 High Performance" or "F16" on their sails and hulls as long as the graphic can not be interpreted as being a sanctioned class emblem.
2.8.1 The Formula 16 authority may dispensate certain non compliant designs or features and allow these to become part of the Open Formula 16 class. Only the full compliant Formula 16 designs and Foundation boats will become part of the (closed) Formula 16 class. See section 5 for more information.
3.1.1 All measurements and calculations will be conducted and fixed in the internationally recognized SI (metric) system. Its base units are : meter (m or mtr) , kilogram (kg), seconds (s or sec.)
3.1.2 The surface area's of the sails will be determined by the methode used either by the Texel handicap system or the ISAF handicap system (SCHRS). For more information go to :
http://www.texelrating.knwv.nl/descript.html or http://www.schrs.com/default.asp?id=home
3.2.1 Only the checks, measurements and calculations performed by a measurer recognised by the
Formula 16 Authority, the Texel officials or the ISAF (Multihull Committee) are considered valid.
3.2.2 The measurement form completed (measurement sheets and calculations) and
signed by a measurer is not a measurement certificate.
3.2.3 The measurer shall record on the measurement form anything he considers
as departing from the concept or spirit of the Formula 16 rule, he shall send it with
detailed explanations on the contentious points to the Formula 16 Authority for a ruling.
3.2.4 The measurement certificate is issued by the National Authority
responsible for the administration of the rule in the country of the owner
when, after examining the completed measurement form signed by the measurer,
it considers that the boat conforms to the rules and spirit of the Formula 16 class.
3.2.5 The measurement form (measurement sheets and calculations) and the measurement
certificate are established and registered by the Formula 16 Authority or a National Authority.
3.2.6 All costs for obtaining a measurement and certificate are for the owner.
3.3.1 When measuring, the battens shall be without tension in their pockets, the sail shall be pinned on a flat surface with tension just sufficient to eliminate creases, then smoothed flat to give the longest dimensions. Whilst the sail remains pinned all the measurements necessary shall be taken, the tension should not be adjusted.
3.3.2 All the sails measured shall be marked with a contrasting coloured sticker affixed
near the clew on the starboard side. Both the measured sailarea and calculated rated sailarea shall be displayed nearby by (spray) painting the numbers on the sail.
3.3.3 The maximum permitted area shall be on the coloured stickers.
3.3.4 The actual measured area shall be on the Measurement Certificate.
3.3.5 The area and the dimensions of the spinnaker (SL1, SL2, SMG, SF) shall be
written in an indelible manner near the starboard tack.
3.4.1 The number of the measurement certificate corresponding with the boat shall be
written by the measurer :
- at the stern of the hull, on the inward facing sides ;
- at the bottom of the mast, starboard side ;
- at the starboard tack of each sail.
3.5.1 A change of ownership shall invalidate a measurement certificate, a re-registration shall be made by returning to the national authority or general authority the initial measurement certificate accompanied by the details of the new owner. A new valid certificate and registration will be returned to the new owner. It is not necessary to re-measure the boat.
3.5.2 All modifications or replacements of parts of a significant change, shall be
remeasured and notification made on the measurement certificate by a measurer
recognized by the Formula 16 Authority.
3.6.1 In the start up fase of the class the Formula 16 authority may hand out a temporary certificates, without actually measuring the craft, based on measurements made on other boats of the same type. Their certificate will become invalid when a proper measuring practice is available to the owner of the temporary certificate.