New Equipment Allowed on Access Class Dinghies
5th August 2009
New Equipment Allowed on Access Class Dinghies news article
New Equipment Allowed on Access Class Dinghies
From: Richard Smallwood
UK Representative, International Access Class Association, and
Chairman, ACA(UK) Technical Committee
The attention of UK Access class sailors and their helpers is drawn to the IACA website http://www.accessclass.org/ - Technical – Equipment Applications. A number of proposals for additional or modified equipment to be fitted to Access dinghies have been approved. There are 10 “Applications for Replacement or Additional Equipment” (RAEs) which have been considered by the IACA Technical Committee and nine have been approved after one was withdrawn by me.
Two of the newly approved proposals, RAE003 and RAE004, cover modifications which are already allowed in ACA(UK) events and are covered by the Special Class Rules 4.1 and 4.2, available via the ACA(UK) website. These relate to additional blocks and cleats for control of the clew outhaul in all classes, and an additional mainsheet block for Access 303 and Liberty classes.
Particular attention is drawn to 2 and 4 below which some members may wish to implement.
The new equipment now specifically allowed in the UK, and world-wide, by these RAEs is:
1. RAE001 and RAE005 – A cleat console is allowed on top of the keel in all versions of the Access Liberty.
2. RAE002 and RAE010 – In all classes a turning block is now allowed at the end of the boom for the clew outhaul.
3. RAE007 – Cam cleats on top of the keel are officially allowed for Access 2.3 mainsheets in place of the standard clam cleats.
4. RAE008 – The console turning block for Access 2.3 mainsheets may now be a ratchet block.
5. RAE009 – In all classes the eyes in the console for the mainsheet reefing lines may be replaced by box sheaves to allow easier reefing.
These changes take effect immediately for ACA(UK) events. In the full description of each RAE on the IACA website a suggestion is given for an appropriate block or fitting. If assistance is needed to interpret the changes allowed, a member of the ACA(UK) Technical Committee should be consulted.
It is hoped that those ACA(UK) members who would find the new equipment allowed helpful will take advantage of these changes.
If ACA(UK) members have other suggestions for new or alternative equipment for Access Class boats, these should be submitted firstly to the ACA(UK) Technical Committee through the Secretary of ACA(UK).
Richard Smallwood – 4 August 2009
