IOMICA Forum

Hi Bruce, I have to say that I focus more on the word "fixed" - i.e., immovable in normal circumstances. Screwed to the mast, stuck to the mast, pinned to the mast, clamped to the mast, are all "fixed". As opposed to moving/rotating/etc. I am sure it is frustrating for all that the class rules ...

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the question. I feel that the reasoning is as follows:

1. A vang is a part of the running rigging (ERS F.1.7(b)(xi), in turn, a part of the rigging.
2. Rigging “… includes associated fittings which are not permanently fixed to a hull, spar, or spreader (ERS F.1.6)” – my ...

Hi Bruce,

You are alluding to IOM CR F.2.4(d), the full text of which is as follows:

Where the mast vang fitting and/or gooseneck:
(1) are exposed,
(2) are not of circular cross section, and
(3) rotate,

they shall not exceed 20 mm in any cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation ...

Thanks Bruce.

In advance of any changes being made to the RRS, organisers of events who are concerned about the issues associated with video coverage should consider adding to the Sailing Instructions for their event the following:

A protest , whether by a committee or another boat, request for ...

Hi Bruce – I hope this is not too topical in the context of the IOM Worlds.

For all the reasons that you cite, and to cut a long story short, I would be very much in favour of adding to RRS E6.8 as follows:


E6.8

Add a new rule 63.4(g)

g) When a protest concerns an alleged breach of a rule of ...

A couple of things.

1. There is a "Q&A" on vangs acting in compression (https://www.iomclass.org/iom-questions-and-answers/) - I have included the original text as an attachment for those that have not seen it.

2. The 2026 revision of the IOM Class Rules (currently with IRSA awaiting approval ...

Hi all,

Apologies for the delay in finalising this discussion.

Thank you again to all those that have contributed to this discussion. It has been a journey and considerable effort has been made to find a resolution. However, this journey appears to have simply taken us back to where we all started ...

Hi Art,

Thanks again for your question.

The short answer is that there are no licensed IOM class sailmakers in the terms of Class Rule G.2.2(b).

G.2.2(b) was adopted into the IOM Class Rules from the World Sailing Standard Class Rules (SCR) and refers to the World Sailing In-House Equipment ...

Hi Art - thanks for the question. It is an interesting one.

I will do some follow up on this and post a response once I have it clarified.

Regards

Andrew
VC Technical

Thanks to Jeff, Olivier, and Zvonko for the comments.

A few people have expressed the view, as Jeff has, that things would be much simpler if the vang style was restricted to the “… simple metal rod with thumb adjustment …”. However, Class Rules F.2.5 and F.6.1 respectively permit that ...

Hi Jerry, thanks for this. I assume it did not pass the ring gauge test when that was a part of the rules in 2024? Something else to think about for sure.

Andrew

Hi all,

It looks as though we have reached the natural end of this discussion and I thank all who have contributed - I have certainly learned a lot.

I am now working with the other members of the Technical Committee on an Interpretation that will provide guidance on this topic. According to the ...

Thanks Bob.

Without wishing to go down this rabbit hole too far - it is not really the central question - but for the purposes of accuracy only. Two options were available for voting at the 2025 AGM:

The proposal from the Croatian NCA for the 20 mm ring gauge test
The proposal from the French ...

Correction. 2025 20 mm ring gauge YES vote was 58% of votes.

Thanks to Gabriel and Bob for their comments.

It is very pleasing that the discussion has helped clarify the current state of the rules – so thanks very much for that positive feedback.

As to Bob’s suggestion that there be a poll of owners. I am a little surprised at the muted (i.e. no) response ...

Hi Bruce, thanks for the comments,

I do feel that we are circling now with arguments simply being restated rather than quantified. Therefore, if the contention is that these “plate” vangs break F.2.3, it would be helpful if you can quantify that statement. For example:

What are the dimensions at ...

Thanks to Odd for his contribution - good to hear a new voice.

It does appear to be good news that the concept of a defined combined surface area for all fittings that rotate with the boom has a level of consensus. We are left, as I alluded previously, with the task of understanding what that ...

Dear all,

It is not my role to police individual behaviour but, nevertheless, I do not find attacks on individuals, or the questioning of individual motivations, at all helpful and would ask that they stop - at least in those discussions that I have initiated. As I have noted many times now, the ...

Thanks to Brad, Zvonko, Alberto, Robert, and John for their comments. I particularly want to thank Alberto for making me laugh at the prospect of this all being a “scandal”. I am going to assume that scandalo in Italian has the same meaning as scandal does in English and so includes the sense of ...

Thanks Darin, Alberto, and Bruce for your comments.

If I may recapitulate somewhat.

I have no doubt that the larger “plate” style vangs are intended to add some advantage. I do not personally know what that advantage is intended to be but, provided they are compliant with the rules, there should ...

Hi Brad, Alberto, and Zvonko, thanks all for your feedback. It is very much appreciated.

It would seem that I will need to improve the drafting of the new F.2.4(d) so that its meaning is clearer. I also take on board both Zvonko and Brad’s observation that the area of the boom vang fitting that ...

Dear all,

Distilling all the comments received so far, and to begin to bring this to a conclusion, I would like to propose the following:

Modify rule F.2.3 to read as follows:
o F.2.3 LIMITATIONS
(a) The function of items shall be limited to what is normally provided by items of their type.
(b ...

Hi Zvonko, thanks as always for the contribution.

If I may reinforce one point that you make (leaving open views on the dimensional aspects) and wax slightly philosophical ...

While the IOM Class Rules are "closed class rules" (in accordance with ERS C.2 which only gives two choices - "closed ...

Hi Art,

The question of a vang being in compression did arise at the 2024 Worlds. During pre-event measurement, the vang was checked to ensure that there was "play" in the adjuster such that the boom could move in the downward direction indicating no compression. It was the adjustment mechanism ...

Thanks to Brad, Darin, Robert, Bruce, and Zvonko for the contributions to the discussion.

Darin's question as who determines "class legal" is answered in the IOMICA Constitution - the short answer being the Executive Committee of IOMICA. The longer answer, of course, involves the Technical ...

Hi John - thanks for your contribution.

As to your central question - yes, I believe that IOMICA (through me) needs to make a clear statement on what is (and is not) conformant with the current class rules - preferably by way of affirming the application of the current rules. The purpose of this ...

Thanks Gabriel, Bruce, and Zvonko for your comments.

To Gabriel's point, and recognising the danger in ascribing motivation, the "bent vang" shown in Zvonko's response has the effect of allowing a boom attachment point for the vang that is further aft (further from the mast) than a straight line ...

Hi Art, thanks for your thoughts.

In referencing the definition of “closed class rules”, you raise a very interesting point. The IOM Class Rules note at the outset that “… anything not specifically permitted by the class rules is prohibited. Individual rules may require, limit, or permit as ...

Dear all,

Attached is a discussion paper on the IOM Class Rules as they pertain to the maximum size of a vang/kicking strap. As noted in the paper, it is not an "interpretation" nor the "answer" to the question. Rather, it seeks to establish where we are now, how we got here, and where we might go ...

Hi Malcom, thanks again for your query and apologies for the delay in responding.

The question of foils on rudders is addressed in the Q&A section of this website (https://www.iomclass.org/iom-questions-and-answers/) and, while the text is being revised to incorporate changes to the ERS, the answer ...