As stated in the Association Constitution, the basic policy is to maintain the Maricat as a restricted class, thereby ensuring the races are won by a combination of skill and tactics and not necessarily by athletic ability and / or money. The class racing rules are based on the premise that all competitors sail equivalent catamarans and that those competitors provide the skill, tactics and tuning necessary to optimise the performance of the Maricat with safety .

Where any disagreement exists between the racing rules and or the sailing instructions, the order or precedence shall be local club rules, and then the Maricat Association Racing Rules, and then the AYF rules, then the IYRU rules.

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PERSONAL BUOYANCY

Every person racing a Maricat 4.3 shall wear a buoyancy vest or life jacket, of a type approved by the Standards Association of Australia for the purpose, secured and correctly fastened to their person.

See Appendices 1,11 & 111

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RACING CLASSES The Maricat 4.3 shall be sailed in the following classes :-

Class A Cat or UNA rigged 4.3m (14') one up. Class B Sloop rigged 4.3m (14') two up. Class C Supersloop with trapeze, sloop rigged 4.3m (14') one up.

These classes may be given separate starts or sail together on the same or different course lengths as decided by the Race Committee.

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CREW WEIGHTS The minimum weight of persons sailing a Maricat 4.3 shall be as follows:

Class A 63.5 Kg (singularly) Class B 108 Kg (combined) Class C 71 Kg (singularly) .

To verify all weights, all skippers and crews shall be weighted in shorts and Tee Shirts prior to the commencement of the Championship event. Should the skipper/ crew be below minimum weight, extra weights shall be carried firmly attached to the boat. These weights ( as per IYRU Rules) must not be moved whilst the race is in progress. When the helmsman has to carry additional weight it shall be supplied by the helmsman and fixed to the boat to the satisfaction of the race committee and or the Class measurer.

All helmsman racing a Maricat 4.3 catamaran in Regional, State or National Championships shall be a paid-up member of their State Maricat Association.

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HELMSMAN AND CREW

The helmsman and crew of a Class A or Class B or Class C Maricat 4.3 must be nominated before a race or series and shall not be changed during the race or series without the written permission of the race committee. If a substitute is permitted, then that substitute must be within a weight of + /- 5 kg of the nominated person, and of similar sailing experience.

Shall be of fibreglass reinforced polyester material and shall be to registered design specifications. No modification to shape is allowed. The “ Maricat ” emblem on the side of the hull is an integral part of the boat and is therefore not classified as advertising. The emblem is not obligatory.

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SAILS

All sails shall comply with the Maricat Association specifications and shall be supplied by a Maricat Association nominated sail maker. A list of approved sail makers is available from the class measurer.

The sails may be re-cut slightly, if an owner desires to alter the position of the “drive”. Fabric shall not be added to the sails except to effect legitimate repairs.

Windows, tell tales, wool tufts, leech ribbons etc, may be added to the sail/s if required.

Only one mainsail and jib shall be used by a competitor in a Championship event or Series, unless a sail has been damaged and is no longer useable. Permission to change must be obtained from the Race Committee.

All Maricat 4.3 sails are to have 7 battens and where 8 now exist the bottom batten shall be removed.

The Maricat insignia ( optional), sail maker's label and issued sail number remain an integral part of that mainsail only. Jibs shall carry the sail maker's label.

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SAILS MEASUREMENT

Where necessary for the purpose of verification of sail dimensions on the beach, the following method shall apply -

a) Assemble sail on catamaran with all components in place ie battens, boom, downhaul, halyard and stays.
b) Set the sail within the black band limits on mast and boom.
c) Dimensions to be no greater than as follows:-
 » 1. Batten No 2 position 2400mm distance leech to luff.
» 2 Batten No 4 position 2040mm distance leech to luff.
» 3 Batten No 6 position 1390mm distance leech to luff.
» 4 Top of headboard at bolt rope to corner of sail at clew 6060mm.
» 5 Maximum foot round 100mm. 6 Headboard width plus bolt rope 120mm.

NOTE Older sails re-cut to accommodate extra mast rake will possibly not confirm to the measurements and allowances should be made under these circumstances. All sales purchased from June 30, 1989 shall conform to the above limits.

Luff 4170mm Leech 4000mm Foot 1820mm

In the event of a dispute re sail size, the sail shall be fully dimensioned by two current members of the Maricat Association. The comparison of the dimensions taken on sail/s in question will be made with the fully dimensioned drawings held by the management committee of the Association.

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BATTENS

Battens may be replaced, reshaped or altered.

Mast and boom are as per manufacture's specifications. Tapering or chemical milling is not allowed, nor is alteration of the hound's position.

a) Mast: The upper band lower edge to be aligned with the uppermost end of the luff. The lower band upper edge to be placed 6.3m below the lower edge of the upper band with the mast straight.

b) Boom: One band to be located on the boom, inner edge of which is 2.5m from the aft of the mast with gooseneck sitting straight.

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RIGGING

The style of rigging may not be altered, i.e. the boat must be rigged with two (2) forestays and two (2) shrouds attached to

the normal attachment points as per specifications, except that on sloop rigged boats the two forestays may be dispensed with provided that the bridle length and the furler are as per specification. Wire diameter may be increased but not decreased. Adjusters for tensioning rigging may be added. All rigging, ie stays shrouds bridle dolphin striker wire etc, excluding the halyard, jib strop and luff wire, are to be plastic coated or covered.

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TRAPEZE

A trapeze may be fitted to the Supersloop class only.

Trapeze wires may be incorporated into the shackle at the normal hound position or may be attached separately but no lower than 100mm below the existing hound position.

Point and method of attachment of the trapeze and the retracting cord/s to the side of the hulls is optional. It is recommended that the trapeze wire be plactic coated.

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MAST ROTATION

The mast rotation stops may be altered to allow greater or lesser mast rotation. Spanners or other methods of controlling the rotation are not permitted.

Additional hiking straps may be attached to the fabric of the trampoline.

The standard halyard and halyard lock arrangement shall be used. The sail shall not be shackled or tired to the mast head.

The standard righting line arrangement shall not be removed from the boat. Minor modifications to assist with ease of use are permissible.

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RUDDERS

Rudder blades shall not be modified except for the area above the nominal water line to facilitate adjustment to lee or weather helm.

Fairing and/or slight filing is allowable but the overall shape shall not be altered.

The basic tiller assembly, ie the arms and bar ( excluding the rubber knuckles) and standard rudder boxes must be retained. Modification to the rudder downhaul / uphaul mechanism / system may be made. The tiller extension may be changed but must be a single tiller with one end connected to the tiller crossbar at the standard location.

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EXTRA EQUIPMENT

Equipment, such as compass, wind indicators etc, which may assist a skipper are allowed.

a) Where sailing conditions are extreme and unlikely to improve, and /or and / or the wind velocity exceeds 22 knots for a period of ten minutes as measured on thhe committee vessel before or during a race, that race will be postponed and resailed if possible, when conditions permit, otherwise abandoned.

b) At association championship events the wind velocity shall be a minimum of 3 knots for a race to commence.

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a) Downhaul
i Gearing: maximum purchase 8:1
ii Rope & pulley system only
iii Cleating system optional

b) Boom Vang
i Gearing: Maximum purchase 8:1
ii Rope & pulley system only

c) Outhaul
i Gearing: maximum purchase 8:1
ii Rope & pulley system only
iii Cleating system optional

d) Mainsheet
i Gearing: maximum purchase 6:1
ii Rope & pulley system only
iii Roller bearing blocks and cleats allowed.

e) Traveller Assembly
i Gearing: maximum purchase 2:1
ii Roller bearing cars permitted.
iii Cleating system allowed.

f) Sheet Ropes
Any sheet rope may be used

g) Block Hanger
i Extra block hangers may be added to the boom.
ii Only one block hanger may be used at a time.
h) Mast Rake
i Rake angle free.
ii Adjustment to rake while
sailing not permitted.

i) Jib Blocks
i Maximum purchase 2:1 -
blocks free
ii Rope and pulley system only.
iii Cleating system optional

j) Jib Block Attachment
i Jib block attachments may be altered provided they are attached to suitable load bearing supports. Where wire strops are used, these must be plastic covered.

k) Barber Haulers
Barber hauler systems are not allowed.

l) Leech Lines
Leech lines may be fitted to Maricat 4.3m racing jibs

m) General
I. Quick connecting couplings maybe used where ever required.
II. Unless specifically mentioned within these rules no other modifications or alterations from standard production and specifications are permitted without the approval of the Maricat Association.

n) It is recommended that the furler on the sloop rigged boats be retained but may be dispensed with provided that the tack of the jib is not less than 100mm from the apex of the bridle.

o) Rudder downhaul / uphaul system may be modified (See Rule 21)

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Class Specification for the
Maricat 4.3
CATAMARAN

 » Length 4.27m
 » Beam (maximum) 2.35m
 » Mast Height (include base & head) 6.785m
 » Boom Length (include goose neck) 2.65m
 » Minimum weight 95kg
 » Sail Fabric Dacron
 » Mainsail Area As per Association drawings
 » Jib As per Association drawings
 » Bridle Wire Length 1010mm
 » Furler Ronstan RF76 or equivalent

These measurements, except for the weight, could vary +/- 1%. Any changes to the Maricat 4.3 which will not alter the above specifications will be to reduce the manufacturing costs, and/or replace sections no longer procurable, and will not alter their performance of the boat.

a) Hull shape
b) Sail shape & area
c) mast length and section
d) boom length and section
e) style of rigging
f) rudder blade shape & size
g) halyard and lock arrangement
h) sail fabric and weight

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