I have a quick question for someone in the know, is my H-17 Sport with one up legal to sail in the Alter Cup qualifier or do I need to set it up as a uni-rig? I have heard that they don't allow modifiers so any help is welcome. My crew for my 20 is kind of sitting the fence as she sailed this past weekend and doesn't want to impose on grandma again.
Thanks in advance.

John Volkman

2.2 Each Area Elimination is open to all single or multi-crew catamarans under 22 feet in length with a current US SAILING Portsmouth number. Boats with Provisional Portsmouth handicaps (e.g., those with brackets [ ] or parentheses ( ) around their rating), are ineligible to compete in Area Eliminations. Only boats in their original One-Design configuration are eligible. Modifications requiring Portsmouth "modification factors" are not allowed.

What happens if a uni-sailor wins? What does he do for crew in the Alter Cup?

http://www.seacats.org/boats%20pre-reg.htm

Jake,
If someone qualifies on a Uni boat,they just select a crew.
It is my understanding that it is the skipper of the boat whi qualifies and he can change crew for the Cup if he wants.
In last years Cup Chris Batchelor qualified in Area E(second place) on an I17R, Troy King qualified in Area F(second place) on an A Class, and Rush Bird qualified for Performance on a N5.5U(National Champ).
A Uni sailor picking up a crew is probably not as difficult as the average Hobie 16 crew learning to fly a chute.

Back To John's original quaestion.
The Hobie 17 Sport w/jib DOES NOT have a racing class or Class rules.
It obviously can't comply with rules which don't exist.

does the phrase "Original One-Design configuration" mean that the configuration has class rules or does it mean that it has a set portsmouth rating (with implications of being a "supplied factory configuration")? 2.2 as stated above seems to imply that this means the latter.

If either scenario is the case, would the N6.0NE (New England spinnaker class) that was recently created by the sailors and has both class rules and a set portsmouth rating be allowed in the Alter Cup Qualifier? hmmmmmm.

Hobie 17 (1-up) H17 74.0 78.5 76.2 73.7 69.5
Hobie 17 Sport Sloop, 2-up H17P 74.5 78.0 74.8 74.0 71.5

it's in - the intent of the rule is that there be actual race data to support a configuration. A certain threshold of data result in a number without brackets or parentheses. If you can find your boat on the Portsmouth page, you're OK (see http://www.ussailing.org/portsmouth/pyindex.htm). If you have to do math to get your rating (e.g., a Hobie 20 with a 'chute), there isn't enough data living at US Sailing yet.

Darline Hobock is the tireless driver behing maintaining these multihull ratings seasonally, but she's not alone - there are several people whose names you may recognize that sit on the committee - see http://www.ussailing.org/portsmouth/committee.asp. None of the ratings or decisions affecting them are made in a vacuum.

If you're sailing a boat with a provisional rating, and you know you want to sail it at your area event, you'll be amazed at how hard Darline will work with you to gather up enough race data to make it happen for you. I've seen it happen! She's amazing! She just wants your regatta results, folks.

Please make your area event - participation at the area level is what allows us to have a meaningful championship each year. Unless we can continue to demonstrate to US Sailing that there are multihull sailors in the world, we'll see the Alter Cup go the way of the Dodo... please sign up and race hard!

Thanks John! That definitely clears it up (now I gotta get that NE chute!).

John,

This is from the US sailing PN tables
Hobie 17 Sport Sloop, 2-up H17P 74.5 78.0 74.8 74.0 71.5

So a Hobie 17 Sport must be sailed with 2 people.

Just pull out the H20 and go kick some you know what!! If I wasn't going to be at Nationals I'd crew for you.

Mike Hill
H20 #907

ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing

2 FAIR SAILING
A boat and her owner shall compete in compliance with recognized principles of sportsmanship and fair play. A boat may be penalized under this rule only if it is clearly established that these principles have been violated. A disqualification under this rule shall not be excluded from the boat's series score.

The pns for the Hobie 17(uni) are based upon boats supposedly sailed in compliance with their Class rules.
These rules include a minimum crew weight of 160lbs.

The pns for the Hobie 17Sport(2-up) are based upon boats sailed with an unknown minimum crew weight because there are no Racing Class rules.
The portsmouth rating only says "2 up".

How do you determine if a boat with no class rules is being sailed in "original One-Design configuration"?

Is it "Fair Sailing" for a 17U with a 160lb crew to race a 17Sport (w/jib) with a 160lb crew?
Or 180lbs?
Or 205lbs?

Is that "Sportsmanship"?

Thanks for the intel everyone. Luckily I have until Friday morning to decide which boat I'll take. I also have the parts for the uni ready to go. I'll just bring everything and I'll be set. Mike, I could pop for a plane ticket if you want.

John