3. EMBLEM: The emblem of the class shall read S2 7.9, arranged in the pattern as diagrammed in these instructions (See Plan C).

4. CLASS DESIGN: The boat is a 7.9 meter fiberglass retractable keel sloop designed by Scott Graham and Eric Schlageter and produced by S2 Yachts Incorporated, who introduced it in 1981.

5. ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP: Any owner or co-owner of an S2 7.9 meter may apply for regular membership in the Association. He shall join, if possible, through an S2 7.9 Meter fleet on whose waters he normally sails. The power to accept or reject applications for membership is vested in each fleet, but any application is subject to review by the Governing Committee. Non-owners may apply for associate membership. The fleet, a territorial branch or unit open to all eligible individuals, shall elect its own officers, always to include a Fleet Secretary. It shall be self-governing in all local matters that do not conflict with the Association's rules.

6. FLEET CHARTER: The Governing Committee may grant Fleet Charters to each fleet consisting of five or more boats upon application to Association Secretary. Charters shall be revoked by the Governing Committee upon failure of a fleet to maintain a minimum number of boats and owners in good standing or other adequate cause.

7. DUES AND MEMBERSHIP

7.A. Regular Members of the Association shall be owners or co-owners of S2 7.9 Meter sailboats and will be registered upon payment of dues. Regular Membership includes individual, spouse, and any dependent minor children, to be listed under one membership. These family members shall also be able to be declared helmsman of a yacht competing in a class-sanctioned event. However, in all matters requiring representation and voting, each boat shall be limited to a single vote.

 7.B. The organization may accept as Associate Members all persons interested in the class, but no Associate Members shall be entitled to vote.

 7.C. The dues shall be determined by the Governing Committee.

 7.D. Applicants who are not members of local fleets shall remit dues directly to the North American S2 7.9 Meter Class Association Treasurer. Fleet members shall remit Association dues to their fleet secretary or to the Association Treasurer.

 8. OFFICERS AND DUTIES:

The Association shall be governed by six officers, each having one vote, who shall be elected at an Annual Meeting for a two-year term or until their successors are elected at a special meeting, and by the immediate Past President who shall have one vote. Except for the Past President who may not be a boat owner, all must be owners or co-owners and members in good standing. To be a member in good standing, he or she should be active at the fleet or class level and in promoting the 7.9 Meter Class Association. The governing committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy on an interim basis until his or her successor ran be elected at a Special or Annual Meeting.

 8.A. OFFICERS

8.B. GOVERNING COMMITTEE: The powers of the Association shall be vested in and administered by its Goveming Committee. The Governing committee shall consist of the Officers designated in Section 8 herein. An affirmative vote of four votes of the committee shall decide all questions. The Committee shall interpret and uphold the class rules, grant or revoke charters, sanction or ban S2 7.9 Meter races, fill vacancies in office, conduct all business and determine the policies of the Association.

 8.C. RULES COMMITTEE: A Rules Committee, chaired by the Director Rules and Specifications, shall be appointed immediately after each Annual Meeting by the President. Its members shall hold office for one year. It shall pass on all question relative to eligibility of boats and equipment, interpret the rules and specification, and recommend to the Governing Committee any advisable alternations or additions to the class rules.

 9. MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS:

 9.A. The Annual Meeting shall be held immediately before the International Championship Regatta. It shall be conducted by the Class President or his/her representative and hosted by the hosting club of the Regatta. The Secretary shall mail a notice of this meeting to all association members at least thirty days in advance of the date selected. A quorum shall consist of the presence of at least five Regular Members. Voting shall be by Regular Members, who shall be entitled to one vote for each boat enrolled. The majority vote of those present then, in good standing, in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient. A proxy must be in writing. The order of business at an Annual Meeting shall be as follows:

  1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Reading of Minutes

4. Reports of Officers

5. Discussion of Governing Committee Rulings

6. Other Business

7. Election of Officers

8. Adjournment

 9.B. Upon request of the Governing Committee or upon written request to the Secretary by at least twenty-five percent of the Regular members, a Special Meeting may be called. The Secretary shall give to all members not less than two weeks written notice of the purpose, time, and place designated by the President for any meeting.

 1 0. AMENDMENTS: The Association rules (Part 1: Organization; and Part 2: Rules and Specifications) may be amended only at an Annual or Special Meeting by two-thirds vote of the total number of boats represented at the meeting in person or by proxy provided. However, that the proposed amendment shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting. Interpretations of the Rules Committee will automatically become integrated into the Class Rules at the Annual Meeting, unless overruled by a majority of the owners present at the meeting.

1. INTERPRETATION: Specifications, however complete, cannot anticipate every possible situation that may arise. If a point is not covered herein, a ruling should be obtained from the Rules Committee. In interpreting these rules and specifications, the Committee shall consider the intent rather than any technical construction that might be derived from the wording and shall bear in mind at all times the basic principle of the specifications, which is to maintain the S2 7.9 Meter Class as a one design class.

"Nothing is optional in these rules and specifications unless so stated."

In the absence of the specific rules to the contrary, the rules of the United States Sailing Association (U.S.S.A.) shall apply.(As an example, the spinnaker pole is to be attached at the single fixed ring on the mast, use of a second ring or sliding track is not an allowed option.)

 2. STANDARDS: The original plans and specifications on file with S2 Yachts Incorporated, or a certified copy of these plans acquired by the Association, shall be considered as setting forth the official standards with respect to hull, spars, and rigging.

member boats abide by the Association rules and specifications for local competition. The Rules Committee will rule on any matter submitted to it by a local fleet. The measurement and certification of S2 7.9 meter boats to be sailed in the International or Regional Class Championships shall be performed by the sponsoring club or it's appointees, under the guidance and control of the class Governing committee.

An S2 7.9 Meter may be challenged by means of a protest in writing stating the grounds thereof, submitted to the president, who shall refer it to the Rules Committee for a decision. Any such protest shall be accompanied by a check for $25, which shall be returned if the protest is sustained and otherwise paid into the Association treasury. The Rules Committee and the Governing Committee jointly shall have the responsibility to declare a boat ineligible if necessary. This gives the committees the authority, without a formal protest, to declare a boat ineligible for a class-sanctioned event.

4. PROHIBITED MODIFICATIONS

 4.A. Keel, Rudder (See Plan A and B)

  4.A.1. Reshaping, filling in, drilling out, relocating of the hull, keel, or rudder.

  4.A.2. Any modifications of the keel or rudder that in any way would prevent their ability to retract or kick-up. (Except per Part 2; Section 5.A 5)

 4.B. Deck

  4.B.1. The stem head fitting shall not be modified or relocated.

  4.B.2. The chain plate shall not be modified or relocated.

  4.B.3. The mast step assembly shalom not be modified or relocated.

  4.B.4. The genoa track shall not be changed in length or relocated.

  4.B.5. The production genoa track is the only allowed track, use of a sliding car with associated hardware is not allowed.

  4.B.8. The bow pulpit, lifeline, and the lifeline stanchions shall remain the standard height and number. The addition of a second lifeline, stem pulpit, boarding ladder, etc. is allowed. Modification of the bow pulpit is allowed as long as the height, strength and the number of stanchions remain unchanged.

  4.C.4. The boom section shall not be tapered, cutout, lightened, or modified in any way.

  4.C.5. The standing rigging shall not be reduced in diameter and must remain standard 1 x 19 stainless steel cable.

4.C.6. The standing rigging method of attachment shall not be changed or relocated.

5. ALLOWED MODIFICATIONS

 5.A. Hull, Keel, Rudder (See Plan A and B)

  5.A.1. Normal sanding and wet sanding.

  5.A.2. Anti-fouling preparation of the underbody.

  5.A.3. The use of any length tiller and tiller extender.

5.B Deck

5.B.2. Increase the number of holes in the genoa track.

  5.B.3. Changing the main sheet system to an 8:1 mechanical advantage or/and to a double-ended system.

5.B.4. Use of double turning blocks for the genoa.

  5.B.5. Stoppers integral with the turning blocks.

  5.B.6. Use of lazy sheets and guys.

  5.B.7. The addition of a second genoa car.

  5.B.8. Use of the tweakers as barber-haulers.

  5.B.9. Moving the deck block for the spinnaker pole down haul.

5.C. Mast, Boom, Rigging

  5.C.1. Rope to wire halyards

  5.C.2. Any type spinnaker pole not more than 9.5' long, as measured in Pt. 2.12.16.

  5.C.11. Allow removal of the mast steaming light, located near the spreaders on the front side of the mast.

5.D. Interior

  5.D.1. The addition of any system to the standard electrical system.

5.D.3. The addition of any type of cabinetry.

6.SAILS: The intent of the sail cloth weight restrictions is to insure that the sail is of sufficient strength and durability to be used at the upper wind range (i.e. 18 Knots apparent wind for the #1 genoa) and last for at least two racing seasons. (See General Sail Restrictions). (Note: The head, tack, and clew of any sail are defined as the intersection of the projected sides except for the head of the mainsail.)

6.A. Main Sail

  6.C.8. Up to 3 battens of unlimited length are allowed.

  6.D.1. Maximum size is 93 square feet.

  6.D.2. Maximum length of the luff is 24 feet.

  6.D.3. Maximum LP is 7.75 feet.

  6.E.1. Maximum luff length = 30.35'

  6.E.2. Maximum girth = 17.1'

  6.E.3. Material to be nylon or polyester with a minimum weight of .75 oz. per sailmakers yard.

 7.1. Weight - Class Sanctioned Regatta's have a minimum weight requirement of 4400 pounds for the Inboard version and 4600 pounds for the Outboard version. (i.e. if a boat is light, add the weight required to meet the minimum). The Regatta Committee may require each boat to be weighed at the regatta (must provide time and means). When weighing the Boats, the only equipment allowed on board that is not permanently affixed and allowed under the class rules shall be:

  7.1.1. factory cushions

7.1.3. standard blocks

7.1.4. hatch covers

7.1.5. mast

7.1.8. standing rigging

7.1.9. outboard motor

  9.1. operable fire extinguisher

9.2. manual bilge pump

9.3. anchor (minimum 8-s)

9.4. anchor line (minimum 3J8' x 150' length)

9.5. life jackets for each of the crew

9.6. horseshoe buoy (or man overboard module

9.7. one compass

9.8. fog horn, running lights

9.9. battery

9.10. an operable engine (minimum 4.5 hp.)

9.11. a flare kit.

  3.3. A Trophy will be presented to the highest placing S2 7.9 Inboard.

  4.2.1. Facilities adequate to conduct a regatta and to handle at least 35 boats on a starting line.

 6.1. Each helmsperson must be a bona fide regular or associate member in good standing of the S2 7.9 Meter Class Association. All regular and associate membership applications must be received with dues by the association treasurer not later than 15 days prior to the first race of the Class Championship, in order to be a contestant in the Championship Regatta.

 6.2. Any qualified contestant may charter or borrow a yacht for the Championship Regatta.

 6.3. No contestant may enter or use more than one yacht during the Regatta except if the entered yacht shall have suffered severe damage. The consent of the Governing Committee must be obtained before another yacht may be substituted.

shall be measured by a person authorized by the Championship Committee within one week of the beginning of the Regatta. Any working jib or spinnaker which has been previously measured and so marked at a previous S2 7.9 International regatta, may be approved for use without remeasurement, as long as this is so noted at inspection.

9.1 The Championship will be sailed under the U.S.S.A. Rules, subject however, to the most recent S2 7.9 Meter Class Association Rules and sailing instructions which will take precedence.

9.2. In addition to the contestant, there must be a crew consisting of three or four persons.

9.3. The total number of crew shall remain the same throughout the Regatta.

9.4. The Judges shall have the right to disqualify any contestant who is deemed to be violating the spirit of good sportsmanship, or that of the rules and regulations of the Association.

9.5. The International Championship Regatta shall be sailed on race courses free from interference from other classes or starts This will prohibit the Race Committee from starting any other yachts on the same course as the S2 7.9 class for all races of the Regatta. There shall be four acceptable race formats for the North American Championships.

9.6.2. Format #2

There shall be one throw-out it more than three races are sailed and scored.

Recommended Schedules is:

Races 1 – 3 on day one, races 4-6 on day two and 7 – 8 on day three. Or;

Two races each day for four days.

All yachts not finishing within 40 minutes of the first shall be scored as DNF (Did-Not-Finish).

9.6.3. Format # 3

10.1. Courses shall be as free as possible from headlands, obstructions, aids to navigation or serious tidal currents.

10.2. Closed course races shall be an Olympic Triangle, Windward-leeward, Gold Cup, or other acceptable race format, at the discretion of the Governing Committee. Courses should be laid out so as to have the marks left to port. Leeward starts shall be avoided.

10.3. Closed course races shall have a minimum scheduled distance on the first leg to weather of approximately one nautical mile.

10.4. The closed course races shall have a maximum scheduled length on the first weather leg of approximately two miles.

 10.5. The length of the closed courses to be set for the best sailing under the conditions present at the time. As a guideline only, set a one mile first leg to windward if the wind is 5 knots or less, a two mile first leg to windward if the wind is greater than 10 knots.

10.6. The length of the distance race will be determined by the race committee and judges.

 10.7. The Race Committee may shorten the course at its discretion if the following minimum course has actually been sailed: a windward leg, a leeward leg, and a windward leg. This condition refers to legs which have been sailed and not necessarily as originally signaled.

 10.8. The Race Committee has the option of using dual leeward marks on the downwind legs at the International Championships. This will be used as a gate in which all boats must pass through and then round one of the marks either to starboard or port (this is a suggested option for fleets with 30+ boats).

11.1. Championship Committee. The Championship Committee shall directly through other committees:

  11.1.1. Make all arrangements for the proper conduct of the Championship Regatta.

  11.1.2. Appoint a Committee or Judges and the Race Committee (in cooperation with the host fleet)

  11.1.3. Coordinate the work of all committees.

 12.1. A contestant starting in any race of the Championship Regatta will be considered a starter in all races.

 12.2. Points will be awarded for each Race as follows: 3/4 points for first place, two points for second, three points for third, and so on. A boat not finishing shall be awarded a number of points equal to two more than the total number of finishers. A boat not starting shall be awarded a number of points equal to two more than the total number of starters. A boat that is disqualified shall be awarded a number of points equal to three more than the total number of starters. Covered by USSA Appendix A, Scoring. Eliminate.

 12.3. The winner of the Championship Regatta will be the contestant with the lowest total point score. Covered in USSA Appendix A2.1. Eliminate.

 12.4. In case of a tie, the contestant who has the greatest number of firsts, then seconds, then thirds, etc. shall be declared the winner. If a tie still exists, it will be decided be the boat that beat the other boat in the last race of the series. Covered by USSA Appendix A.2.3. Eliminate.

12.5. Any race in which a yacht is Disqualified due to a violation of Part 2, 3, or 4 of the USSA Racing Rules of Sailing may not be used as a throwout even is one is allowed by the Championship rules or the Sailing Instructions. This rule may not be changed by the sailing instructions.

For all races excluding long distance races, the first boat to round the first windward mark must sail the first leg in 45.00 minutes or less. The first boat to finish the race must do so in 2 hours and 30 minutes or less. Any yacht finishing 30 minutes or more behind the first boat to finish will be scored DNF. The regatta committee may establish a separate time limit for a long distance race, but must declare this before the start of this race. If a question arises, the S2 7.9 Executive committee will have the final authority in determining if a race qualifies as a long distance race

 14.1. Team tactics are barred and shall be grounds for protest or disqualification. An example of team tactics is the act of deliberately and willfully sacrificing one's own chances or place in a Race for the purpose of injuring or improving the chances or place of another or others.

 14.2. Protests must be filed in writing with the Judges promptly after the last race of the day. A protest flag must be shown in accordance with U.S.S.A. Rule Part 5, 61.1.

14.3. Breakdown points will be awarded an entrant on the basis of his average points per race when he has been forced out of a race by damage caused by foul and later upheld by sustained protest. The Judges shall have discretion to decide whether the damage is sufficient to force him out of a race. Covered by USSA 64.2, A2. Eliminate?

 14.4. Notices, when posted by the Race Committee, on the host yacht club bulletin board, shall be considered to have been delivered to each contestant provided, however that such instructions may be superseded by verbal instructions of the Race Committee duly given by it to each contestant prior to the warning signal. This is not good.

 14.5. No yacht entered for the Championship Regatta may be hauled out or laid on shore during the period of the races, except in cases of accident or for necessary repairs and then only by permission of the Judges.

All S2 7.9 National Class rules, requirements and specifications regulations, (including sailing weight and sail limitations) are in effect, except as modified below. Boat inspections and sail measurements may or may not be carried out; however, any boat may be challenged by protest per the provisions of the Class rules. In any case, the honor system is relied upon for compliance with the letter and spirit of the Class one-design rules.

Boats may or may not be weighed. If boats are not weighed, any that have had a previous "official" weight recorded at a previous International Championship regatta may use their most recent official weighing, and are expected to use the corresponding ballast, if necessary, to comply with the class minimum weight.

Boats that have not been officially weighed, or have been modified since weighing, will either use the Class specified additional ballast or, if provided, can arrange for an unofficial weighing to be used for the particular event or series. Expense of such a weighing will be born by the requesting member. A local fleet captain, representative, or event organizer must be present at the weighing. A complete weight checklist (see appendix) should be kept in the local fleet file, and a copy forwarded to the Class rules chairman. Availability of an unofficial weighing is not guaranteed.

Spare sails may be carried, but may not be used except to replace a sail damaged beyond repair (i.e. cannot be temporarily repaired using sail repair tape or hand sewing) while racing. A replacement sail may not be a new sail (built since January 1^st of the same year, or the most recent International Championship regatta, whichever was earlier. Race results will not be "official" until the damaged and replacement sails have been examined by a member of the governing board, rules committee, local fleet representative and/or the event organizers.

The boat will be sailed with no more than five, nor less than four crew, including the skipper. (Exceptions would be club races, JAM classes, single and doublehanded races, etc.). Boats may have a different number of crew on different days. Crew substitutions are allowed.

The owner(s), (if on board for any race), and the person whose name is on the regatta entry form (if different from the owner(s)) must be a current regular or associate member in good standing of the S2 7.9 Class Association prior to the scheduled start of the first race of any regatta or series.

Furthermore, for every race, at least one member of the crew must be a current regular or associate member in good standing of the S2 7.9 Class Association.

Membership in good standing requires that a properly completed membership application and dues ($15.00 US) have been received by the S2 7.9 Class treasurer. It is the regatta entrant’s responsibility to confirm his/her membership status.

Boats not meeting this requirement are subject to protest and will not be scored in any race in which the requirements are not met.