The By Laws of the ECA require thirty days notice of any proposed rule changes to be voted upon at the next Special Meeting or Annual Meeting of the Membership.
This rule is hereby posted to the membership for presentation and discussion.
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Rule Change Proposal for Blade Jib Tracks
Current Rule:
7. RUNNING RIGGING:
E. Blade jib sheet lead blocks shall be confined to the cabin top. The tracks for these blocks shall be no less than 16" long. The centers of each track (length and width) must be 14" abeam of a point on the centerline measured 7' 6" aft of the foremost stemhead-fitting hole. Each track must be aligned toward this same hole. The track position may be adjusted up to 1/2" forward or aft to avoid drilling bolt holes through the cabin top ribs.
Proposed Rule:
7. RUNNING RIGGING:
E. Blade jib sheet lead blocks shall be confined to the cabin top. The tracks for these blocks shall be no less than 16" long and may be extended aft to accommodate lead blocks for the working jib. The athwartship center of each track shall be no more than 17.5" abeam of a point on the centerline measured 7' 6" aft of the foremost stemhead-fitting hole. Each track must be aligned toward this same hole. The track position may be adjusted up to 1/2" forward or aft to avoid drilling bolt holes through the cabin top ribs.
Justification:
The current narrow sheeting angle of the blade jib (8.84°) results in a sail that is significantly more difficult to manufacture and trim. Optimal trim at the current sheeting angle results in the top third of the sail luffing, and sailmakers have complained that manufacture of the Ensign blade has very critical parameters. Testing has shown the optimal sheeting angle of the blade is around 11°, which places the location of the track, not 14” outboard, but 17.5”. The low aspect ratio of the Ensign’s full keel is not the optimal design to accommodate a tight headsail leech at narrow sheeting angles.
The wording of the proposed rule for new track locations accommodates any Ensign owner who would prefer NOT to move their existing blade tracks because of hole drilling and filling.
By wording the proposed rule: ‘no more than 17.5” abeam of a point 7’ 6” aft of the foremost stemhead-fitting hole.’, any Ensign owner with existing tracks could just leave them where they are and still have a class legal boat.
Further, it makes sense that a single track (on either side of the cabin-top) could provide sheeting for both the blade and the working jib. The new rule proposes track lengths that make it possible to extend the blade tracks aft to provide for the working jib as well.
The concept of the blade was a wonderful addition to the class. The blade is the perfect sail for teaching, single handing, short-handed, day sailing, and inventory-limited, fleet racing situations, and really deserves to be trimmed properly. It is unfortunate that the track positions were accidentally implemented incorrectly, but correction is long overdue. The ease of trimming, the aesthetics and the performance of the sail when properly trimmed at the proposed sheeting angle justify the change.
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Best regards,
Best regards,
Stephen Heinzelman
ECA Rules Vice Commodore