ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be the U.S. SABOT ASSOCIATION,
hereinafter referred to as the "ASSOCIATION."
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the ASSOCIATION are to:
a) Promote and maintain a national U.S. SABOT Class racing under
uniform rules and regulations;
b) Promote junior sailing in the U.S. Sabot; and
c) Promote sportsmanship, fair play and camaraderie in order
to encourage long term participation and good will in the sport
of sailing.
ARTICLE III - POLICY
Section 1: To promote and maintain a one-design class of U.S.
SABOTS in order that racing shall determine the skill of the
skipper.
Section 2: To cooperate with other yachting organizations and,
in return, to insist on strict observance and compliance with
the rules of this ASSOCIATION.
Section 3: The ASSOCIATION shall govern on a 12-month year beginning
January 1 and ending on December 31.
ARTICLE IV - JURISDICTION
Section 1: The ASSOCIATION has jurisdiction over all U.S. SABOT
CLASS activities and its decisions are binding upon all Members
and Fleets. In addition, the ASSOCIATION has jurisdiction over
all U.S. SABOT CLASS boats as well as those grandfathered into
the ASSOCIATION.
Section 2: The ASSOCIATION reserves the right to declare ineligible
any sabot which does not conform to the SPIRIT, as well as the
rules, specifications, and drawings of the U.S.SABOT.
Section 3: The ASSOCIATION has the right to grant Membership
and Fleet privileges, as well as revoke, suspend, or deny the
aforementioned.
Section 4: All disputes between Fleets or of a Fleet and other
yachting organizations regarding the interpretations of these
Bylaws shall be resolved by the Board of Directors of the ASSOCIATION,
and its decision(s) shall be final.
Section 5: The ASSOCIATION or its Members shall not be liable
for any debts contracted by its officers, Fleet Officers, or
Members other than expenditures authorized by the budget or
upon written order of the Commodore and the Treasurer.
ARTICLE V - FLEETS
Section 1: A Fleet is a territorial unit open to all eligible
persons who sail within its area. Its Members elect their own
officers, which should include a Fleet Captain, Fleet Secretary
and Fleet Measurer. The Fleet is self-governing in all local
matters not conflicting with the ASSOCIATION and its Bylaws
and has the authority to accept or reject application for Fleet
membership.
Section 2: A territorial unit may be granted the privilege of
becoming a Fleet by fulfilling the following requirements:
a) The Board of Directors must have a written request signed
by those wishing to be part of the new fleet.
b) Said applicants must be ASSOCIATION members in good standing.
c) Said applicants must own legal US SABOT CLASS boats.
d) Said applicants must number five (5) or more.
Section 3: In order to renew its rights and privileges, each
Fleet must file an Annual Report of Membership no later than
December 31 of each year with the ASSOCIATION Secretary. This
report shall consist of a complete list of the current Fleet
Officers and active Membership.
Section 4: The amount and time of payment for Fleet dues shall
be determined by the Fleet.
Section 5: For races in its territory, a Fleet has the right
to determine the Divisions and those persons sailing in each
Division. The only exceptions are ASSOCIATION in nature, such
as in the case of the National Championships and designated
Hi Point Series regattas. In ASSOCIATION sanctioned events,
the ASSOCIATION will determine the Divisions.
ARTICLE VI - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The membership of the ASSOCIATION and of its Fleets
shall consist of two levels: Regular Membership and Junior Membership.
A person qualifying as either a Regular Member or as a Junior
Member will hereinafter be referred to as a Member (but not
both).
a) Regular Membership: Anyone who is either an owner of an eligible
US SABOT CLASS boat, or a non-boat owner who is interested in
the promotion of the ASSOCIATION, is eligible to become a Regular
Member subject to the following restrictions:
1) Membership privileges are for one year beginning January
1.
2) Each Member has one vote for ASSOCIATION matters.
3) Membership is subject to the rules and Bylaws of the ASSOCIATION.
4) Any Member in good standing is eligible to hold office in
accordance to these bylaws.
b. Junior Membership: An individual who meets the qualifications
for Regular Membership, but who has not reached his or her 17th
birthday by December 31 of the fiscal year. A Junior Member
shall have all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member.
Section 2: The Board shall conduct all business, determine policy,
and serve as the last court of appeal in disputes involving
these Bylaws.
Section 3: A Regular Meeting of the Membership will be held
annually at the National Championships to keep the ASSOCIATION
running smoothly.
Section 4: Special meetings can be called by the Board or upon
demand, in writing, by twenty-five percent (25%) of the Fleets
or Membership. The time and date shall be fixed by the Board.
Section 5: For the purpose of doing business, a quorum shall
consist of a majority of the Board. A majority vote of the Board,
not of the quorum, shall decide all issues.
Section 6: The Board may appoint committees, directors and any
other assistance that it feels necessary to carry out business.
Section 7: The Board cannot change the Bylaws; it may only interpret
them or suggest changes.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS
Section 1: Commodore - The Commodore is the chief executive
and shall preside at meetings, serve as Chairman of the Board,
rule on procedure and jurisdiction, summarize decisions, appoint
special committees and authorize payment of bills with the approval
of the Board.
Section 2: Vice Commodore - The Vice Commodore shall officiate
in the absence of the Commodore.
Section 3: Secretary - The Secretary shall handle all correspondence,
retain the minutes of meetings and maintain an accurate and
current record of members. He/She shall notify the Membership
of activities and events as well as handling elections.
Section 4: Treasurer - The Treasurer shall collect annual dues,
pay all authorized bills, maintain the Association's checking
account and provide regular accounting of the Association's
funds to the Board and to the full Membership at the Annual
Meeting or when otherwise requested by the Board.
Section 5: Measurement Chairman - The Measurement Chairman shall
measure boats, making sure that each conforms to the rules within
these Bylaws. If the decision of the Measurement Chairman seems
unsatisfactory, the Board may review it. Until such time, the
decision of the Measurement Chairman is the correct interpretation
of the rules and his actions the appropriate application of
such.
Section 6: Fleet Captains - Represent the Members of the ASSOCIATION
from their respective territories.
ARTICLE VIII - ANNUAL MEETING
Section 1: The annual meeting of the ASSOCIATION shall be held
during the period of, and in the vicinity of the Class National
Championship Regatta.
Section 2: The order of business at the Annual Meeting shall
be:
a) Call to Order
b) Roll Call of Last Meeting
c) Minutes of Last Meeting
d) Reports of Officers
e) Reports of Fleets Granted and Revoked
f) Unfinished Business
g) New Business (including approval of Annual Dues for the next
year)
h) Election of Officers
i) Adjournment
Section 3: The elections shall be decided by the majority vote
of the Members present. The Commodore shall cast the deciding
vote in the case of a tie.
ARTICLE IX - DUES
Section 1: ASSOCIATION dues must be paid before a Member can
be considered in good standing. Paying dues on time shall be
the responsibility of each individual Member. Dues should be
paid to the Association Treasurer.
Section 2: The Annual Dues become due and payable on January
1 of each year for that calendar year. Dues may be paid by mail
or at any Hi-Point event. For convenience, it is recommended
that dues be paid for the coming year at the National Championship
event along with the entry fee for that event. The membership
form is available at the Association's website (www.ussabot.org)
and should be submitted with the dues payment.
Section 3: The amount of Annual Dues shall be approved at the
Annual Meeting by a vote of the majority of the Membership present.
ARTICLE X - SANCTIONED EVENTS
Section 1: Class National Championship and Hi-Point Series Regattas
are sanctioned by the ASSOCIATION and, thus, are under the direction
of the Board.
Section 2: The Class National Championships and the Hi-Point
Series Regattas should be held annually with the dates and locations
to be set by the Board.
Section 3: There should be separate A, B and C Fleets for all
sanctioned events when there are an appropriate number of boats.
Section 4: Only Members in good standing are eligible to be
scored for purposes of the U.S. Sabot Hi Point Series and only
members in good standing are eligible to participate in the
U.S. Sabot National Championships.
Section 5: ASSOCIATION perpetual trophies shall be returned
to the ASSOCIATION prior to the skipper's meeting of the regatta
associated with that trophy. The following is a list of the
ASSOCIATION perpetual trophies, along with their respective
deed of gift:
a) U.S. SABOT JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: The trophy is to
be awarded to the winner of the Junior A fleet in the U.S. SABOT
National Championship regatta.
b) Junior U.S. Sabot Hi Point Trophy: The trophy is to be awarded
to the Junior winner of the Hi Point series A Fleet.
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS
Section 1: The Bylaws may never be suspended but may be amended
as follows:
a) Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted and
approved by the Board.
b) The proposed amendment and a request for comments shall be
published for the Membership.
c) All comments received within thirty (30) days of shall be
reviewed and acted upon by the Board.
d) The final version of the amendment, along with a ballot,
shall be published and sent to each Member to vote.
e) The secretary shall tally all the ballots received within
thirty (30) days of the mailing of the final version. The results
of the vote shall then be published in the next issue of the
official publication.
f) The acceptance or rejection of the amendment shall be determined
by the majority vote of those ballots returned within the thirty
(30) days.
ARTICLE XII - RACING RULES
Section 1: The rules shall be interpreted in spirit as well
as to the letter. It shall be the responsibility of each Member
to ensure that his or her boat conforms to the Racing Rules
and is eligible to race.
Section 2: In order for a U.S. Sabot to be raced in any U.S.
Sabot Association sanctioned race, said U.S. Sabot and skipper
must meet all requirements of this ASSOCIATION, its Rules, Specifications
and Drawings.
Section 3: When a rule's meaning, interpretation, or intent
is questioned, the Measurement Chairman shall promptly define
and interpret the rule in question. If there is some doubt as
to the ruling by the Measurement Chairman, or if the Measurement
Chairman has doubts to the meaning, interpretation or intent
of some part of a rule, then a decision must be made and, at
an appropriate time, the Board must review the rule in question
and make a final judgment.
Section 4: Members may appeal any decision by formal protest
to the Board in writing. Appeals must be submitted within thirty
(30) days after the decision and shall be responded to by the
Board within sixty (60) days after receipt of the protest.
Section 5: A Member, racing in a regatta, must sail with the
same equipment that he or she started with throughout the regatta.
The specific equipment is as follows:
a) Mast
b) Boom
c) Hull
d) Sail
e) Rudder
f) Dagger board
The only exceptions are if damage occurs to such an extent that
the piece of equipment would not be able to carry out its normal
function.
Section 6: The following equipment must always be carried:
a) U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device correctly
worn and properly secured.
b) One bailer of at least one quart capacity with a handle and
lanyard connecting the bailer to the boat.
c) One Paddle with a handle. The blade area of the paddle must
be at least 30 square inches.
d) A painter at least ¼" in diameter that extends a minimum
of 8 feet past the center of the bow. One end of the painter
must be secured around the mast step and the other end easily
accessible from a rescue boat at all times.
Section 7: A skipper may not carry weight besides his or her
regular sailing gear, unless required under ARTICLE XIII, Section
2c.
Section 8: Any Junior sailor, eleven years or older, sailing
in the B class, who wins two major regattas designated as one
of the Hi-Point series, automatically advances to the A class.
Any Junior sailor, regardless of age, who wins the B class in
the U.S. Sabot Nationals or trophies in the A Class in a major
regatta, automatically sails in the A class.
Section 9: To be eligible to sail in the Junior A, B or C Divisions,
a Member must not reach his or her 17th birthday by December
31 of the current year. Any ASSOCIATION sanctioned event may
include Seniors and/or Masters Divisions in addition to the
A, B and C Junior Divisions. If such Divisions are included
in an event, the age groupings shall be as follows:
Senior Division: Any Member who will reach at least his/her
17th but not his/her 40th birthday by December 31 of the current
year.
Masters Division: Any Member who will reach at least his/her
40th birthday by December 31 of the current year.
ARTICLE XIII - SPECIFICATIONS
Section 1: All boats existing
as of September 27, 1986, that were acceptable under the class
rules as of that date, are hereby "grandfathered" into this
class for B and C Junior Division racing only and the following
specifications do not apply. However, any and all changes
to those boats do apply and must follow in strict compliance
to these specifications. Boats previously built and grandfathered
into the ASSOCIATION are as follows:
a. Sidney Sabot - built by Sidney Company
b. Varalie - built by Varalie Boats
c. Sidney Sabot - built by Cal Boats West
d. Sidney Sabot - built by Lahaina Boats
Section 2: All A Class skippers must use stock U.S. Sabot
hulls, masts, booms, rudders, rudder heads, tillers and daggerboards
as provided by Catalina Yachts, the sole manufacturer of U.S.
Sabots. Such boats must not be modified except as provided
for in Sections 7 and 9 of this Article.
Section 3: Hull - The hull must be constructed from molds
approved by the ASSOCIATION. In addition, any changes must
also be approved by the ASSOCIATION with the concern that
no changes can occur that will change the underwater dimensions
of the boat or create an unfair advantage in the new boats
without considerations for those boats already built.
a) The minimum hull weight of each boat shall be 65 pounds.
Extra ballast must be permanently affixed.
b) The gross minimum weight of the skipper and boat for a
Junior shall be 175 pounds. However, no skipper will be required
to add more than 20 pounds of additional ballast to meet the
minimum (such that a Junior weighing 75 pounds with a hull
weighing 75 pounds must add 20 pounds of ballast and is eligible
to race.)
Section 4: Mast - The mast must consist of either wood, aluminum
or of fiberglass composite construction. The maximum length
shall be 13 feet. The maximum diameter will be 2 inches above
gunwale at a point abeam of mast.
Section 5: Boom - The boom shall be constructed from wood,
aluminum or of a fiberglass composite. The maximum depth of
the boom shall be 2 ½ inches.
Section 6: Daggerboard - The daggerboard may be constructed
of wood, foam or fiberglass composite only. The daggerboard
must be within the following dimensions and drawing:
a) Maximum thickness: 1.30 inches (a)
b) Cord +/- 11.5" inches (50% of length)
c) Length from bottom of hull 23.5" inches
Section 7: Rudder - The rudder may be constructed of wood,
foam, or fiberglass composite only. The leading edge of the
rudder may not angle forward from being parallel to the transom
of the bottom of the hull. The rudder must be within the following
dimensions:
a) Maximum thickness 1.050"
b) Cord +/- 9.625"
c) Length from bottom of transom 20"
Section 8: Sail - Sails other than those provided by Catalina
may be used. All sails, regardless of manufacturer shall be
constructed of a Dacron-type material. Kevlar and Mylar are
not permitted. The sail must be loose footed. Measured legal
sails must be stamped, signed and dated by the ASSOCIATION
Measurer. The following are the maximum dimensions (all measurements
taken without wrinkles)
a) Luff: 10'10" (no sleeve)
b) Leech: 11'11" (no sleeve)
c) Roach must be a fair curve
d) Midgirth: 4'5" (no sleeve)
e) Foot: 7'0" (no sleeve)
f) Foot Roach: 7" fair curve
g) Sleeve head: 2 ¾"
i. Midgirth: 4"
ii. Foot 4 ¼"
h) Battens: 1 ½" x 12" (about equally spaced along the leech)
i) Foot batten optional (about the middle of the foot roach)
Section 9: Rigging Changes - With the exception of those listed
below, changes to stock parts and rigging are not allowed
unless authorized by the Board. Additional permitted changes
will be published on the Association's website at least 30
days prior to the date the changes are allowed.
a) Control Lines - The skipper can choose the dimensions and
type of control lines used. Control lines shall be of uniform
thickness and shall not be tapered. Use of wire as a control
line is not permitted.
b) Blocks - The skipper can choose the size and type of blocks
and fasteners used.
c) Cleats - The skipper can choose the size and type of cleats
and fasteners used.
d) Mast - The mast's top cap can be replaced with a cap, plug
or tape. The mast's internal molded bottom plug can be replaced
with a plastic or wood plug. Tape or bushing material may
be applied to the mast to prevent abrasion in the mast step
as long as the material does not extend above the deck.
e) Stern Traveler - The skipper can choose the dimensions
and type of line for the stern traveler. Wire is not permitted.
f) Clew Tie Down - The clew of the sail may be tied with a
line or strap around the boom. The clew tie down may be passed
through simple balls or tube material to reduce friction.
Instead of tying, quick release connectors can be used.
g) Outhaul - The outhaul control line can be lead to a cleat
on the boom or through blocks added to the gooseneck and mast
step to a cleat on the thwart. The maximum purchase allowed
is 4:1.
h) Mainsheet - The mainsheet must be lead using the stern
traveler with a maximum purchase of 3:1. A mainsheet cleat
and swivel base can be installed on the thwart.
i) Boom Vang - The boom vang can have a maximum purchase of
6:1. Rod boom vangs are not permitted.
j) Cunningham - The Cunningham can have a maximum purchase
of 4:1.
k) Hiking Strap - A non-stock non-stretch hiking strap may
be used as long as it is anchored to the hull manufacturers
fastening points. A shockcord may be attached to the hiking
strap to lift it out of the bilge.
l) Blades - Surface refinishing of the rudder and daggerboard
is permitted provided the original shape, thickness and characteristics
are not altered.
m) Marking and Labeling - Marking and labeling of settings
and parts is permitted.
n) Tiller and Tiller Extension - The skipper can shorten the
length of the stock tiller and choose the size and type of
tiller extension.
o) Rudder head - Additional fasteners can be used to secure
the rudder to the rudder head to prevent wear.
p) Clips and Bags - Clips, ties or bags to stow or secure
safety or other equipment may be used.
q) Compass - One compass is permitted mounted to the deck
or mast.
r) Wind Indicators - A removable wind indicator can be used
on the mast just above or below the gooseneck. Ribbons, yarn
or similar wind indicators may be attached to the sail.
s) Repairs and Maintenance - Repairs and preventative maintenance
to the sail, hull, rudder, daggerboard, mast or boom may be
carried out provided such repairs are made in such a way that
the essential shape, characteristics or function of the original
are not affected.
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