Proposed Class Rules changes to become effective 1/1/22

The two following proposals are being submitted by the Technical Committee for ratification at the NA AGM being held during the 2021 Viper North Americans. Prior to that, an electronic, international vote will be sent out to all member/owners.

 

The Technical Committee (TC) endorses these changes using the following excerpts from the Class Rules:

 

The Viper 640 is a strict one-design keelboat where the true test, when raced, is between helms persons and crews, and not boats and equipment. This offers fair sailing and is the fundamental rule of the Viper 640 Class.

The boat is supplied as a strict one-design, so no changes should be necessary. All Vipers should be the same except for minor upgrades approved by the Class Association.

One of the attractions of the Viper for most owners is that the class rules are very simple and that the boat is strictly one-design. The Viper philosophy incorporated in the rules is that “We want to go sailing, not use our time custom rigging our boats. We want an emphasis on sailing skills not differences between boats. We want to win or lose races on the water with the same exact boat as our fellow sailors” .

The Class Rules are written to prevent any changes from the standard boat that might be perceived to affect performance or boat handling, so that on the water each boat is the same. The few options to the standard boat that are allowed are minor. We want the boats to look and feel the same. A Viper owner should be able to step from one boat to another and feel right at home.

Per the above guidelines, we believe the following explanation of changes are true to the foundation of the Class.

Section 3

Over the years, there has been considerable expense and distraction with keel shapes. This reached a crescendo where it was decided the Class would invest in better keel moulds to address the issue. With the Class spending a considerable sum of money on creating highly accurate keel moulds built to a very consistent shape, we feel there should be no need to further fair these keels except in cases of damage. The Class is founded on the concept that the racing should be between sailors and not the boats. Keeping the boats affordable by limiting after-market specialty work like fairing is, in our opinion, in the spirit of the Class.

 

Section 6

We’ve had some requests regarding the vang (for these purposes interchangeable with GNAV) and how inevitably one rounds the leeward mark goes to pull the vang on and realizes that it is not cleated to leeward. So, you pull it all to windward thinking that you’ll correct it in the next tack. Which of course you forget to do. The unfortunate ones then realize they need to duck someone else and dump the mainsheet but oh no, the vang is on and its all down there to leeward.

 

We view this as a safety issue on windy days. Our racing is very tight with most of the fleet sailing in close proximity to each other on boats that can easily be overpowered. There is every reason to give each other piece of mind that the give way boat has every means available at their disposal to avoid a collision. Safety and ease of use is, in our opinion, a primary goal of the Class.

Here are the two rules. Bold or crossed-out type are changes.

3 Hull and Foil Finish

3.1. Apart from the exceptions provided in Rules 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4, the underwater surfaces of the hull and foils including the rudder, keel foil and keel bulb, may not be faired or refinished with the intention or effect of lightening the hull, removing hull imperfections, improving the shape or otherwise improving the performance of the hull and foils, with the exception of keel foil fairing as allowed in 3.4. Waxing and polishing of the hull and foils is permitted, provided the intention and effect is to polish the hull and foils for purely cosmetic purposes only.

For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions will apply;

“Underwater” is defined as the surfaces that are below the waterline scribe line which is present on every Viper from new, and the foils surfaces that are underwater when the boat is being sailed. If the waterline scribe line has been removed then it shall be re-measured and re-scribed on the hull.

Faired is defined as the removal of high spots and the filling of low spots of the original surface, such that the shape of the surface is altered.

Waxing  is defined as the application of a wax, cleaning agent or polish to the surface.

Polishing is defined as the use of a hand cloth or mechanical buffing machine, with a polishing compound to improve the cosmetic finish of the surface.

3.2  Repairs 

Where the underwater surface of a foil or the hull needs to be repaired, the repair may be faired into the area immediately surrounding the repair. Where a repair is extensive and where for example a substantial portion of a foil area has been faired as a result of repair, the hull or rudder foil shall be the same shape and finish as originally supplied by the builder. However, if a keel foil is extensively repaired, the fairing shall be performed per 3.4. The underwater surfaces may be otherwise maintained as per rule 3.1.

3.3 Maintenance

If any part of the underwater surfaces of a foil or the hull acquires or develops an imperfection that impedes the competitive performance of the boat relative to the average boat produced by the class builder/builders, the owner may apply to the Technical Committee to approve limited fairing to correct that imperfection. If the Technical Committee grants approval for fairing to correct an imperfection, the boat shall be inspected both prior to and after the fairing to ensure that the fairing correction is limited to that necessary to correct the imperfection and that the fairing results in final outcome is the same shape and finish as an average boat supplied by the builder. The owner shall be responsible for conveying the boat to a suitable location for inspection.

3.4 Keel Fin Fairing

The keel foil may be faired after September 30, 2012, subject to the following:

Keel foil fairing is not permitted for any keels produced after 31/03/21 from the class approved aluminum tooling, as the production shape and tolerances are consistent.

For keels built before 31/03/2021, limited fairing is permitted, to correct slight inconsistencies, provided that:

a/ The keel foil may be faired only to match the Class provided Viper 640 keel template and over the section from 50 mm above the top of the keel bulb to 25 mm below where the keel exits the hull when in the lowered position. The rest of the keel and the keel bulb may not be altered.

b/ The faired foil must meet the shape of the class approved and supplied keel template, and meet that shape within plus 2 mm or minus 1 mm as measured on each side of the keel foil.

The distance from the keel’s leading edge to its trailing edge measured perpendicular to the leading edge and parallel to its centerline shall be between 350 mm and 359 mm; and the keel foil trailing edge minimum thickness is 3 mm.

The faired keel foil. entire keel may be subject to inspection at any time after fairing for compliance with these tolerances and dimensions.

6.4 Boom vang and gnav

(a) All boats with a carbon mast shall have boom gnav. All boats with an aluminum mast shall either have a boom vang or a boom gnav.

(b) The boom vang may be mounted with the cam cleat at either the top or the bottom of the vang. The vang shall not otherwise be changed from original configuration. Any addition of any blocks, line or other devices is prohibited.

(c) The boom Gnav purchase system does not have to be identical shall be identical in form and function to that supplied by a class approved builder. The boom Gnav must be attached to the mast at the Gnav goose neck installed by Superspar. The tube shall be of the same material and diameter as supplied by a class approved builder. The length of the tube (without end caps) shall be 122 cm +/- 6 2 cm. The base of the tube shall rest on the Gnav car installed on the top of the boom. The Gnav shall be adjusted by a maximum of 16:1 purchase and a minimum of 8:1 purchase. A maximum of 8:1 purchase and a minimum of 4:1 purchase shall be located on top of the boom (either attached to the front of the boom or with the dead end attached to the mast strap, and a maximum of 6:1 4:1 purchase and a minimum of 2:1 purchase shall be located below the boom. No part of the purchase system shall be located inside the boom. The Gnav car and track shall be as supplied by the class approved builder (or be equivalent) with a maximum track length of 67 cm. The cleats for the gnav line may be relocated on the side tanks provided they are aft of the cockpit lockers and forward of the mainsheet pedestal. The gnav shall not be changed from the original configuration with the exception that a thimble, lead ring, or similar fitting with no moving parts, may be attached to the rope eyestrap of the first spinnaker sheet turning block with line for the sole purpose of allowing a sailor to cleat the vang from the opposite side of the boat. 

 

Owner/members who have paid their 2021 Class Dues may cast their votes by click HERE.