Spinnaker Symbols

[Cliff]

Why do the DS rules not allow symbols on the spinnaker? I have seen DS from other countries with spinnaker symbols and some look really sharp.

[GreenLake]

Unless you are racing in a sanctioned class event, none of those "rules" apply to you or your sails.

Do you have any pictures?

[Cliff]

I asked the class measurer Robert Damon and he left it open.

From:
xxxx@yyy
To:
Cliff Carlson

Tue, Oct 28 at 8:37 PM

Hi Cliff, I my interpretation is that a logo, personal or business related is not addressed in the bylaws. I have permitted personal logos, such as an 8 ball at one time but the registered sail number must be there as well. If you have something you are interested in doing, send me a draft, and I can better rule on this. Thanks for contacting me! Bob

[Cliff]

Bob Damon did get back to me and said he would bring this up with the BOARD. Attached is an image from my 1955 Encl. Britannica. that I proposed to Bob.

[GreenLake]

@Cliff: Reminder, sharing someone's email or other personal location or contact information on this forum is not OK, unless this is obviously done by permission. For that it doesn't matter whether the DSA site publishes that info or not; if necessary, you can point people to find the info on that site.

Sharing your own contact information is not encouraged, with a possible exception for posting or replying to ads (which have a sunset period). Any contact information in the profile and other places (signature) will be scrutinized for possible abuse (spammers routinely do it) and could lead to deletion of your user profile (if it looks like you are spamming).

[Cliff]

Hello GL

Sorry--will not do again--I thought that the Class Measures e-mail was public since it's in the Quarterly. I take it my error was to show his response.

[Cliff]

Unless you are racing in a sanctioned class event, none of those "rules" apply to you or your sails.

Do you have any pictures?

Hello GL--Pls excuse my ignorance--just beginning to remember some of the procedures for quotes (and other stuff). Attached is an image from the Winter 2020 Quarterly. I have seen others but always from a foreign country. I think this spinnaker would do well with your pirate DS.

IMG_0001.jpg (78.41 KiB) Viewed 49 times

[GreenLake]

@Cliff, those are some fun designs. I personally find spinnakers a fun way to create some visual interest.

I've seen photos of spinnakers from larger boats that had a giant "pink panther" and other designs. Here's a link showing a few other designs, including a gigantic eye: https://www.pinterest.com/nortonyachts/spinnakers/

My personal opinion on class rules is only that, but as long as the design is "fun" and not commercial or intentionally offensive, I would hope that the board would rule that there aren't any obstacles to using it in a class event. But not my call.

Having been on a race committee (not a DS event) on several occasions and for different fleets, I find sail numbers on spinnakers useful. However, the reality is that many low-commitment events attract boats that may sail with used sails, so our race sheets would list multiple sail numbers and/or other identifying marks for each entry. A bit more challenging, but we always managed to sort things out in the end. Digital photography to the rescue: you don't have to get it right "in the moment" but can look back to double check.

[Cliff]

the images do not preclude adding the numbers. To be an approved sail by the DSA you would need the numbers. The skull and cross bones are from Brazil. This was an article by the class measurer about the fully battened mainsails. You can see that in the pic. His point is that the full batten is not allowed by DSA by-law.