Blaze Class Rules (From January 2006)
Section 1 - Intention and Interpretation
1.1 The intention of these Class Rules is to maintain a one-design class in which provides a true test of sailing skills where no real advantage is gained by the addition or replacement of any equipment other than that permitted by the provisions of Sections 3 and 4.
1.2 The Blaze is a hiking dinghy to be raced single-handed.
1.3 The official language of the class is English. Following translation into any other language the English text shall prevail in the event of, any dispute.
1.3 The Executive Committee of the Blaze Class Association, in consultation with the Copyright Holders, shall be empowered to apply their interpretations of any Class Rule, pending ratification at a subsequent AGM according to the constitution.
Section 2 - Protection of the One-Design and Measurement
2.1 Only those companies holding current Licences to manufacture and market the Blaze shall be permitted to sell or distribute the Blaze.
2.2 The Licence requires Licensees to produce boats and equipment in accordance with the Official Drawings and Specifications issued by the Copyright Holders and with these Class Rules.
2.3 Hulls and other equipment moulded in GRP or other material specified by the Holders shall originate only from official moulds approved and registered by the Holders.
2.4 Each boat will be issued with a unique Registration Number that will be marked on the hull.
Section 3 - Deviations from the Official Drawings and Specifications
Only the following optional items are permitted:
3.1 One compass may be attached to any part of the hull, mast, rigging or equipment, provided that such attachment does not affect the watertight integrity of the hull or mast.
3.2 Mechanical wind indicators may be attached.
3.3 All cordage supplied (excluding wire) may be replaced, providing that the replacement cordage is of uniform diameter within 2mm of the diameter of that supplied. Broken or damaged wire may be replaced by wire of identical specification to that originally supplied. The addition of cordage to aid righting from a capsize is unrestricted. The use of elastic shock cord, rope end stoppers and adhesive tape is unrestricted.
3.4 The use of halyard bags or other storage receptacles is permitted anywhere on the hull within the confines of the gunwales.
3.5 The choice of tiller extension is unrestricted.
3.6 The choice of rudder stock and tiller is unrestricted – however these must be made from aluminium alloy or stainless steel.
3.7 Wedges may be used to angle any fitting; fairleads may be added to (or removed
from) any cleats.
3.8 The use of alternative shackles or rigging links is unrestricted.
3.9 Non-slip materials not exceeding 3mm in depth may be added or applied to any part of the boat. Padding for wings, if applied must not exceed 15mm in thickness.
3.10 Additional purchase can be added to any control system but additional controls may not be added. Forestay adjustment while racing is permitted.
3.10 Any design or type of batten may be used in the supplied sail. Battens are not to be replaced or modified in any sail used during an event unless damaged.
3.11 Any type or configuration of trampoline may be used between the side of the hull and the extremity of the wing tubes either side.
3.12 If at any time an alternative composite mast is supplied as standard on new boats by the manufcaturer similar equipment may also be retrofitted to pre-existing hulls.
3.13 If at any time new boats are supplied with rotational masts as standard equipment, similar modifications may be made to pre-existing masts and deck fittings.
Section 4 - Alterations, Repairs and Replacements.
4.1 Any alteration to the hull or deck form, construction, spars, sails, rigging or equipment as supplied by the manufacturer (in accordance with the specification of the Copyright Holders) is prohibited, except where specifically authorised by these Class Rules. An example of this is the permitting of hatches in the hull that can be in the front of the cockpit just below the ‘inner’ tubes (1 or 2) or in the rudder-post at the stern (1).
4.2 Damaged items shall be repaired in a way that best reproduces the original shape and construction of the item. Items that have been repaired in such a way so as to alter the shape (beyond minor and unavoidable variations), or any other characteristic, that may affect performance shall not be permitted.
4.3 All replacement sails, masts, rudder blades and centreboards must be as original supplied equipment.
4.4 The modification of existing boats in line with the specification of current production boats is permitted and encouraged.
4.5 At the 2009 AGM it was agreed to approve on a one year experimental basis articulating (swinging) spreaders allowing the spreaders to swing forward to a set position (there is a description of how to do this elsewhere on the site). This DIY adjustment may NOT be made to masts still under the manufacturer's warranty as it invalidates that warranty.
Section 5 - Primary Rule(s)
The Blaze is a one-design class with its rules being routinely administered by the class association. The intention of the association is to encourage ‘fair racing’ at reasonable cost and it also allows the individual to modify or substitute equipment to suit and/or as preferred. In essence the following overriding rules apply:
5.1 Boats must be raced with standard, as issued and as original, equipment supplied by the manufacturer or their agents, or as permitted under ‘experimental’ status conferred by the class association committee and/or as passed at an AGM of the class. The following originally issued items or permitted replacements must be used
a) Hull b) Mast c) Boom d) Rudder blade e) Centreboard
5.2 Any control system may be modified to re-route control lines or sheeting point and/or to add additional purchases. Any control system may be removed. Any ‘flyaway’ system for control lines is permitted.
5.3 No substitution for standing (wire) rigging is permitted except as stated below in
5.4 From 20/10/03 ‘lowers’ may be made of any man-made fibre in addition to wire as originally supplied.
5.5 The location of the centreboard pivot point, deck fitting for location of the mast foot, position of wings or position of gooseneck (except to facilitate conversion to ‘X’ sail) may not be altered.
5.6 No new or additional control systems can be added to the boat although modification of those supplied is permitted.
5.7 No additional fixing holes may be drilled into any part of the hull for any purpose. One exception is to facilitate the attachment of trampolines between the hull and the wing. The second exception is to allow the fitting of a strop to facilitate the modification to rear sheeting. These two exceptions ONLY may be made in the gunwhale between the wing tubes on each side.
5.8 Outer wing tubes may not project more than 10mm beyond the forward extremity of the front wing fitting.
5.7 Wing webbing is not a closely controlled area of the class. Any of the alternatives as supplied by the manufacturer are permitted as are alternatives manufactured by others.
5.8 Wing tubing is supplied with either 4 (early boats) or 2 (later boats) adjustment holes that allow wing width to be adjusted. No additional holes are permitted.
5.9 Hulls may not be raced that are below 72kg. They are to be measured with
centreboard in place and normal cordage, but without rudder assembly, spars, sail etc. Boats that are found below this minimum will be required to carry weights to bring this ‘hull’ weight up to 72kg.
5.10 The mast / deck fitting may not be moved. The front face of the masts must not come within 10mm of the front edge of the mast base fitting. Early boats have a long fitting with the mast located towards the rear – these can be modified so that the mast is near to the to the front of this item but not closer than 10mm to the front.
5.11 The maximum wing width permitted is 2.48m when extended. Any lesser width is permitted. Wing width may NOT be altered during an event. Padding in the form of foam etc may be no thicker than 15mm.
It will remain the responsibility of the crew to ensure they remain within these limits and a reminder is given that any authorised official or measurer may request checks prior to racing and within 6 hours after the final race at an event has finished.
Section 6 - Equalisation
From 1st January 2000 the association dropped the provision for weight compensation and where fitted crews could then remove all weights and associated fittings. From 1st January 2002 wing width became subject to a maximum measurement and the class no longer attempted to ‘equalize’.
Section 7 - Sail Measurement
7.1 Sails are not routinely measured however the committee at its absolute discretion reserves the right to disallow from competition any sail that in its opinion has been altered to gain unfair advantage.
7.2 If the association believes that reasonable sail consistency cannot be assumed at any stage the committee will introduce formal measurement of all sails prior to acceptance for racing within the Blaze Class. This would apply to all Blaze ‘Opens’ and to both National Championships.
7.3 Any sail as supplied for racing is permitted for such use with the following exception: The ’10.4’ fully battened sail may not be used in championship racing as described above after 1st Jan 2005 without specific acceptance by the technical officer of the Blaze class association in advance.
7.4 From 1/1/08 Blaze sails supplied for the Blaze by Sobstad and North Sails (through Cirrus Raceboats) are deemed to be officially class approved, both sails having been assessed by the association as fit for purpose and of similar characteristics.
Section 8 - Certificate
8.1 All Blazes are accepted as class legal provided they are raced with items as supplied and controlled as described in these rules.
8.2 The association does not intend to routinely issue certificates but reserves the right to do so if circumstances are thought to require it in the future.
Section 9 - Sail Numbers
The boat's Registration Number shall be the sail number of the boat, and shall be displayed clearly on each side of the mainsail and be no less than 30cm in height.
Section 10 - Specific Prohibitions
All electronic equipment is prohibited, with the exception of time keeping equipment and electronic compass.
End