Getting a boat measured and certified as being class compliant is simple and follows a process.

Being part of a class means getting on board with the class rules and following the processes that back them up. Sailors, class association officials and equipment manufacturers need to pay attention to this, and so do the measurers.

Ultimately, any official or sailor should be able to pull out the measurement certificate for a boat and find it to be current and complete showing ownership, measurement and details about the boat. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out that way.

The class rules outline the boat, its equipment and how it is checked. The class rules will also address the administration of certification, as well as the crew and any personal equipment that may be carried. For World Sailing classes, these are almost always read in conjunction with the Equipment Rules of Sailing.

Measurement is usually carried out by a person appointed by the class and trained and accredited by Australian Sailing or World Sailing. The Equipment Rules of Sailing and, dare we say it, common sense says that people with an interest in a boat can’t measure that boat. This means if you or a family member own it, you sail on it, or provide equipment for it you can’t certify it. If there is a conflict of interest declare it and see how someone else can do the job.

Certification control is done using the documents supplied by the class association, usually measurement forms or in some cases, measurement booklets. These are the official templates and guide the measurer to record everything they have to. This is not just equipment control, but anything they consider to be a shift away from the general interest of the class.

The outcomes of the measurement process will be a certificate that states that the boat was checked and is compliant with its class rules. Often the measurement certificate tracks changes to the boat as well. When measurers follow the process and apply the class rules diligently the fleet and other race officials can be comfortable that the boat’s hull, corrector weights, rig and sails, all of its equipment certification marks on equipment and class plaques, are in compliance with those class rules.

When equipment doesn’t measure, doesn’t comply or doesn’t present as required there’s no getting out of that process. Measurers are left with a simple option; just wait until it does and sign it off then.

When measurers play this role effectively the common and easily fixed problems with new or modified equipment are addressed before an event. This means the technical committee at an event can get on with equipment inspection and application of event limitation marks in relative ease and confidence.  

The Equipment Rules of Sailing are at: https://www.sailing.org/documents/equipmentrules/index.php
More information about class certificates can be found at: https://www.sailingresources.org.au/class-assoc/measurement-certificates/

By Glen Stanaway https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/