Boats Built from Aussie Mold 11 Are Not Etchells

International Etchells Class Association
Andrew Cumming, Chairman [email protected]
10 March, 2021

I am writing to inform you of a major development in the Etchells Class in the matter of Mould 11 (M11).  As you know, for some time the International Governing Committee (IGC) have been reviewing the background to M11 and as I have previously advised we have been engaged with World Sailing (WS) to seek clarifications. One of the specific findings from our work is that WS do not recognize M11 as a Registered Mould for the construction of Etchells.

A number of follow-up issues have been canvassed with WS and recently the IGC have sought clarifications via questions to them simply asking for a Rules Interpretation on the following three matters: a) Do moulds have to be approved by WS; b) Is it sufficient that a boat has a Hull Certificate to make it legal; and c) Is it sufficient that a boat “measures in” to make it legal?

WS have issued a response, as published on their website (https://www.sailing.org/28207.php) to that request:  a) YES moulds have to be approved by WS; b) NO it is not sufficient that the boat has a Hull Certificate (it also has to have come from a Registered Mould); and c) NO it is not sufficient that it “measures in” (it also has to have come from a Registered Mould).  The IGC understand that because of the Rules Interpretation we are required to and shall take steps to withdraw the Hull Certs of M11 boats via instruction to the relevant Certifying Authorities (WS and Australian Sailing (AS)).

These are important Interpretations.  They affirm that the one-design character of our Class is preserved by virtue of the control over the tooling used to make the hulls, not simply the fact that they have been accorded a Hull Certificate or that the application of three transverse templates happen to fit the hull.

What is absolutely paramount to the IGC at this point is that every effort is made to remedy this situation for the M11 boat owners.  It is important to understand that every M11 boat owner is a victim of circumstances over which they had no control.  The boats were erroneously represented as legal and rules-compliant.  The M11 owners are emphatically not “cheaters.”  The IGC condemn in the strongest possible terms this sentiment, and implore those making such accusations to consider the circumstances and desist.  Moreover, to this end, the IGC have resolved that prior results involving M11 boats will not be revised retroactively and WS has been duly informed of this.

The IECA is in the process of communicating with stakeholders most affected by this situation, including the owners of the 25 boats that have been built to date from M11.  We are working with WS to try to enact a temporary Rule Change that will allow M11 boats to continue to compete in regional and national regattas within Australia, provided the Australian Membership is in favour of that.

In an effort to find solutions, the IGC and the One Design Technical Committee will also reach out to Pacesetter Etchells Pty Ltd (the current Australian builder), Innovation Composites Pty Ltd (who are in the process of applying for a new Builder’s Licence), Heritage and Ontario, WS, AS, our Chief Measurer and the Australian Association to try to find a way to get M11 boat owners on the water with legal Etchells Class Yachts as soon as possible.  This effort will take a lot of collaboration, trust and friendship both internationally and between M11 and non-M11 boat owners generally, putting aside differences of opinion and recognizing that nobody now involved in the Class is at fault here.

The ruling by WS, while understandably devastating to M11 boat owners, provides a starting point to move forward and this critically includes focus on completing our Class Audit including investigating questions raised on the legality of other boats, whether through modification or manufacture, and taking whatever action is required to ensure boats compete on an equal footing in accordance with both the spirit and letter of our one-design class rules and foundation principles.  The objective is to quickly put the Class back on track as the preferred one-design platform for championship racing for the next 50 years.

In other news I am happy to report that WS has approved the Rules Change the Class voted for concerning the abolition of sail cards and the introduction of a royalty on sail purchases, the revenue from which will fund much overdue investment in the Class.  The details are in a Technical Memo which is posted on the Class website (https://etchells.org/class/technical/technical-documents) along with the updated Class Rules.  Finally, I am pleased to welcome Jamie McWilliam of the Hong Kong fleet onto the IGC to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Chris Hampton.

Respectfully,
Andy
_________________________
Andrew Cumming, IECA IGC Chair
[email protected]
+01 416 938 0743