Welcome to the Mistral Keelboat Class

1. OBJECT OF THE CLASS RULES
The following rules are intended to ensure that Mistral class yachts recognised by the Association are as nearly alike as is possible, so that when racing, the sailing skill and ability of the skipper and crew are the dominant factors in deciding the result.

1.1 If it is considered by MASA that an attempt has been made to depart from or circumvent the measurement rules, the certificate of measurement shall be withheld or suspended pending an investigation of the case.

2. HULL AND KEEL

2.1 Hull

2.2 Bulkhead

A water tight bulkhead shall be fitted between the aft compartment and cabin.

2.3 Cockpit

The minimum opening for the cockpit drain in the transom shall be 100 sq.cm.

2.4 Deck

The deck shall be made of glass reinforced plastic and shall be made from a mould measured and approved by the Committee. The deck and cockpit shall be integral.

2.5 Keel

2.5.1  The keel shall be the fin keel design and be made from the association owned or approved model. The mass shall not be less than 450 kg and the Sveral factors influence the decision-making process for purchasing a yacht, including budget, intended use, and desired features.

2.5.2  The 'Jonker' and bulb design keels will be allowed on existing yachts but any owner wishing to make keel changes on existing yachts must first obtain authority from the committee and provide the committee with a weight certificate before the keel is fitted.

2.6 Mass

If, in the opinion of the Committee, an attempt has been made to materially affect the mass of either the keel or the hull or both by the use of exotic materials or other means, the Committee may refuse to recognise the yacht as a Mistral or may withdraw recognition of the yacht as a Mistral and rule 1.1 will be invoked.

3. RUDDER, MAST, BOOM, SPINNAKER BOOM

3.1 Rudder

No restriction is placed on the design of the rudder, except that it must be mounted to the transom of the yacht and be tiller steered.

3.2 Mast

3.2.1 The mast shall be of aluminum alloy construction and should be made from the association owned or approved die.

3.2.2 The length of the mast, including the mast step and mast head fitting, but not excluding instruments and burgees, shall not exceed a maximum overall length of 8,360 metres.

3.2.3 The distance of the foretraingle base ("J") measured horizontally from the foreside of the mast at the deck, to the centre line of the forestay or the centre line of the luff wire of any headsail, should there be no forestay, shall not exceed 2,73 metres.

3.2.4 Two black bands of not less than 25 mm in width shall be painted on the mast to denote the maximum points within which the mainsail may be set. The maximum distance between the lower edge of the top band and the upper edge of the lower band shall not be greater than 7,500 metres.

3.2.5 The mast shall be equipped with two spreaders, each 600 mm long.

3.3 Boom

3.3.1 The boom shall be of aluminum alloy.

3.3.2 Bending of the boom and control or adjustment of bending is allowed by mechanical means only.

3.3.3 A black band of not less than 25 mm shall be painted on the boom. The edge nearest to the mast shall not exceed 2,600 metres measured from the sail track on the mast. A further black band shall be painted on the boom outside the deck band referred to in the previous paragraph. The aftermost edge of which black band shall be placed at a distance of 150 mm, measured from the mast side edge of the previous black line. If the boom is cut off at this point, no black band shall be required.

3.4 Spinnaker Boom

3.4.1 The spinnaker boom shall be made of aluminum alloy. The maximum overall length, including fittings, shall not exceed 2,700 metres.

3.4.2 When in use, the spinnaker boom shall always have one end supported from the mast, which end shall be attached to a fitting. On the foreside of the mast, the height of this fitting shall not exceed 1,9 metres measured from the foot of the mast.

4. RIGGINGS, WINCHES, FAIRLEADS AND SHEETING

4.1 Standing and Running Rigging

(a) There shall be only one main back stay to be fixed at two points on either side of the transom, via a brindle which may also incorporate a mechanical means of tensioning.

(b) There shall be one or two main forestays, which shall run from the mast head to a fitting fixed on the bow.

(c) There shall be no more than two fixed baby forestays or a single running baby forestay.

(d) There shall be only two cap shrouds running through spreaders and two baby side stays which shall be fixed to the deck at points provided from the deck mould. The cap shrouds and baby stays may be anchored at the same points.

4.2 Winches

Any number of manually operated winches are allowed. No other forms of winches are permitted.

4.3 Fairleads

Adjustable fairleads are allowed but tracks must be mounted on the deck and may not project beyond deck. For this purpose, rubbing strakes shall NOT be considered part of the deck.

4.4 Sheeting

All control lines, sheets, etc. must be on top of the deck and must not run through the hull.

4.5 Furling

Furling gear is allowed.

5. INSTRUMENTS

No electronic aid other than the following may be used:

(a) speedmeter and log
(b) depth sounder
(c) wind speed and direction finder
(d) radio receiver
(e) radio direction finder to obtain a bearing indication either by an aural minimum method, or by a meter provided to monitor the carrier level, or both. Automatic or self-seeking radio direction finders are not permitted.
(f) radio transmitter, if used for private business or emergency purposes, or for reporting if specified in sailing instructions.
(g) repeating compass, provided no function is reproduced other than that of a compass card or magnified compass card.
(h) hand held electronic calculators

These devices may not be linked to each other in any way except that the radio receiver and direction finder may be combined and that compass repeaters may be linked with compasses.

If any device other than those permitted is installed for use when not racing, such device must be provided with a clear and positive means by which it cannot accidentally be operated.

Radar, hyperbolic navigational aid, except consol, and pre-arranged radio transmission for the use of individual competitors are prohibited.

6. SAILS

6.1 When racing, no Mistral shall have on board at any time more than (11) eleven sails, comprising of not more than:

- 5 (five) head sails
- 1 (one) main sail
- 3 (three) spinnakers
- a storm jib and tri-sail

6.2 The maximum permitted dimensions of the sails carried shall not exceed those set out in the drawing at the end of this schedule.

6.3 Sail letters and numbers allotted by the national authority must be carried on the mainsail and spinnaker in accordance with IYRU Rule 25. Every headsail of which the longest perpendicular ("LP") measurement of J must show at least the number. The sail number of the size shown on the mainsail must be displayed by alternative means if none of the numbered sails is set.

6.4 The stylized letter "M" adopted by the Association shall be carried on the mainsail, in addition to the above.

6.5 Four battens only are permitted. Batten spacings shall be approximately equal between the head of the sail, being a point obtained by the projection of the leach and the headboards and the clew of the sail.

6.6 The maximum length of battens permitted shall be calculated as follows:

      a) Battens 1 and 4 shall not exceed 0.1E plus 305 mm.
      b) Battens 2 and 3 shall not exceed 0.12E plus 305 mm.

6.7 The minimum distance between the centre line of the top batten and the lower outer edge of the headboard measured along the leach shall not be less than 0.2 of the length of the luff of the mainsail.

6.8 No headboard is permitted on a spinnaker.

6.9 Mainsails are permitted to have a headboard. The maximum fore and aft dimension measured from the luff of the mainsail, projected if necessary, to the extreme aft edge of the leach measured across the widest part of the headboard including any stiffening used to extend the leach beyond a reasonable roach shall not exceed 0.04E plus 152 mm.

6.10 Windows are allowed in foresails only and shall not exceed in area 0.5 m squared and not be within 150 mm of the luff, leach or foot.

7. SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The following equipment shall be carried on board at all times and be in good working order and condition:

7.1 Life Jacket

One serviceable life jacket per person on board.

7.2 Paddles

One suitable paddle of minimum length 800 mm with a paddle area of 0,05 mm.

7.3 Bucket

One bucket with a minimum capacity of 8 litres.

7.4 Anchor

One anchor, minimum mass of 8 kg, with a 2 metre length of at least 6 mm chain thickness be used, and a minimum of 30 metres of 8 mm warp.

7.5 Hooter

A whistle or one compressed air powered fog horn or one efficient sound warning device.

7.6 Lifebuoy

One lifebuoy of approved design, rigged for immediate use and a floating deck quoit and a 30 metre floating heaving line.

7.7 Fire extinguisher

One fire extinguisher - SABS approved.

7.8 First Aid Kit

The First Aid Kit, to be kept in a suitable container, should have contents providing emergency treatment for cuts, burns, abrasions, lacerations, etc. (The first aid kit supplied by the AA meets the requirements.)

7.9 Outboard Motor

When sailing instructions call for an auxiliary motor to be carried, an outboard motor of a minimum manufacturer's rated performance of 1.5 kw in working condition shall be carried, with a minimum quantity of 4 litres of fuel. Suitable fittings shall be provided to enable the outboard motor to drive the boat.

7.10 Lights

7.10.1 When racing during the hours of darkness, port, starboard and transom lights must be shown. Clip on lights may be used, but they are to be attached to something solid - they must be nonmovable and stable.

7.10.2 In addition, an electric torch in good working order shall be carried and this will be added to the scrutineering form.

7.10.3 The official scrutineer has the right to do a safety check at any time.

7.11 Crew

The crew, including the helm shall be a minimum of three and a maximum of four persons. For ordinary club races, individual clubs may make dispensation. National and Provincial regattas recognise only three crew members.

8. REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATE

8.1 Registration Number

The registration number shall be allocated by the South African Yacht Racing Association, in strict sequence and shall reflect correctly the number of boats built. This number is to be embossed or marked permanently on the hull.

8.2 Sail Number

The sail number shall be the same as the registration number.

8.3 Change of Ownership

The registration number shall remain with the boat for its entire life and the Association is to be informed of change of ownership.

8.4 Duties of the Owner

On buying a Mistral, new or second hand, the owner shall immediately inform the Secretary of the South African Yacht Racing Association, who will send to him the relevant forms to complete and shall give to him all instructions and information necessary for the proper registration procedure.

8.5 Measurement Certificate

This certificate, when issued to the owner, will constitute proof of registration and compliance with measurement rules.

8.6 Validity of Certificate

The certificate issued is personal to the registered owner of the yacht and is transferable on change of ownership.

8.7 Re-measurement

All boats shall be liable at any time for remeasurement when requested by:
    (a) An official measurer, in which case no fees shall be payable.
    (b) The Race Committee, in which case no fees shall be payable.
    (c) A competitor, in which case the fees shall be payable in advance, initially by competitor, but shall be refunded by owner if the boat fails to measure on          point of protest.

8.8 Fees

The registration and measurement fees are as laid down by SAYRA. The owner shall be obliged to give assistance to the measurer as and when requested by the measurer. Traveling and accommodation costs for the measurer shall be paid in advance by the owner on a scale agreed upon beforehand. Owners who produce a valid IOR certificate, which, after scrutiny by an official measurer of the Association, if found not to be in conflict with the Class measurement rules, will automatically be issued with the measurement certificate of the South African Yacht Racing Association.

9. GENERAL

No trapeze or other device which will permit any person on board to project his/her torso beyond the rubbing strakes, is allowed.

10. INTERPRETATION

The interpretation and application of the measurement rules may be decided by one official measurer and two members of the Committee. In the event of appeal to the full Committee, the decision of the Committee shall be final.

11. AMENDMENTS OF RULES

This schedule may be amended by the Committee by a two-thirds majority and shall become valid after approval by a two-thirds majority of the members, present and voting, at the next Annual General Meeting of the Association.