The Class association is a group of avid Viper owners and equally devout Viper crew. We share useful tips on the boat and help each other and prospective Viper sailors get out on the water.
The Class Association was relaunched in 2004 in Marblehead when a small group of Viperers met at the upstairs bar in Maddys Sail Loft.
The Class has grown to represent close to 90 owners and over a hundred crew.
The participants in the North American Championships was 18 this year, up from 12 in 2006 and we are expecting 25 to 30 in 2008.
in 2005, the Class Association agreed to purchase the molds and rights from the previous license holder and in 2006 appointed Rondar as the class builder.
The first new Rondar boat arrived stateside in October 2006. Rondar has sold over 25 boats and the total number of boats in the US has grown to 91.
In addition to the fleet in Marblehead, there are Vipers and Viper fleets in Canada, Arizona, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, Long Island Sound, Texas, and Oregon.
Your class dues help the Class Association, promote the Viper class, support Viper owners and organize Viper racing. Your Class Association is a member of US Sailing, it maintains and develops this website, publishes and mails newsletters, organizes and promotes class regattas and class rendezvous, obtains class insurance and other services, maintains adherence to class One-Design standards, assists with obtaining PHRF and Portsmouth handicap ratings and will do anything else that it can for members, Viper owners and Viper crew.
2007 Membership is $40 per boat. Class membership is voluntary and there is one vote per boat. Registered class members gain access to the restricted portion of the website. We will send newsletters and information to any Viper owner who contacts the class.
Owner members can register their crew as members of the Class Association for no additional dues. Crew get the same access and status as owners.
Please send you name, address, phone numbers, email address, boat name and number, club affiliation, boat location along with a check for $40 made out to "Viper Class" to John McCormack, Viper Class Treasurer, PO Box 383 New Castle, NH 03854. Owners can send the same information for any crew that they wish to nominate for Class Association membership. Call John at (603) 661-3755 for any more information.
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We are pleased to announce that Brian Bennett, the designer and original builder of the Viper 640 has accepted the title of Class Governor of the Viper 640 Class Association. Brian envisioned a high performance planing keel boat that was simple to sail and still fast and highly tactical. His vision became a reality in 1996 when he produced the prototype Viper 640 which went on to win Boat of the Year award in 1997. Over the next two years Bennett Race Boats produced 60 Vipers before he sold the molds to Race One and returned to New Zealand. When the resurgence in the class began in 2005, Brian generously offered to waive royalties on the boats produced by the new builder. Brian sits on the class technical committee and continues to offer support and advice to the class.
General
1.1 The Fundamental Rule
The Viper 640 is a strict one-design keelboat where the true test, when raced, is between helmspersons and crews, and not boats and equipment.
1.2 All boats shall be produced from class approved molds by class appointed builders and shall be identical in every respect except where these rules specifically allow for differences.
1.3 The principle of the Viper 640 Class rules is that no changes to the boat are allowed unless they are specifically permitted by the class rules.
1.4 The Viper 640 shall be raced in accordance with these rules with only the hull, equipment, fittings ,spars and foils supplied by a class appointed builder, and sails supplied by a class approved sailmaker.
1.5. No addition or alteration may be made to the hull form, construction, equipment, standing rigging, running rigging, spars and foils as supplied by the builder except when such an alteration or change is specifically authorized by these rules. No alteration may be made to the location of; equipment,standing rigging, running rigging, spars or foils as supplied by the builder except when such an alteration is specifically authorized by these rules.
Control of Molds and Builders
2.1 Hull, Deck and Keel Molds: All molds for the hull, deck, foredeck, keel, and rudder shall be constructed solely by builders appointed for that purpose by the class association. All molds and patterns shall be numbered and issued only to builders appointed by the Class association.
2.2 Alterations to molds- No alterations shall be made to any molds, official patterns or templates without the approval of the class association.
2.3 Measurement of Molds -Tolerances are given to allow for minor variations and distortions through age but intentional variations within these tolerances are prohibited. Each mold shall be measured prior to commencement of production and thereafter is subject to further measurement at the discretion of the Class Association by a measurer approved by the Class Association.
2.4 Building Licenses-- Yachts shall only be molded and/or completed by builders appointed by the Class association. All applications for licenses shall be made to the Class Association which may request the Regional Vice President and others of the country concerned and/or the Building Committee to report on the suitability of the applicant.
2.5 No alteration shall be made to the construction process, the materials, the layout or the equipment of the boat without the written permission of the Class Association. No other alteration shall be made to the boat as supplied by the builder without written permission from the Class Association.
2.6 Issue of Molds- Application for the issue of molds patterns and/or measurement templates shall be made to the Class Association which, in approved cases, shall coordinate to effect delivery from an approved source.
Hull, Deck and Foils
3.1 Construction shall be in accordance with official plans and specifications approved by the Class Association.
3.2 Material shall be in accordance with specifications approved by the Class Association.
3.3 Hull and Deck Assembly- The builder shall follow procedures and standards which ensure strict control of the One-Design shape. The deck shall be assembled to the hull with the hull in the approved mold or in an assembly jig approved by the class association. In either case the necessary support shall be given so that the hull profile and sheerline are as shown on the plans. Such support shall be approved by the Class Association.
3.4 Hull - The hull may be measured by a measurer approved by the Class Association to ensure compliance with the Class Rules, which include the measurement diagram and Measurement Form. Lightening of the Hull- No stripping or lightening of the hull by means of cutting holes in the, bulkheads, partial bulkhead or by the removal of material from the hull, deck, bulkheads or partial bulkhead shall be permitted.
3.5 Deck - The deck and foredeck may be measured by a measurer approved by the Class Association. Relocation of hardware shall not be permitted without written permission from the Class Association. The location and size of the mast port as molded shall be as specified on the Plans. Devices for controlling the position of the mast in the mast port below the deck are prohibited.
3.6 Mast chocks devices are permitted for the purpose of controlling mast bend at the deck: (partner blocks). The aft side of the mast may be secured in the partners with a line and cleat as supplied and positioned by the builder.
3.7 Rudder- The rudder shall be made only from the original design by Brian Bennett.
3.8. Keel & Bulb - The keel shall be made only from official molds. The method of construction shall be as specified on the official plans. The bulb shall be of lead cast in an official mold.
Hull and Foil Finish
4.1 Waxing, polishing and sanding of the hull and foils is permitted, provided the intention and effect is to polish the hull and foils only. The hull and foils may not be faired or refinished with the intention or effect of lightening the hull, removing hull imperfections, improving the shape or otherwise improving the performance of the hull and foils
4.2 Where a foil or the hull needs to be repaired, the repair may be faired into the area immediately surrounding the repair. Where a repair is extensive and where for example a substantial portion of a foil has been faired as a result of repair, the hull or foil shall be the same shape and finish as originally supplied by the builder.
4.3 If a hull or foil has a substantial imperfection that impedes the competitive performance of the boat relative to the average boat produced by the class builder/builders, the owner may apply to the Class Association to approve limited fairing to correct that imperfection. If the Class Association grants approval for fairing to correct an imperfection, the boat shall be inspected both prior to and after the fairing to ensure that the fairing is limited to that necessary to correct the imperfection and that the fairing results in a hull or foil that is the same shape and finish as an average boat supplied by the builder. The owner shall be responsible for conveying the boat to a suitable location for inspection.
Spars
5.1 Construction- The material, method of construction and design of the spars shall be in accordance with these rules, official Spar Plan, Spar Measurement Diagram and Measurement Form. Masts, spreaders and booms shall be fabricated only by builders approved by the Class association. The mast shall either be an aluminum mast supplied by Proctor or a Carbon mast manufactured by Superspar and supplied by Rondar.
5.2.1 The aluminum mast extrusion # 3525 shall be fabricated by Proctor Masts Ltd.
5.2.2 The aluminum mast taper, internal sleeve, attachments of the spreaders, standing rigging and halyard sheaves shall be in accordance with the Spar Plan.
5.2.3 A sleeve of 2.0 meters or less may be inserted into the aluminum mast in the vicinity of a break or fracture solely for the purpose of repair and may be fastened mechanically or by welding. Welded reinforcements which are in excess of those required to restore the local integrity of the mast are prohibited.
5.3 The carbon mast is a class specified “Viper” mast fabricated by Superspar.
5.4 Bent Masts- Permanently bent masts are prohibited.
5.5 Mast Measurement Bands- Two measurement bands 24mm minimum width and of color contrasting with the mast shall be located as follows: The upper edge of the lower band shall be 1190mm +/- 10mm above the cockpit floor. The upper surface of the boom groove projected to the mast shall not extend below this point. The lower edge of the upper band shall not be more than 7810mm above the upper edge of the lower band. No part of the mainsail shall extend beyond the lower edge of the upper band.
5.6 Spreaders- Spreaders,as supplied by the builder, after assembly on the mast must be rigidly attached.
5.7 Mast Heel- Movement of the mast is permitted only in a fore and aft direction. Fore and aft movement of the mast heel while racing is prohibited.
5.8 Boom - The boom extrusion #2632 shall be fabricated by Proctor (Selden). The boom shall be of constant section throughout and shall not be tapered, cut away or drilled except for the attachment of fittings. Removal of the boom end plugs is prohibited.
5.9 Permanently bent booms are prohibited. However, a permanent set, due to distortion not exceeding 25mm measured between the forward end of the boom and the measurement band is permitted.
5.10 Boom Measurement Band - A single contrasting measurement band of 12.5 mm shall be placed on the boom 3050 mm when perpendicular from the aft face of the mast.
5.11 A standard Proctor boom sleeve approved by the Class Association may be inserted into the boom.
Standing Rigging
6.1 Rigging- All standing rigging for the aluminum mast shall be of stainless steel of 5/32" diameter. The forestay for the carbon mast shall be 3mm of stainless steel, The shrouds for the carbon mast shall be 3 mm of stainless steel. Solid rod rigging is prohibited.
6.2 Headstay - The length of the headstay for the carbon mast shall be adjustable only by a turnbuckle attached to the headstay chainplate. The length of the headstay shall not exceed 7588 mm and shall not be less than 7512mm measured from the bearing point of the upper tang to the bearing point of the lower attachment point.
6.3 Headstay adjustments- The headstay length shall not be adjusted while racing.
6.4 Shroud adjustment- Adjustment of shroud length shall be made only by means of turnbuckles or similar devices attached to the chainplates above the deckline. Adjustment of the shroud length while racing is prohibited.
Running Rigging
7.1 A pennant may be attached to the spinnaker sheets for the purpose of attaching the spinnaker sheets to the clew of the spinnaker.
7.2 The retrieval line shall be attached to at least one retrieval cringle on the spinnaker and shall run through the spinnaker throat in the foredeck and through the spinnaker sock to the cockpit. The retrieval line may be attached to a retractable clothes line retriever that is attached to one or both of the bolts (for outboard engine bracket) on the starboard aft end of the cockpit. The retrieval line may be either a single Spinnaker halyard/ Retrieval line system or a separate line from the spinnaker halyard.
7.3 The bridle may be of any length, but may not be adjusted while racing. The bridle may be attached to the aft spinnaker block mounting padeye or to two bridle padeyes installed by the builder (or retrofitted to the same position as currently fitted by the builder on earlier boats supplied without bridle padeyes). No other mounting points may be added. The bridle may be attached to the mainsheet in one of two ways. The mainsheet can divide and attach directly to the bridle on either side of the boat or the mainsheet can run through a single block attached to a fixed point on the bridle. The function of the bridle is to allow the angle of the boom from the centerline of the boat to be adjusted soley by means of the mainsheet. No mechanism shall be added that creates a traveler or any other means of adjusting the angle of the boom. The addition of blocks, cam, cleats, or other devices to facilitate adjustment of the length of the bridle is specifically prohibited.
7.4 A boom vang may be mounted with the cam cleat at either the top or the bottom of the vang. The vang shall not otherwise be changed from original configuration. Any addition of any blocks, line or other devices is prohibited.
7.5 A boom gnav may be used rigged soley as supplied by the builder.
7.6 The spinnaker sheet blocks may be attached to the padeyes installed by the builder in the aft of the cockpit or they may be attached to the gunwhale aft of the chainplates and forward of the padeyes.
Sails
8.1 Sails shall be constructed by Class Association approved sail makers and measured in accordance with the Class Association Measurement Instructions and the official sail drawings except where otherwise specified. They shall be measured in a dry state laid on a flat surface with just sufficient tension to remove wrinkles across the line of the measurement being taken. All measurements shall be taken as a straight line.
8.2 Definition- The term "sail" shall be taken to include the headboard, tabling, bolt and ropes (or tapes). It shall not include cringles which are wholly outside the sail. The terms "head", "tack" and "clew" shall be as defined in Rules 8.6.1 8.7.1 and 8.8.2. The term "luff" shall be determined by the distance between the "head" and "tack" as defined in the above mentioned rules. The term "corner" shall be determined by the actual physical corner of the "sail" as defined above.
8.3 Material and Reinforcement- Sails shall be flexible, soft and capable of being easily stowed. Mylar with Polyester scrim and Dacron are specifically allowed for main and jib. Nylon is specifically allowed for the spinnaker.
8.4 Windows- Up to two unwoven transparent windows are permitted in each of the mainsail and headsail, the total areas of which shall not exceed 0.5m2 for each sail. Windows shall not be placed closer to an edge of the sail than 150mm.
8.6 Mainsail
8.6.1 Definitions (A) Head- The head shall be taken as the lightest point of the sail projected perpendicular to the luff or its extension. (B) Clew- The clew shall be taken as the straight line intersection of the leech and foot bolt rope ignoring any cut-outs to accommodate outhaul fittings.
8.6.2 Measurement
(A) Leech- The length of the leech measured in a straight line from the forward upper corner of the headboard to clew intersection shall not exceed 8290mm.
(B) Bolt ropes shall be attached along their entire length on the luff and shall not be less than 7mm diameter including any covering.
(C) Battens- No more than five battens shall be permitted. The top 3 battens maybe of unlimited length. the 2 lower battens #’s 4 & 5 shall not exceed 1400mm. The distance from the upper front corner of the headboard to the upper aft tip of the top batten shall be no less than 900 mm.
(D) Cunningham tackle- Cunningham tackle is permitted to adjust the tension to the luff only.
(E) Headboard- The headboard shall be fabricated from aluminum and shall have a maximum breadth when measured perpendicular to the luff not to exceed 102mm. The after corner of the headboard shall not be higher than the forward corner. The maximum distance from the luff (including boltrope) to the upper rear corner of the headboard shall not exceed 125mm.
(F) No part of the sail shall extend above the lower edge of the upper mast measurement band or beyond the forward edge of the boom measurement band.
(G) Girth measurements: The girth measurement locations shall be found by folding the upper forward corner of the headboard to the tack apex and the upper forward corner of the headboard to the clew apex. The mid girth shall not exceed 2143mm. The 3/4 girth shall not exceed 1473 mm. The 7/8 girth shall not exceed 913 mm. The top girth shall be determined by swinging a 550mm arc from the head measurement point to the closest point on the leech. The maximum distance from this point to the closest point on the luff including the bolt rope shall not exceed 530mm.
(H) Material: The mainsail shall be constructed from one of the following materials:-(i) The mainsail may be constructed from woven dacron. Minimum fabric weight shall not be less than 200g/sq m.(ii) The mainsail may be constructed from mylar laminate with a polyester scrim. The minimum fabric weight shall not be less than 220g/sq m.
8.7 Headsail
8.7.1 General- The headsail shall be measured to the outside edge of the cloth including tabling, foot roach, etc. Cringles not included within these edges are to be excluded from measurement. Head, clew and tack boards are prohibited. Foot roach and leech shall be fair curves. The forestay shall not be detached for the attachment of the headsail.
8.7.2 Battens- No more than three battens shall be permitted in the headsail. The battens shall divide the leech into equal segments +/- 150 mm. The top batten may be of unlimited length. The lower 2 battens shall not exceed 900 mm.
8.7.3 Measurements
(D) The luff shall not exceed 6875 mm. The LP shall not exceed 2200mm. The width of the sail at the head (headboard) shall not exceed 50 mm.
(E) 1/2 Girth: Measurement points found by folding forward corner of headboard to the tack apex and the forward corner of the headboard to the clew apex. 1/2 girth shall not exceed 1265 mm.
(F) Material: The headsail shall be constructed from one of the following materials:-(i) The headsail may be constructed from woven Dacron with a minimum weight of 200g/sq m.(ii) The headsail may be constructed from mylar laminate with a polester scrim. The minimum weight of the finished fabric shall not be less than 200g/sq m. 8.8 Spinnaker
8.8.1 General- The spinnaker shall be asymmetrical in shape. Fittings shall be limited to corner cringles or rings, and retrieval cringles or tabs. Up to 3 Retrieval cringles are permitted.
8.8.2 Definitions
(A) Head- The head shall be taken as the straight line intersection of the two luffs ignoring any hollow or round to the luffs.
(B) Clew- The clew shall be taken as the straight line intersection of the foot and luff ignoring any round of the foot and clew cringle.
8.8.3 Measurement. The length of the luff shall not exceed 9720 mm. The length of the leech shall not exceed 7300 mm. The length of the foot shall not exceed 5850 mm. The 1/2 Girth measurement shall be found by folding the head apex to the tack apex and the head apex to the clew apex. The girth measurement shall be between two these two mid points only and shall not exceed 5500mm. The cloth should be smooth along the measurement point. The head to Mid foot measurement shall not exceed 9800 mm.
8.8.4 Materials. The spinnaker shall be constructed of woven nylon material. The weight of the finished fabric shall not be less than 40 g/ sq m.
8.8.5 The spinnaker shall be launched and retrieved through the spinnaker throat in the foredeck and shall be doused within the spinnaker sock under the foredeck.
8.8.6 The spinnaker sock shall be a tube made of cloth, canvas, canvas mesh or other flexible material attached at one end to the spinnaker retrieval throat in the foredeck and at the other end to a pad eye on the cockpit floor.
8.9 Sail Acquisition
8.9.1 Acquisition and use. (a) Each registered yacht may acquire in any manner no more than one mainsail, one spinnaker, and one jib in each calendar year (b) If the owner upon discovery that a sail is lost/stolen or destroyed and can demonstrate that he is in a noncompetitive position he may apply to his Class Association for an exemption. Such application shall be in a form and detail as requested by the Class association
8.9.2 Recuts: Any sail that is recut or substantially repaired requires remeasuring. A sail that is recut and remeasured shall not constitute acquisition of an additional sail unless sail is recut, repaired or altered in a manner that 33.33% or more of the material used in the same is new or replaced. The said sail is then an "additional" or new sail within the meaning of Rule 6.9.1. and 6.9.2.
8.9.3 Use: No sails other than the approved headsail, mainsail and spinnaker shall be used and only one of each of these shall be hoisted at the same time. No more than 2 suits of sails may be used in a class sanctioned regatta. Regatta organizers may require sails to be signed in before the regatta commences.
Safety Equipment
9.1 The following equipment shall be carried on board when racing:
(A) One life jacket or buoyancy vest (of pattern approved by the National Authority if required) for each member of the crew.
(B) One paddle
(C) A compass, which may be conventional or electronic but which may not store headings, unless such compass is specifically allowed in these rules.
(D) 20 metres of 6mm diameter or larger towing line
(E) Additional safety equipment required by local or national laws shall be carried.
Prohibitions, Restrictions and Exemptions
10.1 Crew - There shall be a minimum of two persons on board when racing. For any sanctioned event, the maximum weight of the skipper and crew shall be 245 kilograms and the same number of persons shall sail throughout. The maximum crew weight requirement may be waived by the Class executive committee at the request of the event organizers. No changes to crew shall be allowed at sanctioned regattas, except with written approval of the class representatives prior to sailing, posted on the official notice board.
10.2.1 Electronic devices which measure or correlate boat speed, water depth, current speed or direction, wind direction or wind speed are prohibited.
10.2.2 If an electronic device has not been specifically approved by the Viper 640 Class Association Technical Committee, it shall be assumed to be prohibited.
10.2.3 The Tacktick micro compass is approved.
10.2.4 Electronic watches and timers are approved. .
10.3 Hiking straps may be added for a fourth crew.
10.4 Grandfathered Fairing - A boat that has been faired prior to September 1st 2005 and can prove that the fairing took place prior to September 1st 2005 may apply to the Class association technical committee for the hull and foils to be allowed to race under the class rules (grandfathered). The technical committee shall use their discretion to determine whether such fairing conveys a reasonable competitive advantage to the boat in question. The Technical Committee may decide that no reasonable competitive advantage exists and grandfather the fairing. The Technical Committee may specify specific work that needs to be done to rectify some reasonable competitive advantage conveyed by the fairing to enable the boat to comply with these class rules. The Technical Committee may determine that the boat does not comply with the Class rules.
10.5 Any alleged or suspected change to a boat supplied by the builder not covered by these rules, or any alleged non-compliance not covered by these rules may be compared by the Class Technical Committee or their appointed representative to a sample of 5 boats
Registration
11.1 Sail Number- The sail number shall be obtained from the Class Association or its appointed representative.
The Class Association