Viper 640 Class AssociationAbout Us.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. Since then:- The Class has grown to represent close to 100 owners and over a hundred crew. The participants in the 2008 North American Championships will be 25, up from 18 in 2007, up from 13 in 2006. Our goal is to see 50 Vipers on a start line in 3 years. 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 98. 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. Join the Class Association.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. ContactsClass President: Justin Scott, Viper #54, "Tusker" E--mail to justinscott(at)viper640(dot)org. Tel # 203-340-9584.
Class Secy and Webmeister: Jay Harrell, Viper # 19, "Scratch" E--mail to jay(dot)harrell(at)riverside(dot)net
Class Treasurer: John McCormack, Viper #60, " Hisss" E--mail to jaahk(at)letitroll(dot)com
Technical Committee Chair: Paul Zimmerman, Viper#55, "Playstation" E--mail to zimster28(at)comcast(dot)net
To avoid spam, please subsitute @ for (at) and . for (dot) Honorary Class GovernorWe 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. Viper LogosViper Logo in GIF format (right click and select "Save As") Viper Logo in EPS format (right click and select "Save As") CLASS RULESPART A – Fundamental Rules1.1 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 Viper 640s shall be produced by Class Association appointed builders, shall comply with Class Association (Class) approved construction plans and specifications and shall be identical in every respect except where the class rules specifically allow for differences. No changes to the boat supplied by the builder are allowed unless they are specifically permitted by the class rules. 1.3 A Viper 640 shall be raced only with foils supplied by a Class appointed builder. 1.4 A Viper 640 shall be raced only with equipment and fittings identical to the fittings supplied with the boat by a Class appointed builder unless:-(a) The Class Rules specifically allow equipment and fittings that differ from those supplied by the builder.(b) A boat replaces existing fitting or equipment with the current fittings and equipment used by a current builder, subject to rule 1.7. (c) A boat adds fittings or equipment used by a current builder, subject to rule1.7. 1.5 The Viper 640 shall only be raced with sails supplied by a Class approved sail maker. 1.6. No addition or alteration may be made to the hull form, construction, equipment, type of equipment, fittings, type of fittings, 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. 1.7 No alteration may be made to the location of; equipment, fittings, standing rigging, running rigging, spars or foils as supplied by the builder except when such an alteration is specifically authorized by these rules. PART B – Measurement Rules 2 Hull, Deck, Foils and Weight 2.1. Keel & Bulb – 2.1.1 The keel shall be made only from Class approved molds and shall only be supplied by a Class approved builder. 2.1.2 The bulb shall be of lead cast in the Class approved mold (version 2) and encased in the Class approved bulb profile (version 2). All version 1 keel bulbs (Hulls up to and including Hull#70) shall install a retrofit keel bulb kit supplied by a Class approved builder. 2.1.3 The total weight of the keel shall be 119 kg +/- 4 kg. 2.2 Rudder- The rudder shall be made to the original design by Brian Bennett and shall only be supplied by a Class approved builder. 2.2 The rudder as supplied must weigh no less than 4.0 Kg. including tiller and extension. The tiller must be an aluminum tube of identical diameter to that supplied by a class builder but can be of any length. The tiller extension does not have to be identical to equipment supplied by a class approved builder 2. 3 The Complete Yacht shall weigh no less than 340 Kg. The Complete Yacht is defined as the yacht ready to sail including one set of sheets only, but excluding the following equipment: Sails and battens, paddle, life jackets, mooring lines, fenders, lifting slings, tool kit, and all other loose gear and personal effects. 2.4 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. 2.5 Inspection Ports- The Viper 640 has a storage locker in the each of the port and starboard tanks installed by the builder. Additional watertight inspection ports may be installed on the deck or in the cockpit to provide access to the hull cavity by the builder or owner. Storage receptacles are permitted under the port covers. 2.6 Underweight Yachts- If the Complete Yacht Weight in dry condition is found to be less than 340 Kg. weight shall be added by permanently fixing lead weight by mechanical fasteners and strapped or encased in fiberglass to either side of the structural girder in the forward bilge sump, such that the combined weight of the complete yacht shall exceed 340 Kg. 3 Hull and Foil Finish 3.1. 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. Waxing, polishing and sanding of the hull and foils is permitted, provided the intention and effect is to polish the hull and foils only 3.2 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. 3.3 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 Technical Committee to approve limited fairing to correct that imperfection. If the Technical Committee 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. 4 Spars 4.1 Construction- The material, method of construction and design of the spars, and the attachment of spreaders, standing rigging and halyard sheaves shall be in accordance with any class approved Spar Plan. Masts, spreaders and booms shall be fabricated only by spar manufacturers approved by the Class Association. The mast shall either be an aluminum mast manufactured by Proctor or a Carbon mast manufactured by Superspar. 4.2. The aluminum mast extrusion # 3525 shall be fabricated by Proctor Masts Ltd. (Selden) with an internal sleeve in accordance with the class approved spar plan. 4.3 The carbon mast is a Class specified “Viper” mast fabricated by Superspar. 4.4 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. 4.5 Spreaders- Spreaders, as supplied by a class approved builder, after assembly on the mast must be rigidly attached. The length and sweep of the spreaders on carbon masts shall be measured by attaching a line between the upper shrouds at the bearing point with the spreaders. The distance between this line and the aft most point of the track on the mast, measured perpendicular to the mast shall be no less than 280mm. The length and sweep of the spreaders may not be adjusted in any way once a regatta has commenced. 4.6 Mast Heel- Movement of the mast is permitted only in a fore and aft direction. The position of the mast heel shall not be adjusted on a day of racing after the mainsail has been hoisted for the first time 4.7 Boom - The boom may be supplied by either Proctor (Selden) or Superspar. The Proctor (Selden) boom shall be extrusion #2632. The Superspar boom shall be …. 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. A Proctor (Selden) boom may be stiffened by inserting a boom sleeve and/or a 42” long pravte may be inserted in the track on the underside of the boom for additional support 4.8 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. 4.9 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. 4.10 The Sprit shall be made of carbon, complying with Class approved specifications and supplied by a Class approved builder. The extended length from the center of the headstay pin to the bearing point of the tack line shall not exceed 190cm 4.11 Mast chocks devices are permitted in front of the mast 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. Devices for controlling the position of the mast in the mast port below the deck are prohibited 5 Standing Rigging 5.1 Headstay - The length of the headstay 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. 5.2 Headstay adjustments- The headstay length shall not be adjusted on a day of racing after the mainsail has been hoisted for the first time 5.3 Shroud adjustment- Adjustment of shroud length shall be made only by means of open body turnbuckles, Ronstan Sealoc turnbuckles or single or double column shroud adjustors.. Adjustment of the shroud length while racing is prohibited. 6 Running Rigging 6.1 (a) The spinnaker sheets shall be line of 7 mm (approx 5/16”) diameter. A pennant (of any diameter) that shall not exceed 45 cm may be attached to the spinnaker sheets for the purpose of attaching the spinnaker sheets to the clew of the spinnaker. (b) The jib sheets shall be a minimum diameter of 8 mm (5/16”). (c) The main sheet shall be a minimum diameter of 10 mm (3/8”) (d) Halyards and the retrieval line shall be a minimum diameter of 4.0 mm (3/16”). 6.2 The retrieval line shall be attached to a 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 a continuous Spinnaker halyard/ Retrieval line system or a separate line from the spinnaker halyard. 6.3 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 pad eyes or to two bridle pad eyes installed by the builder (or retrofitted to the same position as currently fitted by the builder on earlier boats supplied without bridle pad eyes). No other mounting points may be added. The bridle may be attached to the mainsheet in one of two ways. The mainsheet can divide tapering to a bridle and attach directly to the pad eyes 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 solely 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. 6.4 (a) All boats shall either have a boom vang or a boom gnav. (b) The 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. (c) The boom gnav system does not have to be identical to that supplied by a class approved builder. The boom gnav must be attached to the mast at the Gnav goose neck installed by Superspar. The tube shall be of the same material and diameter as supplied by a class approved builder. The length of the tube (without end caps) shall be 122 cm +/- 6 cm. The base of the tube shall rest on a Gnav car or similar device installed on the top of the boom. The Gnav shall be adjusted by a maximum of 16:1 purchase and a minimum of 8:1 purchase. A maximum of 8:1 purchase and a minimum of 4:1 purchase shall be located on top of the boom (either attached to the front of the boom or to the mast) and a maximum of 6:1 purchase and a minimum of 2:1 purchase shall be located below the boom. No part of the purchase system shall be located inside the boom. 6.5 The aft spinnaker sheet blocks must be attached to the gunwale 200cm forward from the corner of the gunwale and the transom. 6.6 The Cunningham system does not have to be identical to that supplied by a class approved builder. The purchase system shall not exceed 8:1 and shall only be able to adjust mainsail luff tension. The Cunningham control lines may not be run aft of the mast by more than 20 cm. 6.7 A line or shock cord may be attached between the top of the headstay turnbuckle or swage and the bow of the boat or molding that supports the sprit pole for the sole purpose of keeping sheets and the spinnaker retrieval line from catching on the bow or headstay. 7 Sails 7.1 Sails shall be constructed by Class Association approved sail makers and measured in accordance with these rules, with any Class Association Measurement Instructions and any Class Association approved sail drawings. 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. 7.2 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 term "corner" shall be determined by the actual physical corner of the "sail" as defined above. 7.3 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. 7.4 Windows Up to two unwoven transparent windows are permitted in each of the mainsail and headsail 7.5 Mainsail 7.5.1 Definitions(a) Head Point - The head point is the intersection of the luff extended as necessary, and the line through the highest point of the sail perpendicular to the luff. (b) Clew Point- The clew point shall be taken as the straight line intersection of the leech and foot ignoring any cut-outs to accommodate outhaul fittings. 7.5.2 Measurements (a) Leech Length- The length of the leech measured in a straight line from the Head Point to Clew Point 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 in the main body of the sail (One optional head batten is allowed as specified in Rule 7.5.2 (e)). 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) Headboard- The headboard shall be fabricated from aluminum and shall have a maximum breadth when measured perpendicular to the luff not to exceed 105mm. 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. (e) Head Batten – An additional sixth batten may support the head of the sail provided (a) that it does not extend more than 310mm (measured perpendicular) from the nearest point on the luff including the bolt rope and (b) that the batten is lower than the aft corner of the headboard and higher than any point on a line drawn perpendicular to the luff, 185mm below the head point.(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.(j) The mainsail may be constructed from Mylar laminate with a polyester scrim. The minimum fabric weight shall not be less than 200g/sq m. 7.5.3 Insignia and Numbers. The mainsail shall have the Viper insignia shown in a prominent position and may have the words “Viper 640” on the sails. The mainsail shall display the sail registration number allotted by the Class Association. In accordance with RRS 77 Appendix G2, the national letters and sail numbers are not required on spinnakers. 7.6 Headsail 7.6.1 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. 7.6.2 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. 7.6.3 Measurement- (a)The luff shall not exceed 6875 mm. The LP shall not exceed 2200mm. The width of the sail at the head shall not exceed 50 mm. (b) 1/2 Girth: Measurement points found by folding forward corner of head to the tack apex and the forward corner of the headboard to the clew apex. 1/2 girth shall not exceed 1265 mm. (c) Material: The headsail shall be constructed from one of the following materials:-(d) The headsail may be constructed from woven Dacron with a minimum weight of 200g/sq m.(e) The headsail may be constructed from Mylar laminate with a polyester scrim. The minimum weight of the finished fabric shall not be less than 200g/sq m. 7.7 Spinnaker 7.7.1 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. 7.7.2 Definitions (a) Head Point- The head shall be taken as the straight line intersection of the two luffs ignoring any hollow or round to the luffs. (b) Clew Point - The clew shall be taken as the straight line intersection of the foot and luff ignoring any round of the foot and clew cringle. 7.7.3 Measurement.(a) The length of the luff shall not exceed 9720 mm. (b) The length of the leech shall not exceed 7600 mm. (c) The length of the foot shall not exceed 5650 mm.(d) 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. 7.7.4 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. 7.7.5 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. 7.7.6 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. 7.8 Sail Acquisition 7.8.1 Acquisition and use.(a) Each registered Viper 640 may acquire in any manner no more than one mainsail, one spinnaker, and one jib in any one calendar year with the exception of 7.8.1 (b) and (c).. (b) In the first year of ownership, an owner who only acquires one suit of sails with the boat may acquire an additional new mainsail and/ or new spinnaker and/or new jib but the owner may not acquire equivalent sails in the following year. Alternatively, the owner may acquire an additional used mainsail and/or used spinnaker and/or used jib and then subsequently acquire additional sails the following year. The used sails must be more than 12 months old. (c) 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 the Technical Committee for an exemption. Such application shall be in a form and detail as requested by the Technical Committee 7.8.2 Re-cutsAny sail that is re-cut or substantially repaired requires re-measuring. A sail that is re-cut and re-measured shall not constitute acquisition of an additional sail unless sail is re-cut, 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 7.8.1 7.8.3 UseNo 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. 8 Equipment and Fittings 8.1 Hiking straps may be added for a fourth crew 8.2 A forward foot rest may be installed provided it is the same dimension and same location as current boats supplied by a Class approved builder. 9 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 meters of 6mm diameter or larger towing line (c) Additional safety equipment required by local or national laws shall be carried9.2 From May 30 2009, all boats are required to have crew safety lines installed under the gunwale in the same position as current boats supplied by a Class approved builder. 10 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 appointed regatta organizing committee prior to sailing, posted on the official notice board. 10.2.1 Electronic devices which measure or calculate boat speed, vmg, 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. Special Exemptions and Waivers (Grandfathering provisions). 10.3.1 Fairing - A boat that has been faired prior to September 1st 2005 and can show 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.. 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 grant the boat a waiver to race under class rules. The Technical Committee may specify specific work that needs to be done to rectify some 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. 10.3.2 Spars, sails, rigging and other equipment – (a) Any boat that has spars, sails, rigging or other equipment (collectively referred to as equipment) dating from prior to September 1st 2005 that may not comply with the class rules may apply to the Technical Committee for a waiver so that the equipment may be used on that boat to race under the class rules. Any boat that has spars, sails, rigging or other equipment that complied with class rules at the time they were installed or supplied to the boat but subsequently do not comply with class rules due to a change in the class rules, the owner may apply to the Technical Committee for a waiver to allow the equipment to be used on that boat to race under the class rules. Any boat that has to effect repairs to(or replace) spars, rigging and other equipment (excluding sails) prior to or during a class sanctioned regatta that may not comply with the class rules may apply to the Technical Committee for permission to use the equipment (excluding sails) to race under the class rules.(b) The Technical Committee shall use their discretion to determine whether the equipment conveys any reasonable competitive advantage to the boat. The Technical Committee shall also take into consideration:- (i) Has a reasonable attempt been made to comply with class rules? (ii) The cost of complying with class rules (iii) The availability of replacement equipment and components (iv) The impact on the strict One-Design nature of the class. (v) Any other factors that they consider relevant. (c) The Technical Committee may use its discretion to grant permission or a waiver for the equipment to be used under the class rules for racing. The waiver or permission to use the equipment may be granted for a specific period or for an unlimited period. The permission or waiver to use the equipment may be revoked by the Technical Committee at any time, even if it was previously granted for an unlimited period. 10.3.3 Any permission or waiver to race with boats or equipment under the provisions of Rule 10.3 must be approved in writing by the Technical Committee. 10.3.4 Any decision by the Technical Committee to decline permission or decline a waiver under Rule 10.3 will not be reviewed by the Class Association Executive Committee or any other body. Any permission or waiver granted under Rule 10.3 may be reviewed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee can decide to revoke any waiver or permission issued under Rule 10.3 but it shall not affect race results prior to that decision. 10.4 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 10.5 In any case where the wording or intent of the Viper 640 Class rules is found to be unclear or in need of clarification, The Technical Committee shall have the power to make official interpretations or clarifications of existing class rules in order to resolve any discrepancies. Once the interpretation has been posted via either of the two methods listed below, it shall be considered a part of the Viper 640 class rules. Any official interpretations or clarifications that are made during the course of a Class Sanctioned Regatta will be posted in writing on the regatta notice board by 9:00 AM or two hours before the first warning signal (whichever is earlier) on the day that the interpretation is to take effect. Any official interpretations or clarifications that are made at any time (including those made during the course of a Class Sanctioned Regatta) will be posted as soon as possible under Part D of the rules on the class website. 11 Registration 11.1 Sail Number- The sail number shall be obtained from the Class Association or its appointed representative. 11.2 The Viper Class is a Category C (Advertising) Class under ISAF regulation 20. 11.3 A boat participating in a Class sanctioned regatta must either be owned by a Class Association member or the skipper on board throughout the regatta must be a Class Association member. PART C – Class Association Control of Builders, Distributors and Sailmakers, and Construction Specifications12.1 All Viper 640s may only be produced from Class Association (Class) approved molds by Class approved builders and new boats may only be sold by Class approved distributors. 12.2 Hull, Deck, Keel and Rudder 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. Each mold may be measured prior to commencement of production and thereafter subject to further measurement at the discretion of the Class Association by a measurer appointed by the Class Association. Each mold shall be approved by the Class Association prior to commencement of production. The Hulls, Decks, Keels and Rudders produced by the molds may be inspected and measured by a measurer appointed by the Class Association. The approval for a mold may be revoked by the Class association at any time. All molds and patterns shall be numbered and issued only to builders appointed by the Class association. 12.3 Alterations to molds- No alterations shall be made to any molds, official patterns or templates without the written approval of the Class Association. 12.4 Application may be made to the Class Association to allow tolerances due to minor variations and distortions through age but intentional variations within these tolerances are prohibited. Such application must be approved in writing. 12.5 Building Licenses—Viper 640s 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. Licenses shall be granted at the sole discretion of the Class Association. The license may be revoked at any time by the Class Association and that builder shall no longer be a Class Appointed builder. 12.6 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. 12.7 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. 12.8 Construction of Hulls, Decks, Keels and Rudders shall be in accordance with any plans and specifications approved by the Class Association. 12.9 Material shall be in accordance with specifications approved by the Class Association. 12.10 Hull and Deck Assembly- (a)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 a Class 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 sheer line are as shown on any plans approved by the Class Association. Such support shall be approved by the Class Association. (b) The hull may be measured by a measurer approved by the Class Association to ensure compliance with the class rules, which may include construction specifications, measurement diagrams and measurement forms. (c) The deck and foredeck may be measured by a measurer approved by the Class Association. The location and size of the mast port as molded shall be as specified on any Class approved Plans. 12.11 The manufacturer and type of hardware, equipment, spars, rigging and fittings supplied on the boat must be approved by the Class Association. 12.12 Relocation of hardware, fittings or rigging shall not be permitted without written permission from the Class Association. 12.13 The weight and distribution of weight of the Completed Yacht must comply with any specifications issued by the Class Association. 12.14 Sailmakers may apply to the Class Association to become Class Approved sailmakers. The Class Association shall use its discretion to approve sailmakers who will manufacture sails that comply with the class rules and will abide by the spirit and philosophy of The Viper Class. This approval shall be granted in writing and published on the Class website. The approval needs to be renewed annually and may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the Class Association. 13.1 Any boat which does not comply with Section 12 of the Class rules may be deemed by the Class Association as ineligible to race as a Viper 640 under the class rules. PART D – Technical Committee Interpretations14.1 Rules 6.1 is interpreted to mean that tapered sheets and halyards are prohibited. 14.2 Rule 5.3.1 is interpreted to mean that Brolga Turnbuckles and rig adjustors are prohibited. The Handle and lever kit for Ronstan Sealoc turnbuckles are allowed. Scar Pins may be used to secure open body turnbuckles in place of clevis pins. 14.3 Rule 1.5 is interpreted to mean that sails built by sailmakers that were Class Approved sailmakers at the time the sails were made, comply with Class rules. All sails that complied with the sail dimension and material requirements of the Class rules at the time they were made that were built by any sailmaker prior to December 31st 2006 are deemed to comply with Class rules.
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The Class Association