Hi Folks -
Measurement Certificates are going to be required for the 2008 National Championship in Pensacola Beach this October. The NAF-18 Class is spinning up a program to meet the needs of the fleet as the date approches - our goal is to help every F18 owner bring their boat into compliance with the F18 rules so that NOBODY gets tossed over something preventable. The list of class measurers has been expanded significantly and there is sure to be a measurer near you. In addition, the class scales will be sent to some regional events in the coming months to provide measurers an opportunity to check off the boxes for daggerboard, rudder and platform weight. The class scales will be at Nationals for the purpose of checking ready-to-sail and crew weight, and to check weight in the event of a protest.
I know that we in the US have been happily competing for several years now without measurement certificates. The current drive to bring our fleet into compliance is not intended to address some sort of perceived problem, but is instead intended to position our class to host a future F18 Worlds, which would be impossible under the current state of non-compliance.
Over the next few weeks, additional information will be available at www.NAF18.com - pricing, schedule and contacts will be provided so you know how to contact a Measurer in your area. If you plan on coming to Pensacola Beach in October, please make the effort to get your boat certified BEFORE you come to the event - we're making it as easy as possible and you will recieve a $20 rebate if you arrive with a completed certificate in hand, which is equal to a free year of class dues.
So start making plans now to get your boat and sails measured sometime soon, and if you haven't sent your dues for the year, get on it; you are not eligible to accumulate points until your 2008 dues are current.
Thanks, and have a great season -
As already posted on the NAF-18 site, this plan has been scrapped. It does not appear that the US will be able to satisfy some of the bid elements that the World Council would like to see for the F18 Worlds in 2010. In addition, it appears that another bid inside the EU is in preparation, thereby making it even less likely that a US bid would be successful. Therefore, as had already been announced in the event NOR and in accordance with procedures used at the Championship in the past, measurement certificates will not be required this October. Each team will be required to check in one set of sails, live crew weight in shorts and a t-shirt, and ready-to-sail boat weight with mast down and a clean, dry boat. Although certificates will not be required, it is still each individual team's responsibility to make sure their boat is class legal in every respect. Measurers and the class scales will be on site in the event of a protest, which can be filed by the organizing authority, competitor, measurer, protest or race committee.
If you still want a certificate, the pricing and procedure is described on the class website at www.NAF18.com - thanks.