[J22-Fleet 1] J22's and future possibilities.

[Lars Hansen Photography]

Greetings J22 sailors,

After the long winter I'm really looking forward to the Dave Cool Ice  
Breaker next weekend. I hope we have a big turnout. If anybody needs a  
crew I think there are several people ready to help, post your  
situation.

Thorn asked if I would continue with the discussion started at the  
fleet meeting regarding the use of technology and the J22 and the  
future.

At the national level we have been discussing the current rules  
interpretation on use of instruments that use GPS data. In particular  
we are looking at devices that can calculate the distance to the  
stating line, other devices that measure speed and heading and other  
devices that can measure and record performance data.

The J22 class exists to support and service J22 sailing and its  
members, so the real question I have is what do you want for rules.  
There is a very simple process  to get get new rules in place, all it  
takes is a desire by the membership and rules can change.

Now a little perspective and a survey.

The J22 class has these objectives:
"These rules are intended to preserve important design
characteristics: ease of handling, low cost of ownership, safety and  
comfort."

I think we agree this is still a good objective. Feel free to respond  
to any part of this if you have an idea of something you would like to  
change.

We have a rule that requires a compass, supposed to be a safety item,  
seams like a good idea.

Another rule allows optional electronic devices to measure speed,  
distance and water depth.
Do you agree with this? What do you think "distance" refers to?

Interesting point here: we all use an electronic device to measure  
time at the start and that device ( a watch or timer) is not  
specifically allowed. Don't you think we should add "timers" to the  
list of allowed electronic devices?

Then there is this rule interpretation:
Electronic Compass - Head Lift Function?
Source: Summer 2000 Newsletter
Electronic compasses that display head/lift information are permitted.  
Instruments that perform calculations, that is receive or output  
information from speedometers, depth indicators, manual inputs of wind  
speed, inputs from GPS Instruments, etc., are not permitted.

The first sentence is clear. The second sentence is a little fuzzy. I  
think when it was written It made sense. That kind of instrumentation  
was very expensive and not in keeping with the objectives of the class.

Technology advances and things change. My phone has the capacity to  
give speed and heading and I think it has GPS in it as well. According  
to the rule interpretation it might be ilegal because it calculates  
inputs from cell towers and or GPS.  There are also devices that can  
calculate the distance to the starting line like the Taktic Pro Start  
(around $600) and the SpeedPuck that measure speed and heading (around  
$325). I think these devices are illegal on the above interpretation,  
but they don't  receive data from other instruments it's all on board  
so they might be legal, all depends how you read that interpretation.  
I think the basic idea is "keep it simple no fancy instruments". Do  
you agree with this premiss?

So I think there is an opportunity to upgrade the rules to reflect  
what you want in the rules and to make them clear for the future. So  
what do you want?

Do you agree that the J 22 class should allow electronic instruments  
that measure speed, distance, time, heading and depth? What would you  
change?

Should the J22 class allow the use of devices that can record and play  
back races and performance data.  Would you put limits of when you can  
access this data?

What about the Pro Start device? At $600 is it affordable? Is this the  
type of information and the type of sailboat racing you think J22  
sailing embodies? I think it is GPS based, may not be illegal.

What about the SpeedPuck at $325 is it affordable? It gives speed and  
heading and can show lifts and headers, nothing illegal with the data  
it provides but it is GPS based. Would you like to see this device  
allowed.

Perhaps we should go backwards and disallow all information except  
compass and speed? Keep the racing simple and basic, how about it?

Thorn has suggested we try this weekend as a test and DISCLAIMER I  
don't know if it is or not.  The test would be to allow the use of any  
type of electronic information you want. Get your fish finder going!   
IF you like this idea, what devices are you interested in using?

It's your class, what would you like? Please respond as it is the only  
way your representatives will know what you want.
Thanks and really looking forward to this coming weekend.

Lars Hansen
Team 865
Olds Kool



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.wyc.org/pipermail/j22/attachments/20110424/474f08f9/attachment.htm