THE ACTUAL RULES
International Rules - Summary

You can read the complete rules with explanations by clicking here

RULE 0 - All measurements have to be within 1/2" of those specified in the International Rules

RULE 1 - All boats must use the lower 10" of the defined section for the sides.

RULE 2 - All boats must have flat parallel sides, and flat bow and stern transoms like a Bolger Brick.(maximum of 1" rounding on the chines and transom edges)

RULE 3 - All boats must be at least 48" wide and have a flat, solid bottom all the way across like a brick does. (slots for foils are OK)

RULE 4 - All boats must have enough emergency floatation to be self rescued.

RULE 5- No external floatation chambers (such as cut-waters, pontoons, amas etc.)

RULE 6 - No lifting foils (hydrofoils).

THAT'S IT, you've read the rules! (or at least you've read the important bits). You won't know that the use of water balloons and squirt guns are an acceptable tactic, or that prizes must have no value, or that sometimes there are big prizes for coming last, or just trying..... but that's for another page!
 

OUR RULES
(The Oz PDRacer Rules Subset)

You can read the complete rules sub-set with explanations by clicking here.

PURPOSE

the Spirit of the class is to provide very inexpensive racing in boats that are not professionally built. Any features that indicate that expense is blowing out may be disallowed at any time. There are to be no grandfathering provisions for features that are disallowed later - if the feature is deemed to to be against the spirit of the class it is completely retrospective.

Of course there is nothing to stop anyone owning a boat which has been professionally built, as long as it doesn't contain any components that can't be constructed by a competent home builder. (Arguing about what constitutes competent isn't in the spirit of the class either!)

INTERNATIONAL PDRacer Rules

All rules of the International PDRacer Class Association are binding except where specifically overridden by these rules.

HULL - additional requirements

• Hull minimum weight - 60lbs (27.2kg) not including ballast.

• If a boat is underweight corrector weights may be fitted and are to be bolted to the stern transom.

• Hull minimum ply thickness - Bottom 6mm / 1/4in

• Sides/Decks/Interior minimum ply thickness - 4mm/ 3/16in

• Hull Buoyancy Min Front tank/s 4ft³ (115 litres)

• Hull Buoyancy Min Rear tank 3ft³ (115 litres)- or Side tanks may be used - one each side - 2ft³ each (57 litres)

• Maximum Beam at gunwales 1270mm / 4ft 2ins

SAILS

• No restrictions on size, configuration or number.

• Reefing points may be fitted.

• Only one sail and mast combination to be used in any one regatta. If damaged a replacement may be allowed by the regatta committee at their discretion

• Sail Materials - Polytarp or tyvek without seam shaping in the body of the sail.. One shaped seam is allowed in the region of the tack. The use of painted graphic on sails is encouraged.

• Commercially manufactured sails may be used but attract a penalty of 10kg of ballast, strongly affixed to the inside of the hull so it cannot be moved while sailing. (This is a large penalty, however it is intended that homemade sails have an advantage to minimise costs). The amount of ballast will be reviewed from time to time by the PD Racer Association or any sub group to ensure equal racing between commercial and homemade sails.

• No Battens or similar devices to be used.

SPARS

● May be timber which may be solid hollow or tapered. May be standard round extruded alloy section - no tapering allowed. The physical properties of the alloy must be less than or equal to 6061 alloy.

● No sail tracks allowed.

FITTINGS AND MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE

● No Ball Bearing Blocks allowed

● No ratchet blocks with a manual switch

● No mechanical advantage greater than 3:1 for sail adjustments that go to a quick releasing cleat

● Boom vang (if fitted may exceed 3:1 but may not involve more than 3 sheaves or exceed 4:1) and may only have one cleat. The cleat must be fitted within 200 mm of the mast.

• No clothing or equipment is to be used to help hold the boat upright while sailing apart from simple conventional toestraps used in the conventional way.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT - MANDATORY

● Preamble - any boat racing without the specified safety equipment will be disqualified from all races of the series in which the omission is noticed.

● All safety items are to be fixed to the boat in a way that will prevent them from being lost in a capsize but must be able to be freed for use within 10 seconds.

● All items necessary for the operation of the boat (rudder, tiller, centreboard) are to be attached to the boat so that they cannot be separated from the boat in a capsize.

● Lifejackets must be worn.

● Bucket attached to boat with a lanyard that allows it to be used without untying

● Towrope - minimum length 8 metres (25ft)

● Towring or fairlead on bow min internal diameter 25mm (1 inch)

● Paddle

RACING

If the course is shortened by sound or visual signal all competitors may use their paddles at their option. Finish is as per the race instructions.

Sailors not having fun will be disqualified.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

The use of waterbombs, squirt guns, water pistols and the like while racing is not prohibited, however it is considered poor form to target committee officials in a start boat prior to the race, and such action could almost certainly result in disqualification, or even toilet cleaning duties at the end of the regatta.