DABCHICK ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA

PART 5 DABCHICK CLASS RULES

1. The object of these rules is to establish a class of boat which is one-design in all matters
which affect the basic speed. The rules shall be interpreted in this spirit. All boats shall be
built to conform with the class rules.
2. Builders shall not attempt to get around the spirit or the letter of these rules. The rules are
complementary to the measurement form. In the event of any discrepancy between the
rules and the measurement form, the matter shall be referred to the DASA Technical
Committee for a ruling. In addition any items found by the measurer to be not specifically
sanctioned by these rules shall also be referred for a ruling.
3. It is the responsibility of the owner to see that the boat is properly measured and to see
that it thereafter always remains in class even after alterations, additions or rebuilding have
been carried out.
4. Since it is unlikely that these rules can cover in detail every possible eventuality, builders
are strongly advised to clear doubtful points with DASA Technical Committee before
starting construction, to avoid the possibility of boats being subsequently outclassed.
5. Measurers shall be appointed by SAS.
6. Boats shall be complete in every respect with all necessary gear when presented for
measurement, except that sails may be measured separately.
7. The measurer shall complete the measurement schedule by filling in the blank spaces.

The form shall be signed by the measurer and sent to DASA c/o SAS.
Subject to the approval of the Technical Committee, SAS shall be requested to issue a
measurement certificate.

This certificate or photostat copy, shall be taken to all official Dabchick Regattas and is to
be produced upon official demand. If the boat does not measure correctly, no certificate
shall be issued. If it is impossible for an error to be corrected then the forms shall be
submitted to the Technical Committee for its ruling. Owners shall endeavour to have the
boat corrected and re-measured before submission of the form.
8. New owners should satisfy themselves that they are buying a fully certified boat. A buyer of
a second-hand boat shall take over the responsibility of keeping the boat in class and he
must immediately inform DASA of his new ownership. The certificate does not become
valid for the new owner until transferred by SAS.
9. The boat's official number shall be permanently carved into the transom in figures not less
than 20 mm high. After it has passed the measurement, each sail shall be stamped, signed
and dated legibly by the measurer near the head of the sail.
10. No boat is permitted to race in the class unless it has a valid measurement certificate.
11. Only the owner of the boat, the measurer and the measurer's assistants may be present
during measuring.
12. A measurer shall not measure a boat built by himself, if he is the owner, or if he is in some
way an interested party.
13. Only members of DASA may race a Dabchick.
14. Regardless of age, the helmsman shall have the option to race either one or two-up,
providing always that the number of crew on board at the first race in a series shall not be
changed during that series.

2005 Class Rules Page 1 of 5

15. Approved life jackets shall be worn when racing.
16. No means of supporting the crew outboard, other than toestraps, are permitted.
17. The mainsail shall be set between the coloured bands on the mast and boom when racing.

HULL
18. Hulls shall only be constructed of wood and/or glass reinforced plastic. No carbon fibre or
kevlar materials may be used.
19. Hulls shall follow the general arrangement shown in the plans except where added to or
varied by these rules.
20. All hull measurements are exclusive of any rubbing strakes.

21. A general tolerance of +- 15 mm is allowed for all measurements unless otherwise stated.
22. Hull upright
a) Overall length from transom to outside of bow 3607mm
b) Length from transom to centre of jib attachment 3457mm
c) The length of the jib attachment fitting (max) 40mm
d) Length from transom to centre of mast step 2697mm
e) Length of mast step (max) 150mm
f) The deck along the centre line shall be straight from bow to transom.
23. Beam Measurements
a) transom 641mm
b) 710 mm from transom 895mm
c) 1625 mm from transom 1100mm
d) 2235 mm from transom 1150mm
e) 2850 mm from transom 1073mm
f) 3300 mm from transom 915mm
24. Position of centreboard case - distance from transom
a) to aft end of case 1651mm
b) to forward end of case 2210mm
25. Width of centreboard case (max) 26mm
26. a) Perimeter of one half of bow, measured from centre line
along outer edge of deck to a point 3300 mm from transom (max) 635mm
b) Vertical height of bow measured in centre line (max) 50mm
27. Depth of hull at middle of centreboard case 267mm
28. Any rubbing strake or deck overhang shall not exceed the following measurements:
vertically 15 mm and horizontally from hull 30 mm.
29. At transom
a) Depth of transom centre excluding skeg 114mm
b) Depth of transom sides 64mm
c) Skeg, if fitted, maximum length 300mm
maximum depth below keel 30mm
30. Hull upside down
a) Distance from transom (mm) 710 1625 2235 2850 3300
b) Depth from keel to gunwale (mm) 184 235 242 203 118
c) Depth from keel to chine (mm) 95 133 140 114 73
31. The hull shall be weighed with permanently attached fittings, toestraps and hatch covers
included, cordage excluded. The minimum hull mass shall be 38,6 kg.

2005 Class Rules Page 2 of 5

32. If the hull weighs less than 38,6 kg, correctors shall be attached, adjacent to the mast step
either above or below deck. The mass of the correctors shall not exceed 5 kg.
33. Daggerboard - shall float and be rectangular in shape except that the corners may be
rounded.
a) Width (max) 279mm
b) Thickness 100 mm from any edge (min) 16mm
c) Depth below keel when fully lowered perpendicular to deck
centre line. (max) 647mm
d) The daggerboard shall be attached to the hull by a lanyard.
34. Rudder - the rudder may be lifting or fixed and may be constructed of aluminium or wood.
It may be covered with glass reinforced plastic.
35. Thickness below the waterline 50 mm from any edge of the rudder.
3 mm minimum for aluminium
9 mm minimum for wood
36. a) Rudder depth below bottom of transom (max) 410mm
b) Rudder width (max) 203mm
37. There shall be a fitting to prevent the rudder falling off if the boat is upside down.
38. a) Mast and boom-the spars may be made of any materials except carbon fibre or kevlar.
b) The mast rake shall not be altered during a race.
c) Permanently bent spars are prohibited.
d) Rotating masts are optional.
39. Spars, excluding fittings, must be able to pass through a tube of 78 mm inside diameter,
300 mm long. ( For the purpose of this rule - a sail track which is not an integral part of the
spar, i.e. it is for example riveted on, and which does not project more than 25 mm above
the mating surface, will be considered to be a fitting. )
40. Bands of contrasting colour to the spar, minimum 15 mm wide, shall be painted round the
spar as follows :
a) Mast
from deck to top edge of lower band measured (max) 762mm
perpendicular to deck centre line
from lower band top edge to upper band lower edge (max) 3480mm
b) Boom
from aft face of mast excluding sail track to forward edge (max) 2159mm
of band.
41. Miscellaneous items : Breakwaters are optional.
42. Transom holes are optional.
The maximum number in the transom is two, maximum diameter 30 mm.
43. a) Mainsheet travellers are optional.
b) All fittings shall be attached to the external surfaces of the hull and may not be
recessed in any way, except the following :
(1) chain plates, which must be fitted within 10 mm from the external side of the hull.
(2) forestay fitting may pass through the deck.
44. Buoyancy
a) Hatches are optional but if fitted shall be of a threaded type and the hull shall remain
watertight under sailing conditions.
b) Boats constructed of glass reinforced plastic shall have the same positive buoyancy
as that of a wooden boat.
45. SAILS
a) The sails shall be made of woven cloth.
2005 Class Rules Page 3 of 5
 b) Headboard in the mainsail, excluding bolt ropes shall not exceed 115 mm measured
square to the mast. No headboard is allowed in the jib.
c) Only the jib may have a transparent window.
d) The sails shall be measured as per the ISAF sail measurement instructions.
e) Mylar may not be used in the cloth of which the sails are made.
46. Mainsail : The mainsail shall conform to the following measurements :
a) half height width excluding luff bolt rope (max) 1485mm
b) leech (max) 3810mm
c) battens - 3 in number, approximately equally spaced
along the leech. - Length of batten (max) 610mm
d) Dabchick insignia and numbers shall be not less than 200 x 140 x 30mm
e) conventional and loose footed mainsails are permitted.
For loose footed sails the distance from the head to the
midpoint of the foot shall not exceed 3750 mm. (max) 3750mm
The numbers shall conform to the requirements of the ISAF Racing Rules
47. Jib : The jib shall conform to the following measurements :
a) Luff and leech (max) 2667mm
b) Foot (max) 1473mm
c) Centre measurement from highest point of sail on the luff (max)
to the lowest edge of the sail at the mid point of the foot. 2720mm
d) Optional window, size (max) 3000 sq.cm
The window shall be no nearer than 150mm from any sail edge.
48. A single track adjustable fairlead may be fitted on the port and starboard deck.
No barber haulers are allowed.
49. Sails and spars used in the first race of a series shall not be changed during the series. In
the event of irreparable damage the written permission of the race committee shall be
obtained before substitution.

2005 Class Rules Page 4 of 5

50. a) The Dabchick may be built by any professional builder.
b) Professional builders shall be responsible for supplying boats complying with the class
rules.
c) The builder at his own expense shall arrange for the measurement of the
hull/spars/sails supplied by him prior to the end user taking possession of the boat.
d) Professional builders wishing to construct the hull in fibre reinforced plastic (glass fibre)
shall follow the following procedure
The plug shall be measured before a prototype is constructed
Once approved, a mould shall be constructed and a prototype lifted.The prototype shall
be measured and approved by the DASA Technical Committee at the builders expense.
Once approved production hulls may be lifted from the mould and shall be deemed to
comply with measurement rules except that the first five and thereafter every 10th
production hull shall be measured to ensure the mould remains true. Should it be
expected that the mould may no longer comply, the DASA Technical Committee shall
have the right to recall the last constructed boat and perform a complete measurement
procedure.

2005 Class Rules Page 5 of 5