The object of these rules is to establish the Javelin class as a strict one-design in all respects affecting the hull shape, yet to allow sufficient latitude in other matters in order to promote interest in the fitting-out, maintaining and racing of the boats themselves.
The Javelin was designed by Peter Milne in 1968. All matters concerning the management and conservation of the design are now the responsibility of Javelin International. Javelin boats shall be made in accordance with the Design of Peter Milne and strictly in compliance with the class rules. Any alteration made to the shape or Construction of parts of the boat need prior written permission of Javelin International. (JI)
A Javelin shall only be eligible for measurement provided :
3.1: The moulder held (at the time) written permission from the designer, and Paul Wright, or since July 2021Javelin International to mould Javelin hulls and was thereby recognized by Javelin International as an official moulder.
3.2: A building fee has first been paid to Javelin International. (This fee will normally be paid by the official moulder)
3.3: A licence plate with stamped sail number, mould number and builders number is fixed to the boat. This plate will be issued when the building fee has been paid.
Javelins shall be measured in the metric system (International System of Units). If these rules or any modification of them is translated into other languages, the English text shall prevail in the event of differences of interpretation.
4.1: For the purpose of these rules, with the exception of Rule 2, the hull shall be defined as: the hull, decking, buoyancy tanks, central spine, spine capping and thwarts.
5.1: Before a Javelin is eligible to race it shall have been granted a Measurement Certificate by the National Authority (NA) of the country of the owner and in the owner's name, except where a NA does not wish to administer the class, when its functions as stated in these rules shall be carried out by the National Class Organisation or by Javelin International.
5.2: Measurements shall be taken in accordance with the Class Rules and recorded on a Measurement Form recognized by Javelin International. All measurements on the Measurements Forms shall be recorded except where stated on the Measurement Form. The onus is on the Javelin Association member to ensure that his or her boat conforms to the rules with regard to measurement in all its aspects.
5.3: Alterations or repairs of the hull or equipment made after the Measurement Certificate has been issued shall be in accordance with the current Class Rules.
5.4: If a boat has been substantially altered, repaired or parts have been replaced its Measurement Certificate shall cease to be valid until the relevant parts of the boat have been re-measured in accordance with Rule 5.
5.5: All boats, spars, sails and equipment shall be liable to re-measurement at the discretion of a NA, Class Organization or Race Committee, but only by a measurer approved by that authority.
5.6: Change of ownership invalidates the Measurement Certificate but shall not necessitate re-measurement. The new owner shall return the original certificate to the National Class Secretary (NCS) with the change of ownership details completed and the new owner's declaration signed. The NCS shall send the re-validated Measurement Certificate to the owner.
6.1: The crew whilst racing shall consist of two persons including the helmsman.
6.2: In all class races, adequate personal buoyancy must be on board and worn unless the race authority shall give specific exemption.
6.3: The use of weight jackets is not permitted.
6.4: Hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical devices including instruments are prohibited, but electronic timing devices and magnetic or electromagnetic compasses are permitted. Such devices shall be entirely self-contained with an internal battery/power source and have no external connections. No such compass or timer shall be used which makes use of any form of wireless/radio navigation device. Devices which indicate remotely or transmit/receive data about wind speed, direction boat speed or location shall be prohibited.
7.1: Hull Shape: Javelin hulls shall only be moulded in Javelin moulds owned or supplied by the Javelin International, which shall not be modified in any way which alters the shape of the resultant moulding, except with the written permission of Javelin International. This being so each hull shall be deemed to comply with the current Class Rules and need not be measured. The first hull from each new mould shall be measured in the presence of an RYA or other National Authority Measurer.
7.2: Construction Materials: The hull and deck shall be of glass fibre reinforced polyester plus sandwich material. Any suggested additional materials shall be approved by Javelin International. Additional stiffening can be brought into the boat during fitting out and is not required to comply with this rule, but must comply with rule 8.4.
7.3: Spinnaker Stowage: One opening for the spinnaker stowage shall be permitted in the foredeck. No internal measurement of such opening shall exceed 450 mm.
7.4: Headsail Tack: The gear securing the headsail tack to the hull shall be such that a line produced from the luff of the headsail cuts the surface of the foredeck on the centreline thereof within 40 mm of a point established by measuring 440 mm aft from a point where the line of the stem meets the line of the deck at the centreline.
7.5: Registered Number: The plate described in Rule 3.3 shall be permanently fixed to the portside of the aft face of the foredeck moulding on the upper surface.
7.6: Flotation Test: The three separate built-in buoyancy chambers shall be submitted to the immersion test. The boat with mast stepped, but with booms, sails and all loose equipment removed, shall be floated on its beam ends for not less than five minutes to port and five minutes to starboard with its sheer line approximately parallel to the waterline while supporting two persons not immersed above the knee and weighing not less than of 135 kg in total. The mast may be supported above the lower measurement band. The amount of water in any one tank after this test shall not exceed 5 litres. The owner shall be responsible for ensuring that the boat shall always be able to pass the test prescribed above.
8.1: All hulls shall be officially weighed in a fully drained condition. New hulls shall be officially weighed before being put in the water for the first time.
8.2: The initial weight of a new hull including correctors, if fitted, shall be not less than 118 kg. This weight includes all essential fixed fittings which are normally those screwed, glued or bolted in place but excluding centreboard, rudder, tiller, sails, spars, rigging, compasses, loose cordage, including mainsheet and all other removable and non-essential items. Ancillary gear such as spinnaker poles, paddles, anchors, warps and flares shall be unshipped.
8.3: If required, corrector weights, totalling no more than 7 kg shall be permanently fastened to the underside of the thwarts.
8.4: If after use, a hull is found to weigh more than 118 kg, it may be officially re-weighed as prescribed in paragraphs 8.1 through 8.2 and, if corrector weights had previously been fitted, weight in excess of 118 kg shall first be removed by reducing or removing such corrector weights. If after removal of such corrector weights the boat still weighs more than 118 kg then the owner may, in his discretion, choose to lighten her by removing such fittings as he prefers but weight shall not be further reduced by removing or lightening any construction materials as defined in Clause 7.1 of these rules.
8.5: After re-weighing an owner shall apply for a new Measurement Certificate.
8.6: For the purpose of a control measurement during an event, the procedure in Rule 8.2 is altered in a way that centreboard and cordage for trimming lines does not have to be removed. The weight then is not less than 126 kg, adding ~5kg for centreboard and ~3kg for cordage. The condition is “as dry as possible” – the measurer may add 1kg considering moisture.
9.1: When housed, no part of the centreboard shall extend below the keel line.
9.2: The complete centreboard shall float in water.
9.3: The overall thickness of that part of the centreboard below the hull when fully lowered complete with all coatings shall not exceed 27 mm.
9.4: Centreboard bolt adjustment during a race is not permitted.
Mainsail, headsail and spinnaker shall be sheeted to positions inboard of the outboard edge of the gunwale rubber.
11.1: A rotating or permanently bent mast is not permitted.
11.2: The mast heel position shall not be readily adjustable during a race.
11.3: The maximum diameter of the mast extrusion shall not exceed 80mm. The mast shall be constructed from aluminium alloy.
11.4: The intention of this sub-clause is to ensure that all rigs shall be of uniform height and shall be stepped at the same heights above the outer skin of the hull, below the stepping point. With the mast stepped, the top edge of the lower band, positioned as prescribed in 13.2, shall not be more than 1060 mm above the top of the front buoyancy tank.
12.1: Main boom: The maximum diameter of the boom extrusion shall not exceed 100 mm. The main boom shall be constructed from aluminium alloy.
12.2: Spinnakerboom: The maximum overall length of the spinnakerboom complete with all fittings shall be 2516 mm.
13.1: Mast: The mast shall carry three painted or durable adhesive plastic tape bands, provided that the measurement side of the tape is permanently marked on the mast by means of punch marks or scribe lines in the surface of the mast. The colour of the bands shall be of a colour strongly contrasting with the colour of the mast and each shall be approximately 15 mm in width, thus :
13.2: The top of the edge of the lower band shall be 1050 mm ± 2 mm above the heel of the mast, tenon included. When rigged the projection of a line of the top of the boom shall not cut the mast below the top edge of this band.
13.3: The bottom edge of the middle band shall be 4260 mm ± 2 mm above the top edge of the lower band. The extended lines of both the genoa luff and forestay shall meet the mast below such bottom edge.
13.4: Either the top of the spinnaker halyard sheave or the centre of the spinnaker halyard eye, as the case may be, shall lie at or below a point 100 mm above the bottom edge of the middle band.
13.5: The bottom edge of the upper band shall be a maximum of 6170 mm above the top edge of the lower band.
13.6: Boom: The boom shall carry one painted or tape band (marked as in Rule 13.1) of a colour strongly contrasting with the colour of the boom and the band shall be approximately 15 mm in width. With the boomfittedtothegooseneckonthemastandwiththetopoftheboomatrightanglestotheaftsideofthe mast in the fore and aft position, the distance from the aft side of the mast to the forward edge of the boom band shall not exceed 2845 mm.
Apart from toe straps contained within the cockpit area, no apparatus or contrivance, other than a trapeze which may be used to support either helmsman or crew, but not both, shall extend outboard from the hull, spars or rigging or shall be attached to or used by the crew, where the effect of such equipment is to support one or more persons wholly or partially outboard, save that one soft loop may be fitted to the gunwale rubber on each side to accept either foot of the trapeze hand.
15.1: Sails
15.1.1: Sails shall be made and measured in accordance with the current World Sailing “Equipment Rules of Sailing" (ERS), except where varied herein. Where a term defined or a measurement given in the ERS is used in these rules it is printed in bold type.
15.1.2: Sails shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of certification.
15.2: When measured a sail shall: be dry, not be attached to spars or rigging, have all battens removed, have pockets of any type flattened out, have just sufficient tension applied to remove wrinkles across the line of the measurement being taken.
15.3: Each sail shall be measured by an official measurer and if it conforms with these rules then he shall sign and date the sail near the tack on mainsails and headsails and near the head on spinnakers (event measurement endorsements should be at the clew). He shall mark the sails there with an identification number to distinguish the several sails of one boat.
15.4: Mainsail
15.4.1: The construction shall be: soft sail, single ply sail.
15.4.2: The body of the sail shall consist of the same woven ply throughout, except for the panel adjacent to the foot, which may be of a different woven ply. The ply fibres shall be of polyester. Also one or two unwoven transparent panels are permitted. Such panels shall not exceed 0.23 sq. metres, each.
15.4.3: The mainsail shall be set so that the highest visible point at the head is lower than the lower edge of the upper measurement band and so that the aftmost visible part of the leech is forward of the inner edge of the boom measurement band. The last sentence of Rule 13.2 shall apply.
15.4.4: The leech length (the distance between the head point and the clew point) shall never exceed 6820 mm.
15.4.5: The mainsail shall have four batten pockets in the leech so as to divide the leech length into equal parts with a tolerance of ± 80 mm measured from the pocket centreline of each pocket. The top batten length shall not exceed 1200 mm. The length of the three lower battens shall not exceed 1000 mm each. No batten shall be wider than 50 mm.
15.4.6: The mainsail shall have its widths controlled at 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 heights corresponding to the current "World Sailing Sail Measurement Rules". Mainsail widths shall be measured as the shortest straight line distance swung across the sail by a tape from the leech point to the luff including bolt rope if any. The measurements shall not exceed the following dimensions: quarter width : 2595 mm; half width : 2015 mm; three-quarter width : 1205 mm.
15.4.7: No measurement across the headboard shall exceed 220 mm.
15.4.8: The Javelin Class insignia, national letters and sail number allotted to the boat, shall be in accordance with Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS 77), except where varied herein.
15.4.9: The Javelin Class insignia shall conform with the dimensions and requirements as detailed in appendix 1.
15.4.10: Loose footed mainsails are permitted. The foot round shall not exceed 220 mm. This measurement shall be taken from the edge of the sail at the point of maximum round, to a straight line stretched between the tack point and the clew point.
15.4.11: The top width (the distance between the head point and the aft head point) shall not exceed 210 mm.
15.4.12: The upper width (the shortest distance between upper leech point and the luff) at upper leech point (the point on the leech 500 mm from the head point) shall not exceed 430 mm.
15.5: Headsail
15.5.1: The construction shall be: soft sail, single ply sail.
15.5.2: The body of the sail shall consist of the same woven ply throughout, except that unwoven transparent panels are permitted. Such panels shall not exceed 0.4 sq. metres in total aggregated area and should be surrounded by woven ply. The ply fibres shall be of polyester.
15.5.3: No battens or other forms of stiffening shall be used other than the normal reinforcing patches of the same material as the sail.
15.5.4: When set, the headsail shall conform with Rules 7.4 and 13.3.
15.5.5: The luff length (the distance between the head point and the tack point) shall not exceed 4420 mm.
15.5.6: The luff perpendicular (the shortest distance between the clew point and the luff) shall not exceed 2320 mm.
15.5.7: The foot round shall not exceed 200 mm. This measurement shall be taken from the edge of the sail at the point of maximum round, to a straight line stretched between the tack point and the clew point.
15.5.8: The top width (the distance between the head point and the aft head point) shall not exceed 45 mm.
15.5.9: The leech shall not extend beyond a straight line from the aft head point to the clew point.
15.6: Spinnaker
15.6.1: The construction shall be: soft sail, single ply sail.
15.6.2: The body of the sail shall consist of the same woven ply throughout. The ply fibres shall be of polyester or polyamide.
15.6.3: The spinnaker shall be three cornered and symmetrical, with no stiffening at the corners or along the edges, other than the usual fabric hems, patches, binding or light roping.
15.6.4: Lengths shall be measured with the spinnaker laid out with the tension applied as required by ERS. The foot median (the distance between the head point and the mid foot point) shall not exceed 5790 mm and the leech lengths shall not exceed 5440 mm.
15.6.5: No part of the spinnaker shall exceed 4100 mm in width.
15.6.6: The national letters and sail number allotted to the boat shall be displayed on the front side of the spinnaker according to RRS 77
