STEWART 34 OWNERS ASSOCIATION
CLASS RULES

1. INTENT

(a) The Stewart 34 was designed to be a fast racing/cruising yacht to fulfil the recreational needs of a sailing family for weekend and holiday cruising and harbour and gulf racing. These class rules have been designed to preserve the following characteristics in every possible way.

1. 1. Comfortable family cruising
  2. Low cost ownership
  3. Tight one-design racing

When racing as one design the intent is that all yachts will be basically equal and that racing will be a test of sailing ability. Any attempt to alter a yacht, its sails or its rigging except as is authorised by these rules, will be considered a breach of these rules, both in
spirit and substance.

(b) These class rules however cannot anticipate every possible situation which may arise.
Economical improvements which assist the class to continue to progress and to be competitive are encouraged but members should discuss such improvements with the Committee if in any doubt about the legality of such improvements under these rules.
In making alteration to the rules the Association will follow the Stewart 34 basic philosophy, viz. a one-design class which prohibits innovations which would give a speed advantage to any one yacht.

In the event of any owner introducing any alternative or new idea to his yacht, sails or rig, other than minor, that a majority of the Committee or a majority of the owners present at an official Owners’ Meeting, considers an innovation, such alteration or new idea shall be an innovation. The owner then has the responsibility of endeavouring to alter the rules to include such innovations in accordance with Rule 14 of the Constitution.

(c) It is the sole responsibility of the owner to check and see that the yacht, its spars, sails and equipment, comply with the current class rules. (Statements written or verbal from individuals and companies other than the Class Measurers or Committee Members should
be ignored).

(d) On receipt of a complaint from a member of the Association the Committee reserves the right to ask the Measurer or those also appointed as measurers to check any yacht on any rules at any time. Should discrepancies occur the Committee has the right to

(1) Debar such yacht from competing in further Stewart 34 races
until the discrepancies have been made good, and

(2) to allow the Chairman, Secretary and one other Committee
Member, without calling a full Committee meeting, to
instruct the Secretary to enter a protest against such a yacht
if the time limit for such a protest has not expired.

(3) The owner of the boat will be responsible for all reasonable costs

(e) Should the alleged discrepancies in Rule 1 (d) not be proven to the Measurers satisfaction the costs incurred shall be borne by the members who asked for the measurement to be made.

2. HULL

All future yachts must be built to the plans and these class rules, with no tolerance in excess of those the Measurer considers acceptable. New owners are urged to contact the Committee
before commencing construction.

(a) The notes on the plans are to be carefully observed, viz. that no intentional deviations from the plans are permitted.

(b) The silhouette for yachts be preserved as drawn on the plan by Bob Stewart for a wooden boat or, if of fibreglass construction, on the plan for the G.R.P. mould. The only exception being Paragon, Pania and Pegasus (all already built) and all fibreglass yachts to be from the moulds approved from time to time by the Association.

(c) The minimum motor weight to be 275 lbs (124.74 kilos) including batteries and compressor if any, and if lighter motors are used, weights equivalent to the difference must be carried in the motor position. Batteries may be permanently placed in any part of
the boat except where they are used to bring the motor up to weight, when they shall be placed in the motor position, but in any event the batteries may not weigh more than 110 lbs (49.90 kilos).

(d) The most forward part of the motor must not be placed more than 11’6” (3.51 metres) from the tuck on all future boats. In the event of any existing boat replacing a motor the new motor shall be no more than 11’6” (3.51 metres) from the tuck and not further
forward than the original position whichever is the greater distance.

(e) A fold-down or open transom exit from the cockpit in accordance with the drawing attached to the official plans will be approved provided that such a transom exit be securely closed at all times whilst racing.

(f) Sail drive auxiliary motors are permitted provided no part of the motor or sail drive unit is further forward than 11’6” (3.51 metres) from the tuck.

(g) An anchor well capable of holding 1 Class anchor, chain and warp must be installed in the bow of boats launched after 1 January 1978.

3. ACCOMMODATION AND EQUIPMENT

(a) The accommodation must be at least up to the standard drawn on the plan. Layout is optional. Bunks must be built-in, i.e. pipe cot berths are not acceptable. At least one berth to be forward of the mast. Accommodation for at least five with full operable cruising equipment detailed below. Additional to this list, the minimum requirements for inshore races controlled by the Stewart 34 Owners Association yacht must comply with Yachting New Zealand Category 5 standards. For all races run by other organising authorities, in addition to the minimum equipment the relevant Yachting New Zealand category as prescribed in the sailing instructions shall apply.

- - Charts (electronic or paper) covering the area being sailed
  - One water resistant flash light
  - Lead line or echo sounder
  - Navigation lights as required by the Collision prevention rules
  - One Class measured Mainsail minimum
  - One Class measured No.1 Genoa – minimum
  - One Class measured No.2 Genoa- minimum
  - One Class measured No.3 Genoa- minimum
  - One Class measured No.1 Spinnaker (Spinnaker divisions only) – minimum
  - One Class measured No.2 Spinnaker (Spinnaker divisions only)- Optional
  - Set of tools including hacksaw or and bolt cutters
  - Bosuns chair
  - VHF Radio
  - Life jackets for every crew member on board
  - 2 Safety Harnesses and tethers
  - Distress flares
  - 1 heaving line at least 15m in length
  - 1 emergency Knife
  - 1 Fuel shut off valve fitted to the Fuel Tank at the outlet
  - Cabin sole (floorboards throughout)
  - 5 permanently installed bunks and bunk boards
  - 1 permanently fitted stove
  - 1 motor as per rule 2c
  - Correcting weights as notified by the Association
  - Outward opening forward hatch and aft egress hatch
  - Sea cocks or valves that can be closed when necessary
  - Soft wood plugs tapered and of correct size to be attached to adjacent to the appropriate skin fitting
  - All ballast and other heavy internal fittings (e.g. batteries, Stoves gas Bottles, tanks, engines, anchors etc.) shall be securely fastened so as to remain in position in a 180 degree knockdown
  - Fixed bow pulpit
  - Toe rail not less than 1″ (25 mm) permanently fitted around the edge of the deck forward of the mast.
  - Adequate hand rails on the exterior cabin top – Or life lines
  - All gas appliances must comply with current accepted practice and a “remember to turn off Gas at bottle” sign visible adjacent to the appliance.
  - Galley facilities including a sink
  - Permanently fitted water tank(s) securely installed capable of holding 80 litres and fuel tank(s) capable of holding 25 litres.
  - 2 fire extinguishers readily accessible in different parts of the boat.
  - One manual bilge pump of a size and capacity suitable for the yacht.
  - 2 buckets each of at least 9 litres (2 gallons) capacity
  - First aid kit and manual
  - 1 marine type compass properly installed
  - 1 marine toilet and holding tank properly installed
  - 1 refrigeration system either permanently fitted or if portable fixed in place according to YNZ standards while sailing.

(b) Anchors as per Category 5 requirements unless otherwise stipulated in the sailing instructions. The Association recommends that 2 anchors are on board ready to deploy and each weigh a minimum of 11 kilos, each chain to be a minimum 15 metres long and that each warp be a minimum of 40 metres long. Boats are to be weighed without the anchors, chain and warps.

4. RUDDERS

(a) From 15/9/2014 all new rudders shall be constructed in accordance with the 2014 Bakewell-White rudder design. The rudder shall conform to the shape and profile of the plans held by the Association.

(a) No modifications to existing rudders fitted prior to 15/9/2014 are permitted apart from routine maintenance and repairs.
(b) The stock position shall be 2’9” (84 cms +- 10mm) from the tuck.
(c) All new rudders must weigh a minimum of 34kg.
(d) All new rudders made after the 15/9/2014 shall only be made of wood or fibreglass

5. SAILS (see separate rules and designs attached)

6. SPARS AND RIGGING

(a) The mast shall measure 47’6” (14.476 metres) overall and be of aluminium only.

(b) Masts made after 1 May 1982 must be made from extrusions weighing not less than 3.5
lbs per foot (5.21 kilos per metre) for the bare extrusion and track and whose maximum
sectional length is not less than 6.75” (17.15 cms) and whose maximum width is not less than 4.53” (11.51 cms). Masts may be tapered down to a maximum of 9’ (2.74 metres) from the top. The cut or cuts not to exceed a total of 5” (12.7 cms) at the sectional circumference at the top. Metal cut from the taper need not be replaced. A PR 10 section is also permitted

(d) The forward face of the mast at deck level must be at least 11’10” (3.61 metres) or at the most 12’6” (3.81 metres) from the stem and a maximum tolerance of 8” (20.3 cms) fore and aft is allowed for adjusting the base of the mast on the mast step. In all new yachts
launched after 1 November 1984 the forward face of the mast must be 12’2” (3.71 metres) plus or minus 1” (2.54 cms) from the stem of the yacht.

(e) No adjustment to the position of the base of the mast is permitted during a Stewart 34 race.

(f) In all masts installed after 1 July 1985 the backstay must be fixed to the top of the mast at a distance no greater than 6” (15.25 cms) measuring from the back of the mast to the centre of the clevis pin.

(g) In all mast installed after 1 July 1985 the forestay must be fixed to the top of the mast at a distance no greater than 2” ( 5.08 cms) measuring from the front face of the mast to the centre of the clevis pin.

(h) In all masts constructed after 4 December 1985 the mast head must conform in all aspects to the plan.

(i) For championship boats the mast rake is to be between 1-18 to 1-22, in normal racing trim, without crew and to comply with the Committee’s measurement procedures.

(j) There shall be one spinnaker pole 15′ (4.57 metres) overall.

(k) All jockey poles built after 4 December 1985 shall be 6’6” (1.98 metres) maximum overall and shall be of wood and/or aluminium only.

(l) Bridle backstays to a maximum height of 9’ (2.74 metres) up the backstay from the transom are permitted.

(m) Hydraulic adjusters are allowed on the backstay only.

(n) Booms shall be of aluminium only and shall measure no less than 17.2” (5.23 metres) from the rear edge of the mast. From 13 July 1982 new booms to have a maximum depth including track of 10” (25.4 cms). All weight saving holes in the boom to remain uncovered.

(o) The rigging is to be as drawn on the plans and to be stainless steel or galvanised steel.

(p) Boats may use rod in all standard rigging.

(q) Rigging screws other than on the backstay may be adjusted during a race if desired but only by undoing the split pins, lock screws or stainless wire which prevents them unwinding. Ratchet adjustable rigging screws or similar are prohibited.

(r) The chain plates shall be in the position as drawn on the plans and no more than 3” (7.62 cms) inside the hull’s exterior surface.

(s) The length of every crosstree measured from the face of the mast is 4’ (121.91 cms). On all new boats from 4 December 1985 the spreaders shall be raked 12.5” (31.75 cms) plus or minus half an inch (1.27 cms) from the back face of the mast to the aft face of the cap
shroud. Spreaders shall be fixed.

(t) The spreaders shall be fitted no more than 20’6” (6.25 metres) and no less than 19’3” (5.87 metres) from the top of the mast and in new mast the spreaders shall be fitted 27’3” (8.31 metres) from the foot of the mast or 20’3” (6.17 metres) from the top.

(u) The cap shroud can be no more than 12” (30.48 cms) from the top of the mast.

7. KEEL

(a) All keels built after 21 August 1979 to be constructed of timber in accordance with the plans using lead ballast. The lead shall weigh not more than 30.5 cwt (1550 kilos) and no less than 29.5 cwt. (1498.7 kilos) and shall be the shape shown on the drawing and in the position shown in the drawing. All lead ballast for keels shall be moulded from plaster moulds taken from the wooden plug built in 1981 by John Rea (boat builder). The lead ballast in all keels built after 1 November 1984 shall be 30 cwt. (1524 kilos) plus or minus 20 lbs (9.07 kilos).

(b) Internal ballast of lead, pig iron or similar is not permitted.

8. LIFELINES

(a) Each yacht must have a pulpit

(b) The Class must conform to Yachting NZ safety regulations in this respect.

9. SCANTLINGS

A scantling list will be supplied with the plans setting down the minimum sizes to be used.

10. ANTIFOULING

Antifouling paint must be used at all times when racing.

11. INSTRUMENTS

Electronic instruments of any kind are allowed provided however that only knotmeters, depth sounders and compasses are used during Class Championship races.

12. HATCHES

All yachts must be fitted with a forward and aft egress hatch.

13. WINCHES

No more than 8 winches excluding anchor winches are allowed on the yacht and the winches must be no more than two speed with a power ratio of not more than 48 to 1.

14. SHEETS AND BRACES

Sheets and braces may be of any material the owner wishes.

15. MEASUREMENT

(a) The Association may from time to time appoint a Class Measurer and in the absence of any appointment his functions shall be performed by Executive Committee.

(b) All yachts shall be subject to measurement for compliance with the Class Rules and it will be mandatory for a new yacht to obtain a compliance certificate from the Measurer or Committee before entering a Stewart 34 race. Measurement Certificates are subject to
review, cancellation or renewal and the yachts are liable for inspection at any time.

(d) It is mandatory at every AGM to appoint one independent measurer and up to four class measurers

16. INSPECTIONS

It is mandatory that the Committee shall organise at least one spot check of those yachts racing in the Championship and Handicap Series each summer season before or after a race and take action as under 1(d).

17. REPLACEMENT OR ALTERATION

Should the owner of an existing yacht wish to replace or alter any part of his yacht, it’s spars, rigging or sails that do not strictly comply with these Rules, such alteration or replacement must be completed as per these Rules and certified by the Measurer.

18. WEIGHT

18.1 The minimum empty weight of all yachts including only the fixed and fitted accommodation as set out in Rule 3, including all normally reeved running rigging and any compensating weights specified in rule 18.2, shall be 4350kg, from 19 October 2020 until 19 October 2022, at which point it will revert to 4560kg. Any yachts weighing below this weight shall be subject to weigh adjustment as per 18.2

18.2 At any official weighing of a completed yacht any shortage of weight shall be corrected by fibre-glassing lead adjusters in place evenly at deck level forward of the main forward bulkhead and aft of the companionway bulkhead, to the measurer’s satisfaction. Such adjusters to be no wider than six inches and no deeper than four inches. Weight adjusters to be fixed permanently to the satisfaction of the Committee. A register of weight adjusters to be kept.

18.3 The association reserves the right at any time and at its cost to weigh any yacht racing in the championship series to ensure compliance with rule 18.1

19. TANKS

Tanks capable of carrying minimum of 20 gallons of water and 6 gallons of fuel must be permanently installed in all new boats retrospective to 1 July 1981. The rule will apply to all boats undertaking alterations to fuel and water tanks.

20. RULE MEETING

It is mandatory that an Owners Rule Meeting be held each year to ensure that the principles of Rule 1 regarding intent and economic improvements be held.

21. CERTIFICATE

All owners must carry a current certificate on board their boat, on the reverse of which is noted the weight and placement of any lead correction and all equipment which must be on board in excess of the Class Rules.

22 CREW LIMITS

The maximum number of crew on board for Championship races for the Spinnaker and non – spinnaker divisions shall be fixed at each Annual General Meeting. If this is not done, the maximum shall be eight for the spinnaker division and five for the non spinnaker division.

23. SPONSORSHIP

All clauses that affect class racing that are included in any contract between a sponsor and the Association are mandatory while such contract exists

STEWART 34 OWNERS ASSOCIATION CLASS RULES