Greg, you are sailing under a yardstick system I guess. To stop people from removing their spi gear the day of the regatta everybody here have to declare at the time of signing up for the event wether they will sail with or without spi. If they dont say anything, it is assumed that they will sail with their boat set up like it is for the boats measurement certificate. This is enforced and if you race without spi, you are still scored as if you used the spi. I think that is a good system.
As a heads up, this issue is not covered by the F16 class rules and therefore must be in the NOR or SI's to be binding. Gentlemen's agreements are well and good but we all know people are people and regardless of an agreement reached on the beach if a rule hasn't been broken a gentlemens agreement really doesn't mean much for some people. Besides, if it's formalized you don't run the risk of souring an otherwise very pleasant weekend.
Just my 2 cents, I'm leaving now.
