Hi Steve, Hi Brian,
The box rule that has been "kicked" around here. if it is encompassed will hopefully obviate any problems for all "14" cats. There are two drafts. one to cover all new F14 cats AND incorporate ALL the existing 14' cats as well and another box rule for an "A" class 14' cat, that is esentually a cat built to the "new" F14 rule BUT sailed without a spinnaker, (it can be converted simply by adding the spinnaker) Both "box rules" would be incorpoated within the constitution for a new association for 14' cats.
It would appear that it is necessary to have an F14 rule for any "new" designs that are built expressly within the box rule (as opposed to all the various size and shaped "existing" 14' cats), and similarly for a non spinnakered version of the same ie new designs built within the box rule.
This will then cover and include ALL 14' cats equatibly with the maximum of harmony
I will include below the two potentual "box rules"


The “Box rule” governing an F14 catamaran is –

1. L.O.A. of the hulls (excluding any “T foils, rudders and all rudder fittings) 4.34 metres
2. Maximum Beam Overall 2.5 metres
3. Mast Height, unrestricted, although the mast can only
form a percentage of the total sail area of no more than 15%
of the mainsail area, i.e. no “solid” wing sail
(articulated or not).
All the sails shall be of a “soft” fabric type
4. Maximum Sail Area (including half the area of the
mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail), shall not exceed 27.87 sq metres (300 sq feet)
This maximum area includes the combination of the
areas of ALL sails whether there be a mains’l, a jib,
and a spinnaker, or any combination there of.
The measurements of all the sails shall be by the calculation of the “actual” sail area.
5. Construction materials are unrestricted
6. Minimum Weight (all up sailing weight minus crew) 50 kgs
7. “T” foils (not hydrofoils) used primarily, ONLY for the stablelization of pitch, and only if attached to, or forming part of the rudders, or attached to the aft underside of the hull within 300mm of the transoms, and that the angle of “attack” of the “T” foils are non adjustable whilst sailing, are allowed. No attached foil shall exceed the width of the allowable beam of the catamaran, as allowed within this box rule.
8. Closed cell foam buoyancy is required to be fixed internally in the hulls, sufficient to maintain the vessel, and its crew,
in the upright position, with the hulls at, or above the
surface of the water, when one or both hulls are
completely full of water.
9. Number and weight of crew are unrestricted. (with reference to “Crew and Crew Weight” in the preceding section of the class rules)
10. Any spinnaker pole, or spinnaker pole fittings shall not protrude further forward of the forward most point of the bows (measured at 90 degrees from the centre of a line connecting the two most forward parts of the bows of each hull), by more than one metre.
11. All 14’ catamarans, designed and “on the water”, before the incorporation of this constitution, that have a hull length no greater than 14'6", and carry a sail area, (inclusive of all the working sails, including half the area of the mast bounded by the luff length of the main sail, and a spinnaker/reacher) no greater than 300 sq ft IN TOTAL, can race with, and compete against, the F14 catamarans designed and built to conform within this "box rule", on an equal, "across the line first wins". Albeit that they, (the pre existing 14' catamarans) shall be allocated an appropriate handicap/rating (per class of catamaran), for their finishing times against each other (that is the pre existing 14' designed catamarans) for competition within their own "division", exclusive of the "new" F14 catamarans.
12. From time to time, by an agreed vote of the membership of the F14 catamaran association, catamarans that do not fit within the preceding “box rule” definitions (from item no 1. through to item 11. inclusive) may be allowed inclusion to sail/compete with and against all those catamarans that comply to the afore mentioned items 1. through to and including item 11. by being afforded an appropriate handicap/rating, designed to keep all racing results fair and equitable between different “classes” of catamarans so competing.





4.3metre, “A” class,
“box” rules for“ open” development class catamaran.

The craft must be a catamaran, having two identical hulls of equal volume, with the rudders attached at/to the transom/s i.e. not extended out from the stern of the craft so as to effectively “extend” the waterline length of the hull/s.

Maximum hull length
(excluding rudders & rudder fittings)
4.34 metres
Maximum beam (over all)
2.5 metres
Mast height unrestricted, although
the mast can only form a percentage
of the total sails area of no more than 15%
of the mainsail area, i.e. no “solid” wing
sail (articulated or not). All the sails shall be
of a “soft” fabric type

Maximum sail area, including half the area of
the mast, bounded by the luff length of the main sail,
(without wrinkles or folds in the luff). The sail shall be of a single “laminate”.
145.31 sq ft 13.5 sq metres

Minimum, all up sailing weight
i.e. hulls, beams, mast, boom, all rigging and
sheeting, rudders, centre/dagger boards, in
fact the entire cat excluding only the sail(s)
and crew
111 lb (imp’) 50 KG
Crew unrestricted

Construction material unrestricted

Hydrofoils.
“Hydrofoils” that are used to “lift” the hull(s) due to the forward movement through the water of the catamaran, (i.e. these foils are of an asymmetric profile, designed to generate upwards lift by the action of their movement through the water), are not allowed.

“T” foils (as opposed to “hydrofoils”)
Used only for the stablelization of pitch, and only of a symmetrical profile, without having any adjustment to the angle of “attack” of the foils whilst sailing (i.e. not independent of the movement of the hulls), and only if attached to, or forming part of the rudders, or attached to the underside of the hull(s) within 300mm 0f the transom(s), are allowed. No foil(s) shall protrude to any point wider than the maximum allowable beam of the class (i.e. or 2.5 metres).

Closed cell foam buoyancy is required to be permanently fixed internally in the hulls, sufficient to maintain the vessel, and its crew, in the upright position, at or above the surface of the water, when one or both hulls are completely full of water. (safety rule)