Oz Goose Class Rules Updated January 2023
The Oz Goose Class Rules were quickly drafted purely for the Oz Goose Nationals 2017 as a requirement for running a Nationally sanctioned championship – Consider to be a work in progress.
Most Oz Geese do not have adjustable downhauls or outhauls. They are simply tied off. If a boat has an adjustable outhaul or downhaul it can’t be adjusted during races planned to be under an hour. This allows all boats to compete equally. It may be adjusted before or between races.
PREAMBLE TO OZ GOOSE CLASS RULES
The Oz Goose Class is to be participatory and essentially home built from plywood and timber. The aim of the class rules is to keep the boats affordable. Home building is the route for controlling costs and providing a reasonably priced market for secondhand boats.
Professional builders may build Oz Geese, but the boats must not include features that are not common in average home builds using modest tools.
Fibreglass hulls, Metal hulls and Sandwich construction hulls are not allowed.
These rules are only used for sanctioned regattas. They may be used for other events at the choice of the organisers. They are not relevant for casual sailing.
RULE CHANGES
The Oz Goose Class Rules are subject to change.
This document is a basic document and will be modified over the years. Its current purpose is to provide a framework for boat eligibility for the Philippines National Championships and subsequent events. It will be developed over time to govern the Oz Goose Class worldwide.
PARTICIPATION
Boats that do not meet these Oz Goose rule requirements can race in the event at the discretion of the Measurer/s on the condition that the owner and crew accept that no results shall be recorded for the boat and crew and no trophies awarded to them. Rules on sportsmanship will apply to such boats not to obstruct or interfere with boats that are legitimately racing.
MEASUREMENT
The various plans of the Oz Goose are the source document for eligibility.
The Measurer/s appointed to the event will visually examine the boats and may measure any component to see if it deviates from the plan. The Measurer may appoint deputies before or during a specific event.
If the boat deviates from the plan and the Measurer is of the opinion that the boat was built with the clear intention of following the plans, and there are no significant speed producing variations then the deviant goose may be allowed to race. Leeboard versions shall be allowed to race if the width of the leeboard follows the plan drawings and the maximum depth below the hull does not exceed that of centreboard boats.
The official Measurer’s decision is final.
Mast Rake – the hot topic for 2022
It appears that several Oz Goose Sailors have been altering the mast partner to achieve more mast rake.
Boats that show no sign of being modified will be accepted for the Philippines National Championships and will not be required to be measured.
Boats that have been modified must comply with the range shown in the image below. The 107mm Minimum measurement will be tested with the mast being pushed back with force against any removable chocks. The masts should not be able to be moved fore and aft during sailing apart from a few mm of normal play as judged by the measurers. The measurer’s decision is final.
We applaud this experimentation at a club racing level and will observe through the 2022/3 season to see if there is a significant advantage in boat handling or if boats without the modification can compete equally with those with additional mast rake and to see if there are any negative consequences such as booms becoming lower and less sailor friendly
HULL
Hull to be built to one of the official plan versions. Small detail variations are allowed, such as splashboard/coamings and bottom stringers but no substantial measurement variations that may alter performance are acceptable. From time to time the designer may publish drawings that further define required measurements as part of the Oz Goose Class Rules.
Entire hull is to be built of plywood and timber.. It may be timber framed, glass taped or epoxy filleted.
Fibreglass hulls or composite hulls are specifically disallowed.
Bottom of hull is to be minimum 6mm plywood. If 6mm plywood is not available then 5mm is allowed and is to be fibreglassed with standard E-glass woven cloth on the bottom and overlapping a maximum of 50mm 2″ up the sides of the hull or minimum of 25mm 1″. Weight of cloth can be 65gsm (2oz) minimum. Recommended maximum is 140gsm (4oz) or the boat will be too heavy for competition.
The remainder of the plywood can be a minimum of 4mm (5/32″) or maximum 6mm (1/4″).
Buoyancy tanks fitted with inspection ports are to be effectively watertight. . Boat may be spot checked after each day’s racing by the Measurer.
FOILS
Centreboard and rudderblade are to be timber construction. A fibreglass layer is strongly recommended. Glass is to be standard E glass woven cloth 200gsm (6oz) or less. We have found 65gsm (2oz) to be non durable for foils.
Maximum length for centreboard is 1100mm. Small variations are allowed for 2023.
Centreboard is fitted with simple stops to keep the top of the board higher than the top of the centrecase. The standard knotted rope handle is sufficient.
Maximum length for rudder blade is 900mm. Small variations are allowed for 2023.
SPARS
Spars are to be Timber or plain, untapered Aluminium tube of 6000 series or lower – see article on this website for diameters and wall thickness.
Bamboo Yard and booms are allowed, masts cannot be bamboo. Please see the article on this website regarding choice of bamboo for the yard and boom. We do not recommend bamboo for masts. And don’t really recommend it for racing as it is difficult to match the consistency of performance of wooden spars.
Timber Masts are to follow the Plans. Larger cross section masts for heavier crew are acceptable. Fibreglass sheathing is allowed at the deck partner level not exceeding 200mm (8″) wide. Carbon, Kevlar, Carbon or other higher modulus materials are disallowed.
Yards may not be hollow with the exception of a natural bamboo yard or aluminium tube.
Ends of spars may be fibreglass taped with glass up to 100mm (4″) wide.
Booms may be solid timber. Boom may be built from timber and plywood not thinner than 3mm (1/8″) and be hollow. Fibreglass sheathing is allowed at one chafe point and ends not exceeding 450mm (18″) wide measured along the long axis of the spar. Booms are allowed to differ from the plan specification.
Only one set of spars are to be used during the races for the regatta. If there is a breakage then the race committee may allow replacement with a rule legal spar.
SAILS
Sails are to be either the 89sq ft Balance Lug in the Oz Goose and Oz Racer plans.
Sail cloth can be conventional inexpensive woven Dacron sail cloth, Polytarp or Tyvek.
Sails can be professionally or home made.
No battens are allowed in sails.
Only one sail can be used during the regatta.
If spars fit in a sleeve rather than are laced to the sail then the sleeve is included in the sail dimensions for measuring.
FITTINGS
No ball bearing blocks are to be used on the Oz Goose except for a ratchet block fitted to the mainsheet. Measurer may offer an exemption during events for systems that are obviously old and not intending to allow extra performance.
Downhauls and halyards may not be adjusted during a course race intended to be under an hour in length, but may be adjusted between races, on the water or on the land. Downhauls may be adjusted during a distance race.
Adjustable downhauls are not to exceed 4:1 mechanical advantage.
Outhauls may be adjusted between races on the water or on the land. They must be cleated or tied off on the boom for a course race intended to be under an hour in length. But may be adjusted during a distance race.
Self bailing devices and pumps are prohibited.
CREW
PREAMBLE – We expect fairness to other other competitors to be the guiding principle for crew changes partway through an event. Changes of crew during an event should not confer a weight advantage to suit a change in wind conditions.
Crew refers to the persons listed as sailing on boat by an entrant of the event.
An adult sailing with two smaller children will be considered to be a two person boat.
Two adults with one small child will be considered to be a two person boat.
This section most likely applies to National, Regional or State events. Or any other event stating that it is run under these class rules.
Crew for racing is for one person or two persons sailing the Oz Goose. Overall Regatta results are for placings of boats regardless of the crew number in each boat.
Boats entered for an event with specified and named crew are allowed to have either crew member steer for all or some of the races. If there is a special trophy for a subgroup of sailors – eg sailors with a disability, top woman sailor, top School age student or anything similar then the crewperson steering for each race should belong to that group, barring brief incidents. There may be crew trophies as well for specific classes of crew – eg top finishing crew under 14 years – they should sail all races that count toward the results.
Children should be competent swimmers and participate at the risk of the parents or guardians.
All boats will race together. This may be altered by the Regatta committee for very large fleets but retain the principle that two person boats and one person boats will sail against each other.
Changes of Crew During an Event.
However, changes such as using a heavier crew on a stronger wind day or sailing without crew on a light wind day or any other arrangement that optimises crew weight are not permitted – see the preamble. This may be varied by the organisers of specific events, and they should be consulted if such crew changes are being considered.
This rule preventing crew to be changed to optimise weight will be applied more strictly to those who have a track record of good results in events. There may be more flexibility applied with intermediate and beginner level sailors. Please consult the organising committee or race committee of the event if making changes of this type.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
These are the requirements and recommendations for the Oz Goose Class Rules. However, be aware that there may be additional requirements for a specific regatta and also there may be local safety equipment under local waterways legislation. The organising committee for an event might choose to vary the equipment below.
Life Jackets or approved buoyancy device must be worn by each crewmember and is compulsory.
Tow Rope – 8 metres minimum. min 5mm (5/32″) diameter. Note that if towed the rope should take two turns around the mast and then be hand held in the cockpit of the goose to minimise the risk of damage.
Paddle is recommended
Bailer – Minimum 1.5 litres.
Centreboard and Rudder blades are to be attached to the boat with a light line, shockcord/bungee or better.