RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION

PART A

ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

1 The full title of the Association shall be the AJAX 23 ONE DESIGN CLASS ASSOCIATION hereinafter referred to as the Association.

2 Objects

The objects of the Association shall be to govern and to further the interests of the Ajax 23 One Design Class, the aim of which is to provide a seaworthy, safe, inexpensive One Design Family racing yacht able to race as a Class or in Handicap events; particular encouragement being given to racing as a Class.

3 Membership

(a) Full membership shall be open only to owners or part owners of Ajax 23 Yachts.

(b) Associate membership shall be open to yachtsmen interested in the Class but who are not owners or part owners of Ajax 23 Yachts.

(d) Full members shall be entitled to attend, to speak and to vote at a General Meeting, but such votes shall be limited to one per boat in the case of part owners. Associate members may attend and speak at a General Meeting but shall have no vote.

4 Subscriptions

The annual subscriptions payable by Full and Associate members to the Association shall be payable on 1st January each year and shall be such sum as the Association in General Meeting may from time to time prescribe.

5 Management

(a) The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Committee of not less than five persons, including two from each fleet of the Class, all of whom shall be Full Members of the Association. The Committee shall have power to co‑opt additional members as required. Three members including the Chairman or Vice‑Chairman of the Association to form a quorum.

(b) The Committee shall be elected annually at a General Meeting of Members.

(c) The General Meeting will elect annually a Chairman and Vice‑Chairman of the Association, who where practicable shall not be members of the same local fleet of Ajaxes. The Chairman of the Association shall act as Chairman at General Meetings of the Association and at meetings of the Committee or may appoint the Vice‑Chairman of the Association to act as chairman at any such meetings in his stead.

(d) Only the Annual General Meeting or special General Meeting shall have the power to alter or add to the Class Rules.

(e) The Annual General Meeting shall appoint an Honorary Secretary who will be a member of the Committee. The Secretary shall deal with the day‑to‑day administration of the Association, including;

(i) the maintenance of the Register of Members and of owners of all boats;

(ii) the issue of Class Registration Certificates, sail numbers and measurement certificates.

(iii) the collection of fees and the issue of the receipts for the same.

(f) An Honorary Treasurer shall be appointed by the Annual General Meeting and shall have charge of the funds of the Association, making such disbursements as the Committee may prescribe.

(g) [The content of this sub-clause, which appointed the Designer Oliver J Lee a permanent member of the Committee, has been removed following his death.]

(h) The Committee shall have authority to appoint such person or persons as they consider fit to be approved Class Measurers, and to terminate their appointment, provided however that any such person shall at all times during his or her appointment be approved by the Royal Yachting Association as an official measurer for a National class of racing glass‑fibre keelboats of comparable size and type to the Ajax 23 One Design. Reference in these Rules to the "Class Measurer" shall be to such a measurer appointed by the Committee.

(j) The Committee shall have authority to grant and withdraw licences for the construction of new plugs patterns and/or moulds for hulls and keels and for the construction of new boats from the existing or any such new plugs patterns and/or moulds on such terms as they shall consider proper. Such licensees are referred to in these Rules as "Authorised Builders".

(k) The appointment of any Class Measurer or Authorised Builder may be terminated by the Association upon a motion at a General Meeting by a majority vote of not less than two‑thirds of the votes cast.

6 Meetings

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held before 31st December each year.

(b) A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Chairman or Honorary Secretary upon receipt by the Honorary Secretary of a request in writing signed by not fewer than one‑third of the Full Members entitled to vote.

(I) Written notice shall be given by the Chairman or the Honorary Secretary to all Full Members of any General Meeting and of any motion to be put to such meeting, in the case of an Annual General Meeting not less than 21 and in the case of a Special General Meeting not less than 28 clear days before the date upon which the meeting is to be held. Such notice shall be accompanied by a proxy form stating the date of the meeting and containing provision for the giving of the information required by sub‑paragraph (e) of this Rule;

(ii) Such notice shall be given to each Full Member by handing the same to him or her or by its delivery to the address last notified by him or her to the Honorary Secretary and in the case of such delivery shall be deemed to be delivered if left at or posted by first class prepaid post to that address before the expiry of the required notice period; and

(iii) Not less than 14 days' notice to its members shall be given of any Committee Meeting.

(d) Voting at any General Meeting by a Full Member may either be in person or by proxy. A proxy, if nominated, shall be the chairman of the Meeting or another Full Member of the Association

(e) If any Full Member wishes to vote by proxy at any General Meeting there shall be lodged with the chairman before the meeting is declared open a form signed by the member and by the nominated proxy in the form or substantially in the form of the Specimen Form of Proxy incorporated in part F of these Rules and containing the following information:

(I) the name of the Full Member wishing to vote by proxy, the date of the meeting for which the proxy shall have authority and the motions to be put thereat;

(ii) in the event of a Full Member wishing to vote by proxy being a part‑owner of a boat, a certificate stating the names of the other part‑owners and that no other part‑owner will attend the meeting to vote;

(iii) the name of the proxy;

(iv) whether or not the proxy is authorised to vote at his own discretion and, if not, how the proxy should vote upon each of the motions to be placed before the meeting

(f) Upon the opening of each General Meeting the chairman shall ascertain and declare to the Meeting the number of valid proxy forms received, how many of them validly authorise the proxies to vote and, should he so wish, the names of the Full Members who have appointed proxies and of the proxies nominated by them

(g) Ten Full members present in person and eligible to vote shall form a quorum at any General Meeting.

(h) All decisions at any General Meeting shall be reached by the vote of all Full Members present in person or by proxy and eligible to vote, in the following manner:

(I) a decision shall be reached by a simple majority of votes cast on any motion except in the case of a motion under Rule 5(k) of Part A of these Rules, for the removal of a Class Measurer or Authorised Builder, where a majority of not less than two‑thirds in favour shall be required;

(ii) votes shall be counted by the chairman on a show of hands of those Full members present in person and entitled to vote followed by a count of the votes of those so present by proxy;

(iii) in the event of there being any uncertainty in the counting then either at the request of not less than one‑quarter of the Full members present in person and entitled to vote or at his own discretion the chairman may order a re‑count by way of written ballot and shall in that event appoint two members present to count the votes so cast; and

(iv) in the event of equality the chairman shall have the casting vote.

7 Authority of Members

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the above Rules, but subject only to the number of votes required to remove a Class Measurer or Authorised Builder under Rule 5(k), all actions and decisions of the Committee and of any officers of the Association shall be subject to any directive which may be given by the Members of the Association in General Meeting.

PART B

CLASS RULES ‑ ADMINISTRATION

1 DEFINITIONS

1. In these Class Rules:‑

1.1 the word "shall" is mandatory and the word "may" is permissive.

1.2 wherever the word "Rules" is used this shall be taken to be the Class Rules, including the Official Drawings, Measurement Diagrams and the measurement form and in the event of any discrepancy the Rules shall prevail.

1.3 "The Designer" shall mean the late Oliver J. Lee.

1.4 "The Class" shall mean the Ajax 23 One Design Class.

1.5 "The Official Drawings" shall mean the drawings and specifications, including those registered with the Committee on 19th November 1967, prepared by the Designer for the Ajax 23 One Design the copyright in which is now vested in the Association.

1.6 "Measurer" shall mean a Class Measurer and, in the case of the measurement of sails and spars only, a local measurer.

1.7 "Class Measurer" shall mean any person appointed by the Association to be an approved Class Measurer in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5(h) of Part A of these Rules whose appointment shall not have been terminated by the Association.

1.8 "Local measurer" shall mean either the Class Captain for the time being of the fleet in which a boat races or intends to race or, if another individual or individuals shall have been appointed as local measurer(s) by the agreement of the members of such fleet, of if appropriate by its Local Committee then such other individual(s) subject to the approval of the Committee or of the Association in General Meeting and for as long as he, she or they shall remain so appointed and approved.

1.8a “Local Committee” shall mean a committee drawn from and elected by the members of a fleet of Ajax boats racing regularly under the flag of a recognised Yacht Club or group of such Clubs and vested with authority to supervise the affairs of that fleet.

1.9 "The Association" shall mean the Ajax 23 One Design Class Association acting through its elected Committee or by the decision of a General Meeting as the case may be.

1.10 "The Measurement Diagrams" shall mean those described in Part D of these Rules.

1.11 "The measurement form" shall mean a document or documents as the case may be in the form described in Part E of these Rules.

1.12 The word "owner" shall, where a boat is owned by more than one person, include all such persons.

2 AUTHORITY

2.1 The Authority of the Class is the Association, which is the owner of the copyright in the design of the Ajax 23 One Design.

2.2 Neither the Association nor any Measurer shall be under any legal responsibility to any person in respect of these Rules, the Official Drawings, or accuracy of measurement and no claims arising therefrom can be entertained. It is an owner's responsibility to contact a Measurer and to make his own contractual agreement with that Measurer.

3 CLASS RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS

3.1 These Rules are to be read in conjunction with the Official Drawings which shall be used as guidance in interpreting these Rules.

3.2 In the event of any discrepancy between these Rules, the Official Drawings, the Measurement Diagrams and the measurement form these Rules shall prevail. If any such discrepancy cannot be resolved thereby the matter shall be referred to the Committee who may consult the Royal Yachting Association for guidance and subject thereto, shall be finally decided by the Association in General Meeting.

3.3 Subject to paragraph 7 of the Rules of the Association any interpretation of these Rules shall be made by the Committee.

4 ELIGIBILITY

4.1 Subject only to paragraph 9 of these Rules, before any Ajax is eligible to race:

4.1.1 A Class Building Fee shall have been paid to the Association and a Building Fee Receipt issued;

4.1.2 A Designer's Fee shall have been paid and a Designer's Fee Receipt produced to the Association

4.1.3 The boat, her spars, sails and equipment shall have been measured as required by Part C of these Rules by a Measurer; and

4.1.4 A measurement certificate shall have been issued to the boat by the Association.

5 CLASS BUILDING FEE

5.1 A Class Building Fee of such amount as the Association in General Meeting may from time to time prescribe shall be paid by the builder on each hull before commencement of moulding whether or not the boat is subsequently measured and certificated. The Class Building Fee shall be paid to the Association which shall issue a Building Fee Receipt, sail number and measurement form to the builder.

6 DESIGNER'S FEE

6.1 Immediately upon receipt of a Class Building Fee and before the commencement of the moulding of any hull, whether or not the boat is subsequently measured and certificated, the builder must pay to the Association who shall pay the same to the Designer’s successors, a design fee of such amount as the Association through its Committee shall agree with the Designer’s successors, who shall issue to the builder a Designer's Fee Receipt for that hull.

7 MEASUREMENT AND MEASURERS

7.1.1 A Class Measurer approved in accordance with the Rules of the Association shall have the authority to measure a boat, its spars, sails and equipment.

7.1.2 A Local Measurer shall have the authority to measure a boat’s spars, sails and equipment.

7.1.3 Two Local Measurers, acting jointly, shall have the authority to measure the hull, keel and deck of a boat.

7.1.4 Any Class or Local Measurers who shall have measured a boat or any part of it or its spars, sails and equipment in accordance with this Rule 7.1 shall sign the relevant declarations on the boat’s measurement form or otherwise certify his measurements in accordance with these Rules and if more than one such measurer shall have carried out the relevant measurements they shall each sign, having first agreed the measurements.

7.1.5 Nothing in this Rule 7.1 shall affect the authority of a Class Measurer or a Local Measurer to re-measure a boat, its spars, sails and equipment in accordance with Rule 7.6.

7.2 Measurements shall be taken in accordance with the 1986 IYRU Measurement Instructions unless otherwise specified in these Rules.

7.3 A Measurer shall not measure a boat, spars, sails or equipment owned, designed or built by himself or a company or concern of which he is an employee or in which he is an interested party or has a vested interest.

7.4 New or substantially altered sails shall be measured by a Measurer and if satisfactory the Measurer shall sign with his name and the date of measurement the endorsement section of the boat's measurement certificate and the sails near the tack or, in the case of a spinnaker, near the head.

7.5 If the Measurer considers that there has been any attempt to depart from the Rules in any way, he shall report the matter on the measurement form.

7.6 All boats, spars, sails and equipment shall be liable to re‑measurement at any time by a Class Measurer or Local Measurer, as the case may be, at his own discretion or at the discretion of the Association, the Committee, a Local Committee or a race committee.

8 CERTIFICATION

8.1 A measurement certificate shall only be issued by the Association.

8.2 To obtain a measurement certificate the owner shall;

8.2.1 Receive from the builder the Class Building Fee Receipt, the Designer's Fee Receipt and a measurement form with appropriate sections completed and signed by the builder.

8.2.2 Arrange for a Measurer to measure the boat, its spars, sails and equipment and to complete the appropriate section on the measurement form.

8.2.3 Complete and sign the measurement form in respect of owner's details and then submit it to the Association together with a Certification Fee of £5.00. Upon receipt the Association may issue a measurement certificate.

8.3 The measurement certificate is only valid if the owner is a current Full Member of the Association.

8.4 Change of ownership invalidates the measurement certificate. The new owner shall return the original certificate to the Association together with;

8.4.1 A statement in writing signed by the previous owner confirming whether or not and if so what material alterations to the boat, its spars and equipment, were carried out during his ownership, and

8.4.2 A written application containing his name, address and club and re‑registration fee of £5.00.

Upon receipt the Association may if it considers fit re‑issue the measurement certificate or issue a new certificate.

8.5 Upon any material alteration or replacement, or any substantial repair, being made to the hull, keel, skeg, rudder, or spars the measurement certificate shall immediately become invalidated. That portion of the boat or its spars affected shall be re‑measured by a local measurer or Class Measurer as appropriate and the owner shall apply for a new measurement certificate in accordance with Rule 8.2.

8.6 In the event of a measurement certificate being lost, stolen or otherwise misplaced an owner may apply to the Association for the issue to him of a duplicate, which the Association shall issue to him subject to the fulfilment by the owner of such conditions as it may deem proper and after such inspection or re‑measurement of the owner's boat, its spars sails and equipment has been carried out by a Measurer as the Association may consider proper in the circumstances.

9 MEASUREMENT OF EXISTING BOATS

9.1 For boats for which the sail number was issued prior to the 31st December 1988 the hull, keel, skeg and rudder, spars, sails and equipment shall comply with the Rules in force at the date of their original certification or, in the case of any part of the boat, its spars, sails or equipment subsequently (but prior to the 31st December 1988) replaced or materially altered or repaired, the date of such replacement, alteration or repair.

9.2 For all other boats the hull, fin and keel, skeg, rudder, spars, sails and equipment shall comply with the current Rules. Any alterations, replacements or repairs to any boats their spars, sails or equipment (whether their sail numbers were issued before or after the 31st December 1988) carried out and measured subsequently to the 31st December 1988 shall comply with the current Rules.

9.3 Any boats constructed and completed prior to the 31st December 1988 and which shall have;

(a) raced with one of the fleets within the Class during at least three of the six years ending on 31st December 1988 and

(b) shall have had no material replacement, alteration or repair carried out to them, their spars and equipment since they were last raced

shall be deemed to comply with the measurement Rules in accordance with Rule 9.1 and shall (subject to the provisions of Rule 7.6) be eligible for the issue by the Association to their owners as at the 31st December 1988 of a measurement certificate.

9.4 Any boat constructed and completed and whose sail number was issued before 31st December 1988 which is not deemed to comply with the measurement Rules in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing clause 9.3 may nevertheless be eligible for the issue by the Association to its owner as at the 31st December 1988 of a measurement certificate at the discretion of the Association after such inspection or measurement of the boat, its spars, sails and equipment has been carried out by a local or Class Measurer as the Association may deem necessary and subject to such conditions as the Association may deem appropriate in order to ensure that the boat complies so far as practicable with the measurement Rules in accordance with Rule 9.1.

10 OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY

10.1 It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure;

10.1.1 That his boat, spars, sails and equipment comply with the Rules at all times and that any replacements, alterations or repairs to the boat, spars, sails or equipment do not invalidate the measurement certificate

10.1.2 That any corrector weights which shall have been installed are not moved, removed or changed without the boat being officially re‑weighed and the measurement certificate re‑validated. (Note: removal of corrector weights invalidates the measurement certificate).

PART C

CLASS RULES ‑ MEASUREMENT

1 GENERAL

1.1 The Ajax 23 One Design Class is a One Design glass fibre keelboat. These Rules and the Official Drawings are intended to ensure that the boats of the Class are as nearly as possible the same in all respects affecting their performance.

1.2 Anything not specifically permitted by these Rules is prohibited.

2 MEASUREMENT

2.1 Axes of Measurement

2.1.1 A number of words such as fore, aft, above, below, height, depth, length, beam and freeboard acquire a precise meaning in these rules as they are taken to refer to the hull in normal trim. Unless specifically required by the Rules to be taken another way, all measurements denoted by these or similar words shall be taken parallel to one of three major axes of the hull ‑ vertical, horizontal or transverse ‑ related to the defined waterline and the fore and after centreline of the hull as shown on the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams.

2.1.2 Where a Rule requires a measurement to be taken from A to B the straight line distance joining A to B shall be measured whether or not the line is parallel to an axis.

2.1.3 Width, thickness, length, etc. of a component shall be measured as appropriate for that component without reference to the hull axes.

2.1.4 Where a measurement is permitted to have a dimension within a range, the dimension shall be uniform within the range and shall not exploit the range as a tolerance.

3 DEFINITIONS

3.1 Hull: save when the contrary is indicated the word "hull" shall include the hull shell, decks, floors and soles, bulkheads and all other permanent structures within the bounds of the hull shell and deck.

3.2 Level of cockpit sole: the level of the upper surface of the cockpit sole constructed in accordance with the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams.

3.3 "Aft Perpendicular" shall mean a vertical line drawn at the aftermost part of the hull (including the gunwale rubbing bead) at deck level.

4 BUILDERS

4.1 The Association is the owner of the original hull and deck moulds manufactured by the Designer in or about 1967 ("the Original Hull and Deck Moulds")

4.2 Plugs, patterns and/or moulds for the hull, deck or keel shall be constructed only by manufacturers licenced to do so by the Association.

4.3 Boats shall be built and completed only by builders licenced to do so by the Association. Their hulls and decks shall be moulded only from moulds which shall either be the Original Hull and Deck Moulds or other moulds approved by the Association. Their keels shall be cast using only keel patterns approved by the Association.

4.4 Builders shall be responsible for supplying boats which comply with these Rules.

4.5 Builders shall offer the undecked hull shell, the deck and the keel for each boat to a Class Measurer for measurement prior to their assembly together.

5 HULL AND DECK

5.1 Materials

5.1.1 The hull and deck shall be of glass reinforced fibre constructed in accordance with the Official Drawings including for the avoidance of doubt the Designer's Specifications registered with the Committee on the 19th November 1967.

5.1.2 Save for the reinforcement structure shown in the Official Drawings and Specifications the weight per unit area of the hull shell and deck shall be uniform throughout and there shall be no concentration of weight in any area of the hull shell and/or deck.

5.2 Dimensions

5.2.1 The hull and deck shall be measured in accordance with the Measurement Diagrams and all dimensions are to be taken with the defined waterline, as shown in the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams, horizontal.

5. 2.2 The skeg and keel shall not be fitted during initial hull measurement.

5.2.3 The overall length, mast position, and keel position shall be measured from the aft perpendicular as shown on the Measurement Diagrams.

5.2.4 The hull shape shall be measured in accordance with Measurement Diagrams and the requirements of Part E of these Rules.

5.2.5 The arrangement and position of the built-in buoyancy tanks shall be controlled and measured in accordance with the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams, except that additional built-in buoyancy tanks may be fitted forward of the mast to comply with Rule 5.2.6a.

5.2.6 Each buoyancy tank may be fitted with one inspection hole of maximum diameter 400 mm. Each hole shall be closed in a watertight manner with a detachable cover capable of resisting accidental dislodgement and such cover shall be kept in place at all times when racing.

5.2.6a Additional buoyancy below deck forward of the mast shall be fitted to provide positive buoyancy totalling or equivalent to at least 75 litres of air.

5.2.7 A gunwale rubbing bead of timber or plastic, not less than 24mm nor more than 32 mm in height and not less than 6 mm nor more than 16 mm in width, shall extend, unbroken, from a point not more than 50 mm from the bow (excluding the stemhead fitting) to a point not more than 50 mm from the transom

5.3 Modification

5.3.1 The hull and deck mouldings shall not be modified, except that:-

5.3.2 Holes in the deck, not exceeding 50 mm in any direction and no more than 300 mm forward of the mast, are permitted for the attachment or installation of equipment.

5.3.3 A suction well not more than 25mm deep may be formed at the lowest point of the centre line to enable the bilge pump to empty the bilges.

5.3.4 The outer support for the cockpit sole, shown on some of the Official Drawings as bonded to the hull, may be removed.

5.4 Cockpit Layout

5.4.1 The arrangement of the cockpit, including seats and cockpit floor shall be

5.4.2 in accordance with the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams.

5.4.2 The seats forward of the position of the mainsheet horse and the cockpit floor shall be of solid wooden or marine ply construction and of the same dimensions as are shown on the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams.

5.4.3 Additional lockers and/or shelves may be fitted.

5.5 Weight

5.5.1 The hull and deck shall be weighed with all surfaces dry to the satisfaction of the Measurer.

5.5.2 The weight of the hull and deck in a dry condition, including corrector weights if fitted, all fixed fittings and fixtures (except as specifically excluded by this clause), pumps and piping, the skeg, rudder and tiller, but excluding mast, rigging, sails and loose equipment and the keel and keel bolts, shall not exceed 526 kg. nor be less than 437.5 kg.

5.5.3 Corrector weights may be fitted but if fitted shall be four in number, shall each be of the same weight and shall not exceed 50 kg in aggregate weight, shall be of lead, shall be marked with their weight and shall be fixed to the underside of the deck in the positions shown on the Measurement Diagrams.

The weight of correctors if fitted shall be recorded on the measurement certificate.

5.5.4 Corrector weights, if fitted, shall not be moved, removed or altered unless the hull and deck are re‑measured and the boat re‑certificated in accordance with paragraph 7 and 8 of part B of these Rules.

6 KEEL

6.1 Manufacturers and Materials

6.1.1 The keel shall be of fine grain cast iron cast by manufacturers licensed by the Association using patterns approved by the Association.

6.1.2 The keel may be treated but only with non‑reinforced paint or resin compounds. Uneven surfaces or blowholes shall not be filled with lead or any material with a specific gravity greater than cast iron.

6.2 Shape and measurement

6.2.1 The shape of the keel shall be controlled by transverse thickness

6.2.2 dimensions measured forward of the keel after measurement point (KAMP) and above the underside of the keel. KAMP shall be the point at which the extension of the aft edge of the keel intersects the extension of the line of the underside of the keel. The shape of the keel shall also conform to the dimensions as detailed in the Official Drawings, tolerances of transverse dimensions of plus or minus 8 mm being permitted.

6.2.2 Without prejudice to the generality of Rule 6.2.1, any filler used to fair the keel after casting shall not be used to alter the thickness or shape of the keel, notwithstanding the tolerances permitted under Rule 6.2.1, which are intended to allow for variations in the castings only. The joint between the keel and the hull shall not be faired in except that a fillet of 8 mm radius may be allowed under this rule. The profiles of the leading and trailing edges shall be within the tolerances permitted between the maximum and minimum templates approved and held by each of the fleets.

6.3 Fixture to Hull

6.3.1 The keel shall be fitted to the hull by not less than four bolts of not less than l9mm diameter in the positions shown in the Official Drawings.

6.4 Weight

6.4.1 The keel shall be measured with all surfaces dry to the satisfaction of the Measurer.

6.4.2 The keel in a dry condition, including all keel bolts, shall be not less than 435.5 kg and not more than 449 kg.

7 RUDDER, SKEG AND TILLER

7.1 Materials

7.1.1 From 23/06/2007, the rudder and skeg shall be made of wood no less dense than the original wood. The rudder and skeg may be sheathed with epoxy resin or GRP.

7.1.2 Rudder fittings and stock shall be made from stainless steel and/or bronze.

7.1.3 The materials of the tiller and tiller extension are optional.

7.2 Design and measurement

7.2.1 The profile of the rudder and skeg below the waterline shall conform with the Official Drawings and Specifications and with the Measurement Diagrams to a tolerance of plus or minus 5 mm.

7.2.2 A lifting rudder and skeg in a trunk is permitted.

7.2.3 The design of the tiller and any tiller extension is optional and a lifting tiller may be fitted.

8 MAINSHEET HORSE

8.1 The mainsheet may be fitted to a transverse horse which shall not be higher than the level of the helmsman's cockpit seat. If fitted the horse must not be wider than 1016mm. This rule does not exclude the Samson post as shown on the original Designer's Drawings.

9 MAST POSITION

9.1 The fore and aft position of the mast hole through the deck shall be measured at deck level from the aft perpendicular in accordance with the Official Drawings and Measurement Diagrams

9.2 The mast at deck level may be surrounded by a protective collar or pads of rubber or plastic. If fitted, such a collar or pads must not be capable of adjustment while racing, and must comply with Rule 17.1.9.

9.3 The vertical distance between the level of the cockpit sole and the after end of the mast hole through the deck shall be measured in accordance with the Measurement Diagrams and shall not exceed the distance there shown.

9.4 The mast shall be stepped at the level of the cockpit sole in the position shown on the Measurement Diagrams, or on a plinth not more than 35 mm above the level of the cockpit sole, provided in either case that the top of the mast shall not be higher than the height above the level of the cockpit sole shown on the Official Drawings or the Measurement Diagrams and the positions of the coloured bands shall comply with Rule 10.1.2. The positions of the mast and plinth shall be fixed and not capable of being moved while racing. The design and materials of the fitting at the foot of the mast shall be optional. A vertical timber may be inserted between the hull and the underside of the mast step.

10. RIG AND SPARS

10.1 Mast

10.1.1 The mast shall be manufactured of aluminium alloy extrusion, which may be anodized, with a continuous fixed groove which may or may not be integral with the spar section but shall be of the same material. Its length and the position of its fittings shall be as shown on the Measurement Diagrams.

10.1.2 Distinctively coloured bands not less than 10mm wide shall be marked indelibly on the mast as follows:‑

No. 1: The upper edge of which shall not be less than 1555 mm above the level of the cockpit sole.

No. 2: The lower edge of which shall not be more than 8260 mm above the level of the cockpit sole.

The distance between the inner edges of band No.1 and band No.2 shall not exceed 6705mm

10.1.3 Below band No. 2 the minimum sectional dimensions of the mast shall be 67 mm athwartships, and 84mm minimum and 109mm maximum fore and aft including the groove. Its sectional weight shall not be less than 1.65 kg/m.

10.1.4 Tapered, rotating and permanently bent masts are prohibited, but a set due to distortion of up to 50 mm between band No.1 and band No.2 is permitted.

10. 1.5 The mast shall have one set of spreaders for the upper shrouds which may be fixed, swinging or partly swinging. The spreaders, if fixed, shall be fixed at 90 degrees to the fore and aft centre of the mast. The spreaders, if partly swinging, shall be able to swing forwards to at least 90 degrees to the fore and aft centre line of the mast. The upper shrouds shall not be attached to the mast more than 200 mm above the forestay attachment point, and not below the forestay attachment point.

10.1.6 The weight of the mast including gooseneck, spinnaker pole fittings, spreaders, mast head crane, any fittings at its foot and all other normal fixed fittings and standing and running rigging shall be not less than 22 kg.

10.1.7 The centre of gravity of the mast including the fittings described in Rule 10.1.6, with the rigging secured along the mast and the tails led back if necessary, shall be at a point on the mast which is not less than 4000mm above the level of the cockpit sole when the mast is stepped.

10.1.8 The deflection fore and aft caused by a weight placed at the mast's centre of gravity when the mast is laid horizontal and supported within 200mm of each end with the mainsail groove uppermost shall not be more than 45mm; the weight to be 13.4kg.

10.2 Boom

10.2.1 The boom shall be of aluminium alloy extrusion with a fixed groove or track which may or may not be integral with the spar section but shall be of the same material. It may be anodized.

10.2.2 A distinctively coloured band, not less than 10 mm wide, shall be marked indelibly on the boom with the inner edge not more than 3125 mm from the aft side of the mast, but excluding any local curvature, when the boom is fitted and horizontal.

10.2.3 The sectional dimensions of the boom shall 65mm plus or minus 10mm wide and 85mm plus or minus 10mm deep including groove.

10.2.4 Tapered or permanently bent booms are prohibited but a set due to distortion of up to 25mm between the measurement band and the fore end of the boom is permitted.

10.3 Spinnaker boom and fittings

10.3.1 The spinnaker boom may be of any material.

10.3.2 The overall length, including end fittings, shall not be less than 2362mm nor more than 2388mm.

10.3.3 The spinnaker boom, including end fittings, shall be able to pass through a 76mm diameter circle.

10.3.4 The method of attachment of the spinnaker boom to the mast and guy is optional.

10.3.5 A twin pole system may be used, each pole complying with the rules and at any time only one being used for flying the spinnaker

10.4 Rigging

10.4.1 The standing rigging shall be of stainless steel or galvanized wire the diameter of which shall be not less than 2.5mm and shall consist of a Forestay, Backstay, two main and two lower shrouds. Solid bar or rod rigging shall not be permitted.

10.4.2 The shrouds may be fitted with rollers or plastic tubes.

10.4.3 The standing rigging shall be fastened to attachments on the deck and mast positioned as shown on the Official Drawings and the Measurement Diagrams.

10.4.4 All attachments and rigging screws shall be of sizes and lengths no less than those shown in the Designer's rigging schedule forming part of the Specifications.

10.4.5 No standing rigging shall be adjusted while racing except in the case of emergency.

10.4.6 Running rigging may be of any material or type.

11 FITTINGS

11.1 The following basic fittings must be fitted and positioned in accordance with the Designer's Drawings and Specifications and the Measurement Diagrams (where shown), but may be of alternative manufacture:‑

A. Rudder fittings, s/s or bronze (lifting tiller optional).

B. Chainplates, 2 per side, s/s or galv.

C. Backstay plate s/s or galv.

D. Stemhead fairlead s/s or galv.

E. Mainsheet fitting (Type and material optional).

F. Gooseneck fitting (may be fixed or sliding).

G. Sheet Tracks and Sliders. (The forward end of the Jib sheet track shall be no closer than 14.5 inches to the aft chainplate)

H. Jib sheet cam jambers.

I. Spinnaker sheet cam jambers.

J. Spinnaker sheet and guy leads. Sheet and guy blocks, leads and jambers shall all be above the deck, except that spinnaker barber haulers may be led below the deck as permitted by Rule 11.2.9.

K. (Deleted).

L. Foresheets shall be single part or 2:1 only. No other purchases are permitted.

M. Bow and Stern Mooring cleats.

N. Spinnaker eye plates.

11.2 The following fittings and equipment are optional. Their design, position and manufacture are also optional but these items shall otherwise comply in all respects with these Rules:‑

A. Jib sheet winches.

B. Mainsail and/or jib cunningham equipment.

C. Main Halyard winch, jamber or cleat.

D. Fore halyard winch or lever.

E. Mainsail foot outhaul.

F. Mainsail roller reefing gear, reef points, or slab reefing gear.

G. Spinnaker running gear, i.e. sheets, guys, uphauls, downhauls, slides and Barber haulers. If fitted, Barber haulers may be situated above or below the side decks (which may be pierced only in accordance with Rule 5.3.2). They must be situated aft of the aftermost shroud but not more than 250 mm aft thereof.

H. Anchor stowage.

I. Toe straps or bars.

J. Tiller Extension.

K. Foam buoyancy.

L. Echo Sounder.

M. Ensign Staff socket.

N. Extra cleats and jambers.

O. Ratchet blocks.

P. Forestay plate s/s or galv. (not required with furling gear).

Q. Kicking strap tackle.

R. Main boom downhaul.

S. Cockpit lockers and shelves.

T. Lifting plates.

U. Block and tackle or cascade systems for main and fore halyards and for items B, E, Q and R.

V. Inflatable or rigid buoyancy fittings below deck level.

W. Outboard brackets or pads on transom or gunwale. Storage chocks and/or brackets for outboard motor and bracket.

X. Deck clips for cockpit cover and/or tent. Stowage clips for paddles spinnaker boom, sail bags and other equipment.

Y. Mainsheet blocks and jambers.

11.3 Before a yacht uses a new fitting the owner must advise the local fleet committee or Class Captain, which (or who) if it (or he) approves must propose its adoption to the Committee. This rule shall apply to all equipment not specifically mentioned under Rule 11.2.

12 SAILING WEIGHT

12.1 The sailing weight, with all surfaces dry to the satisfaction of the Measurer, including mast, boom, spinnaker boom, standing and running rigging, loose sheets, blocks and shackles, but excluding sails and other loose equipment, shall not be less than 917kg.

(Note for information: The minimum sailing weight of 917 Kg is the sum of the minimum weights for the hull (defined in Rule 3.1) and deck - 437.5 Kg (Rule 5.5.2); Keel - 435.5 Kg (Rule 6.4.2); Mast - 22 Kg (Rule 10.1.6); and the remaining items listed in Rule 12.1 - 22 Kg.)

13 SAILS

13.1 Manufacturers

13.1.1 Deleted

13.1.2 Sailmakers shall complete a declaration in the following terms which they shall send to the owner who shall be responsible for showing it to the Measurer prior to measurement:‑

"We certify that to the best of our ability we have checked the weight of the sail and built the sail to conform with the requirements given in the Class Rules"

13.2 Materials

13.2.1 The mainsail and foresail shall be exclusively of a woven material, save that if required the staysail and mainsail may be fitted with a transparent window not greater than 0.3716 sq.m and not closer to the edges of the sail than 152mm.

13.2.2 The weight of the sail material shall be not less than 180 gm/sq.m in the case of mainsail and foresail and 45 gm/sq.m in the case of the spinnaker.

13.3 Sail Numbers and Class Insignia

13.3.1 The Class Insignia for use on sails shall be the number 23 over a horizontal line, as follows:‑

13.3.2 The sail number and Class Insignia shall be of such size and so placed as laid down in the current ISAF Racing Rules of sailing Appendix G2.

13.3.3 Numbers shall be of the following minimum dimensions:‑

Height : 300mm

Width : 200mm (except No. 1)

Thickness: 45mm

and the spacing between adjoining numbers 60mm. The line under the number 23 which forms the Class Insignia shall be equal in length to the total width of the number, its thickness shall be equal to the thickness of the lines forming the number, and it shall be positioned so that its upper edge shall be 100mm below the lowest part of the number.

13.3.4 No sail shall be used for racing until such time as it has been satisfactorily measured by a Measurer and the sail and the boat's Measurement Certificate have been signed and dated by him. The Measurer's signature and date of measurement shall be placed on the sail in indelible ink near the tack or, in the case of spinnakers, near the head.

13.4 Measurement

13.4.1 All sails shall be measured in accordance with the current ISAF guide to sail measurement.

13.5 Mainsail

13.5.1 Limitations

The mainsail shall be set within the inner edges of band No. 1 and band No. 2 on the mast and the inner edge of the band on the boom described respectively in Rules 10.1.2. and 10.2.2.

13.5.2 Dimensions

13.5.2.1 Maximum permitted dimensions:‑

Leech 7315 mm

Width at three quarter height 1067 mm

Width at half height 1930 mm

Width at quarter height 2693 mm

13.5.2.2 No part of the headboard or the sail at the top edge of the headboard (including roping) shall extend more than 142 mm from the forward side of the rope.

13.5.2.3 Battens shall be four in number. The batten pockets, where they intersect the leech, shall be equally spaced. The measurement tolerance for any batten pocket shall be plus or minus 76 mm. Their maximum length shall be 914 mm and their maximum width 51 mm.

13.5.2.4 The luff and foot shall run in grooves in the mast and boom.

13.6 Foresails

13.6.1 No.1 Foresail

13.6.1.1 Permitted dimensions:‑

Maximum Minimum

Luff 6401 mm 6325 mm

Leech 5715mm 5639 mm

Foot 2896mm 2820 mm

13.6.1.2 The length of the foot shall be measured along the lower edge of the sail whether curved or straight.

13.6.1.3 The width of the sail at its highest point on the luff rope at the head, measured at right angles from the edge of the cloth on the luff, shall not exceed 50 mm.

13.6.1.4 No headboard, battens or double ‑ luffed sails shall be allowed.

13.6.1.5 The luff of the sail when set shall be connected to the forestay either by hanks, tapes or single press studs attached to the luff which shall be not more than 13 in number and fixed not less than 406 mm apart, measured from their centres; if tapes or press studs are used they shall not exceed 25 mm in width.

13.6.2 No. 2 Foresail

13.6.2.1 Permitted dimensions:‑

Maximum Minimum

Luff 5410 mm 5334 mm

Leech 4724 mm 4648 mm

Foot 2515 mm 2438mm

13.6.2.2 The length of the foot shall be measured along the lower edge of the sail whether curved or straight.

13.6.2.3 The width of the sail at its highest point on the luff rope at the head, measured at right angles from the edge of the cloth on the luff, shall not exceed 50mm.

13.6.2.4 No headboard, battens or double ‑ luffed sails shall be allowed.

13.6.2.5 The luff of the sail when set shall be connected to the forestay either by hanks, tapes or single press studs attached to the luff which shall be not more than 11 in number and fixed not less than 406 mm apart, measured from their centres; if tapes or press studs are used they shall not exceed 25 mm in width.

13.7 Spinnaker

13.7.1 Head and/or clew boards, battens and batten pockets are not permitted.

13.7.2 The spinnaker shall be a symmetrical three‑cornered sail.

13.7.3 The fitting of leech wires or other means of adjusting leech tension is not permitted.

13.7.4 The length of each leech shall not be more than 6000mm nor less than 5900mm

13.7.5 The length of the centre fold shall not be more than 6500mm.

13.7.6 The half‑height half‑width, taken as the distance between points on the leech and the centre fold which are, measured in a straight line, 3250mm from the head, shall be not more than 2100mm nor less than 2000mm.

13.7.7 The three‑quarter‑height half‑width, taken as the distance between points on the leech and the centre fold which are, measured in a straight line, 1500mm from the head, shall be not more than 1300mm nor less than 1200mm.

13.7.8 The foot half‑width, taken as the distance between the lowest points on the leech and the centre fold, measured round the foot, shall be not more than 1980mm nor less than 1830mm.

13.8 Acquisition and Use of Sails

13.8.1 Subject to Rule 13.8.4 and 13.8.4a not more than three suits (as hereinafter defined) of sails nor more than three of any part of a suit of sails shall be acquired for any one boat in any period of five years

13.8.2 Only one suit of sails shall be used, and only one foresail shall be bent on at any one time, during any one race.

13.8.3 For the purposes of this Rule a suit of sails shall comprise the following:

1 mainsail

1 No. 1 foresail (described in the previous

1 No.2 foresail rules as a staysail)

1 Spinnaker

13.8.4 The officers for the time being of a local fleet of Ajaxes may in exceptional circumstances (which for the avoidance of doubt shall not include exceptionally heavy or excessive use of a sail) upon the application of an owner waive the provisions of the preceding Rules 13.8.1 and 13.8.2 so as to permit the acquisition of such additional sails for use on a particular boat or, retrospectively, to allow the use of more than one mainsail, no. 1 foresail, no. 2 foresail or spinnaker, during a local race, as they may in their absolute discretion determine.

13.8.4a If an owner on applying between 15th October and 31st December in any year to the Local Committee or, as the case may be, the officers for the time being, of the fleet of Ajaxes with which he habitually sails is able to show to their satisfaction that he has taken part in at least 50 recognised races during that year, then such Local Committee or officers may in their absolute discretion and subject to such conditions as they consider appropriate, permit the acquisition of a new no. 1 foresail for that boat for use in the next following year, notwithstanding that its acquisition would otherwise contravene the provisions of the preceding Rule 13.8.1.

14. UNDERWATER SURFACE Rules in RED below have been changed to Rule 14 in Italics below.

14.1 The underwater surface of all boats including the rudder and skeg shall be painted with a commercially obtainable anti‑fouling compound or anti‑fouling paint and no wax or other friction‑reducing compound shall be added to this surface thereafter.

14.2 Rules may be made by local fleets and contained in any Regatta Rules as to the frequency of hauling out and for scrubbing or laying ashore.

NEW RULES voted in December 2022

14 Underwater Surface

14.1 It shall be at the discretion of the Owner whether the underwater surface of their boat (including the rudder and skeg) be painted with a commercially obtainable anti-fouling compound or anti-fouling paint. No wax or other friction-reducing compound shall be added to the Anti-fouled or painted underwater surface thereafter.

14.2 Rules may be made by local fleets and contained in any Regatta Rules on the frequency of hauling out and for scrubbing or laying ashore.

14.3 Local fleet rules and Regatta Rules should be made at all times with reference to the host Club’s current environmental policies and procedures and any existing environmental protection legislation.

15. EQUIPMENT

15.1 The following equipment shall be carried on board while racing:

15.1.1 One anchor weighing not less than 4.5 kg and in addition a kedge may be carried. Attached to the anchor shall be 2 metres of chain which shall be 6mm galvanised, calibrated chain

15.1.2 Not less than 36m of anchor or kedge rope of not less than 8mm diameter and a spare warp;

15.1.3 Two paddles or one oar;

15. 1.4 A bilge pump;

15.1.5 Two substantial buckets, each with a minimum capacity of 5 litres.

15.1.6 A compass;

15.1.7 Adequate life‑saving gear including life‑jackets or buoyancy aids for all persons on board.

15.1.8 A sharp knife.

15.1.9 Deleted

16 CREW AND RACING RULES

16.1 Only bona fide amateurs shall helm or form part of the crew while racing.

16.2 In regatta and local races the number of crew allowed shall be determined by the Rules applying thereto.

16.3 In National Class Championships and Team events the number of crew shall be three including the helmsman.

16.4 A boat may take a Two turns Penalty when she may have broken a rule of part 2 while racing or a one turn penalty when she may have broken rule 31. Sailing instructions may specify the use of the scoring penalty or some other penalty.

17 PROHIBITIONS

17.1 The use of the following is prohibited:

17.1.1 Self‑draining cockpit;

17.1.2 Self bailers;

17.1.3 Any trapeze or any attachment of static harness or any toe‑straps extending above deck level;

17.1.4 Any bars or safety handholds extending beyond the gunwale;

17.1.5 Any apparatus or contrivance outboard or extending outboard and attached to the hull, spars, rigging or crew the purpose or effect of which is or may be to support or assist in supporting a member of the crew or the helmsman outboard or partially outboard

17.1.6 Any internal ballast or ballast carried by the crew or any contrivance or apparatus which has the effect of retaining or transferring water on or to the windward side of the boat;

17.1.7 Any adjustable shroud, forestay or backstay tensioners other than rigging screws;

17.1.8 Any devices which permit the movement of the mast heel while the boat is underway;

17.1.9 Any mast wedges at deck level;

17.1.10 Any spinnaker chutes cut through the deck.

17.1.11 Any device measuring boat speed or transmitting or calculating data relative to wind direction or speed, or boat speed and location by means such as, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic.

17.1.12: The display on the boat of advertising chosen by the owner or person in charge is prohibited.

PART D

AJAX 23 ONE DESIGN CLASS MEASUREMENT DIAGRAMS

A Drawing produced at and approved by the Association in General Meeting at the time of the adoption of these Rules on 17th December 1988 which was signed by the Chairman and Secretary at that meeting, copies of which shall be held by the Chairman and Secretary of the Association from time to time and/or such other drawings including the original Designer’s Drawings held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club as may be approved from time to time by the Association in General Meeting.

Note: A copy of this drawing is included in the Class Handbook on its final page.

PART E

MEASUREMENT FORM

A form or forms which shall be issued from time to time by the Committee containing those dimensions of a boat, its spars, sails or equipment which are required to be measured by a Class or local Measurer as the case may be and which shall be required to be completed by him to enable certification or approval of the boat, its spars, sails or equipment or any replacements of any part of them as the case may be.

On completion of measurement the Measurer will supply the owner with the completed measurement form and if the owner shall desire the issue or re‑issue to him by the Association of a measurement certificate then the Measurer shall also send a duplicate copy to the Secretary of the Association.

PART F

AJAX 23 ONE DESIGN CLASS ASSOCIATION

FORM OF PROXY

For Annual/Special General Meeting of the Association to be held at (address] on [date].

1 Details of member appointing proxy

Full name(s):................................................................................

Address:.......................................................................................

.....................................................................................................

Name of Boat: .................................. Number:..........................

2 Part Owners

I am authorised by the other part‑owner(s) to vote at this meeting.

3 Name of Proxy: (Insert "Chairman" or the name of another Full member who will be attending in person):

Name:.................................................. .....................................

Name and Number of Ajax owned by Proxy:.............................

4. Authority

I authorise the proxy named in paragraph 3 above to vote on my behalf on each of the motions to be put before the above meeting as follows and to vote at his discretion upon any other matter arising at the meeting (please place a tick in one of the columns against each motion listed):‑

For Against Discretion

(1) [List each motion with

a brief description]

(2)

(etc)

Signed: ...................................................... Date...............................

Full member appointing proxy

Signature of Proxy Date...................

Note: Only one proxy form may be completed for each boat.

CLASS TROPHIES

AJAX 23 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS . . . . . . . . GIMPEL TROPHY

(Presented by P. Gimpel, Esq., Vice Commodore

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham‑on‑Crouch)

WINNERS

Held at

Burnham 1968 POLLY OLIVER D. Baldwin R.C.Y.C.

Harwich 1969 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Lowestoft 1970 POLLY OLIVER D. Baldwin R.C.Y.C.

Aldeburgh 1971 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Harwich 1972 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Lowestoft 1973 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Aldeburgh 1974 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Harwich 1975 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Lowestoft 1976 THUNDERER J.N. Prosser R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1977 SNOWGOOSE R. Bown St Mawes SC

Harwich 1978 CAPRICE A.J.G. Howse R.H.Y.C.

Lowestoft 1979 SIRIUS A. James & W. Davey R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1980 CAPRICE A.J.G. Howse R.H.Y.C.

Harwich 1981 SIRIUS A James &W. Davey R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1982 SAMAKI D.R. & J.R. Scrace RC Y.C.

Lowestoft 1983 CAPRICE A.J.G. Howse R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1984 MERGANSER K. Keith St. Mawes SC

Falmouth 1985 FRIDAY C.W. Wilson Percuil SC

Falmouth 1986 FRIDAY C.W. Wilson Percuil SC

Harwich 1987 NARCISSUS G. Wallhead R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1988 SANDPIPER A. Smith St. Mawes SC

Harwich 1989 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1990 ORION J.R. Keith St. Mawes SC

Harwich 1991 STORM PETREL H. Baker &.J.Selby RHYC

Falmouth 1992 SAMAKI G.K. Litherland St. Mawes SC

Harwich 1993 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 1994 NIMROD R.D.G. Beaman St. Mawes SC

Harwich 1995 AJAX D.E.M. Mathewson St. Mawes SC

Falmouth 1996 AJAX D.E.M. Mathewson St. Mawes SC

Harwich 1997 ATHENA D.H. Liddington St. Mawes SC

Falmouth 1998 PEGASUS D. Kerridge R.H.Y.C.

Harwich 1999 MARS C.M.D. Brown R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 2000 ARTEMIS T Hill R.H.Y.C.

Harwich 2001 MANDALAY G Wallhead R.H.Y.C.

Falmouth 2002 AVOCET R Chenery & D Sharps R.H.Y.C.

Harwich 2003 THUNDERER J Williams R.H.Y.C.