Catalina 400 One Design Racing Rules

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Eligible Sloops
  • A Catalina 400 is eligible and considered in the Catalina 400 class only if it:
    • Conforms to measurement rules as certified by the class measurement and registration certificate
    • Has been properly registered or documented
    • Is owned by a qualified member recorded at the time in good standing with the Association

Measurement And Registration Certificates
  • The Association’s Official Certificate of Measurement and Registration, as issued by the Chief Measurer or his delegate, shall be binding upon all organizations conducting races for the Catalina 400 class. To be eligible to participate in the International Championship Regatta, a Catalina 400 must have a valid Official Certificate of Measurement and Registration. A Catalina 400 is always subject to re-measurement by order of Fleet Officers, Board of Directors, International Race Committee, and/or the Measurement Committee at the International Championship Regatta.
  • Fleet Measurers shall have the responsibility of measuring Catalina 400’s within their Fleets. Appeals from a ruling by a Fleet Measurer may be made to the Chief Measurer whose decision may only be overruled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Rulings on controversial changes or changes that affect sailing characteristics must be referred to the Chief Measurer for evaluation and presentation to the Board of Directors, if required. Fleet Measurers shall not measure their own boats, except under the supervision of a disinterested Fleet or Association Officer. Fleet Measurers do not need to be owners of a Catalina 400.
  • No sloop shall be eligible to enter any race for the Catalina 400 class unless a Certificate of Measurement and Registration has been granted to said sloop.
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Specifications And Regulations
  • General
    • The Catalina 400 shall be kept basically as designed by Frank Butler and Gerald Douglas and built by Catalina Yachts, Inc. Any changes made by the manufacturer or owner of the Catalina 400 in the hull configuration, sail plan, ballast (as for amount or location), and rigging, without prior approval of the Association, would render that boat ineligible to compete as a Catalina 400 in a Catalina 400 class regatta. Proposed changes by the builder in the hull configuration, sail plan, ballast or rigging shall be referred to the Board of Directors, who shall prepare a recommendation as to whether the change conforms to the existing class rules. This recommendation shall be submitted to the general membership for a vote within sixty (60) days from the date of receipt of such recommendation.
    • All measurements, equipment, and characteristics of the Catalina 400 shall comply with the details listed and described herein.
    • The Catalina 400, when racing in class shall be raced in cruising trim and the owners should recognize the spirit of this requirement. Cruising trim shall mean that the boat is equipped with a galley, dinette, water and holding tanks, head, lifelines, running lights in working order, two 12-volt rechargeable marine batteries, inboard engine, fuel tank, regular bunk pads, and all equipment normally furnished with the boat such as drawers, covers, and hatches.
    • All removable parts of hull, cabin, or deck, shall be on board during a race.
    • A Catalina 400 shall carry ground tackle and lifesaving equipment conforming to USSA (USYRU) Rules #23 and #24 and U. S. Coast Guard requirements. Each yacht shall carry ground tackle and anchor sufficient to hold the yacht in a 30-knot breeze. The yacht shall begin the race series with at least 20 gallons of fuel (50% of capacity) in the main fuel tank. There are no requirements for the amount of water that is to be carried in the water tanks.
    • Interior appointments, if other than the standard Catalina 400 plan, must be approved by the Chief Measurer.
  • Hull and Trim
    • Construction of all hulls, hull liners, decks, and deck liners shall be molded fiberglass in or over an approved mold manufactured by Catalina Yachts Inc., or its successors or assigns.
    • No hull modifications or alterations will be allowed with the exception of fairing on both keel and rudder.
    • The hull dimensions shall be 40’ 6” LOA; 36’ 6” LWL; 13’ 6” beam; 7’ 0” draft fin keel or 5’ 6” draft wing keel.
    • If repairs are made that affect more than one-half (1/2) of the hull or are so extensive to so warrant a new measurement in the opinion of the Chief Measurer and/or the Board of Directors, a new measurement certificate shall be required.
    • Outside ballast shall be that designed by Catalina Yachts as follows: 7,200 (fin keel) or 8,000 (wing keel) pounds of lead from a pattern maintained by the builder. No inside ballast shall be allowed except water and fuel and as noted above.
    • Folding and feathering propellers shall be allowed. An appropriate handicap may be allowed for any Catalina 400 that races with a fixed-blade propeller.
  • Spars and Rigging
    • The mast and boom shall be made of aluminum to the drawings and dimensions shown on the official plan as designed by Frank Butler and Gerald Douglas.
    • The "I" and "J" dimensions shall be 52' 8" and 15' 6", respectively.
    • Rigging shall be as shown on the plans. The Chief Measurer reserves the right to declare ineligible any Catalina 400 that does not conform to the spirit, as well as, the letter of these rules and specifications. Jib roller furling is required.
    • Banding: Mast and boom shall be banded with a contrasting stripe at least 1" wide as follows:
      • "E"-Boom: After edge of mast to inside of band 17' 0" maximum.
      • "P"-Mast: Top of lower band to bottom of top band 47' 0" maximum; from cabin top (surface adjacent to mast) to top of lower band 3’10” minimum.
    • The whisker pole, when set, shall be connected to the mast. The whisker pole shall not exceed the J dimension of the Catalina 400 (15' 6") This is the overall length, including fittings. A longer adjustable whisker pole may be used if it is banded at the point where it is 15' 6" long, and may not be extended past that point.
    • Backstay adjusters shall not be used in a Catalina class race. If the owner has modified the boat to include a backstay adjuster, it shall be set to one position for the duration of the regatta and marked to show that the position has not been changed.
  • Sails
    • The intent of these rules is to minimize the cost for sails and to discourage rule-beating sails. Therefore, any changes which are not established practice or specifically covered by the sail plan and measurements are considered illegal unless a ruling has been specifically obtained from the Chief Measurer and Board of Directors.
    • When required, all sails shall be stamped on the tack of the sail with waterproof ink by a Fleet Measurer with the official stamp issued by the Association. The Fleet Measurer shall sign and date the sail within the stamped area. The Chief Measurer shall issue these stamps to all Fleet Measurers. Sails that are not stamped with the official Catalina 400 stamp and signed and dated by a Fleet Measurer, shall not be considered legal and shall disqualify any Catalina 400 if they are used while racing.
    • The sail locker for Catalina 400 class races shall be restricted to the sail plan as follows: jibs smaller than 135%, 135%, and 155% jibs and a single, standard mainsail. All sizes shown are maximum.
    • Any sail used in a Catalina 400 class race shall be a cruising (as opposed to racing) sail. Only sails that are constructed primarily of polyester will be allowed, including composites and laminates based on polyester and mylar. Materials such as Spectra, Kevlar, and other high-tech fabrics are not permitted. Roller furling jibs with UV leech and foot covers are required.
    • While being measured, sails shall be pulled tight to remove wrinkles, but not so tight as to put tension in the sailcloth.
    • Battens shall not be used in any jib.
    • The clew of the mainsail shall not be pulled out beyond the inner edge of the band on the boom.
    • The LP (luff perpendicular) of the jibs shall not exceed the following:
      • 135%: 21' 1"
      • 155%: 24' 3"
    • Mainsail dimensions shall not exceed the following:
      • Luff 47' 0"
      • Foot: 17' 0"
    • Cunninghams and any number of reef points may be used on the mainsail.
    • Spinnakers will not be allowed in any Cruising Class race.
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Interpretation
  • Specifications, however complete, cannot anticipate every possible situation that may arise. If a point is not covered herein, or governed by the dictates of common sense, a ruling must be obtained from the Chief Measurer or his delegate. In interpreting any point not covered or of obscure meaning, the Chief Measurer or his delegate shall consider the intended meaning, rather than any technical misconstruction which may be derived from the wording, and shall bear in mind the basic objective is to maintain the Catalina 400 one-design class as a cruising class.
  • Questions as to the interpretation of the rules and restrictions as stated herein and in the International Catalina 400 Association Constitution and Bylaws, and questions regarding the legality of anything about the Catalina hull, rigging, sails or accessories, shall be referred to the Chief Measurer in writing by any member presenting such questions. The Chief Measurer or his delegate shall make a prompt decision, which shall be recorded and sent by the Association Secretary to all board members. Rulings and decisions shall become effective ten (10) days after said rulings are sent to the Board, unless such rulings and/or decisions are overruled by a majority of the Board of Directors or unless such rulings are made at a International regatta.

Disqualification
  • Any proven violation, knowingly or otherwise, of the published rules and regulations of the Association may result in the disqualification of that owner and his Catalina 400 for the duration of the violation. The responsibility of knowing the rules rests with the member.

International Championship Regatta
  • The Catalina 400 International Championship Regatta will be sailed during the period between June 1 through October 31. All Fleets shall be notified at least two (2) months prior to the date of the International Championship Regatta. General Sailing Instructions shall be approved by the Board of Directors thirty (30) days prior to the International Championship Regatta and made available to the fleets and participants. Under certain conditions and to increase member participation, these rules may be modified by the Board of Directors and Race Committee through the General Sailing Instructions.
    • The same fleet should not sponsor the International Championship regatta for two consecutive years.
    • Only a Regular Member in good standing or family member thereof, shall be eligible to race in the event as skipper. If the Catalina 400 is owned by more than one person, one individual must be designated as the skipper for the duration of the regatta.
    • Class sails shall be specified by the host Fleet from among those specified above.
    • The International Championship Regatta shall be conducted in accordance with the General Sailing Instructions, the official Notice of Race, the rules of the Association, and United States Sailing Association (USSA), in that order of precedence.
    • The first three (3) place boats may be measured immediately after an International Championship Regatta to insure compliance with the Bylaws.
    • A minimum of three (3) races shall be scheduled. If more than three (3) races are scheduled, one such race shall be declared a throwout.
    • The host Fleet shall establish the maximum number of representatives allowed from each Fleet. Every attempt will be made to provide a minimum participation of one boat per Fleet in the International Championship Regatta.
    • The skipper, as described above, shall act as primary helmsman during the race. The skipper shall steer the yacht, except for momentary absences due to personal or shipboard needs, during the 5 minutes prior to and including the start and on all mark roundings including the finish.
    • There is no limit to the number of crew that may be onboard during a race. A maximum of one crewmember may be associated with the marine industry, but not paid by the owner / skipper to sail and not compensated in any way for travel and living expenses while attending events. This person is not permitted to act as a helmsman at any time.
    • PHRF adjustments are permitted for differences in maximum headsail size, keel type and propeller configuration. In addition, a Cruising Class PHRF allowance may be allowed for skippers who race their boats no more than once per year. This provision must be detailed in the race registration form.
    • The Association will provide a perpetual trophy for the winner of the International Championship Regatta to keep in his possession for a period of one year or until the following year's Championship Regatta is held, which ever comes first. If no Championship Regatta is scheduled for the following year, the Board of Directors may grant permission for the winner to hold on to the trophy for an additional time period.
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