PART I -ADMINISTRATION

SECTION A - GENERAL

A.1 TYPE OF CLASS RULES
A.1.1 These are closed class rules.

A.2 LANGUAGE
A.2.1 The official language of the class is English and in case of dispute over translation the English text
shall prevail.
A.2.2 The word “shall” is mandatory and the word “may” is permissive.

A.3 ABBREVIATIONS
A.3.1 ISAF International Sailing Federation
MNA ISAF Member National Authority
ICA International J/80 Class Association
NCA National Class Association
ERS Equipment Rules of Sailing
RRS Racing Rules of Sailing

A.4 AUTHORITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
A.4.1 The international authority of the class is the ISAF, which shall co-operate with the ICA in all matters
concerning these class rules.
A.4.2 The ISAF, an MNA, the ICA, an NCA, or an official measurer is under no legal responsibility in
respect of these class rules.

A.5 ADMINISTRATION OF THE CLASS
A.5.1 ISAF has delegated its administrative functions of the class to MNA’s. The MNA may delegate part or
all of its functions as stated in these class rules to an NCA.
A.5.2 In countries where there is no MNA, or the MNA does not wish to administrate the class, its functions
as stated in these class rules shall be carried out by the ICA which may delegate the administration to
an NCA.

A.6 ISAF EQUIPMENT AND RACING RULES
A.6.1 These class rules shall be read in conjunction with the ERS and measurements shall be taken in
accordance with these unless specified. Where a term is used in its defined sense, it is printed in
"bold" type if defined in the ERS and in "italic" type if defined in the RRS.

A.7 AMENDMENTS TO CLASS RULES
A.7.1 Amendments to the class rules shall be proposed by the ICA in accordance with its constitution and
submitted for approval by ISAF.

A.8 INTERPRETATION OF CLASS RULES - GENERAL
A.8.1 Any interpretation of the class rules, except as provided in A.9, shall be made by the ISAF, which
shall consult the ICA and the Copyright Holder. The ICA, an MNA, or a licensed builder shall make a
request for an interpretation.
A.8.2 In the event of a discrepancy between any rules, drawings, specifications or measurement form the
matter shall be referred to the ISAF.

A.9 INTERPRETATION OF CLASS RULES - AT AN EVENT
A.9.1 Any interpretation of class rules required at an event may be by a current ICA Technical Committee
representative or by an international jury constituted in accordance with the RRS, Appendix M. Such
interpretation shall only be valid during the event and the organizing authority shall, as soon as
practical after the event, inform ISAF, the MNA and the ICA of such interpretation.

A.10 INTERNATIONAL CLASS FEE AND ISAF PLAQUE
A.10.1 The Licensed Builder shall pay the International Class Fee to the Copyright Holder.
A.10.2 The Copyright Holder shall, after having received the International Class Fee, send the ISAF Building
Plaque and an official receipt to the Licensed Builder. Copyright Holder shall pay class fee to ISAF.

A.11 IDENTIFICATION ON SAIL
A.11.1 Sail numbers shall correspond to the hull number molded into the transom of each boat.

A.12 OWNER'S DECLARATION
A.12.1 The ICA will use its best efforts to ensure that the organizing authority of each Class event mandates
the use of an Owner's Declaration.
A.12.2 An Owners Declaration shall be signed prior to the start of the first race in each event to certify
compliance with Section D of these class rules.
A.12.3 A pro-forma Owner's Declaration is presented in Appendix H4 Owner's Declaration.

SECTION B - BOAT ELIGIBILITY

B.1 CLASS ASSOCIATION STICKER
B.1.1 In order for a J/80 to be eligible to race, a valid NCA/ICA sticker shall be affixed on the transom of the
hull.

PART II - REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS

The crew and the boat shall comply with the rules in this Part when racing. Measurement to check conformity
with rules of Section C, is not part of fundamental measurement.

SECTION C – CONDITIONS FOR RACING

C.1 GENERAL
C.1.1 MEASUREMENT – Measurement shall be carried out in accordance with the ERS.

C.2 HELMSPERSONS
C.2.1 Definitions
(a) Primary Helmsperson - a person who is a current class member in good standing, who steers
the yacht exclusively during an event during the period from 5 minutes prior to each start,
throughout each race, until the yacht finishes, excepting for momentary absence due to
personal or shipboard needs.
(b) Owner - a person who owns either the entire yacht or is one of two equal partners in terms of
financial investment in the purchase of the complete yacht and the cost of its accessories, such
as trailer, sails and operations and whose name appears on all of the boats official ownership
documents.
C.2.2 All J/80 one-design events shall be designated as either “Member” or “Open” events. If no category is
designated by the J/80 Class Notice of Race or schedule or by other notice 30 days prior to the event,
then it shall be a “Member” event.
C.2.3 “Member” events shall be restricted to Primary Helmspersons who are either:
(a) Owners
(b) Members of the owner’s immediate family.
(c) Current class members who are categorized by the ISAF classification code as Group 1
(www.sailing.org/isafsailor).
(d) Charterers who fulfil the requirements of either a, b or c above.
C.2.4 The executive committee of the NCA or the ICA overseeing the event shall be the sole interpreter of
the definitions and who qualifies as an Owner and/or a Primary Helmsperson.
C.2.5 “Open” events may be designated for certain promotional events by an NCA and/or the Copyright
Holder at least 60 days prior to the event. All international and national championship events shall be
“Member” events.

C.3 CREW
C.3.1 The maximum crew weight in swimming apparel is 338.6kg with no limit on numbers of crew, or 3
people of unlimited total weight. In non-class events there is no crew weight or number limit.
C.3.2 Crew weigh-in is required at all “Member” events unless it is specifically waived in the J/80 Class
Notice of Race or by other notice of the event. As part of the crew weigh-in, the owner shall be
required to sign a Crew Weight Declaration (Part III - Appendix H.5).

C.4 PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
C.4.1 GENERAL
(a) Mandatory equipment shall be functional for its intended use.
C.4.2 FOR USE
(a) Mandatory:
(i) One anchor and chain exceeding 6.0kg with 40m of polyamide rode with minimum
diameter of 8mm
(ii) One manual bilge pump
(iii) One compass, applicable charts, and either (a) speed and depth measuring devices or
(b) operational GPS.
(iv) Permanently mounted operable navigation lights, a 12 volt battery (8kg min, 25kg
max)
(v) One horseshoe type throwable life ring.
(vi) Marine first aid kit and manual.
(vii) One operational VHF radio.
(viii) One bucket of not less than 9 liter capacity.
(ix) Personal flotation vests shall be carried for each crewmember on board. The vests
shall comply with any applicable MNA regulations.
(x) The boat shall comply with any special requirements of the MNA under which
racing is being held or those set by the club or local marine authority.
(b) Optional:
(i) Windex, fathometer, knot/log, and compasses of any type.
(ii) Removal of optional berth cushions.
(iii) Foredeck lifeline netting or rollers and other anti-chafing gear on hull, rig or sails.
(iv) Installed genoa tracks for use in handicap racing only or as outlined in C.8.5 (a)(ii).
(v) The location of not more than four nor less than two winches, shall be restricted to
standard cockpit primary and optional cabin-top secondary locations. The primary
winches shall not exceed power/size of Harken 32.2A. The optional cabin-top
winches shall not exceed power/size of Harken 16A.
(vi) Solid boom vang.
(vii) Storage bags of any size, number and location for the purpose of storing lines,
spinnaker and other portable equipment.
(viii) Substitution of blocks, cleats, turnbuckles and boom vang by non-standard
manufacturers, provided that the replacement part is of similar size, weight, power
ratio and performs the same function.
C.4.3 NOT FOR USE
(a) Mandatory:
(i) The engine minimum weight shall not be less than 12.5kg (empty of fuel). When not
in use, engine and any removable outboard bracket shall be stowed aft of forward
wall of cockpit.
(b) Optional:
(i) Wind Instruments
(ii) Installed Genoa Tracks

C.5 BOAT
C.5.1 WEIGHT
(a) The weight of the complete boat shall not be less than 1,495kg. The boat must be submitted
for weigh-in to a measurer in a dry condition in the following configuration: As specified for
the builders Weight (D.5.1(a)), except to the extent that modification to hardware and running
rigging are permitted under these rules. With battery (C.4.2(a)(iv)), outboard engine
(C.4.3(a)(i)) and mandatory equipment under Rule G.1.
With all other permanently fixed optional equipment permitted under these rules.
(b) If the boat is found to be underweight, lead corrector weights shall be added to bring the boat
up to the minimum required weight. These corrector weights shall be divided equally fore and
aft and shall be permanently fixed in the locations specified in Appendix H.2. These corrector
weights shall remain in place until the boat is re-weighed by an official measurer. Reweighing
shall not take place closer together than one full calendar year, starting from the
time of initial fundamental measurement.
C.5.2 USE
(a) When roll tacking the upper body of any crew shall not go outside the lifelines. Standing up
and hanging on the shrouds and mast when roll tacking is prohibited.
(b) Routine maintenance such as painting and polishing is permitted.
(c) Fairing around through-hull fittings is permitted.

C.6 SAILS
C.6.1 LIMITATIONS
(a) Not more than one mainsail, one headsail and two gennakers shall be carried on board.
(b) Not more than one mainsail, one headsail and one gennaker shall be used during an event
except when a sail has been lost or damaged to the point where it cannot be effectively
repaired while afloat.
(c) Not more than one mainsail, one headsail and two gennakers shall be presented for event
measurement and/or registration at a class event.
(d) The mainsail shall be flaked or rolled on the boom between race days of a series except during
an emergency or repair
(e) In non-class events (handicap races) boats may carry one large genoa of any material.
(f) New sail purchases shall be limited to one mainsail, one headsail and one gennaker, in a
calendar year. During the first year of a new boat, the owner may purchase a new second
gennaker. To be exempt from new sail purchase restrictions, a sail must have been
constructed no less than one calendar year prior to the purchase date and must have been used
for racing for at least one calendar year.
(g) Any sail that, in the written opinion of the NCA chief measurer is destroyed or so
substantially damaged that it cannot be reasonably repaired, may be replaced, provided such
an opinion and documentation of the damaged sail's ICA royalty label under G.2.3 is received
by the owners NCA prior to replacement. Under this rule C.6.1 the replacement sail shall be
commensurate in age and condition with the destroyed sail, except that a destroyed sail
purchased within the current calendar year may be replaced with a new sail.
C.6.2 MAINSAIL
(a) Identification
(i) The national letters and the sail number shall comply with the RRS except where
prescribed otherwise in these class rules.
(ii) The national letters and sail numbers shall be placed between the middle two batten
pockets.
(b) Use
(i) The highest visible point of the mainsail, projected at 90° to the mast spar, shall not
be set above the lower edge of the upper mast spar band. The intersection of the leech and
the top of the boom spar, each extended as necessary, shall not be behind the fore side of the
boom spar band.
(ii) A floating tack system may be used.
(iii) The mainsail may be attached to the mast with sail slides or boltrope.
(iv) The clew of the mainsail shall not be allowed to float free from the boom. The foot
may otherwise be loose.
C.6.3 HEADSAIL
(a) Use
(i) The headsail shall be attached to and operated on the standard builder specified roller
furling system.
C.6.4 GENNAKER
(a) Identification
(i) Sail identification is not required on the gennaker.

C.7 ADVERTISING
C.7.1 Advertising for all J/80 one-design events shall be designated to comply with ISAF Regulations,
regulation 20 advertising code, Category C with the following restrictions:
1) A maximum of one (1) competitor advertiser per boat;
2) Advertisement on the mainsail is restricted to the lower 1/3 of the sail;.
3) No advertising is permitted on the jib.

C.8 SPARS
C.8.1 MAST
(a) Dimensions
.....................................................................................................Minimum........ Maximum
Mast weight ...................................................................................33.1 kg
Mast band distance ............................................................................................ 9144 mm
C.8.2 BOOM
(a) Dimensions
.....................................................................................................Minimum........ Maximum
Boom weight ...................................................................................10.9 kg
Boom band distance............................................................................................ 3810 mm
C.8.3 BOWSPRIT
(a) Dimensions
Minimum Maximum
Hull to out-most point on the bowsprit………………………………………….1905 mm

(b) Use
(i) When retracted, the forward end shall not extend more than 76mm forward of the
hull. It shall be retracted to this position when the gennaker is not flying.
(ii) A watertight seal, tape or other material may be added around the bowsprit spar.
(iii) The boat shall be in the process of either a normal, continuous hoist, or flying or
dropping the gennaker at all times when the bowsprit is extended.
(iv) The bowsprit shall be retracted at the first reasonable opportunity after rounding the
leeward mark
C.8.4 STANDING RIGGING
(a) The shrouds may not be adjusted in anyway while racing.
(b) The forestay shall not be adjusted during a regatta, which is defined as a series of races held
over consecutive days including any lay day.
C.8.5 RUNNING RIGGING
(a) Use
(i) Fine tune of any power on mainsheet and/or coarse tune of as much as six to one.
(ii) Use of a turning block to cross-sheet the headsail to the windward primary winch.
(iii) The configuration of block and tackle used to squeeze the lower parts of the backstay
together is optional.
(iv) A ratcheting or non-ratcheting block may be used on the bowsprit spar for the
gennaker tack line.
(v) Elastic cord may be rigged between the backstay bridle and the upper backstay to
facilitate the release of the backstay control line. No additional hardware is
permitted.
(vi) The maximum traveler line purchase shall be three to one.
C.9.1 Lifeline height above the deck at each stanchion Min 450mm. The guard wire shall not deflect more
than 50mm from a straight line between the two points of support when a force of 50 Newtons is
applied at the point of maximum deflection.

SECTION D – HULL, DECK AND STRUCTURE

D.1 GENERAL
D.1.1 MEASUREMENT
(a) Measurement shall be carried out in accordance with the ERS.
(b) The hull shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of initial fundamental
measurement.
D.1.2 Any alleged or suspected alteration to the configuration of the hull, deck, structure or hull
appendages of the boat for which specific descriptions are not stated in the rules or specifications, or
following a protest concerning the same, shall be compared by a measurer appointed by the ICA or
NCA to a sample of 10 other boats.
D.1.3. The disputed boat shall be accepted if she does not show any evidence of having been altered and if
she has dimensions equal to, or between, those of the maximum and minimum dimensions obtained
from the sample of 10 boats.
D.1.4 If there is evidence of any alterations having been made or if the dimensions are greater or less than
those of the maximum or minimum obtained from the sample of 10 boats, the matter shall be referred
to the protest committee for action.

D.2 LICENSED BUILDER
D.2.1 The Copyright Holder shall license the builder.
D.2.2 The licensed builder shall, at his own expense, correct or replace any hull, deck or structure that does
not comply with the class rules as a result of an omission or error by the builder.
D.2.3 No hull shall be deemed a J/80 class hull until it has been completed with a building number assigned
by J Boats, Inc. moulded into the transom with royalty paid.
D.2.4 All moulds shall be taken from master tooling and approved by the Copyright Holder and ISAF, or an
organization approved by the ISAF.

D.3 CONSTRUCTION
D.3.1 The hull shall be constructed of glass reinforced materials specified within the class builders
specifications.

D.4 FITTINGS
D.4.1 Fittings shall be fixed in accordance with the Builders Specifications.
(a) Additionally Permitted Fittings
(i) Outboard padeyes for two part or direct heavy air headsail sheet lead or 1:1 barber
haul lead.
(ii) Installation of two cam cleats with bullseye fairleads for barber haul system
(iii) Substitution of heavy-duty shackle and pin for lower shroud turnbuckle pin in the
chainplate to serve as supplementary headsail sheet lead or for a snatch block
attachment to lead halyards aft to a primary winch for tensioning.
D.5.1(a) The boat in "builders weight" condition shall not be less than 1,425kg or more than 1,450kg on
certified scales. This weight shall include hull, keel, rudder, deck, all specified mouldings and
structures, all fixed standard and optional fittings, spars, standing and running rigging and hardware
that is part of the standard building specifications by the builder. Builders weight excludes battery,
sails, cushions, portable equipment and non-factory installed harware.

SECTION E – HULL APPENDAGES

E.1 PARTS
E.1.1 MANDATORY
(a) Keel
(b) Rudder

E.2 MEASUREMENT
The keel and the rudder blade shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of the initial
fundamental measurement of the hull.

E.2.1 MATERIALS
The keel shall be constructed of lead strengthened with antimony in accordance with the Builders
Specifications.

E.2.2 CONSTRUCTION
The keel shall meet or exceed minimum offset requirements as set forth in Appendix H.1 Appendage
Plan.
E.2.3 MATERIALS
The rudder blade shall be constructed of glass reinforced materials specified within the Builders
Specifications.
E.2.4 CONSTRUCTION
The rudder blade shall meet or exceed minimum offset requirements as set forth in Appendix H.1
Appendage Plan.
E.2.5 FITTINGS
The rudder shall be attached to the transom by means of (2) pintles on the rudder and (2) gudgeon
fittings, with pin, on the transom. These fittings shall comply with official drawings.
E.2.6 WEIGHT Minimum Maximum
Rudder weight including fixed gudgeons, tiller and tiller straps: 22 kg.

SECTION F - RIG

F.1 PARTS
F.1.1 MANDATORY
(a) Mast
(b) Boom
(c) Bowsprit
F.1.2 MEASUREMENT
Measurement shall be carried out in accordance with the ERS.
(a) Spars and their fittings shall comply with the class rules in force at the time of fundamental
measurement of the spar.
F.1.3 MANUFACTURER
The Copyright Holder shall license manufacturers.
F.1.4 MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION AND FITTINGS
Manufacturers shall only build masts, booms and bowsprits of materials, fittings and dimension that
conform to the Official Builders Specification in effect at the time of construction

F.2 PARTS
F.2.1 MANDATORY
(a) Standing rigging
(b) Running rigging
F.2.2 MEASUREMENT
Measurement shall be carried out in accordance with the ERS.
(a) The standing and running rigging shall comply with the current class rules.
F.2.3 MANUFACTURER
The manufacturer is optional.
F.2.4 Standing and running rigging shall be of materials, fittings and dimensions that conform to the
Builders Specifications and the minimum requirements of F.2.5.
F.2.5 DIMENSIONS
Minimum

Mainsheet Diameter .......................................................................................... 8mm
Headsail sheet Diameter.................................................................................... 8mm
Gennaker Sheet Diameter.................................................................................. 4mm
Main Halyard Diameter..................................................................................... 8mm
Headsail Halyard Diameter ............................................................................... 6mm
Gennaker Halyard Diameter.............................................................................. 6mm
Gennaker Tack Line Diameter ......................................................................... 8mm
Bowsprit Control Line Diameter...................................................................... 8mm
Boom Vang Diameter: of wire no less than 4mm or synthetic rope no less than 6mm

SECTION G - SAILS

G.1 PARTS
G.1.1 MANDATORY
(a) Mainsail
(b) Headsail
(c) Gennaker
G.1.2 OPTIONAL
(a) Second Gennaker

G.2 GENERAL
G.2.1 MEASUREMENT
(a) Measurement at national and international regattas shall be carried out in accordance with the
ERS.
(b) Sails shall conform to the class rules in force at the time of fundamental
measurement.
G.2.2 CERTIFICATION
(a) The official measurer shall certify sails in the tack and shall sign the certification mark and
date it with the date of fundamental measurement.
(b) An MNA may appoint one or more persons at a sailmaker to measure and certify sails
produced by that manufacturer. A special license shall be awarded for that purpose.
(c) For gennakers the weight in g/m2 of the body of the sail shall be indelibly marked in the head
by the sailmaker together with the date and his signature or stamp.
G.2.3 ICA ROYALTY LABEL
Each sail shall have permanently fixed, (with stitching), in its tack, an official ICA royalty label.
Labels shall only be available from each NCA. The label shall not be transferred from one sail to
another.
G.2.4 SAILMAKERS
Sailmaker is optional.

G.3 MAINSAIL
G.3.1 IDENTIFICATION
(a) The class insignia in blue shall conform with appendix H.3 Insignia. The distance between the
insignia shall not be less than 75 mm and the vertical centrelines shall be approximately on a
line through the mid foot point and a point on the top of the sail equidistant from head point
and aft head point.
G.3.2 CONSTRUCTION
(a) The construction is free subject to the requirements of rule G.3.
(b) The body of the sail shall be constructed of woven ply of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
(c) The leech shall not extend beyond a straight line from the aft head point to the intersection of
the leech and the upper edge of the upper batten pocket and straight line from the clew point
to the intersection of the leech and the lower edge of the lower batten pocket.
(d) There shall be four batten pockets in the leech.
(e) Optional. Reefing points
Windows

G.3.3 DIMENSIONS
Leech length...................................................................................................... Max ........ 9780 mm
Quarter width ................................................................................................... Max ........ 3239 mm
Half width ......................................................................................................... Max..... …2477 mm
Three-quarter width ........................................................................................ Max..... …1448 mm
Top width .......................................................................................................... Max....... …152 mm
Inside batten pocket length:

Two intermediate pockets .................................................................... Max......... 1296 mm

Lower pocket ....................................................................................... Max......... 1296 mm

Head point to intersection of leech and centreline of uppermost batten pocket..Min…….1970 mm

Clew point to intersection of leech and centreline of lowermost batten pocket..Min…….1930 mm

Minimum weight of the sail excluding battens …………………………….8 kg

Tack point to the centre of a reef point in the luff .............................................Min......... 1200 mm

Greatest dimension of window.................................................................................... Max 1800 mm

Window to sail edge.........................................................................................................Min 80 mm

G.4 HEADSAIL
G.4.1 CONSTRUCTION
(a) The construction is free subject to the requirements of rule G.4.
(b) The body of the sail shall be constructed of either: woven ply and/or laminated ply made
from one or more of the following materials: polyester, aramid, HMPE. Sail reinforcement
shall be made from one or more of the following materials: polyester, aramid, HMPE, glass
fiber. Aramid is marketed under trade names such as Kevlar and Twaron and HMPE under
trade names such as Spectra and Dyneema. #5 or #6 luff tape shall be used for the furling
system attachments.
(c) Not more than three battens, capable of being rolled with the jib, may be placed on the leech.
(d) The leech shall not be convex.
G.4.2 DIMENSIONS
Luff length......................................................................................................... Max..... …9300 mm
Luff Perpendicular........................................................................................... Max......... 2950 mm
Half width ......................................................................................................... Max......... 1475 mm
Top width .......................................................................................................... Max......... …80 mm
Foot irregularity ............................................................................................... Max......... …80 mm
Minimum weight of the sail including battens ............................................................................5 kg
Inside batten pocket length Max 1000 mm
Greatest dimension of window Max 1800 mm
Window to sail edge Min 80 mm

G.5 GENNAKER
G.5.1 CONSTRUCTION
(a) The construction is free subject to the requirements of rule G.5.
(b) The body of the sail shall consist of woven ply. The ply fibres shall be of polyamid or
polyester.
G.5.2 DIMENSIONS
(a) The gennaker area shall not exceed 65 m2 based on the formula:
[ (luff length + leech length)] / 2 x [(foot length + (4 x half width )] / 6

(b) The luff length shall not exceed 12200 mm
(c) The half width length shall not be less than 65% of the foot length.
(d) Weight of the ply of the body of the sail shall not be less than.... 32 g/m2
.

PART III -APPENDIX

SECTION H – PLANS

H.1 APPENDAGE PLAN
H.2 CORRECTOR WEIGHT PLACEMENT
H.3 CLASS INSIGNIA
H.4 OWNER REGATTA DECLARATION
H.5 CREW WEIGHT DECLARATION
H.6 FORESTAY MEASUREMENT POINT
Published Date: 8th Febuary 2006
Effective Date: 1st March 2006