Just watched the vidio from Hamble there seems to be several large logo's on sails ! Saw this at Blithfield a couple of weeks ago also on the decks of one boat, have the class rules been relaxed on this ? as I have not seen anything about it. I know in the past people have been told to remove these. Thoughts ? |
Afternoon John |
At the weekend at Chichester, GGGGG did bring this up and made an announcement after the prize giving that anyone with advertising remaining on their boat need to remove it all as it is against the class rules.... So people that were at Chichester at least have been warned.... |
There was a vote at the AGM (three years ago or was it four?) which meant that sponsorship on boats, etc. was not allowed under the Class Rules. My understanding would thus be that a boat competing in an event as a Merlin Rocket but with advertising (not designated by the event organisers or MROA under the notice of race) on the boat would in fact be out of class. Smacks of the whole Aeroweb saga again .... |
Where is it in the Class Rules then? http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/technical/Web%20Documents/Class%20Rules/MerlinRocket%20CR%20090811.pdf |
In the 14 class a few years ago, the association decided to ask for an extra contribution from competitors with private sponsors (beyond the normal class assoc membership). The thought was that if the individual was benefiting, the class as whole should benefit. Worth a thought or a bit too HMRC!? |
This issue was raised before the 2009 champs at Whitstable as they were just after the removal of Cat A etc from the RRS. Advice was taken from the RYA and the following paragraph was written into the SIs: |
I think that 20.5.3 in the ISAF advertising code *may* apply to you folks, but if that's the case it expires at the end of this year. |
Hiya, |
What Merlin Rccket Class rule prohibits advertising on the boat or sails? |
Out of interest is there a rule that limits the sail makers logo size? Only at Blithfield I noticed that Dave Winder had a P&B sticker on his sail and given that they made it does that still make it ilegal? |
Sailmakers emblems are (or at least were) limited to 150mm square in absolute dimensions. |
You're right it's not mentioned in the rules as per your link......which i believe is now the official copy ? |
I'm no expert on this topic but some quick internet research tells me that ISAF Regulation 20 states that the right to advertise requires "prior authorization of the relevant National Authority". Therefore since the class hasn't given this authorization it means you can't advertise on the boats when racing. I assume that means it doesn't need to be in the class rules, unless advertising is permitted? http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/2012ISAFRegulation20AdvertisingCode-[12007].pdf |
I seem to have opened a can of worms here with my post, it was the huge p&b stickers that i meant, I have checked and sailmakers logo's are 150mm square max, Its not just Dave Winders boat but several others so do p&b know something we don't or are they just trying it on !! |
I know that it may have been large sailmakers stickers that prompted the thread but if as an association the merlin fleet are not going to allow advertising should we therefore not remove any boat names from results lists that are also blatant advertising ? |
One can of worms at a time steve.......... |
Surely not a can of worms but a matter of compliance with well defined rules? |
I personally have no issue with people naming their boats after the sponsor, so long as that is it's registered name. The issue comes when they display the name on the boat as I am not sure there are any rules for this? |
I just wonder who they are advertising to? The merlin class at the top end is quite a narrowly defined field and I'm sure all the players will know who's who and what they're running in the arms race. If they are aiming at the rest of the class, I would have thought that the sponsorship/who's using what info will filter down via the mag (v.excellent) and the website (also v.excellent), plus word of mouth. This would be presumably to advertise to the 'lower order' club and circuit racers buying new gear. It's not as though they are on the telly or national press; I never see adverts on boats! |
ISAF regulation 20 refers to "National Authority" (20.2.3.3) which is the RYA not the MROA - so the latter does not have a choice |
You cannot repeal the law of gravity can you the rules are the rules play the game and do not let the side down with another issue in public. |
What have the boat names got to do with it? I googled the top 10 from the 2011 nationals without a single reference to a marine industry product being returned. The most commercial hit I got was for a bespoke maker of children's wooden furniture, this all so brought back a reference to a child's day care nursery. |
I though the comment about boat names referred to the advertising associated with the event rather than the name being linked to a product or service. Clearly it would be self destructive to deny the sponsors of a race or event to use the results list to advertise. The next illogical step would be to accuse my crew and I of being pyromaniacs. it must be a very slow day at work for a lot of us! |
Surely the question is when is the class going to sort its own rules out. The transitional ISAF which the mroa is hiding behind ends on 31 December 2012. If nothing is done before this date then my understanding is that advertising will become deemed to be ok. |
I think Steve's comment refers to "Team Gill". This is the name Nick Craig has signed his boat in as. Merely signing in as he does in other classes. He is entirely amateur but probably gets some free sailing kit or some help with entry fees. I am absolutely sure his sailing costs are considerably more than this relationship provides. Nick is a reasonable bloke and one that is relatively new to the class who should be welcomed. I am sure he would not be intentionally breaking the rules and if told this is not the done thing in Merlins would happily comply without the need for forum bashing. He probably hasn't got around to reading every nuance of the merlin rules. However, one has to wonder why one would want to exclude those people receiving the help of businesses like Gill to compete on the circuit. It seems pretty harmless to me. There will always be some people with bigger budgets than others mostly due to wealth rather than low key sponsorship and free sailing kit. |
The question of sponsorship with name on boats etc is more than just an owner of a company naming the boat, and getting no real advertising as a class we do not get TV coverage and yes we know most of them by name anyway. But they are very good tax implications, a company can name a boat after itself, then when competing on the circuit, travel expenses, entries and accommodation can be offset against tax boat repairs can also be offset. This can make doing the circuit quite beneficial to some while others are struggling to meet the costs. The issue is a lot deeper and has more cost implications other than just names on sails. |
I tried that one, but the taxman said,NO. |