Models and Electronics
The South West Association of Model Boat Clubs
Fast Electric Competition Rules
(Revised October 2006)
1. The dates, venues and number of meetings for the SWAMBC Fast Electric Championships will be agreed by the Club Rep’s at the SWAMBC AGM.2. At each meeting there will be an Officer of the Day (OOD) who will be appointed by the host club and the SWAMBC Fast Electric Competition Secretary or his deputy.
Entry 3. Open only to members of Club’s affiliated to SWAMBC. All entrants must have third party public liability insurance cover or a membership card if their Club has insurance for its members.
4. £2.00 entry fee per boat for each meeting.
5. All entries will be required to register at each meeting for a duty, this will be done on a first come, first served basis. The duties will be for Race Officer, Lap Counter, Lap Caller and if the entry number allows manning the Rescue Boat or feeding the wildlife to clear the course.
6. Races will be for boats in Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 4, Hydro 1, Mono 1 and R2R classes as recognised by SWAMBC – see Boat Classes for further details.
Duties
7. Apart from the meeting O.O.D all other duties will be agreed on the day on completion of the Duty Roster. Any skipper who finds they are unable to “do their duty” must themselves find someone else to take their place. They can do this as many times as they wish, but if the replacement fails to show they will be held responsible.
Race Office
8. Is responsible for over seeing a specific race or heat (as per Duty Roster). Must call all skippers for the race start, and will decide if there is to be any delay to the start. Will start the race with a verbal warning signal of between 5 to 10 seconds and will then start the race by sounding the appropriate start whistle/signal. Must also time the race duration, giving clear time laps calls to the skippers and a count down for the race finish. Must also give warning of any dead boats or wildlife on the course (see rules 30 and 31) and record all the competitors lap score from the lap counter at the end of the race. The Race Officer will decide if a race is to be stopped early or abandon and together with the O.O.D can disqualify any competitor from a race and or the meeting.
Lap Counter
9. Check the lap counter is set and displays the correct numbers. Records laps completed by all boats as called by the “Lap Counter”
Lap Caller
10. Calls clearly all the boats as they pass the start/finish line, decide whether a boat crossed the line or not at the end of the race.
Rescue Boat (if the numbers of entries allows)
11. Is ready at all times during a race to rescue any boats. All occupants MUST always wear a life jacket. Must not launch during a race unless the Race Officer agrees.
Wildlife feeder (if the numbers of entries allows)
12. Will feed any wildlife birds just before a race heat starts to encourage them to clear the racing course.
Boat Classes
16. All boats must be fitted with a “safety loop” outside the hull, which when pulled will disconnect the battery supply to the motor. The loop must be fitted to the port side or the stern of any submerged drive boats, those using surface piercing/outrigger drive systems must have the safety loop on the port side only (away from the propeller). The safety loop must have a diameter of at least 20mm.
17. Boats must carry an upright number plate, the number figure must be black with the lines at least 10mm in width on a white background at least 75mm high x 50mm wide. The number for each boat class will be the final placing the entrant achieved in that class, in the previous years SWAMBC Championship. New entrants to a class must contact the SWAMBC Competition Secretary who will allocate the next available number.
18. Any material may be used in the hull construction in all classes (It is strongly recommended that suitable flotation is installed into all hulls)
Formula 2
Motor: Open to any brushed or brushless motor.
Drive: Submerged drive.
Hull: Mono hulls only.
Batteries: 7 max sub “C” (43mm x 23mm nom.) Ni-cad or Nickel Metal Hydride cells.
Duration: 6 minutes, starting from bank
Course: Anti-clockwise around five buoys on an “M” type course
Formula 3
Motor: 540 type with 19 turn single “Stock” ONLY (19x1) with fixed timing.
Drive: Direct submerged drive only (no gear boxes) using only a non metallic propeller
Hull: Mono hulls only.
Batteries: 6 max sub “C” (43mm x 23mm nom.) Ni-cad or Nickel Metal Hydride cells NOT to exceed 3300mh (as specified on the batteries)
Duration: 5 minutes, starting from bank
Course: Anti-clockwise around five buoys on an “M” type course
Formula 4
Motor: Any 700 size brushed motor (ie Graupner 700BB turbo)
Drive: Any drive form may be used.
Hull: Any hull design or type.
Batteries: 12 max sub “C” (43mm x 23mm nom.) nicad or Nickel Metal Hydride cells.
Not to exceed 3800mh (as specified on the batteries)
Duration: 5 minutes 30 seconds, including a 15second “Mill Time”
Course: Clockwise around the outside of the “M” course, or as the water permit or dictates.
Hydro 1
Motor: Any Brushless motor.
Drive: Surface drive only.
Hull: Hydroplane including multi-hulls
Batteries: 7 max sub “C” (43mm x 23mm nom.) nicad or Nickel Metal Hydride cells.
Duration: 5 minutes 15 seconds, including a 15second “Mill Time”
Course: Clockwise around the outside of the “M” course, or as the water permit or dictates
Mono 1 - Same as Hydro 1 – except for mono hulls only
Mill Time (FM4, Hydro 1 & Mono 1): The Race Officer will call for the boats to start their mill time. They then have 15 seconds to circle around the bottom right hand buoy in a clock-wise direction. All boats must have launched and cleared the start/finish line area within the first 5 seconds; anyone that fails to do this must join in behind the last placed boat as the race starts. Boats may approach the start line at any speed, as the Race Officer counts down the mill time. No boat may stop dead in the water or cross the start line before the start is called, any boats that do, will have 1 lap deducted from their race score.
R2R (Ready to Race)
This class is for Semi scale fast electric kit boats only. The boat kit must not cost more than £140.00 (normal RRP) and must come complete with - Hull (any material, type or design), electric motor (any type), speed controller or switch unit, drive system/propeller shaft, rudder, propeller plus all the fittings such as motor mountings, couplings, etc, must all be included. Only the radio and batteries should be needed to get the boat on the water.
Batteries: 6 max. sub “C” (43mm x 23mm nom.) Ni-cad or Nickel Metal Hydride cells NOT to exceed 3300mh (as specified on the batteries)
Races will start in a grid formation (see below) racing clockwise on a triangle course using the centre buoy and bottom two buoys of the “M” course.
To race in the R2R class you will need to add a number plate (see rule 17) and safety loop (see rule 16). No modifications or additions to the original hull design, motor mount etc are allowed. Any broken parts that need to be replaced must be identical to parts to those that came with the original kit.
There are just three exceptions to this rule:
1. The original propeller may be replaced by any non metallic propeller.
2. A speed controller unit may be replaced with a similar controller or for a servo operated switch unit
3. A motor must only be replaced with an identical motor (from any supplier) or it may be replaced using any motor from the following list:
Graupner
Speed 400 Race 4.8V Part No 3320
Speed 400 6V Part No 3321
Speed 400 7.2V Part No 1794
Speed 480 7.2V Part No 6304
Speed 500SP 8.4V Part No 6312
Speed 600 7.2V Part No 1793
Speed 600 8.4V Part No 3301
Speed 600 Eco 7.2V Part No 3323
MIG
400 6V Part No 400-6v
480 Race7.2V Part No 480-R7.2
500 Race Part No 500
600 Turbo 7.2V Part No 600-T7.2
600 Turbo 8.4V Part No 600-T8.4
Permax Multiplex
400 6V Part No 332545
400 7.2V Part No 332546
480 7.2V Part No 322689
500 Part No 322470
600 Part No 322471
If you have any doubts as to suitability of a replacement parts contact the Fast Electric Competition Secretary.
Starting Grid (R2R only): The boats will start from the bank in 1 second intervals turning clockwise around the top centre buoy. The Race Officer or an assistant will call out the boat numbers as they should start. The grid line up will be decided by the finishing positions at the previous meeting. The lowest place boat at the previous meeting will start first, followed by the second lowest place and so on with the top place boat starting in last place. The grid formation will remain the same for all races during the meeting. The grid position for the first meeting of the Championship will be decided by the overall placing in the previous year’s championship.
Course/Race times
19. The course layout, size and position of the buoys will be decided by the meeting OOD and SWAMBC Comp’ Sec’ or his deputy.
20. Booking in time from 9.30am, skippers briefing approx.10am, first race will start at 10.30am or as the meeting O.O.D decides.
21. The boats will be raced in order of: Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 4, Hydro 1, Mono 1 and R2R classes.
22. A minimum of 45 minutes will be allowed for recharging of batteries in all classes.
23. There will be a maximum break of 10 minutes between each race. The time will only start once the lake has been cleared of all boats from the previous race. The Race Officer may start a race earlier if all the entries are ready. The Meeting OOD will be responsible for the timing of the break and notify the Race Officer when the 10 minutes have expired. The Race Office may decide to delay the race start after the 10 minutes if the course is not clear or for any other safety reasons. The Race Office will NOT delay a race start if an entry is late getting ready for the start.
Racing rules & Lap scoring
24. The total lap score for each race will be the number of laps completed by a boat plus the score/section of the course the boat stopped in at the end of a race.
25. At least 1 race in any class must be completed at a meeting for the overall Championship points to be awarded. If 2 or more races have been completed the lowest race/lap score will be discarded from the day’s total score (ie best 3 from 4 to count).
26. If a boat misses a buoy it should continue to race, but will have .5 (half) of a lap score deducted for every missed buoy. The Race Officer will note all missed buoys and deduct the score from that drivers race score. The Race Officer may have “Assistants” to help observe the race and note any missed buoys.
27. On hearing the race finish call/signal, competitors must stop their boats immediately in the water. The Race Officer will note the boat position on the course.
28. If for any reason a race needs to be stopped early to clear the course of wildlife or recover a sinking boat, the Race Officer will record the boats position on the course, all the remaining boats will return to the bank for a restart as soon as is possible. The remaining race time will then be completed and the race lap score from both will be added together for a total score. No boats can be repaired, recharged or serviced before a restarted race.
29. If a boat stops on the water during a race, the skipper of that boat must give a verbal warning to the others still racing and make sure the Race Officer is aware of its position on the water. The Race Officer must repeat the warning clearly to all the other skippers of “a dead boat” giving its approximate position on the course.
30. Any boat which makes contact with a “dead boat” after it has been called by the Race Officer will be disqualified from the race and must withdraw immediately. This race (for the offending boat) will score as 0 laps; however, this race may still be included as a discard from the day’s results.
31. If during a race a competitors boat “comes back to life” after it has been called as a “dead boat” it may continue to race. The skipper involved must give a clear verbal notice to the others still racing including the Race Officer who must also make the others aware that the dead boat has re-joined the race.
32. A boat can be retrieved if it’s near to the bank and re-launched only when there are no approaching boats. The rescue boat must not be used to retrieve a boat in these circumstances.
33. The Race Officer will warn of any wildlife on or near the course, if any boat then hits the wildlife, it will be disqualified and must withdraw from the race. This race may still be included as a discard from the day’s results.
34. If any class has 8 or more entered on the day, the meeting OOD will split the boats into 2 heats. Should 7 or fewer boats enter or during the meeting a larger fleet is reduced due to retirements, the remaining boats will be put into one heat only providing the majority of entries agree.
35. A competitor may ask the Meeting OOD for the lap counting to be corrected if he/she thinks there has been a mistake during a race. The OOD may consult other competitors directly involved the race, the Race Officer and the Lap Caller. He may adjust the lap counting score if he feels it’s necessary. His decision is final.
Overall Scoring
36. Points will be awarded depending on the finishing places at each round and not the total laps completed, since the length of laps may vary at different venues. The scoring for each round will be a s follows; 1st place 21 points, 2nd- 18, 3rd-16, and so on to 1 point for 18th or over places. In the event of a tie the competitor with the higher discarded race score will be placed.
37. The Championship will be decided by the highest score from any 6 of the 7 rounds, except in the event of a tie, and then the higher discarded score wins. If these scores also tie, then a count-back system will be used on the most 1st places, then 2nd etc.
Meeting cancellation
38. A meeting will be cancelled due to bad weather etc, only with the agreement of the majority of those who attended on the day or in advance by the Fast Electric Comp’ Sec’ with at least 48 hours notice given to ALL participants to date. If a meeting is cancelled (or there is no result in a classes on the day– see rule 27) it will be withdrawn from the series and the remaining 5 from 6 rounds will count.
Please note that these rules are published in good faith. Any questions should be directed at the SWAMBC FE representative and not to AsTec
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