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Length: 12ft.
Beam: 4ft 3ins.
Sail Area: 58 sq.ft.
Weight (Car Top): 100lbs.
Optimum Singlehanded Weight: 120-145lbs.
Construction: Glass Reinforced Polyester/Foam Sandwich
The Byte, designed by Ian Bruce, is a high-performance singlehanded dinghy that is 12-feet long (3.7 m) and weighs 100 lbs (45.4 kg). This boat is suited for sailors weighing between 90 and 160 lbs (40.8 - 72.6 kg) with the optimum all-round, all-weather weight for racing being 120 - 145 lbs (54.4 - 65.8 kg).
With over 2,500 boats worldwide, the Byte is currently manufactured and raced on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, North America and South America.
Class members will be voting on two additions to Rule 12 – one to allow a bridle for the mainsheet system and the second a provision to allow a righting line. Voting will take place in the month of April, 2009. See proposed rules below:
Proposed additional Rule 12 (q)
Explanation.
With the advent of the CII and the ability to completely bend the mast with the cunningham (without use of the vang or mainsheet), the method of sailing the Byte has changed dramatically and, in almost all conditions, the traveller is carried to windward. This is particularly true for lighter helms who have to be able to sheet the boom inboard to the transom corner without using so much mainsheet tension that they remove the twist in the sail and defeat the cunningham. The manufacturers will now make a Specification change and supply the boats with a second traveller car and a bridle to facilitate ease of handling and tacking the boat in a windward sheeted configuration. For those unfamiliar with the use of the bridle configuration, go to the Technical Section and look at Section 9 of the “How To” DVD - "Tacking the windward traveller".
Proposed Rule 12.(q)
The single block with becket on the traveller car may be disengaged from the car and supported above the track by means of a bridle. The bridle may be of lines of any material and length (other than wire in whole or in part) and the length may be made adjustable between the end of the bridle and the block. The bridle may be attached to the existing end caps of the traveller bar or anywhere on the traveller by use of clips, straps, ties, shackles or hooks and holes may be placed in the traveller bar for this purpose. The block may still be attached to the traveller car with a preventer line. The bridle ends shall not be attached to the fibreglass of the deck. Alternatively, the bridle may be attached to two (2) traveller cars, the second of which may be added to the traveller bar. If a second car is used, the bridle end may only be attached to the cars. The existing traveller control lines may be used to control the position of the cars separately but no additional cleats or blocks may be used.
Proposed Additional Rule 12 (r)
Explanation. The CII has considerably more area higher up in the sail plan due to the elliptical head and requires additional leverage to right the boat after a capsize if that part of the sail has submerged. Righting is therefore more difficult for a lighter sailor or for a fatigued competitor. Several righting systems exist amongst various classes and the addition of this as a pure safety feature provides no performance advantage to the user.
Proposed Rule 12 (r)
A righting line of any material or length (other than wire in whole or in part) may be added to the boat. It may be attached to the inside of the cockpit on one or both sides using an existing fitting. Alternatively, it may be attached under the gunwale using clips or eyes provided same are bolted securely to the boat through the horizontal join between the hull and deck or through the outboard vertical flange. All fastener heads shall be countersunk and bedded in a waterproof sealant. If mounted under the gunwale, a shockchord retractor may be rigged.
The 2005 rule changes, which were approved by ISAF and which are effective March 1, 2005 contained a provision for the Class to vote on keeping the CII within the Class or to set up a separate Class. With the vote now in, the CII stays as a Division within the Class and final 2005 version of the rules, including the Measurement Diagrams and Sail number placement drawings is available as a PDF.
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