There have been problems with 'box' rules defining what has to fit within the 'box'. It is very difficult if parts, like cabins, are allowed to project outside the box because these have to be described and defined carefully. This is not easy. One could have a cabin bigger than the hull for example. This is why the Footy assumes the whole boat must fit within the box with the exception of rig, sails and things that are relatively easily defined by the normally easily defined terms in the ERS like mast, booms, sails etc. A 'cabin' is shown in the summary rules diagram within the box to illustrate this point. I am sorry that you are worried by this but in practice placing your boat in the box and measuring from it should not pose real problems with short keel boats and any problem may be only temporary, to do with boats designed before there was the current rule. My 1976 'Choppa' design that was designed to be a foot long with a very bow and very short keel is easy to place in the box by hand without chocks to demonstrate that it will fit. Once boats develop within the class this should pose less of a perceived problem.

With regard to rig height measurement the 'box' is the one consistent thing to measure from. Just using the mainsail luff alone would open up the possibility of telescopic bottom mast sections to raise or lower the height of the sails above the boat to suit the wind conditions.

Cheers,

Roger