Regatta Documents

Regatta documents are displayed below the table as text with hot links to other referenced documents for your convenience.  The preliminary Notice of Race is displayed and will be superseded by the final version once the regatta organizing committee is able to fill in any missing details.

We have included the measurement checklist and crew weigh-in / liability form on this page for your information.  These will be available during the registration & check-in process at Bristol Yacht Club.  In order to prevent confusion, each boat must clearly indicate what days each crew member is sailing during the weigh-in, and all crew members sailing will be required to sign the waiver of liability on the weigh-in form.

Click the links in the table to download documents for printing, or scroll down to read the documents on line.

NOR (Final - Revision 3.8)

1.         RULES

1.1        This regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005−2008 (RRS).
1.2        The organizing authority for this regatta is Bristol Yacht Club (BYC), PO Box 180, 101 Poppasquash Road, Bristol, RI 02809.
1.3        2008 J/30 Class Rule (CR) 5.14.1, Sailing Weight, the requirement for hull draft marks is waived; sailing weight may be determined by measurement.
1.4        CR 6.7, Crew Weight Limit, is modified by adding “In addition to meeting the crew weight limit, boats must sail with the same number of crew in each race. Only crew substitutions declared by name and sailing date at registration will be permitted. Exception may be made in case of illness, accident or other special circumstance upon written approval of the race committee.
1.5        RRS 63.7, Conflict between Rules, is replaced by, “If there is a conflict between any ‘rule’ and a ‘rule’ in the sailing instructions, the sailing instructions and any amendments shall take precedence.”

2.         ADVERTISING - The regatta is classified as a Category A event in accordance with ISAF Regulation 20.

3.         ELIGIBILITY - Open to J/30s conforming to the 2008 J/30 Class Rules and having qualified to represent a J/30 District in accordance with District Qualifying Procedures. Competitors must meet all ownership, class membership, and measurement requirements; submit an official entry form and pay all event fees before becoming official competitors.

4.         LOANER BOATS - A limited number of loaner boats will be available.  Loaner boat assignment will be made in a round robin fashion, one boat per district using the order of districts listed in the 2008 J/30 Class By-laws, until all loaner boats are assigned. The district governors are responsible for indicating the priority of loaner boat assignments for their district, based on individual district qualifying requirements.  J/30 owners from the "Other" and "International" categories desiring a loaner boat should notify the J/30 Class President who will determine the priority of loaner boat assignments in those areas and represent them as a combined category assigned after "Eastern Great Lakes" in the round robin process.  In order to be considered for loaner boat assignment, an entry form must be completed and regatta registration paid.  Should a loaner boat not be available, the registration fee will be refunded.  Loaner boats assignments will be made no later than 8 August 2008.

5.         ENTRIES - Entry may be made on line at http://j30.us/na2008/ under the “Registration” menu with a downloadable entry form submitted via email. The entry form must be submitted with either credit card payment or check received not later than Friday, 22 August 2008. The entry fee is $525 ($500 for US SAILING members).  Late entries may be accepted through 12 September 2008 (add $100 for late entry). The entry fee includes boat entry and social event tickets for seven people.  Additional social event tickets may be purchased in advance (up through 12 September 2008) with a very limited number available at the registration table.

6.         REGISTRATION - Each boat owner or owner’s representative must complete registration at BYC between 0900 and 1700 on Thursday 18 September 2008 including: (i) completion of registration form and payment of all fees; (ii) completion of inspection and delivery of Certificate of Measurement; and (iii) boat in the water and rigged. Skipper and crew weigh-in and signed liability waivers must be completed by 1700 on Thursday 18 September 2008.  Individual exceptions to the weigh-in and completed signed liability waiver deadline must be approved by the Fleet Measurer and arrangements for late weigh in scheduled prior to the deadline.

7.         INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT - Boats shall be presented for measurement, between 0900 and 1700 on Thursday 18 September by appointment.  Sail certification will be conducted during measurement in the BYC club room.  Boats may arrange for an earlier measurement by appointment only. Contact Charlie Stoddard (Email cstoddard@fcxperformance.com or mobile phone 401.965.2235). All crew members sailing in the regatta must sign the Regatta Liability Waiver and weigh in prior to sailing.

8.         REGATTA SITE - Regatta Headquarters will be the club house of the Bristol Yacht Club.

9.         NOTICES TO COMPETITORS - Notices to competitors will be posted on the official Regatta Notice Board located on the 1st deck of the clubhouse in the main hallway.

10.        SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Three races each are scheduled on Friday and Saturday and one race on Sunday.  Races not completed on Friday or Saturday are rescheduled for the following day. Races not completed Sunday will not be sailed. No starting signal will be made after 1500 on Sunday.

11.        RACING AREA - The racing area will be in Narragansett Bay, near the northern portion of Prudence Island as designated in the sailing Instructions.  Courses will be windward/leeward. The Race Committee may use gates and offset marks.

12.        SAILING INSTRUCTIONS - Sailing Instructions will be posted on line at http://j30.us/na2008/ under the “Regatta Docs” menu seven days prior to the race and will be available in printed form at the registration table.

13.        ARBITRATION - For protests involving the rules of RRS Part 2, an arbitration meeting may be held prior to the protest hearing.

14.        SCORING - The Low-Point Scoring System, RRS/US Appendix A2, will apply, except that each boat’s series score will be the sum of her scores for all races, with her worst score discarded if six races have been completed. Seven races are scheduled.

15.        HAUL OUT - Boats shall not be hauled out during the regatta except with and according to the terms of prior written permission of the race committee.

16.        BERTHING – Limited complimentary moorings will be available on a first come first served basis in the mooring field near BYC with complementary launch service.  Reservations are required.  During peak periods before and after the races, Skippers are requested to have themselves and one other person ferried to their boats via the launch, then transfer the balance of the crew at the BYC dock.  Due to the large number of boats, it is requested that the time at the dock be minimized as a courtesy to others.

16.        PRIZES - First through fifth overall and a trophy for the top all amateur skipper and crew.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Principal Race Officer will be Mr. Steven Jeffries

The Protest Committee will consist of Mr. Steven Rizzo, Mr. Noel Fields, and Mr. George Crocker.

Bristol Yacht Club guest privileges will be established upon check-in for the entire crew. All areas of the club will be available with guest member privileges extended to those registered. Refer to the Logistics section of the regatta website for further information. For BYC information contact Chris Healey: 401.253.2922 (BYC); email: steward@bristolyc.com or for J/30 Class information contact Bill Kneller: 401.225.2271 (mobile); email: bill@j30.us

Sailing Instructions (SI Final Revision 3.0)

1.         RULES

1.1       This regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005−2008 (RRS) and the 2008 J/30 Class Rules (CR).
1.2       The organizing authority for this regatta is Bristol Yacht Club (BYC), PO Box 180, 101 Poppasquash Road, Bristol, RI 02809.
1.3       J/30 Class Rule (CR) 5.14.1, Sailing Weight, the requirement for hull draft marks is waived; sailing weight may be determined by measurement.
1.4       CR 6.7, Crew Weight Limit, is modified by adding “In addition to meeting the crew weight limit, boats must sail with the same number of crew in each race. Only crew substitutions declared by name and sailing date at registration will be permitted. Exception may be made in case of illness, accident or other special circumstance upon written approval of the race committee.
1.5       Boats shall not be hauled out during the regatta except with and according to terms of prior written consent of the race committee.
1.6       The sail numbers on all sails on a boat must be the same as the mainsail number unless prior written approval of the race committee is obtained. This changes RRS 77. Hull numbers provided at regatta registration shall be affixed to each side of the bow of each boat and be visible for all races.
1.7       In accordance with RRS 77, a boat chartered or loaned for the event may carry national letters or sail numbers in contravention to her class rules.
1.8       RRS 63.7, Conflict between Rules, is replaced by, “If there is a conflict between any ‘rule’ and a ‘rule’ in the SI, the SI and any amendments shall take precedence.”

2.         NOTICES TO COMPETITORS - Notices to competitors will be posted on the official Regatta Notice Board located at the Bristol Yacht Club.

3.         CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS - Any change to the SI will be posted before 0900 on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect.

4.         SIGNALS MADE ASHORE - Signals made ashore will be displayed from the mast at the BYC clubhouse.

4.1       Flag AP  with two sound signals means: “Races not started are postponed.” Before lowering flag AP, with one sound signal, the approximate time of the warning signal will be posted and will be approximately 90 minutes after flag AP is lowered. The warning signal may be made earlier if all boats eligible to race have checked in.
4.2       Flag N  over flag A  with three sound signals means: "All races scheduled today but not started are canceled."
4.3       Flag L  over numeral pennant “#” with one sound signal means: "Notice to competitors number “#” has been posted."

5.         SCHEDULE OF RACES - Three races each are scheduled on Friday and Saturday and one race on Sunday.  Races not completed on Friday or Saturday are rescheduled for the following day. Races not completed Sunday will not be sailed.

5.1       The race committee will rendezvous with the fleet near Green/Red Bell Buoy by Ohio Ledge at 1000 each day. The committee will display flag L and proceed to the starting area. See Attachment 1.
5.2       The warning signal for the first race of each day will be made at 1100.
5.3       Flag R  will be displayed at the finish line if another race will be sailed. Flag R will be lowered with a sound signal one minute before the next race’s warning signal.
5.4       No starting signal will be made after 1500 on any race day.

6.         CHECK-IN - Before a boat’s first race of each day each boat shall pass the race committee signal boat and hail her sail number until acknowledged by the committee.

7.         RACING AREA - The racing area will be in Narragansett Bay, near the northern portion of Prudence Island.  See Attachment 1 showing general areas designated for racing.  Race areas will be displayed by flag hoist both at the Bristol Yacht Club and aboard the Race Committee boat until her departure, and will be broadcast just after the daily 0915 scheduled harbor start on VHF Channel 72.

7.1       Race area “A”, custom Alpha flag (White “A” on Red Flag)  - Ohio Ledge

7.2       Race area “B”, custom Bravo flag (Red “B” on Blue Flag)  - Bristol Highlands

8.         COURSES - Courses will be windward/leeward as shown in the diagram and descriptions below.

8.1       No later than the warning signal a numeral pennant will indicate the course to be sailed. The approximate distance between the leeward and windward mark and the approximate magnetic bearing of the weather mark will be shown with numbers on a board.  Course designations are as follows:
 Course 1 – Start, 1, Finish to Leeward
 Course 2 – Start, 1, 2, 1, Finish to Leeward
 Course 3 – Start, 1, 2, Finish to Windward
 Course 4 – Start, 1, 2, 1, 2, Finish to Windward

8.2       For all courses, the leeward mark is not a mark of the course during the first leg of the course. For Course “3” and “4” the windward mark and the offset mark are not a mark of the course on the last leg of the course.

8.3       For all courses an offset mark will be set 5 to 7 boat lengths to port of the weather mark.

8.4       For any downwind leg the leeward mark will be a gate. Boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the windward mark and round either gate mark.

9.         MARKS

9.1       Offset marks will be yellow tetrahedrons. All other original marks will be orange cylinders with blue horizontal stripe and “West Marine” logos.  Gates will be the same as the original marks.

9.2       Except as provided in SI 11.2, new marks, when used in accordance with RRS 33 and SI 11, will be orange tetrahedrons.  Replacement offset marks will be yellow with a horizontal black band.

9.3       Starting and finishing marks will be lime green cylinders with flags.

10.       THE START

10.1     The starting line will be between the luff of the orange flag on the committee boat and the course side of the port-end starting mark

10.2     A committee boat which is also a starting mark may set a limit mark. A boat which touches either the limit mark or the committee boat or passes between them shall be considered to have touched the starting mark. The boat shall treat both the limit mark and the committee boat as a single starting mark for purposes of RRS 31.1 (Touching a Mark) and RRS 28.1 (Sailing the Course). No other requirements of RRS 31 or 28 are modified by this paragraph.

10.3     The race committee will attempt to announce boats identified as OCS by transmitting sail numbers over VHF Channel 72. Failure to hear or receive such transmission, or the order of sail numbers announced, will not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS 62.

10.4     The starting sequence with associated signals will be per RRS 26 as shown in the table below.  A sound signal different from that described shall not be a basis for redress.

11.       CHANGE OF POSITION OF THE NEXT MARK

11.1     Change of course shall be as per RRS 33 and will use marks described in SI 9.2.

11.2     When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

12.       FINISH - The finishing line except when shortened per RRS 32.2 will be between the luff of the orange flag displayed on the race committee boat and course side of the nearby lime green cylinder.

13.       TIME LIMITS

13.1.    The race committee will abandon a race if no boat has rounded the first mark within 40 minutes after the start.

13.2.    The time limit for the first boat to finish is two hours.

13.3.    Boats still racing 30 minutes after the first boat finishes, and not thereafter retiring, being penalized or given redress, will be scored TLE (Time Limit Expired, see Scoring) and should proceed to the starting area if another race is scheduled. The race committee boat at the finishing line will lower the blue shape with a long sound signal when the 30 minute period expires. This changes RRS 35.

14.       PENALTY SYSTEM - The Two Turns Penalty of RRS 44.1 and 44.2 are modified so that except when RRS 18 applies, a single turn penalty, including one tack and one gybe applies.  A boat breaking a rule of Part 2 of the RRS may take a penalty after the incident and prior to the start of a protest hearing by taking a 40% Scoring Penalty.”

15.       PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

15.1     RRS 61.1(a) is changed by adding: “A boat displaying a red flag and intending to protest shall inform the race committee as soon as possible after finishing by hail until acknowledged. The hail shall include the sail number of the protested boat.”

15.2     The protest time limit in RRS 61.3 is one hour after the race committee signal boat docks. Protest forms are available at the front desk of the BYC clubhouse. The end of protest time and a list of protest notifications received by the race committee on the water will be posted on the official notice board as soon as possible.

15.3     Notices to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit per 15.2 above. Hearings will be held in the protest committee room in the BYC clubhouse as soon as possible, approximately in the order received.

16.       ARBITRATION

16.1     RRS 64.1 is changed to allow a boat to take a 40% penalty as described in SI 16.1 b.  An arbitration meeting will be scheduled for each protest involving a rule of RRS Part 2 unless the arbitrator deems the protest inappropriate for arbitration. One representative of each party, who was on board at the time of the incident, will meet with the arbitrator. No witnesses will be permitted. After taking testimony from each representative, the arbitrator will render his opinion:

            a. The protest is invalid or no boat broke a rule. If the protestor agrees, the arbitrator will allow the protest to be withdrawn. If the protestor disagrees, the protest committee will schedule a protest hearing.

            b. One or both boats broke a rule. The boat(s) breaking a rule may accept a 40% Scoring Penalty and the arbitrator will allow the protest to be withdrawn. If not, the protest committee will schedule a protest hearing.

            c. The arbitrator decides a protest hearing is required. The protest committee will schedule a protest hearing.

16.2     RRS 63.1 is changed by adding “The arbitrator may allow a protest to be withdrawn without the approval of the protest committee.”

17.       SCORING

17.1     The Low-Point Scoring System, RRS/US Appendix A2, will apply, except that each boat’s series score will be the sum of her scores for all races, with her worst score discarded if six races have been completed. Seven races are scheduled.

17.2     One completed race shall constitute a series.

17.3     RRS 44.3(c) is changed by adding: The boat’s 40% Scoring Penalty shall be the whole number (rounding 0.5 upward) nearest to 40% of the number of boats entered, but not less than four places.”

17.4     Boats to be scored TLE and not thereafter retiring, being penalized or given redress will be scored points equal to the number of boats finishing within the time limit plus two points by the race committee without a hearing. This changes RRS A4.2 and A5.

18.       SAFETY

18.1     RRS 40 (Personal Buoyancy) is replaced by: “It shall be the individual responsibility of each competitor to wear adequate personal buoyancy when conditions warrant.”

18.2     A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

18.3     Boats shall not exercise right of way, cross in close proximity to, or interfere with the transit of the race area by any freighter, tug or other commercial vessel "restricted in its ability to maneuver".  In a protest hearing under this rule, the burden of proof is on the boat allegedly interfering with the freighter, tug or other commercial vessel. Competitors must take corrective action well in advance of any potentially dangerous situation. RRS 60.4 is changed to add "If the race committee receives a report of an incident where a boat(s) may have interfered with commercial traffic it may protest any boat involved."

19.       PRIZES - First through fifth overall and a trophy for the top all amateur skipper and crew.

                                     
      Attachment 1 - Sailing Area Designations & Rendezvous Point

The checklist below will be used to assist RegistrationCheck-in

• Skipper or Boat Representative Check in at registration desk
• All other crew members proceed directly to weigh-in station once Skipper or Boat Representative has checked in

Check-In Process:

• Skipper - Review pre-printed application form in Notebook for correctness / changes
• Registrar - Verify Class member with dues paid – if not, fill out application and pay at registration table (Check payable to J/30 Class Association)
• Skipper - Print names for entire crew on Liability & Weigh-in Form.  Indicate what days each crew member is sailing with small check mark by each day (leave room to fill in weight for each day sailed)
• Registrar – Provide Skipper Bag to skipper with pre-printed temporary bow numbers, all meal wrist bands & merchandise ordered.  Use checklist and order forms to verify each order was fulfilled correctly.  Correct as necessary against what was ordered using inventory in stock, or record discrepancies and replacements will be reordered.  Determine if there are any who can’t eat Lobster and keep names on separate list.
• Skipper - Hand carry Liability & Weigh-in Form to weigh in station located in clubhouse and give to Fleet measurer’s designated representative for retention.  If any individual will require late weigh-in, provide name and schedule time for weigh-in.
• Skipper & Crew – Weigh in at weigh-in station and have weight recorded on form.  Read page 2 of form, then sign and date page 1 acknowledging waiver of liability.
• Skipper - Hand Carry Measurement Checklist to measurement station inside Bristol YC Clubhouse.  Bring Main sail, #1 Jib and Spinnaker to clubhouse for measurement.  Each boat will be responsible for having enough people to layout the sails in designated area on floor for measurement, then roll/flake as desired after sail measurement is complete. 
• Fleet measurer - Initial Measurement Checklist upon sail measurement completion and provide to scheduler who will retain for boat measurement.
• Skipper – Coordinate with scheduler for Fleet measurer in Bristol YC to arrange measurement schedule and have boat at Bristol YC dock at appointed time for measurement.  The BYC launch will take 2 people to the boat 30 minutes prior to appointment.
• Skipper – Have boat at Bristol YC at appointed time for measurement.  Insure that temporary bow numbers are affixed to hull perpendicular to deck and located as close to bow as possible   Please have all required safety gear easily visible for inspection. 
• Fleet measurer - Conduct measurement and sign measurement checklist at completion.  Skippers must correct discrepancies and be validated as corrected by Fleet measurer prior to participating in any races.  Note - annotation of crew weight will be completed once all crew members have weighed in and may be completed after boat measurement. 
• Skipper - Return signed measurement form to Registrar.
• Registrar – File measurement form in registration notebook and once weigh-in is complete, transfer information to measurement checklist.

The checklist below will be used by the Fleet Measurer during Inspection & Measurement
(note fixed typographical error on main width and spinnaker leach 9/15/2008_

Measurement Checklist
(Ref: J/30 National Class Rules effective 1 July 2008)

Boat Name ____________________________________    Sail Number ________________

Skipper/owner _________________________________________

If Loaner Boat- Boat Name _______________________     Owner _____________________

Crew weight:__________1400 lbs max (§ 6.7)

Topsides
Bands: Mast ____ (§ 5.7.2)         Boom: _____ 3962 mm max = 155.98 in.=12’11.98” (§ 5.10.2)

Mast step ___ 1”min (§ 5.7.3)           Head stay: _____ 10935mm max = 35’10.5” (§ 5.8.2.1)

Mast deck position _____ 3505 +13mm = 11’6” + 0.5” stemhead tip to mast front edge (§5.7.3)
___Deck Tracks (§ 5.4.6)
___Pad eyes (4 pair max) (§ 5.4.1.1)

Safety gear per “Category 4” (§ 6.4)
___Life jackets for each crew            ___Tool box and hack saw or cutters        ___5 wood plugs
___Fire extinguisher (2)                     ___2Gal. Buckets with lanyards (2)           ___Fog horn
___Heaving line with float                  ___First aid kit                                          ___Hatch boards
___Flares                                          ___Life Sling or horseshoe w/ whistle        ___Anchor in well
___Nav lights                                    ___fixed non-electric compass                  ___6 Feet Chain
___Manual bilge pump                      ___radar reflector                                     ___Anchor rode
___Radio                                          ___water resistant flashlight (2)                  ___depth sounder

Interior equipment required (§ 5.3)
___Cushions (Main Cabin)                ___Storage bin covers                              ___Water tank
___Bulkhead door                             ___Folding tables                                      ___2 Batteries
___Stove (or equal)                           ___Liquor locker                                      ___Plastic sliders
___Holding tank

Sails: (§ 5.12)
Main (§ 5.12.2)
________leech:  12.395M = 40’8”max (§ 5.12.2.2)
________width: 2621mm=8’7 3/16” max from leech midpoint to luff nearest point (§ 5.12.2.3)
________headboard width: 158mm = 6 ¼” max (§ 5.12.2.4)
___4 batten pockets with at least 2300mm =  7’6 ½”spacing between battens and nearest part of headboard and clew (§ 5.12.2.5)
___1 reef at least 2300mm = 5’6” above tack with at least two grommets (§ 5.12.2.6)
#1 Genoa (§ 5.12.5)
________LP 5250-5665mm = 17’ 2 11/16”-18’ 7” (§ 5.12.5.1)
________luff 10.670m = 35’ max (§ 5.12.5.4)
Spinnaker (§ 5.12.6.2)
________leech 10.515M = 34’6” max    ________half width at half height: 3429mm = 11’3”

_____________________________________         __________________
J/30 SNE District Fleet Measurer                                Date

The form below will be signed by each crew member at weigh-in, with indication as to which crew members are sailing each day

Liability & Weigh-in Form

*Amateur per criteria of ISAF Group 1 (Yes or No) – for amateur skipper & crew trophy eligibility only

I acknowledge and accept the following statement:

WAIVER OF LIABILITY and ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK

In accordance with section 7-6-22 of the Rhode Island General Laws, entitled "EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETIC SPORTS EVENTS," I hereby release Bristol Yacht Club, The J/30 Class Association and the J/30 Class Southern New England District, its officers, directors, agents, trustees, servants, sponsors, and employees of any liability for bodily injury to me while I am participating for any contest or exhibition of an athletic or sports nature organized and held by Bristol Yacht Club, and hereby acknowledge and assume the risk of any bodily injury to myself while participating in or practicing for any contest or exhibition either on the water or on shore. I intend to participate in Bristol Yacht Club events during the period from 18 September 2008 – 21 September 2008, including, but not limited to, the J/30 North American Sailing Championship (9/19-21/2008).

I understand that by completing this form I am creating a legally binding document and agree to be bound by the terms in accordance with the laws of R.I. where I will participate in the 2008 J/30 North American Championship. Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgement of Assumption of the Risk is indicated by my signature on Page 1 of this document.