REGATTA FLEETS: NOTICE OF RACE

Transcription

1 2014 VOLVO GILL BRITISH OPEN AND NATIONAL OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIP: REGATTA FLEETS 2 nd 8 th August 2014 International Optimist Class Association (UK) in conjunction with WPNSA. To be held at: Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy During the Championships a programme of activities will be provided for the less experienced sailors who do not wish to compete in the main Championships. These activities will be organised by IOCA(UK) in conjunction with WPNSA (jointly the Organisers). 1. Objective Event Website: REGATTA FLEETS: NOTICE OF RACE 6 days of Optimist based activities, both on and off the water, including training and racing specially adapted to the age and abilities of the sailors. Sailors and parents should note that the aim is for a balance between these activities, and completion of a full racing series is not a primary objective. Sailors whose primary focus is on racing and who are capable of staying on the water all day are therefore encouraged to join the Main Championship Fleets (Junior or Senior). The regatta fleet will be divided into 3 fleets: Regatta Racing, Regatta Coaching, Mini Racers. The Mini Racer fleet will cater for younger sailors (i.e. Optimist (ISAF) age 8 or 9) who have achieved IOCA level 2 but who have not yet started to race. The emphasis will be on training and introducing basic race skills. The Regatta Coaching fleet is intended for those sailors who have started to race in their clubs and/or at regional level and who want to improve their racing skills prior to entry to either the Racing Regatta or the Championship fleets. Generally, the fleet will be coached in the morning in groups and will race in the afternoon, but this may be varied during the week.

2 The Regatta Racing fleet is intended to be for sailors with experience of regatta racing who want to race all day but who are not yet confident to join the Championship fleets. The emphasis will be on racing and developing racing skills, however it is intended that the sailors will return to shore for lunch most days. The Organisers may include some training races, or coaching sessions, if they consider it useful for the sailors or appropriate for the conditions. 2. Eligibility and Entry 2.1 The intent is to ensure as far as possible that sailors are enrolled in the most suitable fleet. (a) The organisers therefore may (after consultation) move sailors between fleets and amend the stated entry conditions in order to achieve this. (b) The organisers may allow sailors who do not satisfy the stated entry conditions in sections 2.3 to 2.5 below to enrol in a Regatta Fleet, provided that a request (with reasons) is made to the Organisers no later than the 2 nd June 2014, and the Organisers are satisfied, on the basis of the information supplied and any other enquiries that they choose to make, that there is a good reason for doing so. Any such decision by the Organisers is at their absolute discretion and they are under no obligation to provide reasons for the decision. 2.2 All sailors must be members of IOCA(UK) or an equivalent National Optimist organisation. 2.3 Regatta Racing sailors must have achieved IOCA Grade 3 (or alternative National Optimist organisation equivalent) in the 1st edition of the log book (2013 or earlier) or IOCA Grade 4 in the 2nd edition (2014), and have evidence of racing in a regatta fleet at a national level. Regatta Coaching sailors must have achieved IOCA Grade 2 (1st edition: 2013 or earlier Log Book) or IOCA Grade 3 (2nd edition: 2014 Log Book) (or alternative National Optimist organisation equivalent). Mini Racer fleet sailors must have completed IOCA Grade 2 (1st edition: 2013 or earlier Log Book) or IOCA Grade 3 (2nd edition: 2014 Log Book). Sailors in any of the Regatta fleets must be capable of completing a triangular course in a moderate breeze and of capsize recovery without assistance. 2.4 Entry in the Regatta Racing and Regatta Coaching fleet will normally be accepted only from sailors born on or before 2nd August Entry in to the Mini Racer fleet will be accepted for sailors born on or before 31 st December Children who will not be 8 at the start of the event must have a parent who remains on site throughout the event (to comply with legislation and insurance criteria). 2.5 Entries will not normally be accepted from sailors who are or have been a member of one of the RYA Zone Talent Squads, Home Country Squads or IOCA (UK) squads, nor any sailor who has competed in the Main Fleet of a previous IOCA(UK) Optimist National Championship. Where the Organisers exercise their discretion to allow a sailor to enrol in Regatta Fleet who does not satisfy the conditions in this paragraph, that sailor will be allowed to participate in the racing, but is not eligible to win any trophies awarded for that fleet. The results of the sailor will be recorded in the results for the fleet and they may receive place-holders recording their fleet place, but their series result will be excluded when determining the award of trophies. 2.6 The organisers strongly recommend that sailors who are (Optimist) ISAF age 11 and who have competed in the Regatta Fleet at a previous IOCA(UK) Optimist National Championship, compete in the Main Championship Junior Fleet. Entries will not be accepted from sailors who

3 are Optimist (ISAF) age 12 or older and who have competed in an IOCA(UK) national event (Winters, Springs, Inlands, Nationals or End of Seasons). 2.7 Entry fees will be as set out on the event website, and shall be paid either via the online direct debit payment system (preferred for all UK sailors) or one of the alternatives offered. In line with the standard IOCA(UK) conditions of entry, entries will only be confirmed once the entry fee has been paid. Where the entry fee or any instalment remains unpaid, then that entry will remain on the waiting list. All promotions from waiting list to be confirmed entries will depend on payment of entry fees and on available space at the sole discretion of the organising authority. 2.8 Late entries made or received after 30 th June 2014 will only be accepted at the sole discretion of the organising authority. 2.9 A sibling discount for families with three or more sailors entering the event is available. For a third sailor the discount is 60 for that entry only, and for a fourth or subsequent sailor the discount is 120 for that entry only. Sibling discounts must be claimed at the event from the race office after registration has closed Due to the demand for the Regatta Fleet, IOCA (UK) also have to take a strict stance on sailors who switch from the Regatta Fleet to the Main Fleet. Sailors who have registered for the Regatta Fleet who then switch to the main fleet must do so by 30 th June to receive a refund.. Any requests to switch after 30th June will be at the discretion of the Organisers Initial entry limits are 50 in the Regatta Racing fleet, 48 in the Regatta Coaching fleet and 30 in the Mini Racers fleet. Once confirmed entries reach any of these limits, a reserve list will be maintained. The organisers may increase these limits if additional resources (such as RIBs to provide safety cover) can be found. Note: For those who are not sure which fleet to enter, a separate advice document will be published on the IOCA(UK) website. This document does not form part of this Notice of Race, nor is it in any way intended to be binding on the organisers Requests for cancellation or refunds prior to the event will be accommodated as follows: Any request received on or before 12th June will be refunded in full Any request received between 12th June and 11th July will be eligible for a 50% refund (provided the entry had been paid in full by 30th June) Any request received after 11th July will not be eligible for a refund. 3. Insurance Each optimist shall have valid third party insurance cover for not less than 2,000, Registration and Safety Check 4.1 Registration will take place at WPNSA from 1030 until 1630 on Saturday 2nd August 2014, and 0900 until 1100 on Sunday 3rd August Registration after this time will only be available in exceptional circumstances, and by prior arrangement, which must be requested no later than 30 th July. Requests for late registration made after 30 th July may be refused if there are no available resources, and will be subject to a 30 donation to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. 4.2 Prior to registration, boats will be check measured. Competitors will not be able to register until they have successfully completed the check measurement. The check measure for Regatta Fleet

4 relates to items of safety and seaworthiness and should not be confused with the Main Championship Fleet measurement process. 4.3 Each sailor shall produce at registration evidence of a successful buoyancy test on the boat within the previous 12 months. 4.4 Boats will be monitored for continuing sea-worthiness during the event and may be prevented from going afloat if basic safety (including the condition of buoyancy bags and having adequate equipment such as bailers, paddles, etc.) is compromised. Specific attention is drawn to International Optimist Class Rule , which states that Each Unit (Buoyancy Bag) shall be 45 +/-5 litres, i.e. a minimum capacity of 40 litres. Boats with smaller buoyancy bags will not pass the check measurement process. All Optimists must have a painter that is at least 8 metres long, as per Class Rule 4.3(b). All Optimists that have a removable device to attach the boom strop to the mainsheet shall use a device that has a positive means of locking. 5. Sailing Instructions Sailing Instructions will be published in advance on the event website and will be posted on the official notice board. 6. Initial Briefing and Practice Race The initial briefing will be given at 12:30 on Sunday 3rd August 2014 and will be followed by allocation of groups; familiarisation activities and may include on the water activity as appropriate. Any races held on Sunday 3rd August 2014 will not count as part of the Regatta Fleet competition. Note: All sailors and their parent(s)/designated adults are expected to attend the initial briefing. The information will not be repeated for those who do not turn up. 7. Trophies and Prizes There will be a large number of trophies and an even larger number of prizes. Trophies include The Mouse Trophy for the winner of the Regatta Racing Fleet competition and the Regatta Shield for the winner of the Regatta Coaching fleet competition. Other trophies include the Emerald Cup, the Shamrock Bowl, the Little Charger plate and the Little Nipper plate. Details will be available on the IOCA website or published in the event booklet. Please note that the award of trophies is subject to 2.5 above. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the event, and additional prizes may be awarded each day. 8. Coaching Sailors should note that coaching during racing will be permitted only by authorised Regatta Fleet Group Leaders. The allocation of sailors into coaching groups will be based on a combination of coaches discretion and racing results. Parents are not permitted on, or near, the race course or coaching areas at any time, with the exception of parents who have volunteered to assist with safety or race management. Parents are asked not to attempt to coach their sailors from the shore while they are racing or being coached. 9. Training Training will be based around the IOCA(UK) award scheme and log book, and sailors should bring their IOCA Log Books to registration.

5 10. Parental Responsibility Every sailor must have a parent or other designated adult on shore at the venue at all times, who must have provided a mobile phone number, and have their phone switched on. Sailors remain the responsibility of that adult at all times while the sailor is not on the water, up until their boat is launched, and as soon as it returns to land. This does not include during official onshore activities arranged due to adverse weather conditions. Sailors will be required to provide two contacts at registration. If neither of those contacts will be available on shore at all times on a particular day, an alternative adult may be designated by providing contact details to the Race Office. Sailing is a weather dependent sport, and sessions may not finish at the pre-designated time. Individual sailors may return to shore at any time. Parents are expected to listen out for announcements, and to collect their children promptly. Sailors who are not collected promptly will be taken to the Race Office to await collection. Parents collecting from the Race Office will be expected to make a 5 donation to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. Any sailor who is not collected promptly on more than one occasion without good reason may not be allowed to participate in the following day's activities. Any decision by the Organisers not to allow a sailor to take part under this section is final. 11. Risk Statement Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: The responsibility for a boat s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone. Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor, and their parents/guardians, agrees and acknowledges that: They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event; They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore; They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions; Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate; The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, and other officials and volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities; The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances.

6 FURTHER INFORMATION FOR SAILORS IN THE 2014 VOLVO GILL BRITISH OPEN AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA FLEETS This sheet is for the information of all competitors including, where relevant, the Regatta Fleet and does NOT form part of the rules for the event. 1. Win free Entry to the Nationals All entries received by 1 st June will be placed in a draw. The competitor on the first entry drawn will be refunded their entry fee. 2. Registration, Dinghy Parking, Car and Trailer Parking To be advised on arrival. 3. Social Activities and Prize Giving A comprehensive social programme is being arranged. A prize giving will be held on Friday 8th August The proposal is that it will be in the afternoon, however, the exact time will be announced at the end of the protest time on the final day. More details on arrival. 4. Results There will be only one set of overall results for each fleet (unlike previous years when overseas competitors have been extracted to produce a separate set of National results). 5. Event Sponsorship All competitors may be required to display advertising of the event sponsor. This includes hull stickers. These will be made available free of charge at the event. 6. Rankings Sailors are reminded that Regatta Fleet races are not part of the IOCA (UK) National Ranking system. Sailors seeking a ranking should compete in the Main (Junior or Senior) Fleet.