(A copy will be provided in the skippers bag.)

2. Eligibility – Monohull sailboats whose designs are at least 25 years old are eligible. Minimum boat length is 18 feet. Single-handers must have prior, written permission from the Race Committee and must wear a life-jacket while racing. No registrations will be accepted after the end of the Skippers Meeting on Saturday morning.

3. Format – There will be two divisions, Lightning and Flying Cloud. The winner of each division will have their boat name engraved on the large Hospice Cup as a 2008 winner. The winner of the Lightning Division will qualify for the National Hospice Regatta. All boats in the Lightning Division must present a valid, current PHRF of the Chesapeake rating certificate with their registration form and must have sail numbers on their sails. The Flying Cloud Division will not be eligible for the National Regatta and need not have a current PHRF rating nor display sail numbers. Those without a current certificate will be assigned a rating by the Regatta Committee. This rating is not subject to appeal. The handicap rating of the winner of the Flying Cloud Division for the previous year will be reduced by 20 secs/mile. That of the winner from two years previously will be reduced by 10 secs/mile. The boat will be assigned to a fleet based on the rating before the rating reduction is applied. No reduction will be made if the skipper is sailing a different boat or if the boat is being sailed by a different skipper. Wooden Boats built to a 1965 or earlier design in the Flying Cloud Division, will compete on Sunday for the Riverside Health Wobly Compass Trophy and a $500 credit toward a new sail from Ullman Sails, Deltaville. Wooden Boats will also be eligible for division awards within the Flying Cloud Division.

4. Spinnaker/Non-Spinnaker – Boats may sail with or without spinnakers. The spinnaker/non-spinnaker declaration must be made by 2100 Friday evening. It will apply to both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races and cannot be changed. Boats declaring as spinnaker boats will receive a penalty of 20 seconds/mile for both days.

5. Notices to Competitors – Notices and official information for competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board located in the main regatta tent. Notices affecting competition will be posted each day prior to the end of the mandatory Skippers Meeting for that day.

6. Fleets – The regatta is expected to consist of roughly twelve fleets. Boats will be placed in fleets based on ratings and type of boat. Each fleet will consist solely of boats from the same division, either Lightning or Flying Cloud.

7. Racing Area – Racing will be held in the Rappahannock River in the vicinity of the Corrotoman River and Carter Creek.

8. Schedule

Friday Evening
A Competitors Briefing will begin around 1900 and will include basic information on how to successfully complete the regatta.
Saturday
0730 – Breakfast and registration
0830 – Mandatory Skippers Meeting
1130 – Warning Signal
Sunday
0730 - Breakfast
0830 – Mandatory Skippers Meeting
1130 – Start time for first boat

The awards ceremony will be held at Yankee Point Marina at the conclusion of Sunday’s race.

9. Saturday Courses – On Saturday, a combination Triangle/Windward/Leeward Course will be used. The course selected will be displayed on an ID board on the RC Signal Boat which will be anchored on the starboard end of the starting line. RED letters will indicate the course to be sailed. BLACK numbers will give the approximate bearing and distance from the RC Signal Boat to the first mark. All marks are to be left to PORT. Course descriptions and designations will be:

Course                                  Legs                  Designation
Single Triangle                        3                             T
Triangle + Windward               4                             TW
Triangle + Wind/Leeward        5                             TWL
Double Triangle                       6                             TT
Double Triangle + Windward    7                             TTW
Double Triangle + Wind/Lew    8                             TTWL

10. Flags and Pennants – Each fleet will fly a distinctive colored ribbon (included in the skipper’s bag) from its backstay. Each boat will also be provided a number pennant that shall be flown from its starboard shrouds or, if no shrouds exist, at the aft end of the vessel. This number shall be clearly displayed to the Race Committee by a crew member on the side closest to the RC boat as the boat starts and finishes each day. Please return these pennants (costing roughly $25 each) to the marina office promptly following the race.

11. Starting Procedures for Saturday – Fleets will start two at a time. The sound signal for the start of two fleets will also be the warning signal for the next two fleets. Rule 26 will be used for all starting sequences.

     As a courtesy to racers, the Race Committee will make liberal use of the radio on VHF-72 to help keep boats aware of the progress of the starting sequence and which fleets’ sequence is currently in progress. All boats are requested to stay off the air on VHF-72 so as to allow others to hear RC broadcasts.

If more boats are OCS than the RC can recognize, a General Recall will be signaled as per Rule 29.2. See addendum for details.

13. Sunday Pursuit Race – A Pursuit Race will be run on Sunday with boats starting in reverse order of handicaps, i.e. slowest rating starts first and fastest rating starts last. Handicaps are pre-applied to the boats based on course and distance and each boat is given a starting time. The starting time for the first (slowest) boat will be 11:30. First boat to cross the finish line wins.

*Starting Line - between RC boat and drop mark (approx. 037 38.25 and
          076 29.00)

*First Mark - Inflatable drop mark across river (approx. 037 37.36 and
          076 30.59)
          Leave this mark to STARBOARD
          (From starting line - Bearing = 245 Distance = 2.0 nm)

*Second Mark - Inflatable drop mark off Ball’s Pt (approx. 037 39.32 and
          076 33.57)
          Leave his mark to STARBOARD
          (From first mark – Bearing = 320 Distance = 2.9 nm)

*Third Mark - R "6" Fl R 4s Bell off Towles Pt (approx. 037 38.02 N and
          076 30.23 W)
          Leave this mark to PORT
          (From second mark – Bearing = 124 Distance = 2.7 nm)

*Finish Line - same location as starting line. Finish between RC boat and
          inflatable drop mark
          (From third mark - Bearing = 085 Distance = 1.4 nm)

     Important! At Sunday’s Skippers Meeting, each boat will be given a matrix showing starting times for all ratings. It will be each skipper’s responsibility to take his/her starting time from the matrix and to start no earlier than that time.

14. Recalls for Sunday Pursuit Race – Boats who start before their assigned starting time on Sunday may not come back and re-start. Rather, the Race Committee will assign a time penalty to each OCS boat equal to the number of seconds they started ahead of their starting time plus one minute. The Race Committee will make no signals on Sunday to indicate what (if any) boats start too soon.

15. Marks – Marks for Saturday’s race will be orange/yellow inflatable drop marks. Marks for Sunday’s race will be a combination of drop marks and fixed government marks.

16. Starting and Finishing Lines – The starting and finishing line each day will be between the staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Boat and the adjacent inflatable drop mark.

17. Shortening Course – The Race Committee may shorten a race at any mark of the course. To do so, the RC will anchor at the desired mark, display Flag S (white w/ blue square), and sound two horns as the first boat approaches. Boats should finish by passing between the RC boat and the mark in the direction from the previous mark.

18. Time Limits – Saturday’s time limit is 1700 for all boats. If not finished, come in and party. Sunday’s time limit is 1600. On Saturday, boats still racing but not finished at the time limit will be scored TLE (Time Limit Expired) and given two points more than the number of boats in their fleet who did finish. On Sunday boats not finished at the time limit will be scored DNF.

19. Penalties – Boats who break a rule of Part 2 (When Boats Meet) may, if they choose, take one of the following Alternate Penalties:

Two-Turns Penalty (Rule 44.2) – Immediately get well clear of other boats and do two complete turns (two tacks and two jibes).

20% Scoring Penalty (Rule 44.3) – Immediately display a yellow flag acknowledging acceptance of a 20% scoring penalty. Rule 44.3 is modified to allow the decision to fly the yellow flag to be made anytime between the incident and crossing the finish line. The boat must notify the Race Committee of her penalty acceptance as soon as possible after finishing and be acknowledged by the Race Committee.

Note: If a boat caused injury or serious damage or gained a significant advantage by her rules breach, her penalty shall be to retire. Also, all boats are reminded that, as per Rule 14, a boat must do everything reasonably possible to avoid contact with another vessel, regardless of which boat has right of way.

20. Scoring – In both the Lightning and Flying Cloud Divisions, the overall winner will be the boat with the lowest combined score for the two days of racing.

     On Saturday, scores within each fleet will be determined by corrected time. The boat with the lowest corrected time shall be declared the winner of that fleet and given one point, the boat with the second lowest corrected time will be declared second and given two points, etc.

     On Sunday, scores will be determined by the order of finish within each division. The boat finishing first within each division shall be declared the winner of that division and given one point, the boat finishing second within each division shall be given two points, etc.

     Overall, the lowest score within each fleet will be declared winner of that fleet, the second lowest score will be second, etc.

The overall Lightning and Flying Cloud Division winners will be the boats with the lowest total score for both days. In the event of a tie, the boat finishing ahead in the water for the Pursuit Race will be declared the winner. If racing is only held Saturday, the boat with the lowest corrected score on Saturday, shall be the winner.

In the Wooden Boat Race the winner will be the first eligible wooden boat across the finish line in the Sunday Pursuit Race.

22. Retirements – Boats retiring from a race are requested to make every effort to notify the Race Committee that they are leaving the course. This is vital to the Race Committee accounting for the safety of all boats during and after the race.

23. Safety
     Each owner/skipper is responsible for the safety of their boat, crew, and guests. By entering and participating in this event, they warrant that their sailboat is seaworthy, including, but not limited to, soundness of hull, spars, rigging, and all gear and equipment, and that the crew is sufficiently experienced and in good physical condition to safely and properly participate in the event in all weather conditions.

24. Lifejackets – Participants are encouraged to wear Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) if they feel conditions warrant. Should the Race Committee wish to mandate the wearing of PFDs, it will fly a lifejacket from the flag hoist on the upper deck of the RC Signal Boat. This changes Rules 40.1 and 27.1.

25. Disclaimer of Liability – Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See Rule 4, Decision to Race which says, "The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone." The Organizing Authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

26. Coast Guard Auxiliary – Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels will be patrolling in the vicinity of the race course. The primary responsibility of these vessels is to keep non-participating craft from intruding into the racing area. They are not there to assist with race administration. In the event of an emergency, the Auxiliary’s primary mission is to save lives and they are precluded by law from engaging in salvage or other actions to rescue property unless life is endangered.

27. Wooden Boat Race – Within the Flying Cloud Division, there will be a competition for wooden boats. To be eligible, the wooden boat must be built to a 1965 or earlier design. The first eligible wooden boat across the finish line in the Sunday Pursuit race will receive the Riverside Health System Wobbly Compass Trophy and a $500 credit toward a new sail from Deltaville Ullman Sails. Wooden boats will also be eligible for the Division awards within the Flying Cloud Division.

28. Most Beautiful Boat – The procedure for selecting the most beautiful boat has been changed due to the sale of the Miss Anne. This year, the regatta photographers will select photographs of the five boats racing on Saturday that they consider to be the most beautiful. Then, at the awards ceremony on Sunday, each attendee will be asked to rank the five boats. The winner will be awarded the Most Beautiful Boat Trophy at the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony.

**********************************

COMPETITOR’S BRIEFING
        There will be a Competitor’s Briefing Friday evening in the Yankee Point Clubhouse beginning around 1900. The briefing will be conducted by PRO John McCarthy and will include an interactive discussion regarding some topic designed to increase racers’ likelihood of success in the event. These subjects are intended to be helpful to our racers in dealing with situations that might occur on the water and will not be repeated at Saturday morning’s Skipper’s Meeting.
        Racers are encouraged to bring a copy of the Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005-2008 to use as a reference although the session will by no means be a rules clinic

RACE SIGNALS
       All race signals are shown on the fold out in the inside back cover of the Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005-2008. These signals rank as rules and will be used throughout the regatta.

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
        While understanding the flags and signals is a key to good racing, the Race Committee will make liberal use of the radio to keep racers apprised of what is happening, particularly before the race and during the starting sequence. Racers should listen in on VHF-72 to hear what is being put out.
        The Race Committee will expect racers to know what fleet they are in, the color of their fleet ribbon, and for Sunday’s Pursuit Race, their exact starting time. Please do not tie up VHF-72 asking the Race Committee for information involving just your boat. Please keep the channel open for important broadcasts from the Race Committee to the fleet as a whole. For personal boat to boat conversations, choose some other channel, or better yet, a cell phone.

COME WITHIN HAIL
        The Race Committee signals this by raising Code Flag "L" (Black & Yellow Checks) and making one sound signal. This informs all boats to come closer to observe a signal. An example of this might be if a posted course is changed and the RC wants to be sure everyone sees it. This signal might also be used if, before the race, the RC boat needs to move to a different location.

POSTPONEMENT
        The signal for a Postponement is flag "AP" (Red & White Pennant) raised with two sounds. A postponement stops the clock during the starting sequence and allows the Race Committee to deal with some problem that has arisen. The starting sequence is resumed by the "AP" being lowered with one sound and the Warning signal being made with one sound one minute later.

RECALLS
        Boats who are over the starting line early are OCS (On the Course Side). For Saturday’s race, these boats must return entirely to the pre-start side of the line and start again. If only a few boats are OCS, the Race Committee will fly Code Flag "X" (White Flag w/ Blue Cross) and make one sound signal (just after the starting signal). They will also transmit on VHF-72 the name and/or sail number of the boats who are OCS. This is an Individual Recall.

        For Sunday’s race, boats that start before their assigned starting time may not come back to start again. Rather, they will be given a time penalty equal to the number of seconds they started before their assigned time plus one minute.

GENERAL RECALL
        On Saturday, if too many boats are OCS for the RC to identify, it will signal a General Recall by raising the First Substitute (Blue & Yellow Pennant) and making two sound signals. In this case, all boats in that start will discontinue racing and return to the starting area where the race will be re-started. To re-start the sequence, the RC will lower the First Substitute while making one sound and then, one minute later, give the Warning signal for the recalled class while making one sound. General Recalls are rare and, should one occur, the Race Committee will talk the fleet through the procedure on VHF-72.

TOUCHING A MARK
        If a boat touches a mark she can exonerate herself by doing a One-Turn Penalty (Rule 31). To do this she must immediately get clear of other boats and complete one tack and one jibe. There is no requirement to re-round the mark.

SHORTENING THE COURSE
        The Race Committee may shorten the race at any mark of the course (Rule 32). To do so, the RC simply moves and anchors at the mark at which the race will be shortened. Once anchored, the RC will fly Code Flag "S" (White Flag w/ Blue Square) and, as the first boat approaches, make two sound signals. Boats will then finish by passing between the anchored Race Committee boat and the mark.

ABANDONMENT
        The Race Committee can abandon a race for such reasons as too little wind (yuck), too much wind (like 2006), or some other factor adversely affecting the safety or fairness of the competition. Should this become necessary, the RC will:
     a. Fly Code Flag "N" alone (Blue & White Checks)
     This means discontinue this race and return to the starting area so we
     can try again.
     b. Fly Code Flag "N" along with Code Flag "A" (White & Blue)
     This means go on home. We are done for the day. Let’s hope the party is
     better!
     **Both flag signals are accompanied by three sound signals.

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