Notice of Race

Notice of Race

Shorthanded Sailing Association of Australia Inc. (SSAA)

2002 Lord Howe Island Double Handed Yacht Race

Sydney-Lord Howe Island, 5^th October 2002

CONTENTS

1 INVITATION, OVERVIEW, OBJECTIVES.

2 THE EVENT, TIME LIMIT

3 RULES, REGULATIONS, CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

4 ELIGIBILITY

5 INSURANCE

6 DIVISIONS

7 RESULTS

8 OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

9 CLOSING DATES AND ENTRY FEES

10 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: RADIO

11 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: CRASH BULKHEADS

12 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: SECURING HEAVY ITEMS

13 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: CREW ELIGIBILITY

14 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: CREW EQUIPMENT

15 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: SAFETY EQUIPMENT

16 SSAA SPECIAL REGS: MAINSAILS, STORM JIB + TRYSAIL

17 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

18 ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES

19 ADVERTISING

20 RACE BRIEFING

21 PRIZES, TROPHIES AND PLAQUES

22 LIST OF CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS

23 SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

1 INVITATION, OVERVIEW, OBJECTIVES.

1.1 Owners and charterers of eligible yachts are invited to enter the 2002 SSAA Lord Howe Island Double Handed Yacht Race on the terms and conditions as per this Notice of Race.

1.2 The race will be organised and conducted by the SSAA.

1.3 No means of propulsion may be used other than the force of the wind on sails and/or the manpower of the crew. No form of powered handling device may be used when the yacht is underway, regardless of the source of power, other than:

· electrical/hydraulic or wind powered self steering systems,

· hydraulically operated mast jacks, stays and vangs,

· pumps to fill, transfer and exhaust water ballast.

1.4 Radar and electronic charting/navigation systems are allowed.

1.5 Canting keels are permitted. Rotating masts are allowed, canting masts are not.

1.6 The objectives of the race are to advance true seamanship and shorthanded sailing skills, equipment and techniques.

1.7 All notices regarding the race will be posted on the SSAA web site www.ssaa.com.au as soon as they become available. The web site will be the main medium for communication with entrants and be the official notice board.

2 THE EVENT, TIME LIMIT

2.1 The starting date is Saturday 5^th October 2002.

2.2 The course is from Port Jackson, Sydney to Lord Howe Island.

2.3 The distance is approximately 415 nautical miles.

2.4 There is no time limit.

3 RULES, REGULATIONS, CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

3.1 The race will be governed by the:

3.1.1 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

3.1.2 The rules as defined in the 2001-2004 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)

3.1.3 This Notice of Race as may be modified by the Sailing Instructions to follow

3.2 Safety Regulations to be observed shall be as per ISAF RRS Special Regulations Category 1, as amended by this Notice of Race and the SSAA Special Regulations as following herein.

3.3 Entrants must complete a SSAA self check safety compliance and acknowledgement form prepared for this race and submit as soon as possible.

3.4 Entrants must present the yacht for an equipment audit at a time convenient to the SSAA Safety Officer during the week before the race briefing.

3.5 At least one of the crew must be a current member of the SSAA.

3.6 In the event of extreme weather and/or other exceptional circumstances the start may be delayed.

3.7 Neither the SSAA nor the host club/s for the race, nor their sponsors, accept any responsibility for the loss of life or injury to either crew, or damage to, or loss of any yacht. Full responsibility for any mishaps befalling the yacht or crew will rest with the owner or crew under the ordinary process of law. The race committee, organisers and sponsors, do not accept any responsibility towards entrants, their yachts, or towards third parties with whom entrants may become involved. Furthermore, by participating in this race, each entrant agrees to release the race committee, organisers and sponsors from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, rights, liabilities, contract obligations, damages, costs, torts, suits, at law or in equity or otherwise, arising out of or any way relating to the race. This release shall be binding upon each entrant and the heirs, beneficiaries, representatives and estates of each entrant. Careful attention is drawn to paragraphs 1.02 of the ORC Special Regulations 2000-2001 covering responsibility. Refer www.orc.org. It will be necessary for both members of the crew to sign an indemnity form which will be drafted and presented for signature before the race briefing.

3.8 The competitors have no right to expect or demand that rescue operations or other assistance be extended to them during the race.

3.9 The acceptance of an entry shall not be construed as indicating the SSAA deem the yacht and/or its crew to be suitable, safe and able to handle any all conditions that might be encountered during the race.

4 ELIGIBILITY

4.1 Yachts shall be seaworthy, resistant to capsize, mono or multi-hulled vessels that comply with the Notice of Race, its rules and conditions of entry.

4.2 A qualifying voyage is necessary, the purpose for which is to ensure both crew are familiar with each other and the yacht and its operation and systems. Both the nominated crew and only the nominated crew, must complete the qualifying voyage in open waters on the entered vessel of not less than 200nm or depart a port and return to that port for a period of time not less than 48 hours. During the qualifying voyage the yacht/crew cannot accept any outside assistance or put into port or anchor. The qualifying voyage must be recorded and verified by a third party and details submitted with the entry or as soon as possible thereafter. This voyage must have taken place not more than 12 months prior to the starting date and be completed before close of entries. Any applications for dispensation from this requirement will be considered by the race committee on their merit.

4.3 The Sailing committee reserves the right to refuse an entry without explanation.

4.4 Should an entry not be accepted, the fee will be refunded in full

4.5 Attention is drawn to stability and construction requirements for the entered vessel, refer AYF Special Regulations section 3, Structural Features and Fixed Equipment and Appendix D, Resistance to Capsize.

5 INSURANCE

5.1 The owner or charterer of the boat entered in the race shall have, as a minimum, a Public Liability and Third Party Property insurance policy with respect to the boat for an amount of not less than A$10m which is current when racing. A certificate of currency shall be provided, with the appropriate details.

6 DIVISIONS

6.1 Divisions will be set depending on the number of and type of entries received. Traditionally, the SSAA conducts its races with five divisions by length, for mono and multihulled vessels, 6.5m-35ft, 35-40ft, 40-45ft, 45-50ft, 50-60ft.

6.2 Handicaps will not be applied within or across divisions.

7 RESULTS

7.1 The results will be determined in order of finishing in each division.

7.2 Separate prizes will be awarded for mono and multi-hulled yachts.

7.3 7.3 Prizes will be allocated at the discretion of the SSAA Race committee and will depend on sponsorship funding. A line honours trophy is awarded to first across the line mono and multi hull vessels

8 OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

8.1 While underway no physical contact may be made, nor may material assistance be provided by other vessels or aircraft, other than passing of written messages or medical supplies.

8.2 During the Race a yacht may anchor or moor for any purpose, and while anchored or moored, persons other than the competitor may come on board and stores or equipment may be embarked and repairs effected. A yacht will be considered anchored or moored during a grounding.

8.3 While racing, to effect anchoring or mooring or while being removed from a grounding, a yacht may be towed for a distance not exceeding ten (10) miles into and not exceeding ten (10) miles out of any anchorage or harbour, provided the total result of such towage can be shown to not have advanced the yacht towards the finish. The acceptance of a tow for more than ten (10) miles will disqualify the yacht from the Race, and therefore eligibility for an overall position in the Race.

8.4 Yachts must sail the course independently and may not deliberately escort each other or arrange any other escort other than what may prove necessary in an emergency.

8.5 Specially prepared and/or individualized routing information that is not generally and readily accessible at no cost to all competitors, is prohibited.

8.6 A declaration, verifying compliance with this rule will be required to be signed by both crew prior to beginning the race and must be signed again by both crew after finishing. Completion of this declaration is required before prizes will be awarded. Refusal to sign the declaration or non-compliance with the rule will result in disqualification from the Race.

9 CLOSING DATES and ENTRY FEES

9.1 Entries close on 12^th September 2002, but expressions of interest are requested. Please forward to the Race Committee as soon as possible, so numbers can be monitored and interested parties contacted directly with information/updates etc. The Entry Form is attached to and follows this Notice of Race.

9.2 The Entry Fee is A$200 for Members, and $300 for Non-members.

9.3 Late entries may be accepted until 30^th September, when the entry fee will be A$400 for Members and $500 for Non-members.

10 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: RADIO

10.1 Mandatory HF/SSB radio frequencies:
safety: 2182, 4125, 6215,
ship to shore: 4483, channels 608 and 836
ship to ship: 2524, 8294

10.2 Mandatory VHF radio frequencies: channels 16, 73, 88

10.3 Both VHF and HF/SSB radios must be permanently installed.

10.4 If the HF aerial depends on the backstay, a thru-deck insulator must be installed and an emergency aerial must be available that can be easily erected directly onto the thru-deck insulator. In-hull cabling must be permanent type installation.

10.5 Yachts must carry out a satisfactory radio check with Penta Comstat on Channels 608 and 836, between the 23^rd of September and the 30^th of September 2002. Additionally, yachts are required to carry out a radio check with Penta Comstat within two hours before the race start. Yachts not recorded by Penta Comstat as having adequate radio signal strength will not be eligible to start. Please note: Penta Comstat is a private coastal radio station (see www.pentacomstat.com.au ) and membership is recommended. On the return or subsequent voyage the full service from Penta Comstat is only available to members.

11 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: CRASH BULKHEADS

11.1 All monohulls and multihulls shall have a watertight collision bulkhead between 5% and 15% of LWL behind the forward end of LWL.

11.2 All yachts, mono and multi, are recommended to have an aft collision bulkhead within 5-15% of the aft LWL, or at least forward of the rudder post.

12 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: SECURING HEAVY ITEMS

Attention is drawn to securing heavy items. Floor boards, locker covers and frig lids must be secure and/or be readily made to be secure so as to stay in place in the event of capsize.

13 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: CREW ELIGIBILITY

13.1 The yacht must be crewed by two.

13.2 The minimum age of both crew is 18 years

13.3 Both crew on the yacht must have long offshore, and preferably shorthanded, racing experience

13.4 The race committee's determination as to the acceptability of the crew experience is final and binding

13.5 Both crew shall have attended an AYF Sea Safety and Survival course, or equivalent.

13.6 Both crew must have a current senior first aid certificate or higher first aid qualification

13.7 Both crew must have an HF Radio operators certificate of proficiency issued by a relevant authority, or higher qualification. In lieu of both having certification, one must have and the other must have extensive radio experience.

14 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: CREW EQUIPMENT

14.1 Personal high intensity lights or strobes and a dye marker for each of the crew must be on board, and it is recommended they be kept on the person at all times.

14.2 Safety harnesses:

· must not be more than 10 years old

· without a date of manufacture will not be accepted

· must be worn at all times by any crew whose body is wholly or partly outside of the lifelines.

14.3 At least two harness strops of length one metre shall be carried on board, in addition to the two-off specified two metre strops.

14.3 Kapok filled and Mae West type PFDs will not be accepted.

15 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: SAFETY EQUIPMENT

15.1 At least one EPIRB must be a 406 MHz EPIRB and not packed in the liferaft.

15.2 Any EPIRB packed in the liferaft must be noted on the liferaft certificates.

15.3 All 406 MHz EPIRBs must be registered in the yacht's name.

15.4 A minimum of four white parachute flares must be carried on board.

15.5 SSAA strongly recommends that personal EPIRBs (406 or 121) be carried on the person by both crew at all times.

16 SSAA SPECIAL REGULATIONS: MAINSAILS, STORM JIB and TRYSAIL

16.1 Mainsails must be fitted with three reefing points to minimise the need to remove the mainsail to fit a trysail and to ease its removal should this become necessary.

16.2 Three reefing lines (or their traces) must be rigged and ready for use at the time of the start.

16.3 Storm jibs and trysails must have permanently fitted sheets that are secured by sewing.

17 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Sailing Instructions will be available in electronic form from the SSAA web site www.ssaa.com.au by 1^st September 2002.

18 ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES

18.1 ='font-size:9.0pt;font-family: Arial'>A combination of alternative penalties being 720 degree turns and percentage place penalties as well as time penalties, shall apply.

18.2 The Sailing Instructions will contain details of when, and in what manner, it is appropriate for alternative penalties to be used.

19 ADVERTISING

19.1 A boat may carry advertising in accordance with RRS Appendix 1 Category C.

19.2An event sponsors’ decal may be required to be fixed to the forward topsides of each yacht, or elsewhere.

20 RACE BRIEFING

A race briefing will be held at MHYC on Thursday 3^rd October 2002 at 1900hrs. Attendance by both crew is mandatory.

21 PRIZES, TROPHIES and PLAQUES

21.1 Prizes and trophies will be presented at the SSAA Annual General Meeting.

21.2 Plaques will be presented to all yachts that start in the event.

22 LIST OF CHARTS and PUBLICATIONS

Yachts are recommended to carry a NSW pilot and/or cruising guide and the following charts: -

AUS4602 Tasman and Coral Sea

AUS809 Port Jackson to Port Stephens

AUS810 Port Stephen to Crowdy Head

AUS811 Crowdy Head to Smoky Cape

AUS812 Smoky Cape to Clarence River

AUS610 Approaches to Lord Howe Island

23 SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS - SUMMARY

1. Completed Entry Form

2. Sailing experience declaration for both crew

3. Personal details of both crew with age, contact numbers, address, next of kin, second personal contact, etc

4. Recent colour photographs x 2 of entered yacht and both crew, for search and rescue purposes.

5. Verification of stability.

6. Verification of ABS requirements or equivalent.

7. Details of any advertising to be carried.

8. Declaration re outside assistance, signed by both crew, before the start and after finishing.

9. AYF/SSAA Cat 1 certificate.

10. Completed SSAA safety compliance and acknowledgement form.

11. Life raft inspection/validity certificate.

12. Valid first aid certificates for both crew.

13. Insurance certificate of currency.