Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek: Notice of Race

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Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek: Notice of Race

by Event Media 21 May 2018 11:58 BST 18 - 22 July, 2018

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek © Event Media

With just 10 days to go before the Early Bird offers close we are inviting you to join us by visiting Registration HERE and let us have all your details. That makes it easier for us to organize supplies, Shirts, caps, water and of course adult beverages.

In the meantime here is it 2018 Notice of Race which you may download HERE.

The Regatta is organised by Media Business Services Co., Ltd. under the auspices of the Phuket Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and is staged under the authority of the Sports Authority of Thailand.

1. Rules

The Regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing and by:

The IRC Rules 2018 Parts A, B and C., the OMR Rule v8 for Multihulls, the Firefly 850 Sport one-design class rules, this Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions.
In the case of conflict, the Sailing Instructions will prevail (this changes rule 63.7).
No national prescriptions will apply.
If there is a conflict between languages the English text will take precedence.
All participating boats shall comply with the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Appendix B (inshore racing) with the following exceptions:

2. Advertising

Advertising on a boat or by its crew is permitted in accordance with the ISAF Regulation 20, Advertising Code. Boats shall be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the organizing authority. If this rule is broken, World Sailing Regulation 20.9.2 applies.

The Race Committee reserves the right to forbid items of advertising which may conflict with the regattas sponsors, or in any way offend Thai laws or customs by their nature.

3. Eligibility and entry

The Regatta will have the following classes, which may be subdivided into divisions

IRC Racing Classes - Monohull keelboats with a current valid IRC 2018 certificate. Subject to sufficient entries, the Race Committee may divide classes based on design and performance. IRC class splits will be made according to entries received and will be confirmed by 1700 on Wednesday 18th July. Draft class splits may be posted on the official website approximately one week earlier in order to allow comment from competitors.

Cruising Monohull Class - Keelboats, participating with the owner on-board, or production charter boats available for bareboat charterers, which are acceptable to the Race Committee. This class is designed both for cruisers and charter boats preferring a less competitive fleet and potentially shorter courses than normally provided for the IRC racing classes.

Multihulls. Trimarans and Catamarans of a size and condition acceptable to the Race Committee
Racing Multihulls
Cruising Multihulls

Boats racing in the Cruising Multihull division shall be Cruising Multihulls, who do not race on a regular basis or do not hold a current OMR v8 Rating. Boats shall be allocated a base handicap by the race committee based on the principals of the OMR Rating System. A boat's rating may be adjusted during racing (using NHC Regatta Performance System after each race, based on her performance in that race, her base rating and the series to date).

The Race Committee recognizes that there may be boats that by virtue of design may qualify under these criteria in the Racing division but consider themselves more suitably placed in the Cruising division either by accommodations, rig, sails or other reasons.

The Committee will consider written applications for inclusion of such boats in another class giving details of the boat and the reasons for consideration, if received no later than 1st July 2018. A full sail plan, accommodation layout including details of installed equipment, keel details and crew list MUST accompany the application.

Applications based on crew criteria alone will not be entertained. The Race Committee's decision shall be final and not be subject to protest.

Firefly 850 Sports One Design class

One-design classes with paid entries of five or more boats, may apply to the Race Committee for their own class or division status. Applications should be made to the Race Committee by the Class Association and must be submitted no later than 1st June 2018.

A minimum of five boats are required to constitute a class or division. Classes may be amalgamated or divided at the discretion of the Race Committee.

The Race Committee reserves the right to adjust the eligibility criteria and / or allocation of boats in the interests of fair competition. The determination of eligibility criteria and the allocation of boats to particular classes or divisions shall not be grounds for protest or redress. (This changes rules 60.1(b) and 62.1).

The Race Committee recognizes that there may be boats that, by virtue of design, may qualify under these criteria in the racing class, but consider themselves to be cruising orientated either by accommodations, rig, sails or other reasons. The Committee will consider written applications for inclusion of such yachts in another class giving details of the yacht and the reasons for consideration, if received no later than 1st July 2018.

A valid IRC or OMR rating certificate, sail plan, accommodation layout including details of installed equipment, keel details and crew list MUST accompany the application. Applications based on crew criteria alone will not be entertained. The Race Committee's decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.

4. Fees

Entry will be confirmed on receipt of completed entry form and the entry fee of 15,000 Baht. Entries must be received by Wednesday 18th July 2018. The entry fee includes participation of skipper. An additional crew ticket fee of 5,000 Baht is payable at or before registration for each additional crew member racing in the regatta and/or attending social functions. A reduced early entry fee is applicable to entries received and paid for by 1st June 2018.

For more information, click here.

5. Schedule

Registration for the 2018 Regatta and the functions listed below will take place at the Cape Panwa Hotel. Racing for all classes will be held in the waters around southern Phuket.

Wednesday 18/07/18
10.00-16.00 Registration (late registration by prior arrangement only)
17.30 Skippers briefing
19.00 Opening Ceremony and Party

Thursday 19/07/18
Racing from 10.00 hrs
Daily prize giving and party

Friday 20/07/18
Racing from 10.00 hrs
Free Night

Saturday 21/07/18
Racing from 10.00 hrs
Daily prize giving and party

Sunday 22/07/18
Racing from 10.00 hrs
Overall Regatta Prizes Ceremony and full buffet Closing Party

6. Handicap System

The IRC 2018 Rating System shall be used for all Monohull Racing Classes. Owner initiated changes to IRC certificates will only be accepted after 18th July 2018 with the agreement of the regatta IRC rating officer/measurer. For Platu 25's racing under IRC, any un-weighted boats will be given an allocated weight as specified by the Thailand Class Rules.

Boats racing in the IRC classes that do not wish to use a spinnaker or cruising chute at any time during the regatta may use their non- spinnaker TCC. This choice must be made no later than 1700 on Wednesday 18 July 2018. This alters IRC Rule 8.6.

The RYA National Handicap for Cruisers will be used for the Cruising Monohull Class. Base ratings will be provided by the organisers. Boats not providing sufficient boat data will be allocated a handicap based on standard hull data and/or a known sistership. This will not be subject to protest or redress.

Under NHC a boats handicap may be adjusted after every race day. An adjustment in handicap number is not grounds for redress, this changes RRS 62. The OMR handicap system shall be used for the Multihulls. Un-weighed boats without a valid OMR handicap, will be allocated a TCC by the Racing Committee. This TCC for un-weighed Multihulls may be adjusted during the regatta. Calculation and adjustment of the TCC will not be subject to protest or redress. Firefly 850 Sports Class will race under their one-design class rules.

7. Scoring

For all classes, a minimum of two completed races is required to constitute a series.

For the IRC, Firefly 850, Multihull and any One Design classes, there will be a maximum of eight races scheduled. When fewer than five races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores. When five or more races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worse score. If a race is cancelled or abandoned by the Race Committee, the above minimum may be adjusted accordingly.

For the Cruising Classes there will be a maximum of five races scheduled. When fewer than 3 races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores. When three or more races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worse score. If a race is cancelled or abandoned by the Race Committee, the above minimum may be adjusted accordingly.

8. Sailing instructions

The sailing instructions will be available at registration on Wednesday 18th July 2018. Any sailing instructions issued prior to this date are provisional.

9. The courses

The courses to be sailed will be coastal, windward/leeward or geometric courses.

10. Penalty system

For all classes RRS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty.

11. Crew limitations

IRC Rule 22.4.2 shall not apply. There will be no limitations on crew number/weight or crew changes except as required for boats rated as one designs, which shall comply with IRC Rule 22.4.1.

Boats rated as one-designs, as noted on the boat's certificate, shall conform with their one-design class rules in respect of crew number/weight limitations unless freed from this requirement by this Notice of Race.

In the Multihull class the race committee must be notified of the declared crew weight at time of registration. No alteration to the boat's TCC will be permitted during the regatta except as a result or a rating protest or to correct rating errors.

Accredited journalists, photographers or cameramen who are not regular crew members may join and/or leave a boat at any time and by any means so long as their doing so does not directly affect another competitor and they play no part in the racing of the boat. This changes RRS 47.2.

Owners/skippers should seek clarification from the race committee if in doubt.

12. Boat Identification

All boats are required to display their sail number on their mainsail and, unless their class rules prevent them from doing so, on their spinnaker. Dispensation may be granted by The Organiser at its sole discretion. Sail numbers should be in suitable contrast to the sail as to be visible to the race committee.

13. Safety

Each yacht shall carry at least one suitable anchor and sufficient suitable cable to hold the yacht in the depth of water and likely weather conditions in and near the racing area.

Anchors shall not be carried forward of the stem or with any parts outboard, except when anchoring. All yachts shall be liable for inspection in accordance with applicable safety and measurement requirements.

14. Radio Communications

All boats shall carry an operational marine band VHF transceiver and monitor the designated channels from 30 minutes before any scheduled start until after finishing. Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.

15. Insurance

Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance to a minimum cover of Twenty Million Thai Baht per incident or the equivalent.

16. Prizes for the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek Series

A Trophy will be awarded to the winning yacht in each class or division. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded in each class.

Other prizes including prizes for individual races and divisional results and line honours may be awarded at the discretion of the Organising Committee.

17. Risk statement

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule four, Decision to Race. The organising 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.

Rule four of the RRS 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 inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor 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 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.

It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event;

Inspections: The fact that race officials may conduct inspections of a boat does not reduce the responsibilities of each competitor set out in this Notice of Race.