OCEAN MARINA YACT CLUB

GULF CHARTERS SERIES 2008

NOTICE OF RACE
(issued 30.12.2007)

ORGANISING AUTHORITY

The racing is organised by the Ocean Marina Yacht Club Sailing Committee under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand. They will be held in the waters off the Ocean Marina, Na-Jomtien.

All enquiries and entries should be addressed to:
The Sailing Secretary, Ocean Marina Yacht Club Sailing Committee
Ocean Marina Yacht Club
274/1-9 Moo 4, Sukhumvit Road km 157
Sattahip, Chonburi 20250
THAILAND

Tel. +038 237441
Mobile Phone +081 9842764
Fax. +038 235 265
E-mail. herning@ine.co.th

1. RULES

1.1 The Regatta will be governed by:
The Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008 (RRS),
The Prescriptions of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand,
The IRC 2007 Handicap Rules Parts 1, 2 & 3 (IRC-C),
The OMR rule for Ocean Multihulls,
The Thaicap Rating Rules,
The Platu Class Rules,
The RORC Sports Boat Rules.

This Notice of Race as amended by the Ocean Marina Yacht Club Sailing Instructions.

1.2 Between the hours of local sunset and sunrise the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall apply.

1.3 The ISAF Special Regulations Appendix J, Category 5 Special Regulations shall apply to all keelboats and Ocean multihulls. Regatta specific safety requirements will apply to all other classes. These shall include, but may not be restricted to the following: yachts must carry an suitable engine and adequate fuel, anchor and towing lines as well as lifejackets for all crew. The participating yachts must adhere to reporting schedules, minimum drinking water requirements, if any. Additional safety rules, if any, will be available from the organizing committee before the each weekend of racing.

1.4 All yachts must have a functioning VHF Marine Band Radio, capable of monitoring channels 16 and 72.

1.5 The Regatta is classified as a Category C event under RRS 79 and ISAF Regulation 20 Advertising Code.

1.6 The Organising Committee may require all participating boats to display the event sponsor's advertising in accordance with Appendix 1, Regulation 20.3. (d).

1.7 The Sailing Instructions will be available at Registration.

2. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

2.1 The Regatta will have the following divisions subject to entries received.

2.1.1 Class One. Racing Keelboats with an IRC certificate.

2.1.2 Class Two. Keelboats in cruising configuration with a ThaiCap certificate or as determined by the committee.

2.1.3 Class Three. Platu.

2.1 Class Four. Ocean Multihulls. Trimarans and Catamarans of a size, type and condition acceptable to the Race Committee.

2.1.4 Class Five. Sports Boats, including boats in Division Three, with RORC Sportboat Handicaps.

2.2 The Race Committee may change the above eligibility factors and number of classes based on its analysis of the entries received.

2.3 Where yacht specification falls between the above parameters owners should consult the Race Committee on class placement.

2.4 Application for entry shall be made at Ocean Marina Yacht Club latest 1 hour prior to the start of the first race of the respective weekends. The entry fee for all classes is Thai Baht 300.- per weekend.

2.5 The entry fee includes participation of the skipper. An additional fee per weekend of Thai Baht 300.- is payable at the time of registration for each additional crew member and/or supporter participating in any of the official functions of the Regatta.

2.6 IRC current certificates or completed application forms for the rating together with fee, should accompany entries for relevant classes.

2.7 Completed handicapping forms must accompany entry forms for the Ocean Multihull class and keelboats requiring Thaicap ratings. Application forms are available from the Sailing Secretary.

3. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The following is the proposed schedule; however the Organising Committee reserves the right to amend this schedule.

Saturday, 12th January, Race Day One
09.00 Registration and Skippers’ briefing at Ocean Marina Yacht Club
12.00 First warning signal of the day
17.30 Reception at Ocean Marina Yacht Club

Sunday, 13th January, Race Day Two
11.00 First warning signal of the day

Saturday 9th February, Race Day Three (Long Distance to Koh Sri Chang with overnight stay)
09.00 Registration and Skippers’ briefing at Ocean Marina Yacht Club
10.30 First warning signal of the day
17.30 Party at Koh Sri Chang

Sunday 10th February. Race Day Four (Long Distance from Koh Sri Chang to Ocean Marina)
10.00 First warning signal of the day

Saturday 8th March. Race Day Five
09.00 Registration and Skippers’ briefing at Ocean Marina Yacht Club
12.00 First warning signal of the day
17.30 Reception at Ocean Marina Yacht Club

Sunday 9th March. Race Day Five
11.00 First warning signal of the day

Saturday 5th April. Race Day Six
09.00 Registration and Skippers’ briefing at Ocean Marina Yacht Club
12.00 First warning signal of the day
17.30 Reception at Ocean Marina Yacht Club

Sunday 6th April. Race Day Seven
11.00 First warning signal of the day
One hour after completion of racing the prize giving and closing event for the Gulf Charter Series at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club

4. COURSES

A description of courses to be used for each individual weekend will be issued at least one hour prior to the first warning signal of the day. The courses may be inshore, coastal and inter-island at the discretion of the organizers. The course(s) will be chosen to take into account the prevailing, or forecast weather conditions on the day of the race.

5. PENALTY SYSTEM

For Class Four rules 44.1 and 44.2 are changed so that only one turn, including one tack and one gybe, is required.

6. SCORING

6.1 The Series will be scored as provided in Appendix A of the Racing Rules using the Low Point system.

6.2 For classes one, two, four and five the series shall include a maximum of 11 races. For class three a maximum of 14 races applies.
Six races shall be completed to constitute a series.
For classes one, two, four and five if seven or more races are completed, one discard will be allowed. If six races or less are completed all will count. If 9 or more races are completed two discards will be allowed.
For class three if eight or more races are completed one discard will be allowed; if 12 or more races are completed two discards will be allowed. If six races or less are completed all will count.

6.3 Yachts shall be scored based on their hull number. Change of skipper during the series may be allowed, subject to the approval of the organizing committee.

7. HANDICAP SYSTEM

7.1 The IRC Handicap System shall be used for class one

7.2 The Thaicap handicap as issued by the Race Committee may be used for yachts in class two, at the discretion of the organizers.

7.3 The Platu Class Rules shall apply to class three.

7.4 The OMR handicap system shall be used for class four.

7.5 The RORC Sports Boat handicap system shall be used for class five.

7.6 Yachts shall submit their respective rating certificate or rating application no later than 10th January, 2008. Yachts racing under OMR must declare the handicap number under which they intend to race in the series. Alteration to a yacht’s certificate or handicap may be permitted after this date, at the discretion of the organizers. Should a change be approved, the highest of the handicaps will be applied to all races in the series. The organizers may at their discretion decide, whether such change to the yacht’s certificate warrant that the yacht be consider a new entry in the series.

7.7 The Thaicap and OMR handicaps shall be fixed and not subject to protest.

7.8 The Organizers may make alterations to the above classes and handicapping systems at its own discretion.

8. INSPECTION

All yachts shall be liable for inspection in accordance with applicable safety and measurement requirements.

9. JURY

9.1 A Jury shall be appointed in accordance with RRS Appendix M.

9.2 Decisions of the jury shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal.

9.3 A non-returnable fee of Baht 1,000 shall be applied to all protests.

10. PRIZES FOR THE GULF CHARTERS SERIES

10.1 A trophy will be awarded to the winning yacht in each class.

10.2 Second and third place prizes will also be awarded in each class.

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

11.0 DISCLAIMER

11.1 The Organising Committee, the Race Committee, the Regatta sponsors and their representatives, officers, members and volunteers accept no liability whatsoever for any loss of life, property, personal injury, or damage caused by or arising out of the Regatta. Participants compete entirely at their own risk.

11.2 The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand hereby, prescribes that, pursuant to the ISAF Advertising Code, Appendix 1 of the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005 - 2008 :

The Regatta may be classified as a Category C event under Regulation 20.4.2. However, prior approval of the Organizing Committee of the Regatta shall be required for any advertising in addition to that permitted under Regulation 20.3.3.

11.3 Without limitation, the Organizing Committee is expected to disapprove any advertising it deems in conflict with Thai laws or customs and may disapprove advertising in conflict with the products of event sponsors.
This prescription shall constitute an Individual Advertising Licence System for purposes of Regulation 20.4.2.