Notice of Race

2/1/2008

The SBC* Classic Boat Rally

*Savannah – Beaufort - Charleston

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April 17 – 24, 2008

The SBC Classic Boat Rally (“SBC) is an annual event on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) for sailboats of classic design having an overall length of 15 to 24 feet, combining the adventure of sailing from Savannah to Charleston, racing daily along the journey, and sharing social interaction on shore in the evenings. The number of entrants will be limited to 20 on each leg (day) of the event except for Classic Boat Day in Beaufort, Sunday, April 20, when no limit will be placed on the number of participating boats.  

The SBC is organized by, and conducted under, the authority of Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club (BYSC) with the support of Savannah Yacht Club, South Carolina Yacht Club, and Carolina Yacht Club (Charleston) and under the comprehensive umbrella authority of U. S. Sailing Association. Additional support for the event is provided by Edisto Marina, Bohicket Marina, the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, and sponsors who volunteer time and financial donations. The net proceeds of the event are distributed to the junior sailing programs of the host yacht clubs.

Participation as a sailor in this event is inherently dangerous. The racing area is on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) which is open to commercial traffic which has rights of way. Additionally, the courses of the races are, at times, distant from shelter in the event of the development of adverse weather conditions. Further, the ICW is subject to shifts in the bottom contours (shoaling) which may not be accurately shown on charts. In addition, tides are typically 7 to 9 feet vertically in this area, and tidal currents typically run 1 to 4 knots, causing hazards entering and leaving harbors and sailing under bridges, and often causing significant differences, under sail, between the directions of bearing and heading.

1.         RULES

1.1       The races will be governed by the rules as defined in Racing Rules of sailing, 2005-2008, the prescriptions of the US Sailing Association, the rules of the classes sailing and the Sailing Instructions.

1.2       Sail numbers, as described in the Racing Rules, are not required. Bow numbers will be issued to each participating boat.

2.         ENTRY AND REGISTRATION

2.1       The racing will be open to up to 20 pre-registered sailing vessels for each day except for Classic Boat Day in Beaufort which will be unlimited with respect to the number of participating vessels.

2.2       All participating vessels shall be of classic design (as determined by the Race Committee) having an overall length (stem to stern) of at least 15 feet but not more than 24 feet and having a PHRF rating, as published by a recognized PHRF source and adjusted (by the Race Committee) for the specific sailing equipment of the vessel, between 210 and 370 inclusive.

2.2       All participating boats must have on board a functioning motor capable of propelling the boat at a speed of at least 3.5 knots and sufficient fuel to run 8 consecutive hours. The Race Committee may grant an exception to this rule on a day-by-day basis if the participant has an accompanying boat capable of towing at these speeds and distances.

2.3       “Classic Design” is defined as sailboats other than those designed primarily for one-design fleet racing and must be approved by the Race Committee. Examples of approved classes are Herreshoff 12 ½ (including “Doughdish”), Montgomery 15 and 17, Cape Dory Typhoon, Marshall 18 and 22 catboats, West Wight Potter 15 and 19, Precision 16 and 18, Ensign, and Sakonnet 23. Other designs are welcome within the spirit of the event upon approval of the Chairman of the Regatta Committee.

2.4       Registration Form must be completed and Fees paid for each day not later than the day prior to the scheduled departure from the dock, and acceptance is subject to the daily limit of participating vessels.

2.5       Fees: The basic Participation Fee is $20 per day up to a maximum of $100. Meals and social events are additional and must be prepaid on a per-person basis. Marinas may also charge for boat launching, overnight docking, and take-out, to be borne individually by the participants..

2.6       Bow numbers will be assigned by the Race Committee and must be displayed on the bow of each participating vessel.

3.         SAFETY

3.1       It is the sole responsibility of each participant to decide, each day, whether to participate, whether to wear a PFD, whether to continue to sail, and how to respond to changing weather, sea, and tidal conditions.  

3.2       All participating boats are required to have safety equipment on board in conformity with Coast Guard regulations. The Race Committee may inspect each boat for having on board at least one wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) per person on board, one USCG Type 4 PFD (throwable cushion), an adequate bailing device (pump or bucket) unless the boat has a functional self-draining cockpit, a distress noise maker (horn or whistle), and suitable anchor with at least 100 feet of rode. Sponges and sail bags are not considered adequate bailing devices. Night navigation lights are not required.

3.3       All participating boats must have on board a compass and up-to-date, detailed navigational charts applicable to the area being sailed each day (subject to inspection by the Race Committee). The Maptech ChartKit (Norfolk to Florida) is highly recommended as the best chart set for the entire event. As a further aide, it is highly recommended that each boat have a GPS unit with “Blue Charts” or equivalent for the applicable area.

3.4       All participating boats must have a functioning VHF radio on board. The Race Committee may call for reporting in by each participating boat via VHF radio, and significant communications regarding the course, course changes, and weather conditions will be made via VHF radio. Participants may speak with each other on the VHF radio but are subject to disqualification based on sportsmanship if the communication relates to supplying a competitive advantage.

3.5       All participants must have sufficient food and water on board for a day for all individuals that will be on board.

3.6       Participants will be paired into a “buddy” system, with each “buddy” having responsibility for helping the other, reporting breakdowns or problems, and staying in touch, visually or by VHF radio, with each other until both have safely reached the daily destination.

3.7       Participants found not in compliance with the safety aspects described in this section are subject to being restricted from sailing in the event until compliance is achieved, and to disqualification from one or more of the day’s races if the non-compliance is found after the races have begun for the day.

4.         SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

            Note: The distances indicated below are approximate, and starting times are subject to change in the Sailing Instructions or by the Race Committee in light of tidal and weather factors.

Date    Day     Time   Description____________________________________________

4/17     Thu      9 to 1   Launch at Hogan’s Marina, rig at SYC

                        1 PM   Lunch at Savannah Yacht Club ($12 at Dock House)

                        2:30     Participants’ Briefing

4/18     Fri        8:00     Participants’ Meeting, the hoist at SYC

                        8:30     Depart SYC

                                    Total Distance 23.5 nautical miles

                        5 to 6   Arrival at SCYC, Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head

____________7          Dinner at SCYC (coat and tie) $40 Seafood Buffet in private room (cash bar)

4/19     Sat       10:00   Participants’ Meeting, the dock at SCYC

                        10:30   Depart SCYC

                                    Total Distance 17.5 nautical miles

                        5 to 6   Arrival at BYSC, Beaufort

4/20     Sun      1:00     Concurs d’Elegance Judging

                        1:30     Participants’ Meeting (CLASSIC BOAT DAY)

                        2:15     Start Race at BYSC to Bridge and Return (2 laps)

                                    Total distance sailing is 8.8 nautical miles

4/21     Mon     8:00     Participants’ Meeting, the dock at BYSC

                        8:30     Depart BYSC Dock

                                    Total Distance 28.5 nautical miles

                        5 to 6   Arrive Edisto Marina, Edisto Island

4/22     Tue      8:00     Participants’ Meeting, the dock at Edisto Marina

                        8:30     Depart the Edisto dock

                                    Total Distance 26.2 nautical miles

                        5 to 6   Arrive at Bohicket Marina, Seabrook Island

4/23     Wed    8:00     Participants’ Meeting, sidewalk above the docks

                        8:30     Depart from docks

                                    Total Distance 34.4 nautical miles

                        6 to 7   Arrive at Carolina Yacht Club, 50 E Bay St., Charleston

4/24     Thu      10 to 5 Haul out and depart   

5. FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES

5.1       The daily participation fee is $20 per participating boat, to a maximum of $100 for the entire event.

5.2       Additional expenses will include evening meals, your personal housing, launch, dock fees and haul-out. You are on your own for breakfast and lunch. Dinners at yacht clubs and in Savannah are shown in the schedule above. The local restaurants where we will eat as a group are informal and reasonable (figure about $20 - $40 with liquid refreshments).The restaurants in Beaufort and Edisto (Saturday and Tuesday) will be on your own. A dinner option on Saturday will be to join the Laser District 12 Championship regatta participants at BYSC. Overnight dock fees at Edisto and Bohicket Marinas will average about $40 per night depending on the length of your boat. Participants staying at the houses in Edisto may keep their boat free at the docks in front of the houses.

6.         HANDICAPPING AND RACE FORMAT

6.1       The “pursuit” format will be used in all races. The boats with the highest PHRF handicap (the slowest) will start first, and the lowest PHRF (the fastest) will start last. The time differential between the start of the participating boats will be determined by the Race Committee based on the length of the race. The Time on Distance formula will be used in applying the PHRF handicaps.

6.2       PHRF certificates are not required. Published resources will be used, where available, to determine each boat’s PHRF handicap. Published resources include, but are not limited to, New England Region or Western Long Island Sound Region or U.S. Sailing. Differences among published sources will be resolved by the Race Committee. Adjustments from base PHRF ratings may be made by the Race Committee in advance of a race depending on factors such as equipment, rig, sail plan and weight. The Race Committee may also make temporary adjustments to the PHRF of any participating vessel that, in its judgment based upon actual performance, deserves such a change in order to keep the racing fleet more evenly matched. The Race Committee will assign PHRF ratings for boats not having a published rating or certificate based on the judgment of the Race Committee. The Race Committee’s decision regarding each vessel’s PHRF will be final, for each day’s races, although the Race Committee may adjust the PHRF for subsequent races.

6.3       In application, differences in PHRF rating between the boats represent the number of seconds per mile of racing that, if the boats are sailed to their performance expectations, would make them equal in “corrected” time. For example, if one participating boat has a PHRF rating of 270 and another has a rating of 300, the 30 point difference means that the boat rated 270 is expected to be 30 seconds faster per mile than the one rated 300. If the race is 10 miles long, the total difference is 300 seconds, or 5 minutes, and the boat rated 300 would start that race 5 minutes ahead of the one rated 270. They would be expected to cross the finish line at the same time.

6.4       The races will be scheduled to be 5 to 14 miles in length and will be between a pre-designated starting line and finish line. The Sailing Instructions will specify the intended daily races; however, the RC may modify these courses to consider weather conditions and other factors that impact the safety and enjoyment of a particular leg of the event and will notify the participants of any changes prior to the start of each race.

8.         RACING AREA AND COURSES

            8.1       The Racing Area will be on the ICW or on the related tributaries as described elsewhere herein.

            8.2       The courses on each leg of the event will be described in the Sailing Instructions. All government navigational buoys must be observed unless explicitly made optional in the Sailing Instructions or by the Race Committee in advance of the race.

9.         SCORING and PRIZES

9.1       Each day having at least one race will be considered a Regatta.

9.2       In the pursuit format, first to finish is the winner of each race unless adjustments are made in consideration of delays due to bridge openings or assistance given to another participating boat. Failure to make a timely start, or running aground, or the development of equipment failures will not be cause for adjustment.

9.3       Low point scoring will be used. The one with the lowest points for the day will be considered the winner of that day’s regatta. Daily ties will be broken by the finish in the second of two races or the third of three races.

9.4       Awards will be given to the overall winners at the Victory Dinner in Charleston on April 23. The “Bunky Helfrich Spirit Award” and the “Most Helpful” awards will also be given at that time. Daily winner awards will be given out each evening during the event. Winners of the Concurs d’Elegance, including “Most Bristol” for boats older than one year”, and “Most Authentic” will be recognized at the BYSC dinner Sunday, April 21.

10.       SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The Sailing Instructions will be posted on the web site well in advance of the event. The web site is www.ClassicBoatRally.com . They will also be available at the Participants’ Meeting each day of the event. Any questions may be addressed in advance to Woody@ClassicBoatRally.com or brought up for discussion at the daily Participants’ Meeting.

11.       FURTHER INFORMATION

Additional information and updates will be provided on the web-site www.ClassicBoatRally.com .

Woody Norwood, Chairman, Event Committee

404-352-9536

678-427-2937