1. THE ORGANIZING AUTHORITY

The Organizing Authority (OA) will be Yacht Racing Union of the Great Lakes (YRUGL).

2. VENUE

The venue will be Racine, Wisconsin USA.   All sailing activity will be based at the Racine Yacht Club.   Racing will be conducted on Lake Michigan.

3. EVENT GRADING

The event will apply for ISAF Grade 4.   This grading is subject to review by the ISAF Match Race Advisory Board.   The event may be re-graded when there is clear reason to do so.

4. THE PROVISIONAL PROGRAM

4.1 Schedule

(a)   Race office opens October 8, 2004 - 1800 hrs.
(b)   Registration and crew weighing will be
        October 8, 2004: 1800 to 2000 hrs and
        October 9, 2004: 0730 to 0830 hrs.
(c)   First briefing and boat draw will be October 9, 2004 at 0830 hrs.
(d)   First meeting with the umpires will be immediately following the first briefing.
(e)   Racing days will be October 9 and 10, 2004.
(f)   Time of the first race each day will be 1000 hrs.
(g)   Prize giving on October 10, 2004 as soon as possible after last race.

4.2 MANDATORY ATTENDANCE

Unless excused by the Organizing Authority, attendance at the following is mandatory:
(a)   Initial briefing, for skippers.
(b)   Daily briefing, for skippers.
(c)   Daily debriefing, for skippers.
(d)   Regatta hospitality function, for skippers and crew.
(e)   Prize giving, for skippers and crew.
(f)   Press briefing and photographs, for skippers & crew

5. SKIPPER'S ELIGIBILITY

(a)   Six skippers will be invited. Only skippers invited by the OA will be eligible to enter this event.   Each of the six YRUGL Member Associations may select a skipper who regularly resides in its area and who is a member in good standing of any yacht club that is a member of such Association.   Selection to be by such standards as reasonable to select a skipper who has demonstrated championship ability in yacht racing conducted by such Association within the two years immediately preceding this Regatta.   Such selection must be made and notice in writing thereof given to YRUGL, to the representatives of the other associations, and to the host club not later than two weeks before the date of this Regatta.

(b)   The registered skipper shall helm the boat at all times while racing, except in an emergency.

(c)   To remain eligible a skipper shall confirm intention to compete in writing (e-mail is acceptable) to be received by one week before the Regatta.

(d)   All skippers shall meet the eligibility requirements of RRS Appendix 2, Regulation 19.2.

(e)   All competitors shall obtain an ISAF Sailor ID by registering online at www.sailing.org/isafsailor.   Skippers shall inform the OA of their ISAF Sailor ID at registration.

(f)   In addition, the skipper shall select as crew only members who regularly reside in the area covered by his/her YRUGL Member Association or who have regularly crewed for the skipper over the previous year.

6. ENTRIES

6.1 REGISTRATION

The team shall be entered upon completion of registration, crew weighing and the payment of all fees and deposits.   All payments shall be made by cash, check or credit card in $ (US).

6.2 ENTRY FEE
A non-refundable entry fee of $400.00 (US) shall be paid by the close of registration October 9, 2003.   Each competitor must also pay a non-refundable policy premium for borrowed boat insurance, not to exceed $100.00 (US).   Note that the borrowed boat insurance policy is intended to cover only damage to the boats used, for the boat owner's protection only.

6.3 DAMAGE DEPOSIT

(a)   An initial damage deposit of $500.00 (US) shall be paid at registration. This deposit is the maximum payable by the skipper as a result of any one incident.

(b)   In the event that the OA decides a deduction from the damage deposit is required, it may require that the deposit be restored to its original amount before the skipper will be permitted to continue in the event.

(c)   Damage cost will be deducted from the deposit of the team(s) causing the damage when the fault can be determined. Cost of any damage incurred that cannot be attributable to a specific team(s) will be deducted in equal portions from all damage deposits.

(d)   Any remaining deposit after the event will be refunded within two weeks after the event.

7. RULES

7.1 GOVERNING RULES

(a)   The event will be governed by the rules as defined in the RRS, including Appendix C and the Richardson Trophy Deed of Gift (http://www.yrugl.org/Amended.htm).

(b)   The national authority prescriptions will not apply.

(c)   The rules for the handling of boats will apply, and will also apply to any practice sailing.

(d)   S2 7.9 Class rules will not apply.

(e)   Except for issues governed by the current RRS, the decision of YRUGL in any matter connected with the races shall be final.

7.2 MAJOR ALTERATIONS TO THE RRS

(a)   Appeals of decisions of the protest committee in the Richardson Trophy Championship are to be made to the Appeals Committee of the contestant's national racing authority.   This modifies RRS 70.1.

8. BOATS AND SAILS

(a)   The event will be sailed in S2 7.9 Meter Class sailboats.

(b)   Up to six (6) boats will be provided.

(c)   The following sails will be provided for each boat: mainsail, #3 Jib, and spinnaker.

(d)   Boats will be allocated by draw, on a schedule as determined by the Race Committee.

9. CREW (INCLUDING SKIPPER)

(a)   The total number of crew (including skipper) shall be four (4) or five (5). All registered crew shall sail all races.

(b)   The maximum total crew weight, determined prior to racing shall be 963 lb, when wearing at least shorts and shirts.

(c)   When a registered skipper is unable to continue in the event, the OA may authorize an original crew member to substitute.

(d)   When a registered crew member is unable to continue in the event, the OA may authorize a substitute, a temporary substitute or other adjustment.

10. EVENT FORMAT

(a)   The event will consist of the following stages:

        Stage 1: First Round Robin - Each skipper will race against each other skipper once.
        Stage 2: Second Round Robin - Each skipper will race against each other skipper once.

(b)   The Organizing Authority may vary the format, terminate or eliminate any round, when conditions do not permit the completion of the intended format.

11. COURSE

(a)   The course will be windward/leeward with starboard roundings, finishing downwind.

(b)   The intended course area will be on Lake Michigan north and east of the Racine Harbor entrance.

12. ADVERTISING

(a)   As boats and equipment will be supplied by the Organizing Authority, Appendix 1, regulation 20.3.2 applies. Each boat may be required to display advertising as supplied by the Organizing Authority.

(b)   Competitors may be permitted to display advertising ashore on their own clothing at the venue, only if negotiated and approved by the OA.

(c)   Boats shall not be permitted the right to protest for breaches of any rules regarding advertising. (This changes RRS 60.1)

13. PRIZES

(a)   The principal prize for first place will be the Richardson Trophy, a perpetual trophy, subject to the terms of its deed of gift.

(b)   Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place.

14. MEDIA, IMAGES, AND SOUND

The OA may require competitors to be available for interviews and/or photographs.   The OA shall have the right to use any images and sound recorded during the event free of any charge.

15. SPARE

16. SPARE

17. DISCLAIMER

All competitors taking part in this event do so at their own risk.   The Organizing Authority, its associates and appointees accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience incurred, howsoever caused.

18. INVITATIONS

Entries will be accepted only from invited skippers.   If you wish to be invited, please contact your YRUGL Member Lake Association for information on qualification to compete.   See: http://www.yrugl.org/Officers.htm

Contact Information:

Host Yacht Club


Racine Yacht Club
One Barker Street
Racine, Wisconsin 53402 USA
Telephone:   (262) 634-8585
Fax:   (262) 634-8587
E-mail:   office@racineyachtclub.org
Website:   http://www.racineyachtclub.org/

Regatta Chair


Mark Rode, RYC Rear Commodore
Telephone:   (847) 746-9363 (R)
E-mail:   2katmandu@comcast.net

LMSRF Chair & YRUGL VP


Gary Hendrickson Chair, LMSRF Offshore Advisory Council
Telephone:   (847) 564-9043 (R)
E-mail:   gary-hendrickson@comcast.net
Website:   http://www.lmsrf.org/

YRUGL Contact


Scott Spaeth, President, YRUGL
Telephone:   (651) 291-7430
E-mail:   Coralsunset@aol.com
Website:   http://www.lmsrf/org/yrugl/