A few particular rules to point out:

--All competitors are responsible for carrying thier own equipment. 
--Boats over the starting line early which do not clear themselves will be scored as OCS and penalized 15 minutes.
--Required safety equipment must be onboard during the entire race.

RuffRider Regatta 2011

Rules and Conditions of Entry The Regatta shall be governed by: The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules (RRS 2009-2012); The prescriptions of the national sailing authority having jurisdiction when they apply; the individual class rules of the classes sailing (except as any are altered by these sailing instructions); the Notice of Race published for this event; and by these Sailing Instructions and Amendment.

1. SAFETY

1.1 GENERAL: Notwithstanding anything in this instruction, it is the personal responsibility of each competitor to sail safely and to wear an approved life jacket or Personal Floatation Device (PFD) or other approved personal buoyancy and adequate protective clothing, as conditions warrant.

1.2 PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE (PFD) / LIFE JACKETS:

i.The Race Committee recommends the wearing of life jackets or PFD'S at all times.

ii. When Code Flag Y (yellow with red diagonals) is displayed on the stating vessel at or before the 'Warning Signal' (Horn Blast), all competitors shall wear a life jacket of PFD approved by the National Authority while racing

1.3 ELECTRICAL POWER LINES: Before raising the mast, and always while sailing, check for and avoid low overhead electrical power lines. When launching from shore, or landing, check for and AVOID all power lines.

A mast coming in contact with and/or near an electrical power line can cause serious injury or death to people on or touching the boat!

1.3a Danger: It is Possible that, Great Danger to Life, limb, boat and equipment should be expected while racing in this event.

1.4 SAILING ABILITY: It is the responsibility of each skipper and crew to sail safely within his or her capabilities. If wind, wave, or water conditions make you doubtful of your ability to handle them, retire from the race. This is NOT a disgrace! It is good sailing practice.

1.4a all vessels shall meet STATE and FEDERAL REGULATIONS any vessel not doing so shall be disqualified.

1.4b In the event a vessel becomes disabled, all skippers are responsible for their vessels and the salvage of the vessel if necessary. No guarantee can be made that assistance from race committee will be rendered.

1.5 COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC: Any participant who interferes with commercial traffic will be disqualified from the regatta and reported to the USCG.

1.6  Vessels in distress.  A competitor may assist another vessel which is in obvious distress without penalty.  Redress will be given for time spent assisting.  Assisting vessels in obvious distress is encouraged and considered good sportsmanship inline with the tenents of our sport.

1.7   All boats will be REQUIRED to carry the following safety equipment onboard at all times:

            VHF radio rated submersible or in a waterproof container
            GPS rated submersible or in a waterproof container
            Waterproof flashlight
            Whistle attached as personal gear to each sailor
            USCG approved PFD's worn by each sailor onboard
            Magnetic Compass

1.8  All boats are SUGGESTED to have the following onboard:
            Charts of the Laguna Madre and South Corpus Christi Bay
            Cell Phone in a waterproof container
            Cash
            Food and water
            Small tool bag (pliers, screw driver, pins, ringdings, line, duct tape, etc.)
            Strobe attached as personal gear to each sailor
            Signal mirror attached as personal gear to each sailor

1.9  Violation of Rule 1.7 will result in a score of DNS for the day.  Race committee will conduct random spot checks to ensure all required equipment is onboard.

1.10  Water bladder packs (commonly called "Camelbaks") may be worn by competitors during the race.  There is no limit to thier size as long as they are commercially available and used for drinking water.
              

2. ENTRY

2.1 ENTRY DEADLINE: Entries received after recorded deadline will be returned to skippers address on entry form.

2.2 OFFICIAL ENTRY: An entry becomes official when received by the registration committee and posted on the master scorecard. Each entry will receive a number in order as each entry form is received, each boat will line up on the start line from North to South for the Saturday start only in there number order.

2.3 ERRORS OR OMISSIONS: Incomplete or inaccurate entry information on registration form will result in a no entry.

2.4 SAIL NUMBERS:Sail numbers shall match the entry form exactly and be readable from both sides of the sail.

2.5 BOAT/RIG ELIGIBILITY

2.5a Only production boats with a DPN handicap lower than 80 are allowed in the 2011 Ruff Rider Regatta.

2.5b Production boats shall conform to their individual class rules in effect as of, May 1st 2011, except where they conflict with these Rules and Conditions of Entry.

2.5c Production boats that do not conform exactly to their class rules must be able to receive a Portsmouth modification factor to account for their nonconformance to class rules.  The modification factor for double handed boats sailing single handed is not allowed.  Only class legal single handed boats will be allowed to participate.

2.5d All sails, spars, poles, spares, and related gear shall be on board the boat at all times while racing. 

2.5e  "Wings" are allowed on a boat as long as they are a factory option and account is taken in the portsmouth number.

2.6  Boats shall be in proper mechical and seaworthy condition.  Race committee may disqualify an entry at any time before or during the regatta if it is determined a boat is not seaworthy.

3. COURSE

3.1 GENERAL COURSE: South Padre Island Texas, North up the ICW to Corpus Christi, TX. Finish location will be announced at skippers meeting.

3.2 GENERAL AUTHORITY: Ruff Rider organizers and the USCG have full control of this event; they shall have full power to decide, without appeal, all matters relating to the event known as Ruff Rider Regatta.

4. CHANGES IN THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS / NOTICES TO THE COMPETITORS

4.1 CHANGES:Schedule changes will be announced at Skipper's Meeting.

5. SCHEDULE OF RACES AND EVENTS

5.1 STARTING TIME: Will be announced at Skipper's Meeting.

5.2 SKIPPER'S MEETING: A Skipper's Meeting will be held before each day's race.

6. RACE STARTS AND STARTING SEQUENCE

6.1 STARTING SIGNALS: The starting signals shall be a lemans start from the beach. Exact starting sequence will be described at the Skipper's Meeting.

6.1a START LINE: the Race Committee prior to the start on each day shall describe the starting line.

6.1b ON COURSE SIDE STARTS: Any boat over early shall be assessed a 15 minute penalty that does not clear themselves.  This time is to be added to the boat's elapsed time. It is the competitor's responsibility to determine if they are over early and have properly cleared themselves by moving their vessel behind the start line. Race committee is not required to hail but an over early flag may be displayed.  Blatent abuse of this rule will result in a boat recieving a DNF for that day's race.  The decision on abuse lies solely with race committee.

7. RETIRING FROM A RACE

7.1 RETIRING FROM A RACE: A boat, which retires from a race, must notify the Race Committee either before leaving the course area or upon arriving at shore.  Notification instructions will be given during the skipper's meeting.

8. FINISHES AND TIME LIMIT

8.1 FINISHING: When finishing on the first day, each yacht will remain in order on the beach as they finish, when all yachts have finished, the race committee will instruct each skipper to move thier yacht out of harm's way for the evening. On the second day each skipper will place their yacht in the order of finish from the first day. Any yacht violating this rule will receive a DNS for that day. Location of finish line will be announced at skippers meeting.

8.1a FINISHING ON THE WATER: When approximately half of the boats in the regatta have finished, the Race Committee may choose to finish the balance of the boats on the course. The Race Committee determines the method of finishing and the finish positions awarded.

8.2 TIME LIMIT:No time limit is set, but the Race Committee may cancel or abandon a race at its discretion.

9. SCORING

9.1 METHOD: US Sailing - The scoring will be based on the US Sailing Portsmouth Numbers as of August 15, 2011.  Each day's race will count as one race and finishing scores for both days will be summed together to develop a final score.

9.2 OTHER SCORING:

i. DNF - Did Not Finish equals the number of finishers plus one.

ii. DNS - Did Not Start equals the number of entrants.

iii. DSQ - Disqualified equals the number of entrants plus one.

9.3 TIES: Ties will be broken by a sum of corrected time from both days of racing.

9.5 LATE STARTERS: Boats starting 30 minutes after the last boat across the start line will be disqualified.

Ruff Rider Regatta was established and continues to be a 'FUN' regatta. The workers and organizers have struggled to give the participants a safe and enjoyable event. Please do your part to promote sailing safety and ensure everyone involved has a good time and will want to return next year.

10.0  Personal Equipment.

10.1  All personal equipment and gear shall be carried by the boat to which it belongs.  Equipment and gear may be borrowed between teams, but blatent abuse of the spirit of this rule will result in a DNF being scored for that day's race.  It is the sole dicision by race committee if this rule is being broken.