RuffRider Regatta 2009
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.
1.5 COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC: Any participant who interferes with commercial traffic will be disqualified from the regatta and reported to the USCG.
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.
2.4 BOAT/RIG ELIGIBILITY
2.4a Only production boats are allowed in the 2009 Ruff Rider around the island Regatta.
2.4b Production boats shall conform to their individual class rules in effect as of, May 1st 2006, except where they conflict with these Rules and Conditions of Entry.
2.4d All sails, spars, pole and related gear shall be on board the boat at all times while racing.
3.1 GENERAL COURSE: South Padre Island Texas, North up the ICW to the Port Mansfield channel 26°33.4 n 097° 24.3 w , then east 7 miles out to the end of the jetties. After exiting the Mansfield jetties head South to the midway point about 15 miles for the over night stay on the beach 26° 21.068 n 097° 12.536 w . Sunday morning head south to the SPI jetties head west to the Queen Isabel causeway and finish just north of the causeway. Finish location will be announced at skippers meeting.
3.1a All boats must sail in-between the navigational markers under the center span of the Queen Isabel causeway on Sunday of the event, any boat not doing so will receive DSQ.
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 around the Island Regatta.
4.1 CHANGES:Schedule changes will be announced at Skipper's Meeting.
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.
6.1 STARTING SIGNALS:The starting signals shall be a lemans start from the beach with a 5 minute signal horn before the start of each day.
6.1a START LINE: the Race Committee prior to the start on each day shall describe the starting line.
6.1b PREMATURE STARTS: Any boat over early shall be assesed a 5 minute penalty that does clear themselves.
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.
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 there yacht out of harms way for the evening. On the second day each skipper will place there yacht in there 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.
9.1 METHOD: US Sailing - The scoring will be based on the US Sailing Portsmouth Numbers as of August 15, 2009.
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 comparison of the last race to the first race.
9.4 PREMATURE STARTERS: Boats over early, which do not restart, will be awarded a DNS.
9.5 LATE STARTERS: Boats starting 30 minutes after the last boat across the start line will be disqualified.
Ruff Rider around the Island 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.
