Biscay Challenge

1. Organising Authority
The organising authority is the Royal Southampton Yacht Club (RSYC). Further information can be obtained from the Sailing Secretary, RSYC, 1 Channel Way, Ocean Village, Southampton SO14 3QF Tel: 023 8022 3352, from the race website at www.biscaychallenge.com or by following the links on the RSYC website at www.rsyc.org.uk

2. Sponsor
The event is sponsored by BNY Mellon Asset Management and the name of the event shall be the BNY Mellon Biscay Challenge 2011.

3. Rules
Racing is governed by the following documents. In the event of conflict, a document takes precedence over those listed below it:
The Sailing Instructions (SIs),
The Notice of Race (NoR),
The current Class Rules as appropriate for the class entered,
The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations 2011 (OSR),
The ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 (RRS) and the prescriptions of the Royal Yachting Association,
The International Rules for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (IRPCAS)

The following rules are modified:
RRS Part 2 (When yachts meet): shall apply from sunrise to sunset
a) from the start to a distance of 30 nautical miles from the start
b) from a distance of 30 miles from the finish until the finish
At all other times these rules are replaced by part B of IRPCAS (steering and sailing rules).
RRS 41 (Outside Assistance) is modified in section 13 of this NoR.
RRS 44 (Penalties at the time of an incident) is modified in the SIs.
RRS 51 (Movement of ballast) Movement of ballast, equipment or stores with the objective of modifying the tuning or the stability of the yacht is allowed where permitted by the Class Rules.
RRS 52 (Manual power) is modified in section 12 of this NOR.
RRS 60 (Right to Protest) is modified in the SIs.

4. The course
The course, of approximately 540 miles, is expected to be from the Central Solent, passing Ushant and the Chaussée de Sein west cardinal buoy to port, to Hondarribia. Additional marks and or waypoints may be specified in the SIs.

5. Time limit
There is no time limit. All boats finishing will be scored in accordance with their corrected finishing time, adjusted by any penalties imposed by the Race Committee or the Protest Committee.

6. Classes
Classes will be provided for IRC rated monohulls and MOCRA rated multihulls.
Subject to a minimum entry of three yachts in each class and at the discretion of the Race Committee, other classes that meet the minimum entry requirements may be provided.
Classes may be subdivided subject to the number of entries received.
The Race Committee (RC) may require any yacht racing under IRC to obtain an endorsed certificate.

7. Entries
Entries are welcome from members and non-members of the RSYC and close on Friday 10th June 2011. Entry forms may be obtained from the RSYC Sailing Secretary. Printable entry forms and on-line entry will be available from www.biscaychallenge.com and www.rsyc.org.uk.
Potential entrants are requested to contact the RSYC Sailing Secretary to log their interest.

8. Eligibility and Qualification
Eligibility of yachts and crew is at the discretion of the organisers; subject to this, the event is open to entrants as below.
Yachts and their crews shall comply with the Offshore Special Regulations for Category 2. Copies of these regulations can be downloaded from www.sailing.org/specialregs.

Yachts must have two persons on board while racing, both aged eighteen or over on 1 January 2011, each with suitable experience and capable of sailing the yacht single-handed if necessary.

The crew members, together and with no other crew, must since 1 January 2009 have completed either: a 150 mile non-stop passage, or at least three races each of 90 nautical miles or more including overnight passages on two of them. The qualifying passage/races must be carried out in the yacht entered, which shall not be significantly modified between qualifying and the start of the race.

Distance is measured on the rhumb line. Entrants must produce written details of their experience together with sufficient evidence of qualification in the form of a written log or race results.

IRC Monohulls shall be between 25 and 50 feet LOA. They must have a minimum base SSSN of 24 (or STIX 31 and AVS 119). Yachts with a series date of 1995 and later will be categorized under STIX/AVS only. Yachts with a series date before 1995 may be categorized under STIX/AVS or SSSN.

Multihulls shall be between 30 and 45 feet LOA. They must meet the escape hatch requirements.

Other class yachts shall conform to their current class rules.
The organisers may waive or modify some of the above requirements; requests must be made and determined in writing.

No yacht will be permitted to start unless she has a completed Inspection and Declaration Form signed by the Skipper and an authorised representative of the Race Committee. This form will be provided with the Sailing Instructions.

9. Skippers' responsibilities
The Skipper is entirely and solely responsible for the safety of the yacht and crew, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the NoR, SIs or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility.

It is for the Skipper to decide whether the yacht is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself. By launching or going to sea, the skipper confirms that the yacht is fit for those conditions and her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.

The Skipper is required to hold adequate insurance to cover all risks to the yacht, the crew and third parties. In particular the Skipper shall hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least EURO 2 million for the duration of the event.

Nothing done by the Organisers can reduce the responsibility of the Skipper nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the yacht taking part in the racing. The Organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and include the Organising Authority, its partners and sponsors, the Race Committee, their representatives and others. The Skipper is responsible to ensure that the yacht is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that the crew has sufficient experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know how to use it.

The fact that the Race Committee may conduct inspections of a yacht does not reduce the responsibilities of the Skipper set out above.

10. Disclaimer
Notwithstanding any other rule and condition, the Organisers jointly and severally are providing this Race on the understanding that they or their representatives bear no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience to boats or persons howsoever arising directly or indirectly from their rules, policy, or rulings before or during the race or related activities.

By participating in the race each Skipper agrees to release the Organisers from and against all claims, damages, costs, torts, suits at law or in equity or otherwise, arising out of or in any way relating to the race. This release shall be binding upon each entrant and the heirs, beneficiaries, representatives, and estates of each entrant.

11. Inspection
All yachts will be inspected and must arrive in Southampton no later than 0900 on Friday 17th June 2011 for that purpose. At least one member of the crew must be present for the inspection. This inspection shall not be interpreted as confirming the seaworthiness or the suitability of the yacht and its equipment.

Entrants shall register at the RSYC between 0900 BST and 1800 BST on Friday 17th June.

There will be a compulsory briefing for all crew members on the evening of Friday 17th June.

12. Stored power
RRS 52 is amended as below.
Wind assisted or electrically powered self-steering may be used.
An energy source other than manual force may be used for the operation of the ballast system and/or keel system.
For IRC yachts, IRC rule 15 is deleted; RRS 52 as modified above shall apply.

13. Outside assistance
RRS 41 is amended as below.
Yachts must complete the whole route independently and must not deliberately sail in convoy or seek to obtain accompaniment in any way whatsoever.

A yacht may obtain any information relevant to the safety or navigation of the yacht, its choice of route or weather from any publicly available source, provided such source is not subject to payment of a fee.

Yachts may enter other ports or anchorages. The use of an engine or tow is permitted to make port or anchorage but competitors shall return to the point where the engine was used or tow taken (under engine if required) before re-joining the race. Full details of any use of engine or towages shall be reported to the Race Committee and a declaration made to that effect, including positions and times when the engine use or towage began and ended.

When in port or anchorage, yachts may moor or berth as required and may obtain assistance from local sources and carry out repairs or embark stores, spares, fuel and water. Repairs and equivalent replacements may be carried out but not alterations. After the start of the race, yachts shall not be assisted by a maintenance or supply team organised in advance of the race.

The Race Committee will impose a penalty (without a hearing) if it considers that an advantage was gained.

14. Scoring
The Low Points Scoring System of RRS Appendix A will apply.

15. Prizes and Trophies
A trophy is awarded to the overall winner of each class to be held for one year. Other prizes will be awarded.

16. Fees

RSYC MEMBERS

Until May 30, 2011		After May 30, 2011
£300		£350

NON RSYC MEMBERS

Until May 30, 2011		After May 30, 2011
£350		£400

17. Sailing Instructions
Sailing Instructions will be sent (using the method requested on the entry form) by 31st May 2011, to all except late entrants, who may collect them from the RSYC, Ocean Village, or download them from the race website at www.biscaychallenge.com or the RSYC website at www.rsyc.org.uk.

18. Text
For the NoR, SIs,OSR, IRPCAS and RRS, the English text prevails.

19. Applicable Law
These Rules shall be interpreted in accordance with the Laws of England and the Organising Authority submit, or will submit, themselves only to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England as may be necessary to permit the resolution of legal actions with regard to these Rules, the conduct and organisation of the Race.