Conditions
The purpose of this event is to determine the winner of the United States Adult Sailing Championship for the Clifford D. Mallory Trophy.
1 CONDITIONS
1.1. These Conditions, the US Sailing Regulations Section 10, the Notice of Race and Championship Sailing Instructions apply to all levels of the Championship. The Championship Sailing Instructions are suggested for application at all levels. Modification of the Championship Sailing Instructions may be made as deemed necessary with the approval of the appropriate local association, Area, or National Chairperson. A Notice of Race shall be issued by the host club for each level of the championship. The Adult Championship is for male or female as helmsperson. At all levels there are no gender restrictions on the crew.
1.2. The Notice of Race, Conditions, Sailing Instructions and Regatta Report for the Area and Final Championship will be provided to association secretaries, event coordinators and Championship Committee members by US Sailing.
1.3. The National Chairperson may approve any departure from these Conditions at the RSA or Area level after consulting with the Championship Area Representative(s).
1.4. Protest Committee - This committee is appointed by the National Chairperson.
1.5. Principal Race Officer Area qualifiers - This appointment may be by the host club with approval by the National Chairperson. US Sailing Regulations recommend and encourage the appointment of a US Sailing Regional or National Race Officer, but accept a Certified Club Race officer. (See Section 10.2)
1.6. Chief Judge, Area Qualifiers – US Sailing recommends and encourages the appointment of a US Sailing Senior Judge as protest Committee Chairperson, but accepts a Certified Judge. (See Section 9.2)
2. NOTICE OF RACE, ENTRY FORM, and SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2.1. The Notice of Race and Entry Form shall be written by the host club and submitted to the Committee Chairperson and Chief Judge no later than January 1st and placed on the US Sailing website by January 15th. The National Chairperson may grant permission to extend this deadline. Note: the Entry Form is in electronic format and must be submitted electronically.
2.2. Sailing Instructions should be written by the host Certified PRO and submitted to the Chief Judge and chairperson for review and refinement 30 days prior to the event. It is suggested that if the Sailing Instructions are posted on the US Sailing website or any other location they be posted as Preliminary.
2.3. It is recommended that the Sailing Instructions limit racing to 5 races per day. Additional races shall only be run with the approval of the Protest Committee, Championship Chairperson, and Regatta Chairperson.
3. ELIGIBILITY
3.1. There are no gender restrictions for helmsperson or crews for each team.
3.2. The helmsperson and all crew must 18 years of age or older in the year of competition, except that one member of the crew may be 15 years or older in the year of the event; and,
3.3. be a member of a local sailing organization (LSO)* within the same US Sailing Area as the helmsperson; and
3.4. reside in or regularly compete in the same US Sailing Area where the LSO is geographically located; and
3.5. be an individual or family member of US Sailing.
3.6. comply with crew weight limits which may be imposed. The weight limits and the weigh-in process shall be posted in the Notice of Race
*Local Sailing organization (LSO) is defined to include a yacht club, sailing club, community sailing program or other sailing organization that is an organizational member of a Regional Sailing Association (RSA) and US Sailing.
4. SELECTION PROCESS – AREA LEVEL
4.1. The purpose of these events is to select the Adult Sailing Championship Teams to compete in the National Championship.
4.2. Each Area is responsible for holding qualifiers to select up to 2 teams regardless of gender for the National Championship.
4.3. Each Area is responsible for selecting 2 events as qualifiers using a single or both qualifying event formats.
4.4. Open Event qualifier format-
4.4.1. Examples include regional championships, multi-class regattas (NOODs, Charleston RW, Key West), regional series, e.g. Mid-Winter circuits
4.4.2. It is encouraged but not required that the boats be the same or nearly the same as the boats being used for the finals.
4.4.3. The NOR shall contain a link to the electronic version of the Conditions document at the US Sailing website, or the Conditions document shall be attached as an addendum to the NOR in either electronic or hard copy form.
4.4.4. Teams that wish to be considered for the qualifier must meet the crew eligibility requirements set forth in Sections 3.1-3.5.
4.4.5. The top eligible team, representing the Area in which the event is held, is eligible to register for the finals. Finalists from multiple Areas may be selected at an event, with prior arrangement between affected Areas and approval from the National Committee.
4.4.6. If an Area qualifier has not been scheduled on or about January 1 in the same year as the Adult Championship, an event may be designated by the Championship Committee.
4.5. Stand-alone qualifier format
4.5.1. The selection process for competitors may be by sailing qualifying ladder events in Area competition qualifiers, leading to the National Championship.
4.5.2. A minimum of six (6) boats are required to be both entered by the NOR registration deadline and on the starting line in order for the qualifying winner to move on.
4.6. A competitor, after entering or participating in an Area qualifier, may participate in the second qualifying event, subject to the restrictions set forth in Sections 4.6 and 4.7.
4.7. A LSO may represent only one RSA and its respective Area.
4.8. A competitor, after entering or participating in an Area Adult Championship ladder event for an LSO that year, may not compete for another LSO except as a substitute under section 5 of these Conditions.
4.9. Those who enter under Sections 4.4 and 4.5 and do not win may request an invitation to apply for admission to the finals.
5. SELECTION PROCESS – NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
5.1. In the event an entry from an Area has not been received or a letter from the Area Coordinator committing to an entry at the national event has not been received by the host club’s posted dead line for the event, the host chairman shall then notify the National Chairperson. In this case, the Adult Championship Committee may invite a team(s) from any geographical Area. As detailed in Section 5.4.
5.2. In the event that a qualifying event will be held less than 30 days prior to the Championship Finals, an Area may hold its “spot” by making appropriate arrangement with the National Chairperson.
5.3. No more than 4 invitations may be extended to a combination of age-eligible winners of U.S. Junior Championships and Intercollegiate Sailing Championships.
5.4. Some entries may be invited, to complete the roster of finalists who may not have been determined under the formats of Sections 4.4 and 4.5. The Adult Championship Committee will create an ordered list of skippers to fill any open slot in the Championship finals. Skippers wishing to be included on this list may submit their name and any requested information to the Chairperson of the Adult Championship Committee for consideration by the committee. Invitations will only be issued to fill open slots after entries from Sections 4.4 and 4.5, and 5.3 have been accepted.
6. HELMSMAN, CREWS, ALTERNATES, and SUBSTITUTES
6.1. The helmsperson of an advancing team shall remain the same for all levels of the ladder.
6.2. At all levels for the Adult Championship the skipper shall be the helmsperson.
6.3. Crew members may change after each qualifying event provided the new crew complies with the terms of these Conditions and Eligibility requirements as stated in the Notice of Race and in section 5 of the Championship Conditions posted at http://championships.ussailing.org/Committee/Conditions.htm
6.4. The crew must be listed on the Entry Form by the entry deadline.
6.5. One alternate may be listed on the Entry Form for each event. The alternate crew may replace a crew member in the event at any time, but then will replace the listed crew member in all remaining races of that event.
6.6. In an emergency during the event, the Protest Committee may grant the use of a substitute crew.
7. EVENT FORMATS/NUMBER OF RACES for the Qualifiers and National Championship
7.1. The preferred format for ladder events leading to the National Championship shall be in the following order of preference and shall be stated in the Notice of Race.
7.1.1. Round Robin - Each entry sails each boat once to complete the event, except if it is a two-boat event it shall be, at a minimum, a double round robin.
7.1.2. Boat Drawn – The number of races to be sailed shall be stated in the Notice of Race. Teams will draw for a boat on a daily basis and sail that boat for the entire day. A minimum of two days should be scheduled for this format.
7.1.3. Bring and Sail your Own Boat - The number of races scheduled for this event will be stated in the Notice of Race. A minimum of three races will constitute a series
7.2. Should conditions make it impossible to complete an event in accordance with a chosen format, the event results will be determined on the number of completed races. The Protest Committee, in accordance with Condition 9.1, will make the determination.
7.3. National Championship – The National Championship will be scheduled over a four day period, preferably Thursday through Sunday under the format of Para 7.1.
7.3.1. The preferred format for the finals is 7.1.1.
7.3.2. At the National Event, if new boats are used in the championship, the boats will be drawn before the first day of racing and shall be rotated daily. If borrowed boats are used, there shall be a round robin rotation after each race.
7.3.3. A clinic may be provided by the host club and practice races may be conducted. It is believed that sailors will have some familiarity with the boats by the time they reach the finals.
7.3.4. Details of the final format shall be approved by the chairman of the U.S Adult Championships committee and shall be stated in the Notice of Race.
8. BOAT AND EQUIPMENT
8.1. Boats - If provided at a ladder event at all levels shall not be modified except as stated in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions of that event.
8.2. Equipment - Brought aboard a boat by an entry during an event:
8.2.1. Mandatory equipment items - one PFD/lifejacket (no “Fanny Packs”),with whistle attached, for each member of the crew approved by the U.S. Coast Guard or the Canadian Department of Transport, depending on event location.
8.2.2. Optional equipment items permitted - Compass, flags, sponge, bailer, bucket, normally equipped ditty bag, personal effects.
8.2.3. Electronic equipment items
8.2.3.1. “VHF” radios are allowed on boats for the purpose of communication from the race committee.
8.2.3.2. Electronic equipment that could aid the performance of the boat will not be allowed on board. Example: Compasses that compute headers and lifts, GPS, Cell phones, other items as deemed inappropriate by the Protest Committee.
8.2.3.3. Cell phones may be carried aboard but shall only be turned on in event of an emergency.
8.2.4. No assurance is made as to the availability of any items in paragraph 8.2.2 or 8.2.3 on site.
9. PROTEST COMMITTEE (AUTHORITY & SELECTION)
9.1. AUTHORITY - One or more US Sailing certified judge(s) should be present at all races of an event. The organizing authority may request the Protest Committee to assume certain responsibilities with respect to each event. No person may serve as a member of the Protest Committee or as the Principal Race Officer at an event in which any competitor in the event is a close relative. At all levels of the ladder including the national level, if an event is to be terminated prior to completion of scheduled races the Protest Committee, and the National Chairperson shall so decide.
[For the purpose of this policy the term "close relative" is defined as an individual related to another person or the person's spouse within the third degree. This includes parents, grandparents, great grandparents, siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, spouses and close relatives of spouses including step or in law relatives.]
9.2. SELECTION
9.2.1. Area level events - The Area Representatives, after conferring with any Area coordinating group shall be responsible for selecting the Protest Committee.
9.2.2. National event - Shall be selected by the Championship Chairperson. The Chief Judge shall be a US Sailing Certified Senior Judge and shall serve as Chairman of the Protest Committee. The majority of the Protest Committee shall be made up of Certified Judges.
9.3. Consult guidelines for Race Officials at US Sailing Championships http://championships.ussailing.org/Championships_Home/ChampMngt/Race_Official_Requirements.htm
10. RACE COMMITTEE
10.1. AUTHORITY- The race committee is appointed to conduct races on the water.
10.2. SELECTION- The race committee at all ladder events shall be appointed by the RSA hosting the ladder event after consultation with the Area Race Officer or Area Judge.
10.2.1. Area Ladder events – It is recommended and encouraged that a US Sailing Regional or National race officer be appointed, but a certified US Sailing Club Race Officer is acceptable.
10.2.2. National Event- The Principal Race Officer (Finals) - The Principal Race officer shall be a US Sailing Regional or National Race Officer.
10.3. Consult guidelines for Race Officials at US Sailing Championships http://championships.ussailing.org/Championships_Home/ChampMngt/Race_Official_Requirements.htm
11. BREAKDOWNS
11.1. When a boat suffers a breakdown, the crew shall display a yellow breakdown flag at the first reasonable opportunity. The boat’s crew shall make all reasonable efforts to fix the damage and continue racing, unless that would result in further damage to the boat or risk safety of the crew. Race officials may require a damaged boat to retire.
11.2. When a boat’s finishing position is materially prejudiced by equipment failure clearly not the fault of the boat’s crew or by swamping, capsizing, disablement or damage caused by an infringing boat, that boat may be awarded compensation.
11.3. Compensation for breakdowns will be in accordance with RRS 62 and A10.
12. SCORING
12.1. The Low Point Scoring System, Appendix A Low Point System of the Racing Rules, will apply at all levels of this championship.
12.2. Each boat’s total score will be the sum of her scores for all races. (Changes A2)
12.3. At any level of competition, ties shall be decided in a single sail off race between the tied teams using boats which the series has demonstrated to be the most evenly matched. The boats so selected shall be drawn by lot. If, in the opinion of the Protest Committee, conditions do not permit a sail off race, the tie shall be decided in favor of the crew breaking the tie in accordance with Appendix A 8.1 & A 8.2 “Series Ties.”
13. PRIZES
13.1. At the Adult Sailing Championship, US Sailing’s perpetual trophies and keeper medals are awarded to the first three teams as follows:
13.1.1. First place will have their name engraved on the Clifford D. Mallory Trophy and be presented a gold medal
13.1.2. Second place is a silver medal
13.1.3. Third place is a bronze medal
13.2. The following awards may be presented:
13.2.1. Royal Victoria Trophy for Seamanship
13.2.2. Staton J. Peele Jr. Trophy for Sportsmanship (voted by sailors)
13.3. At all other ladder events, the regatta chairperson, working with the respective U.S. Adult Sailing Championship committee representative(s), will determine the number and style of awards to be presented.
14. US SAILING POWER LINE POLICY
14.1. US Sailing Regulation 10.02 requires that US Sailing Championships at all levels be held at sites free of power line hazards in any area.
15. SAFETY
15.1. PFD- Per US Sailing Regulation10.01D, competitors shall wear a US Coast Guard (USCG) approved personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water other than for brief periods while adding or removing clothing. The PFD shall either be a USCG Type III or Type V device that depends 100% on foam for flotation. No modifications of the PFD are permitted. The PFD must be worn outside of all clothing except that a thin shirt may be worn over the PFD to prevent snagging.
15.2. A boat retiring from a race shall notify a Race Committee vessel before leaving the course, or when that is impossible, the Regatta Office immediately after arrival ashore.
16. CONTESTANT CONDUCT
16.1. US Sailing Regulation 10.01C states that during any US Sailing Championship no contestant shall use, either on or off the water, marijuana or any other controlled substance (as defined in 21 U.S. Code 802), the possession of which is unlawful under 21 U.S. Code 841.
17. OTHER
17.1. Boats will be made available for practice. Time and Date will be published in the Notice of Race
17.2. Instructors, Coaches or other personnel will be permitted on the water from the practice race through the end of the last race, and shall use only boats supplied/approved by the hosting organization.
17.3. The host club is responsible for housing the National Chairperson and Judges.
17.4. Areas are strongly encouraged to use Regatta Network for registration and Scoring. In the event they do not, a Regatta Report Form must be submitted. – The Regatta report Form http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USAdult.htm
17.5. Copies must be forwarded
to LizWalker@ussailing.org , the National Chairperson and the Regatta Chairperson of the National Event
18. FEES
18.1. Area Level Events - Shall not exceed the fee indicated for the National Event.
18.2. National Championship - Shall be as listed in the Notice of Race.
18.3. ENTRY AND FEES TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - Entry fees must be payable by credit card at the time of registration, and reimbursement, if any, will be made as determined by the Sailing Association Notice of Race for the event to which it will apply.
18.4. BORROWED BOAT INSURANCE, DAMAGE DEPOSITS AND LIABILITY INSURANCE -Fees are in addition to entry fee(s) and are the responsibility of the entrant.
18.5. HOST CLUB - Fees may be assessed at any event level and are the responsibility of the entrant. The Host Club Fee shall be listed in the Notice of Race for each level of the championship.
19. HOST CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES
19.1. The Host Club will be responsible for the housing of the National chairperson and Judges.
19.2. Host clubs are encouraged to seek local sponsorships, but must have the sponsorships cleared by the US Sailing Marketing Director prior to formalizing an agreement/contract with the sponsor. Details can be found at: http://championships.ussailing.org/Championships_Home/ChampMngt/Sponsorship.htm
March 2013