Conditions
1.1 US Sailing is the Organizing Authority (OA) for all levels of the U.S. Match Racing Championship (hereafter referred to as the Championship).
1.2 The U.S. Match Racing Championship Committee (hereafter referred to as the USMRCC) is delegated the responsibility and authority to organize all levels of the Championship.
1.3 The USMRCC Invitation Committee shall be appointed by the USMRCC Chair to fill all slots of the Championship finals.
2.1 These Conditions shall apply at all levels of the Championship.
2.2 There shall be no departure from these Conditions without the approval of the USMRCC Chair.
2.3 A Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions based on the current ISAF templates shall be used at all levels of the Championship.
2.4 The Conditions, Notice of Race, and Entry procedure for the Championship finals will be posted on the US Sailing web page for this Championship: http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USMRC.htm
US Sailing Regulations 2.02, 2.03, and 10, as amended 11/3/2012, apply at all levels of the Championship and provide as follows:
Membership in US Sailing is required:
A. for all US citizens who compete in US Sailing championships at the Regional Sailing Association level (quarter-finals) and higher.
B. for athletes selected by US Sailing for international events or competing at US Sailing organized events.
C. for an organization to participate in the US Sailing insurance program.
D. for an organization offering US Sailing Keelboat Certifications, whether commercial or not-for-profit.
E. for Regional Sailing Associations, host clubs, and participating classes at qualifiers for US Sailing championships at the Group level (semi-finals) or higher. The Championships Committee may approve exceptions.
F. for Board and House members, for volunteers serving on US Sailing committees and councils, and for US Sailing certified officials.
When US Sailing membership is required at an event, participants from other countries shall either be members of US Sailing or be members of their ISAF recognized national authority for sailing.
10.01 US Sailing CHAMPIONSHIPS
A. ADMINISTRATION
1. Guidelines for sailing instructions, notices of race and conditions adopted by the Championships Committee shall be used for all US Sailing championships at all levels. Exceptions shall be approved in advance by the relevant championship chair and organizing committee, and the Chair of the Championships Committee.
2. Race officers, judges, and umpires at US Sailing championships shall be appointed in accordance with published guidelines approved by the Championship Committee and the Race Administration Committee.
3. Championship conditions shall be maintained and approved by the sponsoring committee and the Championship Committee. The current version of the championship conditions shall be available on the US Sailing website. As documented below, some conditions may require permission of the Board.
4. Event organizing committees shall communicate, coordinate, and consult with US Sailing committees and councils that support and promote the event’s sailing discipline or constituency.
1. Unless the notice of race for a particular championship requires US citizenship or resident alien status, participation in US Sailing championships is open to non-US citizens (including resident and non-resident aliens), provided all other requirements of the Championship are met. Specific championships may require US citizenship or resident alien status by stating the requirements in the notice of race and in the championship conditions. Non-resident aliens may request a waiver. Creating a new requirement of US citizenship for a championship requires approval of the Board.
2. When the Championship is a qualifier for international or any other competition, the top finisher(s) eligible to represent the US will qualify. The OSC may make exceptions to this regulation for entry in the US Olympic Trials – Sailing or the associated pre-Trials.
3. The venues for US Sailing championships shall be located in the U.S. unless an exception is approved by the Board. An RSA, club or LSO outside the United States may host qualifiers for US Sailing championships, provided the host club or LSO is a member of US Sailing.
4. Non-US citizens may serve on juries or as race officials for US Sailing championships.
5. Chairs of individual championship committees may establish special rules for trophies won by foreign participants. Perpetual trophies may not be taken outside of the U.S.
1. For adult US Sailing championship events, no competitor 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.
2. For Junior and Youth events or for junior or youth competitors in any US Sailing championship, no participant or competitor 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, or alcoholic beverages (distilled spirits, wine and beer, each as defined in chapter 51 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and intended for beverage use).
3. An alleged breach of one of these regulations shall not be grounds for a protest. However, when the protest committee believes that a competitor may have breached one of these regulations, it shall follow the process described in racing rule 69.1, and a competitor found to have breached one of these regulations shall be excluded from the remaining races of the
series and, where practicable, removed from the regatta venue and sent home. The competitor’s boat shall be disqualified from all races of the series.
4. Either Regulation 10.01.A or 10.01.B, as appropriate, and Regulation 10.01.C shall be included in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions for every US Sailing championship.
Competitors in US Sailing championships or qualifiers for US Sailing championships shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved personal floatation device (PFD) while on the water, other than for brief periods while adding or removing clothing. Where the ORC regulations apply, they replace this requirement. Competitors from outside the U.S. may wear a PFD approved by their nations’ certification authority to the extent permitted by international treaty.
All US Sailing events and championships, at all levels, shall be held at sites free of power line hazards.
4.1 For qualifying events, the skipper and each crew member of an entrant must
A. be a member of US Sailing (Regulation 2.02) unless Regulation 2.03 applies, and
B. be a member of a club or association that is a member of US Sailing (the club or association represented is that of which the skipper is a member).
4.2 For qualifying events, an entrant shall only sail in events of the USMRC Group in which the club or association which the skipper represents is located.
5.1 For purposes of the Championship, US Sailing Areas are grouped as follows: B/A/C; D/F; J/G/L/H; and E/K.
5.2 Each Group may host qualifying events.
5.3 The Area first named in each Group mentioned in 5.1 above is the Group leader responsible for coordinating all qualifying events hosted within the Group.
6.1 To be a qualifying event, an event shall
i. have a minimum of four (4) entrants, and
ii. be umpired by at least one US Sailing or ISAF certified umpire, and
iii. comply with the US Sailing Race Officials Policy for US Sailing Championships:
ussailing.org/Championships/championshipmanagement/Race%20Mgt/RaceOfficialsRequirements.pdf
6.2 The Group leader shall post a Notice of Race and entry procedure for each qualifying event on the USMRC web page and otherwise distribute the Notice of Race and entry procedure to potential entrants.
6.3 A Group Championship shall be completed at least four (4) weeks prior to the Championship finals.
6.4 Each Group, with the approval of the USMRCC Chair, shall have the authority to develop qualifying events within the Group to best develop and serve the USMRC Championship and its sailors.
6.5 The Group leader shall communicate the Group’s schedule of qualifying events to the USMRCC Chair no later than twelve (12) weeks prior to the Championship finals.
7.1 Participation in the Championship finals is only by invitation issued by the USMRCC Invitation Committee as follows:
i. If a Group has a single championship event with at least six (6) entrants, invitations will be issued to the top two finishers; if the event has a minimum of four (4) entrants but less than six (6) entrants, an invitation will be issued to the winner of the event.
ii. If a Group has two championship events with at least six (6) entrants in each event, an invitation will be issued to the winner of each event; otherwise, one (1) invitation will be issued to the Group and the Group leader shall decide who receives it.
iii. In the event that a Group championship event will be held less than 45 days prior to the Championship Finals, a Group may hold its “spot” by making appropriate arrangement with the USMRCC Chair.
a. Selection System
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) requires that US Sailing select teams of athletes to represent the USA in the Regional Nations Cup eliminations: One team for the Open Series, and one team for the Women’s Series.
2. USA member of the ISAF Match Racing Committee;
3. US Sailing High Performance Director;
4. Chair of either the US Match Racing Championship Committee or the US Women’s Match Racing Championship Committee as appropriate; this person will chair the selection committee.
5. The qualifying skipper.
To be eligible to represent the USA in the Nations Cup Regional and Final events, skipper and crew must be Passport Holders of the USA, must not be currently representing another MNA, and must be a member of US Sailing.
If the qualifying skipper is, for any reason, not going to represent the USA at the Regional Nations Cup eliminations, that skipper will be replaced by the next highest placing, eligible [see section 7.3(b)] skipper from the applicable selection event. The replacement skipper shall promptly nominate his or her crew to the Nations Cup Selection Committee for approval.
8. ALTERNATES AND SUBSTITUTES
When a registered skipper is unable to continue in the event, the USMRCC representative responsible for the event may authorize an original crew member to substitute. When a registered crew member is unable to continue in the event as such, the USMRCC representative responsible for the event may authorize a substitute, a temporary substitute or other adjustment.
9. BOATS & CLOTHING
9.1 Since the boats used in most levels of this US Sailing championship are supplied to competitors for the event, the boats must be treated with care at all times, as the future of this event, and other US Sailing events, depends upon the future availability of boats. See the paragraphs below with regard to insurance provisions.
9.2 Mandatory Use of PFDs: see regulation 10.01(D) quoted in 3.1 above.
9.3 RRS 43 will apply at all levels of this Championship. In addition, clothes worn for additional warmth must be worn inside of foul weather gear.
10. INSURANCE, LIABILITY AND DAMAGE
10.1 Host clubs shall have insurance coverage for the events hosted to include insurance coverage for the club, for the boats used, and for the race officials participating in the event. Umpires shall be covered in the minimum amount of US $1 million. The USMRCC recommends the insurance programs available from Gowrie Barden & Brett [see ussailing.org/membership/insurance/ for more information].
10.2 Competitors (and their parents/guardians where minors are involved) are encouraged to consult their insurance advisors regarding personal liability coverage for themselves.
10.3 Damage, no matter how slight, or loss of any equipment must be reported to the host club at the completion of the race in which it occurs. Failure to do so may result in disqualification from the race or the event (at the discretion of the protest committee). Only the Race Committee or Umpires may protest for a failure to report damage or loss of equipment.
10.4 Responsibility for damage to boats or other property will be determined by the protest committee and all entrants will be bound its decision.
10.5 Damage deposits from each entrant shall be required. Usually, an amount equal to the insurance deductible is used. That amount is to be noted in the Notice of Race as is the manner of payment: check, cash, credit card. Each skipper is responsible for the damage or loss to his/her boat unless responsibility is otherwise assigned by the umpires or PC. When damage occurs, the cost will be paid from the deposit of the entrant responsible for the damage and the entrant shall restore the damage deposit before being permitted to continue in the event. Damage not attributable to a single team will be deducted proportionally from all of the entrants’ damage deposits before returning the balances. A detailed accounting of charges to an entrant’s damage deposit will be supplied to each entrant that did not receive the full amount of its deposit back. Sailing Instructions will also mention damage deposit requirements.
10.6 US Sailing does not require the use of liability waiver forms and prescribes against the use of ‘hold harmless’ and ‘indemnification’ agreements. US Sailing strongly recommends that host clubs seek local legal advice on the question and carry adequate insurance coverage.
11. CONDUCT OF SERIES
11.1 Each event shall use one or more of the following systems:
A: Round-Robins: In cases where complete round-robins cannot be completed, the series will be scored in accordance with Appendix C.
B: Knock-out Series: After a single or double round-robin, the OA may provide for a knock-out quarter finals and/or a semi finals and finals. For a quarter finals and semi finals, it is recommended that the winner of each pair be the first to win at least two points. For a finals, it is recommended that the winner of each pair be the first to win at least three points.
C: Groups: Competitors may be divided into groups. In such case, the OA representative responsible for the event will determine the number of rounds and the system to be used to complete the regatta within the time available for the event.
11.2 Should wind, weather or other conditions make it unlikely to complete the scheduled number of races within the time schedule, the event format may be terminated, shortened or altered in order to declare a Champion. The Organizing Authority in conjunction with the Race Committee shall determine actions and decisions to be taken regarding results when not resolved by Appendix C.
11.3 Courses at all levels of the Championship will be windward / leeward courses with starboard rounding. Two laps are preferred, but the course may shortened as needed. Courses will be diagrammed in the Sailing Instructions.
11.4 The OA in conjunction with the RC shall have the right to abandon a race in progress when the wind strength for the race is not considered by them to be suitable for the Championship Finals irrespective of ISAF guidelines: a minimum, average wind strength of four (4) knots is a guideline. This decision shall not be redressable.
12. PRACTICE SAILING
The boats to be used for an event may be made available for practice sailing before an event begins in the discretion of the host club and the OA representative for the event.
13. BOATS & EQUIPMENT
13.1 The boats used in qualifying events should, when possible, be similar to those to be used in the Championship finals. However, it must be understood that the U.S. Match Racing Championship is a test of teamwork and tactical racing skills regardless of the type of boat sailed.
13.2 Unless the USMRCC representative responsible for an event otherwise prescribes, equalization of boats shall be carried out as follows:
A. The host club will take all reasonable steps to equalize the boats to be used in the regatta.
B. Entrants will draw boats for the boats to be sailed in the first race.
13.3 RRS 62 will be modified in the event documents to provide that variations between boats will not be grounds for redress.
13.4 The host club shall familiarize all competitors with the waters in which the races are to be held with emphasis on obstructions, if any, tidal conditions and probable location of marks.
13.5 The host club shall supply each entrant with a Code Flag "Y", a red protest flag, a breakdown flag, a yellow flag and a blue flag.
14. ENTRY FORMS AND FEES
14.1 The entry fee for the qualifying events shall be mutually agreed upon by the USMRCC representative and the host club.
14.2 Teams/skippers receiving invitations to participate in the Championship finals will be asked to complete entry forms on line through the US Sailing Regatta Network web site.
14.3 The entry fee for the Championship finals will be stated in the Notice of Race and paid to US Sailing on line through the Regatta Network web site. Additional fees may be assessed to cover the damage deposit, insurance, meals and other expenses and may be required to be paid through the Regatta Network web site.
15. RACE OFFICIALS
15.1 Umpiring will be used at all levels and shall be appointed as follows:
A. For qualifying events, the appropriate Area or Group USMRCC Representative shall be responsible for appointing the umpires.
B. The umpire team and Chief Umpire for the Championship finals shall be appointed by the USMRCC Chair.
15.2 The Chief Umpire for each event and the USMRCC representative for the event shall determine all matters not covered by these Conditions, the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions.
16. PRIZES
16.1 Prizes for qualifying events may be selected by the host club.
16.2 For the Championship finals, US Sailing medals will be presented to the entrants placing first through third and a prize for fourth place may be given; in addition, the Prince Of Wales Bowl, a perpetual trophy, will be awarded to the winner of the event to be held and returned in accordance with the terms of an agreement the winner will sign at the event.
Date of Issue: March 4, 2013, USMRC