Conditions
The United States Junior Sailing Championship Committee (USJSCC) has been authorized by US Sailing to be the Organizing Authority for the United States Junior Sailing Championship (Junior Champs). The three championships are the U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championships for triple- or quadruplehanded teams competing for the Sears Cup and the Judges Trophy, the U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship for the Bemis Trophy, and the U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship for the Smythe Trophy. These Conditions are the collected policies and procedures adopted by the USJSCC for the conduct of the Championship as well as the items that shall be included in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.
These Conditions consist of four sections:
Policies and Procedures– General Principles that reflect the intentions of US Sailing and the USJSCC regarding the proper administration of the Championships, and the actions that need to be performed for the proper execution of the National Finals and Area Qualifiers.
Qualification Events – Policies and Procedures that specifically apply to the management of the Area Qualification Regattas.
Notice of Race – The template of the Junior Champs standard that shall be used to produce the Notice of Race. The template can be found on the menu bar to the left.
Sailing Instructions – The template of the Junior Champs standard that shall be used to produce the Sailing Instructions. The template can be found on the menu bar to the left.
QUALIFICATION EVENTS
1. US SAILING AREA QUOTAS
1.1. The finals are a competition between LSOs. Each US Sailing Area qualifies one team for the Triplehanded Championship, two teams for the Doublehanded Championship, and two teams for the Singlehanded Championship except for Areas H and L which will qualify one team each for the Triplehanded, Doublehanded and Singlehanded Championships for the National championships which are run at a time and venue selected by the USJSCC.
1.2. The Area Representative, working with the Host Club of the Area Qualifier, may provide for as many properly qualified teams as practical from each Association. All concerned sailing associations must agree on the chosen plan and the plan must be reported to the Junior Championships committee Chair, the Area Representative, and be publicized well in advance to all eligible sailing clubs.
1.3. All levels of these Championships must be completed in the same calendar year. Area Qualifiers should be completed at least two weeks before the Nationals start.
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1. Competitors must have reached their 13th birthday but not their 19th birthday during the calendar year in which the event is held.
2.2. Competitors must be individual or family members of US Sailing at the time of their respective first qualification event.
2.3. All helms must be a member of a Local Sailing Organization (LSO)* that is a member of its Regional Sailing Association (RSA) and US Sailing. An LSO signifies any sailing organization belonging to a SA that is recognized by US Sailing. It may be a private, community, philanthropic, youth, or etc. sailing organization. Teams are entered by LSOs in qualifiers conducted by the Area. 2.4. For the Doublehanded and Triplehanded Championships - other crew member(s) must be members of a LSO that is a member of US Sailing within the same RSA as the helm.
2.5. All the members of a crew shall reside in or regularly compete in the same RSA where the club is geographically located.
2.6. Once a competitor enters a qualifying event for the purpose of qualifying for a National Championship, they will not be eligible to qualify for that championship in any other one Area or for more than one LSO that year. Questions about eligibility should be e-mailed to the National Chair and supporting documentation may be requested.
2.7. An Alternate is named on the entry form at the first level of competition, and may not be changed in the competitive year.
2.8. A Team is defined as all contestants listed on the entry form for a specific RSA, except the alternate. The skipper must remain the same throughout the series of qualifying events within and through his/her Area Qualifying event and including the National Championship. If the skipper is unable to continue, then the runner-up team will be named to replace the winning team. A crew member may be substituted for with the named Alternate, with the approval of the Protest Committee, or if between events, by the next level Protest Committee. Once so named, the alternate shall compete as a named member of the team for the rest of the competitive year. An alternate, once used may not be replaced or substituted for, without the written permission of the next level Protest Committee prior to the event.
3. RACE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS for AREA QUALIFIERS
3.1. Race Committee shall be appointed by the host organization; however they must conform to the US Sailing Race Official Requirements at Championships adopted, March 2004. *appointed by the Area Representative in conjunction with the Area SAs or any existing Area coordinating group; however they must conform to the US Sailing Race Official Requirements at Championships adopted, March 2004. please see http://championships.ussailing.org/Championships_Home/ChampMngt/Race_Official_Requirements.htm
3.2. One or more judges shall be present at all races.
3.3. The Protest Committee shall determine all matters not covered by these Conditions and the Sailing Instructions.
3.4. Number and Type of Area Races.
3.4.1. Each Area may run their qualifier to provide the most practical and fair event. All concerned sailing associations must agree on the chosen plan and the plan must be reported to the Junior Championship Committee Chair and be publicized well in advance to all eligible sailing clubs.
3.4.2. Singlehanded and Doublehanded Fleets: It is highly recommended that there be a minimum of three races with a discard after the fifth completed race.
3.4.3. Triplehanded fleet: It is highly recommended to have a round-robin series. The number of races should equal the number of registered yachts. If there are less than four teams, a double round- robin should be sailed.
3.5. The target time for the courses will be 30 to 45 minutes at the Area Qualification Event.
3.6. Weather conditions, the need to protect borrowed boats and equipment, or the need to expedite the completion of the event may require procedures other than those mentioned in these conditions. Any such special procedures must be approved by the Protest Committee.
3.7. Shortened Event. Should wind, weather or other conditions make it impossible to complete the scheduled number of races within the publicized time, the event shall be terminated and the results based on the completed number of races. Termination and decisions regarding results shall be made by the Protest Committee.
3.8. The Qualifier should use the Notice of Race provided by US Sailing or if run in conjunction with another event, use an Appendix outlining the qualification criteria and ensure that US Sailing regulations are met with respect to Race Officials, judges, personal floatation and membership of both sailors and their LSOs.
4. BOATS
4.1. It is encouraged but not required that the boats be the same or nearly the same as the boats being used for the finals.
4.2. It is recommended that for both the Singlehanded and Doublehanded Area Qualifier regattas, competitors bring and sail their own boats.
4.3. It is recommended that the Triplehanded boats be borrowed boats from a local fleet and compete in a round-robin series.
4.4. If teams at the Area Event sail the same boat throughout the event Breakdown points shall not be allowed.
5. AREA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
5.1. Area Championship Teams may not be appointed. Helmsmen must continue through to the Nationals if they qualify.
5.2. A minimum of five (5) boats are required to be both entered by the NOR registration deadline and on the starting line for the single and doublehanded fleets in order for the winners to move on. For the remaining fleet a minimum of three (3) boats are required to be both entered by the NOR registration dateline and also be on the starting line.
5.3. Failure to hold a qualifier with at least three boats at the Area level for the Sears Cup and 5 boats for the Bemis and Smythe Trophies will result in a forfeit of that Area’s entry. (see 6)
5.4. Alternates must be named at the time of the qualifier.
5.5. If on the day of the qualifier the minimum number of boats are not present there shall be no racing (even for a practice race ).
6. ABSENT AREA ENTRY
6.1. In the event an entry from an Area, or a letter from the Area Coordinator committing to an entry, has not been received by the national chair within two weeks of the event, the national chair shall then award the host Area an additional entry to replace the uncommitted Area entry to the finals. In the event that there is more than one Area which does not commit to an entry, in alphabetical order, the area following the host area, shall be entitled to send an additional entry to the finals.
6.2. The Area Coordinator shall be responsible for obtaining the additional entry or waiving same. Any additional entry shall have competed in the qualifier in their respective Area and shall fulfill all entry and eligibility requirements.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
1. POLICIES and PROCEDURES
1.1. DEADLINES for PUBLICATIONS
Notice of Race for the National Finals will be made available on or about January 1st of the year of the event online.
2. INSURANCE
2.1. A Borrowed-Boat Insurance Program protects only those owners who lend boats and DOES NOT RELIEVE A SAILOR OF RESPONSIBILITY in the event she does injury to another person or property. Sailors' parent/guardians should consult their own insurance carrier regarding possible personal liability. (Personal liability insurance is available through US Sailing.)
2.2. Competitors are not covered by any insurance provided by the host club, and should have or seek their own coverage for personal goods and liability. At-fault occurrences to other boats are the responsibility of the skipper.
3. BOAT SELECTION
3.1. Boats used in the National Championship of each competition will depend on local availability and on manufacturer support and will vary from year to year. The Junior Championships Committee intends to announce the National's boat selection and size of teams before November 1 of the year preceding the Nationals.
4. SPECIAL RACE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS AT NATIONAL FINALS
4.1. The Principle Race Officer shall be appointed by the USJSCC Chair with the agreement of the host organization.
4.2. Protest Committee. The USJSCC Chair will appoint the Chief Judge in compliance with the US Sailing Race Official Requirements at Championships adopted, March 2004. (The Chief Judge will be a US Sailing Certified Senior Judge.) Additional members of the Protest Committee shall be jointly selected by the USJSCC Chair and the Chief Judge.
4.3. Four or more judges shall be appointed.
4.4. The USJSCC Chair, in consultation with the Protest Committee, shall determine all matters not covered in these Conditions.
4.5. Modifications to the Racing Rules, Use of NOR and SIs
4.6. The USJSCC Chair is the representative of the Organizing Authority in regard to RRS 89.2.
4.7. The USJSCC Chair, the Principle Race Officer and the Chief Judge will agree to the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions. The USJSCC Chair will have the final approval.
4.8. Any changes to the NOR or SIs shall be approved by the Chief Judge in consultation with the USJSCC Chair and the PRO.
4.9. The target time for the courses will be 45 to 60 minutes at the National Finals.
4.10. Weather conditions, the need to protect borrowed boats and equipment, or the need to expedite the completion of the event may require procedures other than those mentioned in these conditions. Any such special procedures must be approved by the USJSCC Chair and the Protest Committee.
4.11. Shortened Event. Should wind, weather or other conditions make it impossible to complete the scheduled number of races within the publicized time, the event shall be terminated and the results based on the completed number of races. Termination and decisions regarding results shall be made by the Protest Committee.
5. FAMILIARIZATION
5.1. Practice Sailing. At any level of these Championships, the event boats maybe available for practice sailing only on the day prior to the first race, and shall not be used immediately prior to racing or during the event for practice sailing, except as follows:
5.2. . The boats will be available for an official practice race whenever one is scheduled.
5.3. If a pre-regatta clinic is scheduled, the boats will be available during its scheduled hours.
5.4. Local Knowledge. At any level of these Championships, before beginning an event, the host club should familiarize all teams with the waters, wind and seasonal weather conditions in which the races are to be held, emphasizing obstructions (if any), tidal currents and conditions, and probable location of marks.
5.5. Clinics
A one or two-day pre-regatta training clinic, using the boats to be raced, should be held for each competition at the Area level of these Championships. These clinics should have four objectives:
5.6. Make the racing fairer by familiarizing all teams as equally as possible with the boats to be raced -- familiarity with the boat should not be a competitive factor;
5.7. Familiarize all teams as equally as possible with the racing venue, weakening any potential "home-court" advantage as much as possible;
5.8. Take advantage of the opportunity to further advance the skills of already-advanced junior sailors whom qualifier regattas have brought together at this event, and through them the skills of many other junior sailors;
5.9. 5.5.4. Attract Junior Championships participation, especially at the entry level, by providing every team a growth and success opportunity independent of regatta placement.
6. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
6.1. . Power lines. Per US Sailing Regulation 10.02, all events that fall under the control of this Championship must be held at sites free of overhead power line hazards in any area. Written compliance must be filed by the host organization with the Championship Director at US Sailing.
6.2. . Adults serving the regatta in any official capacity shall honor all Regulations during the entire race day on which they are on duty. Additionally, they shall not drink any alcoholic beverage on or off the water until Protest Time is concluded for all fleets.
6.3. Housing. Some states may require that all host families go through a police background check; this must be done in advance.
6.4. Every effort must be made to equalize borrowed boats used in a round-robin before an event begins.
7. SHIPSHAPE AWARD AND INSPECTION
This championship promotes sportsmanship and respect for borrowed boats in addition to competition. It is recommended that a Shipshape Award be awarded at all events. All boats should be inspected after each day’s racing and teams who put them away scored toward the Shipshape Awards recommended in the Notice of Race. Suggested inspection items, which can be scored on scales 1-10 are:
7.1. Keelboat in the water: mooring/float tie-up; halyards; mast straightness; tiller lashing; sheets and lines; cockpit and deck; sails; loose gear; cabin/cuddy; bilge.
7.2. Dry-sailed keelboat or dinghy: halyards; sheets and lines; tiller & rudder; sails; hull clean and rinsed; loose gear; cockpit; air tanks drained and open; bilge; trailer/float and surroundings.
7.3. De-riggable dinghies: hull drained, open, cleaned, rinsed, and inverted if required; trailer/float area; spar, blade and line stowage; sails; loose gear.
7.4. Housekeeping and behavior in private-host homes should be scored.
8. HOUSING REQUIREMENTS FOR HOST CLUB of NATIONAL FINALS
8.1. All competitors will be assigned housing
8.2. An additional 20 beds will be available for US Sailing officials, coaches, race committee and protest committee.
9. APPROVAL AND MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONS
9.1. Initial approval and subsequent modifications and/or amendments of these Conditions will be proposed by either the USJSCC Chair or Committee and then will be approved by a majority of the Committee before being incorporated.
Revision date: March 2013