Conditions
The United States Junior Women’s Championships Committee (USJWCC) has been authorized by US Sailing to be the Organizing Authority for the Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy and the Singlehanded Championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy. These Conditions are the collected policies and procedures adopted by the USJWCC for the conduct of the Championships.
1. CHAMPIONSHIP DOCUMENTS
1.1 A preliminary Notice of Race (NOR) will be posted on the US Sailing website on or about February 15th of the year of the event at:
http://.championships.ussailing.org/Youth/USJrWomensSinglehanded.htm
http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth/USJrWomensDoublehanded.htm
1.2 Preliminary Sailing Instructions will be posted on the above sites one week before the event begins.
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1 All competitors shall be female. All shall have turned 13 years old prior to January 1st of the year in which the competition is taking place. No competitor shall turn 19 years old in the year of competition. A waiver may be granted for sailors under the age of 13 and all requests shall be made to the National Chair prior to April 1st of the year of competition.
2.2 Competitors must be individual or family members of US Sailing at registration and at the time of the event. In order to successfully register for the championship, a competitor’s US Sailing membership must be valid through the final date of the championship.
2.3 Competitors must be U.S. citizens.
3. REGISTRATION
3.1 Registration will open on or about April 1st of the year of the event. The actual date will be posted on the website on or about February 15th.
3.2 Competitors will register and pay the entry fee on-line by linking to Regatta Network from the US Sailing website. For the Doublehanded Championship, teams will be considered registered ONLY upon the successful registration of BOTH skipper and crew.
3.3 A request for a subsequent change of crew must be approved by the Junior Women’s committee or during the championship by the National Chair.
3.4 Once a team’s entry is accepted in the Championship, there may not be any substitution for members of the team except as provided below. All substitutions shall meet the eligibility requirements list above in section 2.
3.4.1 Substitution of a team member after the close of registration and before the start of a championship can be requested for medical reasons or death in the family. Exceptions may be made for unexpected work/ school conflicts. Supporting documentation may be requested.
3.4.2 All substitutions must be adequately explained by the qualified helmsman and accepted by the Organizing Authority.
3.4.3 In the event that the substitution is not approved, the next team in line will be accepted.
3.5 When an event is in progress:
3.5.1 If a sailor cannot continue due to sickness, accident or other emergency, a replacement sailor may, with the approval of the Organizing Authority, be substituted for one or more of the races.
3.5.2 If the event is a qualifier for the national championship, the substitution would be permanent for the team moving forward.
3.5.3 The substituted sailor must be eligible to compete and must be of approximate weight to the original sailor. The representative of the Organizing Authority, normally the National Chair, will have the sole responsibility for determining if the reason for the substitution and the proposed sailor are acceptable.
3.6 The entry fee, listed in the NOR, will include transportation to the host club each day, all meals, and housing. Transportation from/to the airport and the host club may be an additional charge and will be communicated in the Welcome Letter. The entry fee is determined by the USJWCC and the US Sailing Championships Director. Charter fees are separate from the entry fee. See Conditions #6 for charter information.
3.7 After registration closes, the Welcome Letter with waivers will be emailed to the competitors and posted on the website. The waivers shall be completed and mailed to the host club. See the NOR for specific details.
3.8 Registration signifies an agreement that the competitor will attend the clinic prior to the event and the Awards Dinner following the final racing day.
3.9 The entry fee may be refunded up until two (2) weeks prior to the start of the championship.
4. HOUSING
4.1 All competitors are required to stay in housing provided by the host club. This includes local competitors unless 4.1.1 applies.
4.1.1 First-time, local competitors may request to stay in their own homes.
4.1.1.1 Local competitors are members of the host yacht club or competitors who live within a 15 minute driving distance from the event venue. This distance may be modified at the discretion of the USJWCC Chair based on the host club venue. Permission must be requested, via email, of the USJWCC Chair and approved in advance.
4.1.1.2 Competitors staying in their own homes must house at least one out-of-town competitor.
4.1.1.3 Participation in all meals and all regatta events is mandatory.
4.1.1.4 An “Alternate Housing Form” must be completed by the local competitor.
4.2 Additional housing is required for US Sailing officials, coaches, the Protest Committee, and the LaserPerformance representative. This is approximately 20 adults.
5. BOATS
5.1 The Club 420 will be used for the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy.
5.2 The Laser-Radial Rig will be used for the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy.
5.3 These championships are not recognized as sanctioned or class association events by the Club 420 or the Laser Class. The class rules for each one design class will be used except as modified in the NOR. US Sailing encourages sailors to join their respective One Design Class Association to support their efforts to manage and promote their boat. However, RRS 60.1(a) is changed to prohibit a boat from protesting another boat for an alleged breach of a class rule requiring membership.
5.4 All boats may be inspected/measured for compliance with class rules as part of the clinic and at any time during the championship at the discretion of the Protest Committee.
5.5 A competitor wishing to replace or substitute equipment must get permission from the Protest Committee as soon as it is feasible to do so. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the race or the championship, at the discretion of the Protest Committee.
5.6 If a boat is disabled and cannot be repaired, a hull may be substituted with the permission of the Protest Committee. The original sail shall continue to be used, if possible. The substituted hull shall be used for the remainder of the championship. The substituted hull shall comply with all other rules including those related to measurement, safety, and insurance.
6. CHARTER BOATS
6.1 The host club MAY be able to provide private charters. The fee for private charters will be set by the host club. Such private charter agreements will be made directly with the charterer.
6.2 The Borrowed Boat Insurance Program protects only owners who lend boats and DOES NOT RELIEVE A COMPETITOR OF RESPONSIBILITY in the event that she does injury to another person or property. Competitor’s parents/guardians should consult their own insurance carrier regarding personal liability.
6.3 Competitors are NOT covered by any insurance provided by the host club. A competitor should obtain their own personal goods and liability coverage. At-fault occurrences to other boats are the responsibility of the skipper.
7. SAFETY
All competitors shall comply with US Sailing Regulation 10.01D.Competitors in US Sailing Championships or qualifiers for US Sailing Championships shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water other than brief periods while adding or removing clothing. The PFD shall be either a USCG Type III or V PFD that depends 100% on foam for flotation. No modifications to 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.
8. RACING FORMAT
8.1 Racing will be conducted over a period of three (3) consecutive days. The Race Committee shall attempt to conduct a maximum of ten (10) races with a target time of forty-five (45) to sixty (60) minutes each. A maximum of four (4) races may be conducted each day.
8.2 Three (3) races must be completed to constitute a regatta.
8.3 Weather conditions, the need to protect borrowed boats and equipment, or the need to expedite completion of the event may require procedures other than those mentioned in these Conditions. Any such special procedures must be approved by the USJWCC Chair and the Protest Committee.
8.4 The USJWCC Chair, Regatta Chair, and Principal Race Officer (PRO) shall agree to the suitable racing conditions, including upper and lower wind limits, in advance. The host club must be able to provide equipment and adequate safety boats to run races in the upper range. Suggested parameters are: minimum-4 knots; maximum at start-18 knots; maximum for 5 minute duration-25 knots.
9. SCORING
The Low Point Scoring System, Appendix A, will apply. Each boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores with her worst score excluded if six (6) or more races are completed. The Regatta Network scoring program must be used.
10. RACE MANAGEMENT
10.1 The Principal Race Officer will be appointed by the USJWCC Chair with the agreement of the host club. The US Sailing General Policy Memo adopted March, 2004 must be followed. The Race Committee will be appointed by the Regatta Chair.
10.2 The USJWCC Chair will appoint the Chief Judge in conformity with the US Sailing General Policy Memo adopted March, 2004. Additional members of the Protest Committee will be selected by the Chief Judge and the USJWCC Chair. Every attempt will be made to provide four (4) judges for the event and a Judge in Training (JIT).The Protest Committee is appointed to advise and assist with the running of the event. The Protest Committee shall determine all matters not covered by these Conditions and the Sailing Instructions (SIs).
11. MODIFICATIONS TO THE RACING RULES OF SAILING, USE OF NOR AND SIs
11.1 The use of separate identification numbers provided by the host club is required. Instructions for the placement of ID numbers will be provided at registration. Any sail numbers already existing in the specified sail location must be removed. Boats are not required to display country codes on their sail, per Rule 77 and Appendix G.
11.2 The SIs shall state that “The Race Committee will attempt to hail the recall numbers of OCS boats under RRS 29.1 and 30.1.The failure of any boat to hear the hail, an untimely hail of OSC boats, failure to hail any boats, and the order of the boats in the hail shall not be grounds for granting redress. This changes RRS 41 and 62.1.
11.3 The SIs shall state that “A boat intending to protest about an incident that occurs in the racing area shall notify the Race Committee finish boat of her intention as soon as possible after finishing, including the ID number of the boat(s) being protested. This changes RRS 61.1 (a).
11.4 Templates maintained by the USJWCC Chair and US Sailing shall be used in preparing the NOR and SIs. Modifications are subject to the approval of the PRO, Chief Judge, and the USJWCC Chair. The USJWCC Chair will have the final approval. All icons/pictures are subject to the final approval of the US Sailing Championships Director to maintain compliance with sponsorship agreements.
12. CLINIC
A two-day mandatory clinic will be held preceding each championship. The purpose of the clinic will be to familiarize the competitors with the local conditions and probable race course. Coaches for the clinic will be hired by US Sailing, and funded by the Clagett Trust. No private coaches are permitted. Permission to not participate in the clinic must be requested of the USJWCC Chair in advance and will only be granted for extenuating circumstances.
13. OUTSIDE CONTACT
The Jr. Women’s Championships are classified as Grade 2 events per the Championship Support Vessel Policy. The policy’s guidelines can be found at: http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth/Support_Vessels.htm
13.1 Competitors shall not receive advice, instruction, or any type of outside assistance while at the host club for the duration of the event. This includes both the clinic and racing days. It is the intent of this rule to prohibit contact between the competitors and any person, who in the opinion of the Protest Committee, is a coach, instructor, or advisor; and includes parents/guardians.
13.2 Outside contact is prohibited commencing with the competitor’s arrival at the host club and shall continue until dismissed by the National Coach on the clinic days, or released by the Protest Committee on racing days.
13.3 Prohibited communication shall include telephone calls, , texting, or other communication either electronically or in person.
13.4 Outside support individuals shall not go afloat in the defined racing area during the clinic or race days. These individuals may observe the racing from spectator boats provided by the host club only. There can be no contact of any type between support individuals and competitors on the water.
13.5 The Championship coaches will offer individual on-the-water instruction and group commentary/advice on land following each racing day. This coaching is to be given to all competitors on as equal a basis as possible.
13.6 The Protest Committee may disqualify a competitor for breaking the rules of this Article from all races on the day of the infringement.
14. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
14.1 Power Lines-Per US Sailing Regulation 10.02, all US Sailing championships must be held at sites Free of overhead power line hazards in any area. Written compliance must be filed by the host club with The Championships Director at US Sailing.
14.2 Adults serving the event in any official capacity shall honor all US Sailing Regulations during the time they are at the venue, on or off the water, and at any time/place associated with the event. Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed at any time during the event while on duty.
14.3 Housing-Some states may require police background checks for potential host families. It is the responsibility of the host club to determine if this is a requirement and to perform the appropriate checks in advance.
14.4 Curfew-Curfew will be set by the host club, but will not be later than 10:30 PM.
14.5 Driving-Competitors are not permitted to drive any vehicle, including their own, during the event. Competitors that have driven themselves to the host club will leave their vehicle at their host family’s home or at the host club for the duration of the event.
15. DISCIPLINE
15.1 All competitors are expected to maintain the highest level of conduct throughout the entire event. US Sailing Regulation 10.01C.2 states: 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). 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 RRS 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.
15.2 Enforcement of discipline and conduct shall be conducted as per the procedures and policies of US Sailing and The Racing Rules of Sailing (Rule 69 and US Sailing Regulation 15.01).
16. PRIZES
16.1 US Sailing Championship medals will be awarded to all competitors placing first through fifth.
16.2 Keeper trophies will be awarded to all competitors placing first through third.
16.3 The C. Thomas Clagett sportsmanship prize will be awarded to the winners based on the results of the competitors’ secret ballot.
16.4 Doublehanded-The Ida Lewis Trophy will be awarded to the winning team. This trophy will be sent to the host club prior to the event for display during the event and the Awards Dinner. The winners’ names will be engraved on the trophy each year.
16.5 Singlehanded-The Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the winner. This trophy will be sent to the host club prior to the event for display during the event and the Awards Dinner. The winner’s name will be engraved on the trophy each year.
16.6 The Jr. Women’s Singlehanded winner if age eligible qualifies for the U.S. Singlehanded Championship in the following
Year.
17. APPROVAL AND MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONS
Initial approval and subsequent modifications and/or amendments to these Conditions will be proposed by either the USJWCC Chair or the Committee. Such modifications and/or amendments must be approved by a majority of the USJWCC before being incorporated.
(Updated February 17, 2012)