International J/24 Class Association

NOTICE OF RACE

2008 J/24 International Women’s Open Championship

June 26-29, 2008
Beverly Yacht Club
99 Water Street
Marion, Massachusetts USA
The Organizing Authority is the US J24 Fleet 16 and the US J/24 Class Association and the International J/24 Class Association

1. RULES

1.1       The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. If there is a conflict between the NOR and the Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions and any amendments thereto shall take precedence. This modifies rule 63.7.
1.2       The prescriptions of U.S. Sailing do not apply.
1.3       With permission of the IJCA, the following IJCA class rules are modified:
            (a) IJCA rule 5.1 is changed to permit a boat to sail with different crew on different days provided the crew changes are declared at registration. Crew changes not declared at registration require advance written approval of the Protest Committee and will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.
1.4       Rule 64.1 will be changed as described in the Sailing Instructions to permit penalties other than disqualification for breaking some IJCA rules.
1.5       Rule 42.3 will be changed in accordance with IJCA rule 8.2.

2. ADVERTISING

2.1 The regatta is classified Category “C” per rule 79 and ISAF Regulation 20 and as restricted by IJCA rule 2.6.1.
2.2 Boats may be required to display bow stickers provided by the Organizing Authority in accordance with ISAF Regulation 20.3 (d)(i).

3. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

3.1 The regatta is open to J/24 Class boats as defined by the IJCA Rules and are crewed entirely by women.
3.2 The Helms women must be either nationals or residents, and members of the National J/24 Class Association of the country they represent.

The master registration form can be downloaded at www.j24womensopenchampionship.com/.
Eligible boats may register by completing the form and paying on line or sending itby June 5, 2008 together with the required fees, to:

            Susan D. Granger
            Attn: J/24 Women’s Open Championship
            102 Converse Road
            Marion, Massachusetts 02738 USA
            Tel: 508.748.6937
            Email: sailorsue@juno.com
            Checks should be in US funds and made payable to “J24 Fleet 16” or by completing registration and payment by credit card online through the website/registration.
3.5       Late entries will be accepted after June 5, 2008 provided that a late fee payment of US$50.00 is made
3.6       All boats are required to have a minimum of US$300,000marine liability insurance (property and personal injury) covering the person in charge as defined in rule 46.
3.7       If there are co-skippers, one of them shall be designated as the primary skipper for this regatta.

4. FEES

4.1 US$375.00 Entry Fee if received by June 5, 2008. A Late registration fee of US$50.00 will be charged for entries received after June 5, 2008. Entry Fee includes launching & hauling, mooring & rafting, racing, security, trailer storage, and social events for Friday and Saturday for a team of five competitors.
4.2 Other fees: Additional tickets for social events can be purchased at the registration desk or with the registration form. The cost is US$15/person for the Thursday evening event with a cash bar.

5. SCHEDULE

A minimum of four races shall be required to complete the series. Additional races are scheduled.
No race shall be started after 1330 hours on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

Activity & Date	Time	Location
*Thursday, June 26, 2008*
Check-in, Registration, Crew Weigh-in	0900-1700	Beverly Yacht Club
Launching, Trailer Storage	0900-2000	Burr’s Boat Yard
Welcome Gathering	1800	Beverly Yacht Club
*Friday, June 27, 2008*
Last Chance Registration, Crew Weigh-in	0700-0830	Beverly Yacht Club
Competitor’s Meeting	0830-0900	Beverly Yacht Club
First Warning Signal – First race of the day Additional Races to follow	1100	Race Area
Friday Night Buffet	1800	Private home
*Saturday, June 28, 2008*
Crew Weigh-in First Warning Signal – First race of the day Additional Races to follow	0700-0830 1000	Beverly Yacht Club Race Area
Saturday Evening Buffet	1800	Private home
*Sunday, June 29, 2008*
Crew Weigh-in First Warning Signal – First race of the day Additional Races to follow]	0700-0830 1000	Beverly Yacht Club Race Area
Haul out Awards Ceremony	After racing After racing	Burr’s Boatyard Beverly Yacht Club
Light Fare, Cash Bar	After racing	Beverly Yacht Club

6. REGISTRATION AND MEASUREMENT

6.1       A representative of each boat must report to the registration desk located at Beverly Yacht Club at 99 Water Street, Marion, Mato check in and pick up the boat’s registration package.
6.2       At registration, all boats shall present: a valid J/24 Measurement Certificate including Part C, Inventory of Required and Optional Equipment, proof of current marine liability insurance coverage, and proof of IJCA membership for the boat owner and helmswoman.
6.3       All competitors will be weighed during registration except that crew substitutions may be weighed during the designated Substitute Crew Weigh-In period on the first day that they will compete. All competitors will also be required to sign a Competitor Liability Waiver form to be provided in the registration package.
6.4       The sails and all-up sailing weight of all boats may be measured. All boats will be subject to random inspection at any time during the regatta.
6.5       Sails shall be registered for use with each sail identified with the sail maker’s royalty tag number. Sails can be inspected and/or measured at anytime during the event.
6.6       Boat measurement services will not be provided as part of the event. Boats requiring measurement to obtain or modify a Measurement Certificate must make advance arrangements with USJ/24 Class Measurers, Hank Killion at skillion@comcast.net or Reid Stava at rstava@rochester.rr.com.

7. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

            The Sailing Instructions will be available at registration. Sailing Instructions will be posted on the event website as soon as they become available.
8.         VENUE
            Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, Massachusetts USA will be the host club and headquarters for the event. The yacht club is located on Sippican Harbour adjacent to Buzzards Bay. Racing will take place on the waters of Buzzards Bay, off Marion, MA. The center of the racing area is located approximately .8 nautical miles at a bearing of 170 degrees magnetic from Bird Island, just beyond the exit from Sippican Outer Harbour. A marked chart (non-navigational) will be available at registration.

9. THE COURSES

9.1 The courses will be windward/leeward with 4 or 5 legs.
9.2 Offset marks at the weather mark and gates at the leeward mark may be used.

10. PENALTY SYSTEMS

10.1     The Scoring Penalty rule 44.3 is modified such that code flag “I” is acceptable and the flag must have a hoist of not less than 150 mm and a fly of not less than 200 mm.
10.2     Rule 61.1(a) is modified such that the protest flag must have a hoist of not less than 150mm and a fly of not less than 200 mm.
10.3     The Race Committee may communicate with competitors and announce boats that have not started properly via VHF radio.
10.4     For protests involving the breach of a rule of Part 2 and only two (2) boats, an arbitration hearing may be held prior to a protest hearing. The Arbitrator will not be a part of the Protest Committee that hears the protest. This provision changes rules 63.1, 63.6 and 66.

11. SCORING

11.1     The Low Point System defined in RRS Appendix A will be used as modified herein.
11.2     Eight races are scheduled. A minimum of four completed races are required to constitute a championship.
11.3     When fewer than five races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores. When five or more races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

12. HAUL-OUT RESTRICTIONS

12.1 Boats shall be afloat by 1800 hours on Thursday, June 26,2008 and shall not be hauled out during the Regatta except with and according to the terms of prior written approval the Protest Committee.
12.2 Hauling of boats at completion of the regatta shall be done in accordance with ascending bow numbers. The Organizing Authority will attempt to assign bow numbers by the distance the boat has travelled.

13. OTHER PROHIBITED ACTIONS

13.1 A boat shall not dispose of any refuse into the water except for bilge, galley, deck or cockpit water. The Protest Committee and Race Committee intend to protest as necessary. The penalty for violating this prohibition will result in a penalty for the race in progress, or the nearest race sailed if a violatio occurs before or after racing.

13.2 A boat shall receive no outside assistance, except as provided for in rule 41, after leaving her mooring for the first race of each day until she returns to her mooring. This changes the preamble to Part 4 of the rules.

13.3     Careening by any means for the purpose of cleaning or inspecting the hull is prohibited during the regatta.
13.4     Underwater breathing apparatus, plastic pools or their equivalent shall not be used during the Regatta. The hull may be cleaned at any time by swimming or keelhauling using ropes or cloth.
13.5     Boats shall not be moored other than in their assigned places in the harbour.
14.       RADIO COMMUNICATION
            It is the intent of the organizing authority and race committee to use marine VHF radios to communicate with the fleet when outside Sippican Harbour.
15.       PRIZES
15.1     Prizes will be awarded to the top 15% of boats entered. The first place finishing boat for the series shall be awarded the Nanna L. Buckley Perpetual Trophy for the International J/24 Women’s Open Championship.
15.2     Daily prizes for the top three finishing boats for the day will be awarded.
15.3     A Sportsmanship Award will be awarded to the individual or team as selected by a vote of the competitors.
15.4     (a) The top-finishing, not previously qualified primary helmswomen who is a current member of any NJCA as recognized by the International J/24 Class Association and meets all other eligibility requirements will earn a berth to the 2009 J/24 World Championship. This berth is allocated by the International J/24 Class and is available to sailors from any country. Once this person has been determined, she shall be considered “previously qualified” for determining the helmswomen qualified under 15.4 (b).
            (b) The top finishing, not previously qualified, primary helmswomen who is a current member of the US J24 Class Association and meets all other eligibility requirements will earn a berth to the 2009 J24 World Championship. This berth is allocated by the US J24 Class Association and available only to its members in the event.

16. MEDIA RIGHTS

Competitors give absolute right and permission to the IJCA, the U.S. J/24 Class Association, J24 Fleet, Beverly Yacht Club and the Event Sponsors to use, publish, broadcast or otherwise distribute for promotional, advertising or any other purpose, any images and sound recorded during the event of persons and boats free of any charge.

17. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

17.1     Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race.
17.2     The Organizing Authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.
17.3     Skippers and crew will be required to sign a waiver of liability during registration.

18. INFORMATION

For further information please contact
Event Chair:    Nanna Buckley
Tel: 508.748.2342
Cell: 508.979.9612
Fax: 508.748.2971
Email: nanna.blueocean@earthlink.net
Event Website:            www.j24womensopenchampionship.com/ .
                                    www.j24fleet16.org. (click the link on the home page of the website)

THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT PART OF THE NOTICE OF RACE
LODGING & LOCAL SERVICES
Private housing for crews will be assigned on a first-registered, first-served basis. Competitors will be asked to car pool from their lodgings as much as possible to minimize parking in the residential areas of Marion.
Local businesses supporting the J24 Women’s Open will be listed on the event website in the following categories:
   Hotels, motels and Bed & Breakfasts;
   Restaurants, lounges/entertainment and recreation;
   Local suppliers and services;
   Boat supply and repair shops.
For more detailed information on the Marion area visit www.southcoastnavigator.com.
CHARTER BOATS
The Regatta will be sailed on a bring-your-own-boat basis. There may be a limited number of charter boats available. The Organizing Authority will provide assistance on a best efforts basis to connect those wishing to charter and owners willing to charter.
LAUNCHING, HAULING AND RAFTING
All boats will be launched and hauled by crane at Burr’s Boat Yard, near Beverly Yacht Club. All boats must be afloat before 1800 on Thursday, June 26, 2008.
TRANSPORTATION AND DIRECTIONS
The Marion area is served by two major airports: Logan International Airport in Boston, MA, and T. F. Greene Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. Both airports are serviced by major airlines and rental car companies. Logan International Airport has direct flights to and from almost all major destinations, worldwide. T. F. Greene Airport has service to all major North American destinations with connecting flights to major foreign airports.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From the west: Follow Interstate 95 to 195 east towards Cape Cod. Exit at Route 105 south. If coming from the west on the Massachusetts Turnpike, proceed east to Route 495 south, which becomes Route 25. Follow Route 195 west. Exit at Route 105 south.
From the north: Take Interstate 95 south, or Mass. Route 24 south. Follow Route 495 towards Cape Cod. Follow to Route 195 west. Exit at Route 105 South.
Local directions: From Route 105 South. AT the red light intersection of Front Street and Route 6, proceed straight on Front Street to the launch site at Burr’s Boat Yard (on the left). There will be signage and Event staff to direct where to park vehicles and boats.
The Organizing Authority, J24 Fleet 16, can facilitate travel and logistical arrangements for those competitors travelling a distance domestically or internationally. Please contact the Event Chair at nanna.blueocean@earthlink.net.

Jmb/1.21.08

modification 4/4/08