BUCS Sailing: Scottish Team Racing Qualifiers

The notation ‘[DP]’ in a rule in the NoR means that the penalty for a breach of that rule may, at the discretion of the protest committee, be less than disqualification.  

1. Introduction

1.1 The event is for three boat teams and will be sailed in Firefly type dinghies, supplied by the Organizing Authority.  Each boat shall be sailed by two people.  

1.2 The event includes Regional Qualifiers, Playoffs and Championship Finals stages.

2. Organising Authority

2.1 The Organizing Authority is the British Universities Sailing Association (BUSA) on behalf of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).  

2.2 The Regional Qualifiers, Playoffs and Championship Finals will be hosted by the named clubs and venues 

3.1 Races will be governed by the Rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) including Appendix D, Team Racing Rules.  These can be found here.  The following changes are made by this NoR:  

• RRS 63.1 - Requirement for a Hearing is changed in NoR Appendix B.
•  In accordance with RRS 70.5(a) the right of appeal will be denied.  

3.2 The following Rules will be amended in event Sailing Instructions (SIs): RRS 26, 29.1, 62.1, 63.1, 64.1, A5 & D3.1.  

3.3 The following Rules may be amended in event Sailing Instructions (SIs): RRS 44.1, D1.1(d), D3.3 & D4.4.  

3.4 Races will be umpired.  

3.5 The BUCS Sports Specific Regulations for Sailing shall apply.  These can be found here.  

3.6 The following BUCS General Regulations will also apply:  

• Reg 4 – Individual Eligibility and Team Selection  
• Reg 5 – Misconduct/Bringing BUCS into disrepute  
• Reg 1 - General  

4.1 Each team shall consist of six persons, including at least two female and two male sailors.  

4.2 The members of a team shall not change during the Championship, except as allowed by NoR 5.3 and Appendix C.  

4.3 Where more than one team is entered by a BUSA Member Club, each team shall be identified by a colour. Teams shall not be identified by numbers or letters.

5.1 Entries for the Championship will be accepted from BUSA member clubs which are registered as developmental or competitive member clubs and which have paid the relevant annual subscription fee. Additional entries may be accepted as allowed by NoR 5.5(b).                                                                                                    

5.2 Entries will not be considered valid unless all requirements of this Notice of Race are met.  

5.3 Team Entries for all stages of the event must be made via the BUCSPlay online system. Each AU/SU will enter its teams(s) on the Team Entry section of BUCSPlay and all prospective sailors on the Competitors and Reserves List. Team members need to be named  at least six days before the event to the BUSA Administrator at [email protected] (see deadlines below). Teams may request a change of crew in writing by emailing [email protected] at least two days before the event. The Competitors and Reserves list will remain open until two days before the event.  

• Teams shall name a Captain who will be the main point of contact.
• Entry fees for each stage of the event, including BUCS and BUSA admin fees, are listed in table 1.  
• Damage Deposits  

         i. No damage deposit from teams representing Member Clubs is payable on entry.  Appendix B of this NoR applies.  

         ii. Teams invited at the discretion of the Organizing Authority (O.A.) which do not represent Member Clubs will be required to provide a damage deposit of £300 per team.  Any damage to the supplied boats while in the care of a competitor shall be deducted from this deposit.  If a deduction from the damage deposit is decided by the O.A., it may require the deposit be restored to its original amount before the team will be permitted to continue in the event.  

• Once entered on BUCSPlay entry fees are non-refundable, except as provided by NoR 14.  
• Team entries for each stage shall be made no later than 2359hrs on the relevant Stage Deadline listed below.    
• At its discretion, the Organizing Authority may allow additional team entries until the close of the Stage 2 Deadline for individual events.  The Organizing Authority and BUCS are under no obligation to accept these entries; priority will remain with all Stage 1 Entries received.  Entries submitted under this system shall be made by no later than 2359hrs on the relevant Stage 2 Entry deadline listed below and will be charged an additional 20% fee.  
• In addition to the Entry Fee, a BUSA Administration Fee of £1 Per Sailor Per Day is payable at registration.
   

  	Entry Fee (Stage 1)	Entry Opening	Stage 1 Deadline (BUCS Play)	Stage 2 Deadline (BUCS Play)	Submission of team members ([email protected])	Change of team members ([email protected])
  English & Welsh Regional Qualifiers	£350	27/10/2020	19/01/2021	26/01/2021	24/01/2021	27/01/2021
  Scottish Qualifer Series	£390	27/10/2020	19/01/2021	26/01/2021	24/01/2021	27/01/2021
  Playoffs	£375	09/02/2021	23/02/2021	02/03/2021	28/02/2021	03/03/2021
  Championship Final	£720	09/02/2021	23/03/2021	31/03/2021	30/03/2021	02/04/2021

   

5.4 Entries to Regional Qualifiers  

• Will be made in accordance with the BUSA Regions as described on the BUSA website.  
• Developmental clubs may enter one team to a regional qualifier, and competitive clubs may enter up to three teams to a regional qualifier.  
• Except in Scotland, entries will be restricted to twenty teams.  
• Entries will be allocated as follows:  

i.  Each Member Club will be allocated an entry before another Member Club is given a second entry;

 ii.  Each Member Club will be allocated a second entry before another Member Club is given a third and final entry, and;  iii.  in all other respects, entries will be allocated based on the date and time of receipt.

• In Scotland only, the Organizing Authority may invite additional student teams representing Scottish Student Sailing (SSS) Members to compete in the Scottish Qualifiers, in which case NoR 5.4(b) shall not apply. These teams may be placed but shall not be eligible for invitations to the Playoffs or Championship Finals.   

 
5.5 Entries to Playoffs and the Championship Finals  

• Entries to Playoffs will be restricted to fifteen (15) teams and for the Championship Finals will be restricted to twentyeight (28) teams. Teams that will be invited to enter are laid out in Appendix A.  
• The top ranked Irish university team (determined at the sole discretion of the Organizing Authority), or a team of university sailors nominated by it, will be invited to the Finals. This team may proceed to the knockouts, but is not eligible to win the event. In the event the Irish team declines their invitation, an additional qualification place may be allocated to the Playoffs
• Should an invited team turn down a place at Playoffs or the Championship Finals, the next ranked eligible team from the event through which the team qualified (determined at the sole discretion of the Organizing Authority) will be invited in their place. 

6.1 Details of Registration and Briefings will be confirmed in individual pre-event information

6.2 Unless otherwise stated in the sailing instructions, the first warning signal at each event will be 1000hrs.

8.1 RRS 40 is changed to: Competitors shall wear personal floatation devices, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. This rule applies at all times while afloat. Wet suits and dry suits are not personal flotation devices [DP].  

8.2 All competitors will be required to wear wet suits or dry suits, unless indicated by the Race Committee on each racing day [DP]. 

9.1 Regional Qualifiers  a. Invitation to enter the Championship Finals or Playoffs as laid out in Appendix A.  

9.2  Playoffs  a. Invitation to enter the Championship Finals as laid out in Appendix A.  

9.3  Championship Finals  

• The Sir Michael Thompson Trophy; awarded to the winning eligible Team.  
• BUCS Medals; awarded to the top three eligible teams.  
• There will be no BUCS Points awarded this season  

9.4 Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of either Championship or Host Organizing Authority.   

10.1   In accordance with the World Sailing Advertising Code, all advertising on supplied equipment will be made available to the Organizing Authority.  

10.2   Competitors may be requested to wear bibs. Any Team which does not return bibs at the end of the event where bibs are provided will be charged by damage notice £30 for their replacement per bib not returned.

12.1 When required supplied media personnel, equipment or dummies shall be carried on board while racing.  

12.2 Any member of a Crew  a.  May be required to wear provided media devices that may record, transmit or provide two way communication.  b.  Will make themselves available for interviews when requested by the Organizing Authority or Event Director.  

12.3 Competitors shall not interfere with the normal working of supplied media equipment.  

12.4 Competitors automatically grant the Organizing Authority, without payment the right in perpetuity to make, use and show any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or filmed television of and/or relating to the event.

13.1 A boat and team are entirely responsible for their own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility.  

13.2 Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: "The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone."  Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:  

• They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;  
• They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;  
• They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;  
• Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;  
• The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;  
• The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances.  
• It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event.  

13.3 BUCS will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its events are run in safe environments. It is the responsibility of all institutions and participants to consider any known medical conditions or disabilities before entering or competing in a BUCS event. If you know or are aware of a medical condition that might interfere with you exercising or participating safely, please consult a medical professional before participating. All participants assume full responsibility for any, and all, injuries, losses and damages that are incurred while participating in BUCS events. 

A.1.     Teams will be invited to the Championship Finals from the qualifiers and playoffs based on a team’s place at the completion of each Qualifier and Playoffs as described in Table 3 - Competition Qualification.  

A.2.  Subject to NoR 5.5, the following teams will be invited:  
 

Invited to Finals  (teams placed)                                                                          Invited to Playoffs  (teams placed)

Regional Qualifiers   1st, 2nd,3rd & 4th                                                                 5th, 6th & 7th 

Playoffs  1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th      
 
A.3. The Organizing Authority may amend these allocations when the number of teams who attended each Qualifier is confirmed.  Any change will be notified no later than 2359hrs on the Friday 1st February 2019.  

A.4. If teams subsequently withdraw from a Qualifier, then the Organizing Authority may revise the allocated places.  

BUSA does not require teams to lodge damage deposits prior to racing. By entering the Championships, Member Clubs expressly agree to follow and comply with this system without delay or dispute. A failure to comply with an instruction or notice issued under this Appendix may result in disqualification from the Championships without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1.  
 
B.1.     Each team is liable for up to £300 of damage costs per racing incident.  
 
B.2.     Any decision on liability or the quantum of any damage is solely for the Organizing Authority to determine.  Subject to rule 62, the decision of the Organizing Authority is final, and teams and competitors agree to accept it without dispute.  

B.3.     The Organizing Authority may determine that damage which cannot be attributable to specific teams be payable by all participants.  In this case the costs of non-attributable damage will be split between all participating teams.  
 
B.4.     If a team is assessed to be liable for damage costs, and these are not paid at the event, BUSA will issue a damage notice and send it to the team captain.  At the same time, BUCS will issue an invoice for the same amount to the Member Club’s institution.  Invoices must be paid (without set off or deduction) within 14 days unless an extension is agreed with the Organizing Authority.  
 
B.5.     In the event of damage occurring, the Race Committee may require a payment from the responsible team at the event to be made towards the damage costs.  Teams shall make any such payment when required to do so.  
 
B.6.     Failure to comply with a damage notice within 14 days (or any extension period) is a breach of this Appendix and the Organizing Authority may:  

• disqualify the team in question without a hearing;  
• disqualify any other teams from that relevant Member Club without a hearing; and/or
• re-allocate any qualification places immediately to other teams.  

 
B.7.     The Organizing Authority may amend or cancel a damage notice at any time and may reinstate a team disqualified.  

Teams must also be aware that if a damage notice is not complied with, the Member Club will have its membership rights (including the right to compete at BUSA events) suspended.  
 

Team membership must be submitted to [email protected] by the deadlines shown in para.5.3.  Any subsequent substitutions or changes made after the change of team member deadline in the table in NoR 5.3, apart from for the Scottish Qualifier (see below), may only be made under exceptional circumstances as decided by the Organizing Authority and with its written approval, subject to the below requirements.  Requests for substitution should be made in writing to the Organizing Authority via the BUSA Administrator at the first reasonable opportunity, citing the reason for the substitution.      
 
Teams competing at the Scottish qualifiers are allowed one free substitution throughout the duration of the qualifier stage.  Any further substitutions will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances and with the written approval of the Organizing Authority, subject to the below requirements.  This free substitution must be notified to the BUSA Administrator at the first available opportunity.  
 
C.1.  A substitution is defined as the replacement of one sailor for the duration of either one day of sailing or for the duration of one event or stage following the close of a stage entry deadline.   C.2. The duration of a stage runs from the close of the Stage 2 Entry Deadline (as defined in Table 1) until the completion of the last race of that stage.   
C.3.  For a team to remain eligible in the Championship, any substitution must:  

• Be a sailor registered through BUCSPlay,  
• Comply with any requirements of this NoR, and
• NOT be from a team still competing in the Championship.  

 
C.4. Playoffs Substitutions  a.  Any substitution made for a team competing in Playoffs cannot have sailed for a team at the relevant Qualifier stage who has already qualified for the Championship Final.  
 
C.5. Team Captain  

• Any substitution or subsequent change of team captain must be notified to the Organizing Authority in writing at the first reasonable opportunity.    
• The team captain is the sole point of contact for his or her team, and BUSA will communicate with all entered teams by email to the declared team captain.  

 
C.6. Exceptional Circumstances  

• Exceptional Circumstances are defined as events or problems which could not have been reasonably foreseen, and which stop someone being able to compete. For example, bereavement, unexpected personal or family problems, injury or illness might be considered as an exceptional circumstance.  Exam dates (including revision for them) and coursework deadlines will normally only be considered exceptional circumstsances if the team can prove that the date was fixed after the relevant deadline for entries.
• In Exceptional Circumstances, a team member substitution may be approved by the nominated O.A. representative at the event, citing the reason for the request.  

C.7. The Organizing Authority may protest breaches of team change and substitution restrictions within seven (7) days of the relevant information coming to its attention. This changes RRS 60, 61 and 64. The penalty shall be at the discretion of the Protest Committee.   
 
C.8.  A boat may not request redress from the actions or omissions of the Organizing Authority under a rule of this appendix (this changes RRS 60).  

The BUCS Team Racing Championship Finals will take place on 13 – 15 April 2020, at Grafham Water Sailing Club, hosted by Cambridge University 
Please note that Table 1 – Entry Fees and Deadlines is changed as follows: 

Should you have any questions, please contact the Technical Delegates [email protected] 
 
Matt Goodbourn & Jon Napier 
Technical Delegates BUCS Team Racing Championship