Notice of Race

1. Introduction

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. 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. Rules

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:  

4. Teams

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. Entry and Eligibility

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. Event Format and Schedules

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.

7. Sailing Instructions

7.1 Sailing Instructions will be available on the Championship page on the BUSA website, and available at registration along with the NOR. 

8. Personal Equipment

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. Prizes and BUCS Points

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. Advertising

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.

11. Provision of Helpers

11.1 The Organizing Authority may require a team to provide one or more non-racing volunteer(s) to each event the team enters. Volunteers must be prepared to assist in the organisation of racing and be equipped to go afloat. The Organizing Authority will endeavour to provide the Team Captain with at least two weeks’ notice of this requirement [DP].

12. Media, Images and Sound (DP)

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. Risk Statement

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. 

14. Cancellation

14.1 In addition to the ability of the Race Committee to abandon or postpone racing, the Organizing Authority may cancel all or any part of the event. The entry fee for a cancelled part of the event will be refunded; less any costs already incurred and the non-refundable BUCS and BUSA administration fee which is paid on entry.