Fidelity Bahamas Optimist National Open Championship 2023
Friday, September 29th – Sunday, October 1st, 2023
bahamasoptinationals@gmail.com
Organising Authorities:
The Nassau Yacht Club
The Bahamas Optimist Dinghy Association
The Bahamas Sailing Association
Nassau, Bahamas
Forms:
Notice of Race
1. RULES
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
1.2 The current conditions of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) will apply.
1.3 The following prescriptions of Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) shall apply:
a) Racing Rules of Sailing PART 4 – Add under preamble: “BSA prescribes that Part 4 rule 40 shall also apply to boats sailing to the race course from the launching area and vice-versa.”
b) Rule 40 – Add: “BSA prescribes that competitors racing in single-handed dinghies shall wear personal floatation devices at all times while afloat except as provided in rule 40.”
1.4 RRS 33 will be changed as follows: Legs of the course will not be changed after the preparatory signal. The sailing instructions may also change other racing rules.
1.5 The first three sentences of RRS 61.1(a) are changed to “A boat intending to protest shall inform the other boat at the first reasonable opportunity. When the protest shall concern an incident in the racing area that she was involved in or saw she shall hail “Protest”. She shall inform the Race Committee at the finishing line immediately after finishing of the boat she is protesting, or as soon as practicable after she retires.”
1.6 RRS Appendix T (Arbitration) will apply
1.7 RRS Appendix P (RRS 42) will apply with special procedures for Rule 42 with changes to include a point penalty for a penalty given after finishing a race. Appendix 2.3 is deleted and Appendix 2.2 is changed to “When a boat is penalized for a second and subsequent times during a regatta, she shall promptly retire. If she fails to do so she shall be disqualified without a hearing and her score shall not be excluded.”
1.8 In all rules governing this event where applicable:-
a) [DP] denotes a rule for which the penalty is at the discretion of the Jury; and
b) [NP] denotes a rule that shall not be grounds for protests by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1(a).
2. ADVERTISING
2.1 Boats may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the organizing authority. If this rule is broken, World Sailing Regulation 20.9.2 applies.
3. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
3.1 The regatta is open to competitors sailing on boats of the Optimist class that fulfill the eligibility requirements stated below.
3.2 Competitors shall have been born in 2008 or later.
3.3 Competitors shall be junior or associate members of the Bahamas Sailing Association or Club member of Club recognized by the BSA.
3.4 Competitors who are neither Bahamian nationals nor resident in The Bahamas are eligible as Open Competitors in Championship fleet and Green fleet, and will be eligible for Championship fleet prizes but shall not be eligible to win the “Geoffrey Holowesko Floating Championship Trophy”.
3.5 Age Divisions for Championship Fleet:
White Division – 10 and under on the first day of racing (30th September, 2023)
Blue Division – 11 and 12 on the first day of racing (30th September, 2023)
Red Division – 13, 14, and 15 on the first day of racing (30th September, 2023)
4. FEES
4.1 Entries shall be made by completing the relevant online registration forms to be found at www.nassauyachtclub.org and by paying the required fee as provided in 4.2 on or before 15th September, 2023.
4.2 Entrance Fee is B$130.00 payable on or before September 15th, 2023, by bank transfer or by check drawn on a Bahamian bank account and payable to the NYC or by cash delivered to NYC. This covers all meals, a regatta shirt, and registration pack. Entrance fees will be free of conversion charges from foreign currency and free of all bank charges and commissions. Any conversion charges and bank charges and commission will be charged to the Competitor.
4.3 Late registration is B$150.00 on or after September 16th, 2023.
4.4 For Bahamian competitors (Bahamian nationals or non-Bahamian nationals normally resident in The Bahamas) not fully paid member of Bah ODA at the time of registration US$30.00 fee will be collected at registration.
4.5 Competitors and Support Persons shall complete their Registration in person and on-site at NYC between 16:00 and 18:00 on Friday 29th September, 2023.
5. Schedule
5.1 Dates of Registration and Racing:
Friday, September 29th 2023:
16:00-18:00 - Registration at NYC.
18:00-20:00 - Opening Ceremony.
Saturday, September 30th 2023:
07:30 - Breakfast at NYC
08:30 - Skippers Meeting
10:00 - Warning Signal with race(s) to follow
12:30 - Lunch @ On the Water
14:00 - Warning Signal with race(s) to follow
17:30 - 20:00 - DINNER PARTY
Sunday, October 1st 2023:
08:00 - Breakfast at NYC
10:00 - Warning signal with race(s) to follow
13:30 - Lunch @ NYC
17:00 – 19:00 – DINNER AND PRESENTATION at NYC
5.2 The Race Committee will attempt to complete 7 races.
5.3 To alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, an orange flag will be displayed with one sound for at least five minutes before a warning signal is displayed.
5.4 On the last day of the regatta no warning signal will be made after 1300.
6. Measurements
A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions.
7. Sailing instructions
The sailing instructions will be available at www.nassauyachtclub.org and at NYC notice boards.
8. communication
[DP] While racing, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.
9. venue
9.1 The general racing area will be in the vicinity of Montague Bay, New Providence, Bahamas.
9.2 The exact locations of the courses will depend on the specific wind and sea conditions and are at the discretion of the Race Committee.
10. The courses
The diagram in Appendix #1 shows the courses, including the approximate angles between legs, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left. The course length and exact configuration will be based on the sailing conditions.
11. Penalty System
11.1 Appendix P will apply
11.2 Any competitor using a one/two turn(s) penalty shall report that use to the Race Committee promptly upon finishing that race.
11.3 The Jury Boat will be identified by displaying the code flag J.
11.4 In addition the application of Appendix P, the jury will observe racing for other rule infringements. When a protest committee member sees such an infringement, and no boat hails protest or takes an appropriate penalty, the protest committee member may make one sound, but no yellow flag will be pointed, and no sail number will be hailed. This signal means that one or more members of the protest committee believe a boat should take an appropriate penalty.
11.5 RRS P2.3 will not apply and RRS P2.2 is changed so that it will apply to any penalty after the first one.
11.6 No protests shall be heard for the green fleet.
12. Scoring
12.1 The low point scoring system of Appendix A will apply.
12.2 Three races shall constitute a regatta.
12.3 When fewer than 6 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. When 6 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
13. [NP][DP] SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND BOATS
13.1 Support Persons shall register at Registration and boats used by them shall be marked with a Flag given to them at Registration.
13.2 Support Persons shall monitor the race committee channel on the VHF radio and be available to assist with safety when requested. The VHF channel will be stated at the Skippers Meeting.
14. CHARTER BOATS
14.1 Charter Boats are not mandatory.
14.2 Charter Boats are available privately either through Simmons Boat Works or Bahamas Sailing Association who shall allocate boats on a first come first serve basis and otherwise may allocate boats in their sole discretion.
14.3 Competitors may use their own foils, spars, fittings and running rigging.
14.4 Sails may be provided to competitors who are residents of The Bahamas.
15. BERTHING
Boats shall be kept in their assigned places while they are in the Nassau Yacht Club.
16. PRIZES
Trophies shall be awarded to:
a) Top three finishers in Championship Fleet without gender distinctions regardless of nationality or place of residence
b) Top finisher who is a citizen of or resident in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will be awarded the “Geoffrey Holowesko Floating Champion Trophy”
c) Top three finishers in each of the Red, Blue and White Divisions of the Championship Fleet without gender distinctions regardless of nationality or place of residence
d) Top finisher in Championship Fleet who is of the gender other than that of the top finisher awarded under 16(a) regardless of nationality or place of residence
e) Top three finishers in Green Fleet without gender distinctions, regardless of nationality or place of residence
f) Top finisher in Green fleet who is of the gender other than that of the top finisher awarded under 16(e) regardless of nationality or place of residence.
17. DISCLAIMERS OF LIABILITY
17.1 The Bahamas Sailing Association, Nassau Yacht Club, The International Optimist Dinghy Class Association, The Bahamas Optimist Sailing Association and their officers, members and volunteers do not accept liability for loss of life or property, or personal injury or damage caused by or arising out of the Bahamas Optimist National Championship 2023. Competitors take part in the Championships entirely at their own risk. RRS 4.
17.2 The establishment of the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions in no way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of a competitor for the management of the boat he or she is sailing.
17.3 At-fault occurrences to other boats are the responsibility of the competitor. Competitors are not covered by any liability insurance provided by the organizing authority and should provide their own coverage for personal goods and liability protection. The organizing authority recommends that competitors consult their own insurance carriers to ensure they are covered at this event and regarding additional personal liability insurance coverage.
17.4 A competitor is advised to have personal accident and health insurance that covers him while attending the event and while racing.
17.5 To the fullest extent permitted by law, each competitor agrees to indemnify and hold BSA, NYC, IODA and Bahamas Optimist Sailing Association, their owners, affiliates, officers, employees, agents, members, volunteers, committee persons and race officials acting in their official capacities, harmless from any claim arising from a competitor’s acts or omissions.
17.6 All competitors and Support Persons will be required to sign the hold Harmless Agreement.
18. PHOTO AND VIDEO DISCLAIMER
By participating in the event, competitors give absolute right and permission in perpetuity to the organizing authority for any photograph and video footage taken of themselves or the boat they are sailing during the event to be published in any media whatsoever, for either editorial or advertising purpose to be used in press information without compensation and without the competitor’s approval of such images or any use of them.
19. FURTHER INFORMATION
All information regarding this event is to be found on the Website of the Nassau Yacht Club at https://www.nassauyachtclub.org and communications may be made by electronic mail sent to bahamasoptinationals@gmail.com.
Telephone/WhatsApp contacts are
Committee Chair – Erin Tomlinson - 242-376-4845
Transportation and Boat Logistics – Jimmie Lowe - 242-357-9077
Appendix 1 - Courses
Championship Fleet:
Green Fleet:
Sailing Instructions
The notation [DP] in a rule of the Sailing Instructions means that the penalty for breaking the rule is in the
discretion of the race committee or the jury. The notation [NP] in a rule of the Sailing Instructions means that
a boat may not protest another boat for breaking that rule. This changes RRS 60.1(a).
1. RULES
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
1.2 The class rules of the International Optimist Dinghy Association will apply.
1.3 The following prescriptions of Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) shall apply:
a) Racing Rules of Sailing PART 4 – Add under preamble:
BSA prescribes that Part 4 RRS 40 shall also apply to boats sailing to the race course from the launching area
and vice-versa.
b) RRS 40 – Add below:
BSA prescribes that competitors racing in single-handed dinghies shall wear personal floatation devices at all
times while afloat except as provided in RRS 40.
1.4 [DP] Competitors and Support Persons shall comply with reasonable requests from Event Officials. Failure
to comply may be misconduct.
1.5 The first three sentences of RRS 61.1 (a) is changed to “A boat intending to protest shall inform the other
boat at the first reasonable opportunity. When her protest shall concern an incident in the racing area that she
was involved in or saw she shall hail “Protest”. She shall inform the Race Committee of the boat(s) being
protested including the sail number either at the finishing line immediately after finishing or as soon as
practicable after she retires.
1.6 RRS Appendix T (Arbitration) will apply.
2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the Nassau Yacht Club (NYC)
notice board.
2.2 On the water the Race Committee (RC) intends to monitor and communicate with Support Persons on VHF
channel 69.
3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 0900 on the day it will take effect, except that any
change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect.
4.SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at NYCFlag pole.
4.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’ in the race signal
AP.
4.3 Flag D with one sound means ‘The warning signal will be made not less than 30 minutes after flag D is
displayed. Boats shall not to leave the NYC dock area until this signal is made.
5. SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 Dates of Racing:
Saturday, September 30th 2023
10:00 Warning Signal for the first race of the day.
Additional race(s) to follow.
12:30 (approximately) Lunch on the water
13:00 Warning Signal for afternoon’s races.
Additional race(s) to follow.
Sunday, October 1st 2023
10:00Warning signal for the first race of the day.
Additional race(s) to follow.
13:00 (approximately) Lunch at NYC
5.2 The Race Committee (RC) will attempt to complete 7 races.
5.3 To alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, an orange flag will be displayed with one
sound at least five minutes before a warning signal is displayed.
5.4 On the last day of the regatta no warning signal will be made after 1300.
6. CLASS FLAGS
Class flags will be:
Class Flag
Championship Fleet Optimist Class Flag
Green Fleet Green Optimist Class Flag
7. RACING AREAS
7.1 The general racing area will be in the vicinity of Montague Bay
7.2 The exact locations of the course will depend on the specific wind and sea conditions and are at the
discretion of the Race Committee.
8. THE COURSES
8.1 The diagram in Appendix 1 of the NoR, Race Courses, shows the course for both the Championship Fleet
and the Green Fleet including the approximate angles between legs, the order in which marks are to be passed
and the side on which each mark is to be left. The course length and exact configuration will be based on the
sailing conditions.
8.2 When there is a gate, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and
round either gate mark.
8.3 Legs of the course will not be changed after the preparatory signal. This changes RRS 33.
9. MARKS
9.1 The Start Mark for the Championship Fleet will be an orange teardrop buoy.
9.2 Marks 1, 2, 3s and 3p for the Championship Fleet will be yellow tetrahedron buoys.
9.3 The Finish Mark for the Championship Fleet will be orange teardrops buoy.
9.4 Green Fleet Marks will be described at the competitors meeting.
10. THE START
10.1 Start will be pursuant to RRS 26.
10.2 The starting line is between a staff displaying an orange flag on the signal vessel at the starboard end and
the course side of the port-end starting mark.
10.3 A boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start (DNS) without a
hearing. This changes RRS A5.1 and A5.2. (Championship Fleet Only)
11. THE FINISH
11.1 The finish line is between a staff displaying a blue flag on the finishing boat at the starboard end and the
course side of the port end finishing mark.
11.2 Boats that have finished shall keep clear of all boats racing.
12. PENALTY SYSTEM
12.1 Appendix P will apply
12.2 Any competitor using a one/two turn(s) penalty shall report that use to the Race Committee promptly
upon finishing that race.
12.3 The Jury Boat will be identified by displaying the code flag J.
12.4 In addition the application of Appendix P, the jury will observe racing for other rule infringements. When a
Jury member sees such an infringement, and no boat hails protest or takes an appropriate penalty, the Jury
member may make one sound but no yellow flag will be pointed and no sail number will be hailed. This signal means that one or more members of the Jury believe a boat should take an appropriate penalty. The jury may
protest a boat or boats under RRS 60.3(a) if no boat takes a penalty.
12.5 RRS P2.3 will not apply and RRS P2.2 is changed so that it will apply to any penalty after the first one.
13. TIME LIMIT
13.1 The time limit shall be 60 minutes for the first boat in a race to finish.
13.2 Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored Did
Not Finish (DNF) without a hearing. This changes rules 35, A4, and A5.
13.3 There will be a 30 minute time limit for the first boat in a race to finish the first leg of the race.
14. HEARING REQUESTS
14.1 Only competitors sailing in the Championship Fleet are allowed to request a hearing.This changes
RRS60.1.
14.2 [NP][DP] Competitors in the first half of the Green Fleet may be disqualified without a hearing by the Jury
and/or the Race Committee for blatant infractions to rules and SI, if they have not cleared themselves after
being signaled to do so by whistle or otherwise.This changes RRS63.1
14.3 Protests shall be written on forms available at the Jury Desk on the upper wooden pool deck of the
NYC.Completed protest forms shall be delivered to the Jury Desk no later than 60 minutes after the race
committee finish boat docks. This time limit will be posted on the Official Notice Board.
14.5Notice of hearings will be posted on the Official Notice Board. Hearings will be held as soon as possible
after the end of the protest time limit.
14.6 Reopening a Hearing - On the last day of racing a request for reopening a hearing shall be delivered: (a)
within the protest time limit if the party requesting reopening was informed of the decision on the previous
day; (b) no later than 30 minutes after the party requesting reopening was informed of the decision on that
day. This changes RRS 66.
14.7 A list of boats that have been penalized under instructions 12.4 and 14.2 or have been disqualified by the
Jury or race committee will be posted before the protest time limit.
15. SCORING
15.1 Three races shall constitute a regatta.
15.2 When fewer than 6 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.
When 6 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding
her worst score.
16. SAFETY [NP][DP]16.1 Each competitor must have a whistle to alert support/safety boats in case of
emergency or to request outside assistance.
16.2 Each boat must be equipped with at least one bailer properly secured to the boat by a rope or bungee
cord.
16.3 Before the warning signal of the first race (morning and afternoon) all competitors must check-in with
their respective (Championship or Green Fleet) Race Committee boat at the starboard end of the start line by
sailing past the stern of the Committee boat on a starboard tack, by hailing her sail number and being
acknowledged by the Race Committee with a return hail of her sail number. The penalty for a violation of this instruction will be a 20% penalty applied as in RRS 44.3(c) to the competitor’s best finish on the day of the
violation.
16.4 A boat retiring from a race shall notify the RC boat or safety boat before leaving the course area or notify
the RC immediately upon returning to shore.
16.5 There is no restriction on the use of waterways by vessels not associated with the regatta. Any attempt by
a boat to exercise right of way, to cross in close proximity to, or to interfere with the reasonable transit of the
race area by commercial freighters, tugs and tows and other vessels which are unable to respond readily or
which are bound by navigation restrictions will be grounds for a protest by the RC or the Protest Committee. If
such a protest occurs, the burden of proof is on the boat allegedly interfering. Boats shall take evasive action
well in advance of any potentially dangerous situation.
16.6 It is the responsibility solely of the parent(s) or the adult representative of the competitor to decide if the
child should sail in the weather and sea conditions that might arise during the event. Parents not personally
attending any part of the event must ensure that another adult is prepared to act as the Support Person for
their sailor and to make these decisions for their sailor. This changes RRS 4.
16.7 Only the race committee or jury may protest a competitor for a violation of this section (Section 16) of the
sailing instructions. This changes RRS 60.1.
17. REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT
17.1 Substitution of competitors will not be allowed.
17.2 Substitution of damaged or lost equipment is not allowed unless authorized by the Race Committee.
Requests for substitution shall be made to the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity which
maybe after the race.
18. EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS
A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions.
On the water, a boat can be instructed by a race committee equipment inspector or jury to proceed
immediately to a designated area for inspection.
19. EVENT ADVERTISING[NP][DP] Boats shall display event advertising supplied by the organizing authority
as follows: Adhered to the bow or stern of boat.
20. OFFICIAL BOATS
Official boats will display an ‘OFFICIAL’ flag
21. SUPPORT BOATS
21.1 [NP][DP] Team leaders, coaches and other support personnel shall stay outside areas where boats are
racing from the time of the preparatory signal for the first class to start until all boats have finished or retired
or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment unless specifically authorized
by the Race Committee as a matter of safety.
21.2 All boats associated with the infringing Support Vessel may be penalized at the discretion of the Jury for
the race on which the Support Person failed to comply with this instruction. This changes RRS 64.5(b).
22. TRASH DISPOSAL
This event is a Clean Event to promote environmental awareness and ocean conservation by the participants in
this regatta. All sailors, coaches, families and friends are asked to help protect the environment on and off the
water and to keep surroundings clean. Efforts will be made to limit plastics and non-biodegradable materials.
Trash may be placed aboard support or official boats.
23. PRIZES
Trophies shall be awarded to:
a) Top three finishers in Championship Fleet without gender distinctions regardless of nationality or place of
residence
b) Top finisher who is a citizen of or resident in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will be awarded the
“Geoffrey Hollowesko Floating Champion Trophy”
c) Top three finishers in each of the Red, Blue and White Divisions of the Championship Fleet without gender
distinctions regardless of nationality or place of residence
d) Top finisher in Championship Fleet who is of the gender other than that of the top finisher awarded under
16(a) regardless of nationality or place of residence
e) Top three finishers in Green Fleet without gender distinctions, regardless of nationality or place of residence
f) Top finisher in Green fleet who is of the gender other than that of the top finisher awarded under 16(e)
regardless of nationality or place of residence.
24. VIDEO AND PHOTO DISCLAIMER AND RIGHT TO USE NAME
By participating in the event, competitors give absolute right and permission in perpetuity to the organizing
authority and the sponsors of the event for any photograph and video footage taken of themselves or the boat
they are sailing during the event to be published in any media whatsoever, for either editorial or advertising
purpose to be used in press information without compensation and without the competitor’s approval of such
images or any use of them.
25. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See RRS 4, Decision to Race. 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.