Notice of Race – Phuket Raceweek

ORGANISING AUTHORITY

The Regatta is organised by Media Business Services Co., Ltd., in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and is staged under the authority of the Sports Authority of Thailand.

The notation ‘[NP]’ in a rule means that a boat may not protest another boat for breaking that rule. 
This changes RRS 60.1(a).

1. RULES

The Regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing and by
1.1. The IRC Rules 2022 Parts A, B and C.,
1.2. The OMR Rule v8 for Multihulls was amended by the Thailand Multihull Association prescriptions.
1.3. Class Rules for one-design entries and boats sailing under a standard one-design rating, including crew limits.
1.4. RRS 52, Manual Power, shall not apply for yachts racing in the Multihull, Classic and Cruising Classes. The use of Automatic or wind-vane steering is permitted in the Cruising Classes, and the use of stored power for the hoisting, reefing or furling of sails need not be declared.
1.5. Multihull Boats using stored power for the adjustment or operation of running rigging shall declare this to the OMR Rating Authority.
1.6. A Protest Committee will be appointed. A mediation procedure (Appendix T) will be offered for protests involving an alleged breach of
RRS Part 2. Details will be included in the Sailing Instructions.
1.7. No national prescriptions will apply.
1.8. Changes to the RRS and Rating Rules are as detailed in this Notice of Regatta or in the Sailing Instructions. This changes RRS J1.3(1)
1.9. Amendments made to this Notice-of-Race will be published on the online notice board on the event website. www.phuketraceweek.com
1.10. Where there is a conflict between the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions,
the Sailing Instructions shall prevail. (This changes RRS 63.7)

2. SAFETY REGULATIONS [NP]

2.1. Boats shall comply with World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Appendix B SPECIAL REGULATIONS for Inshore racing shall applyin daylight hours except that:
2.2. All boats shall carry an operational marine band VHF radio and monitor the designated channels from 30 minutes before any scheduled start until 30 mins after finishing.
2.3. Boats racing on a one-design certificate shall comply with their class safety regulations, sail limitations and other regulations where they differ from World Sailing Special Regulations.
2.4. Each yacht shall carry at least one suitable anchor and sufficient suitable cable to hold the yacht in the depth of water and likely weather conditions in and near the racing area.
2.5. Each yacht shall carry Visual means for attracting attention when in distress.
2.6. Each yacht shall carry equipment suitable for accepting a tow.
2.7. Anchors shall not be carried forward of the stem or with any part outboard, except when anchoring.
2.8. All yachts shall be liable for inspection in accordance with applicable safety and measurement requirements.
2.9. Any boats that do not comply fully with the requirements may apply to the organizing committee for written dispensation against specific requirements. Dispensation will not normally be considered unless applied for by 1700 on Sunday 19^th June 2022.

3. RESPONSIBILITY [NP]

The Person in Charge
3.1.Yacht racing can be dangerous. The attention of Persons in Charge is drawn to RRS Fundamental Rule 3: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone” and to Special Regulation 1.02.1, which begins: “The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the Person in Charge…”

The Organisers
3.2. MBS, appointed officials, its sponsors and other organising clubs accept no responsibility or liability for loss of life or injury to members or others or for the loss of, or damage to, any vessel or property.

Misconduct
3.3. The Person in Charge and crew will be held jointly responsible for the conduct of the boat’s crew before, during and after a race. Misconduct may result in both the Person in Charge and crew being excluded from future races and renders a boat liable to disqualification.

Starting and Continuing to Race
3.4. The Race Committee will make starting signals unless, in their opinion, it is manifestly unsafe for any of the boats entered to remain in the vicinity of the starting line. Each boat shall exercise her responsibility under RRS Fundamental Rule 3 and decide whether or not to start or to continue to race.

Race Declaration(s)
3.5. No boat will be accepted as an entry unless the Person in Charge has, before the start of the race, signed a declaration in the terms set out in NoR 20 below. The organiser reserves the right to require a signed declaration, in the terms set out in NoR 20 below, from each crew member.

4. COMMUNICATION [NP]

4.1. The online official notice board is located at www.phuketraceweek.com
4.2. Information regarding the event may be obtained from this site. Entrants are advised to check the site periodically to keep up to date with the latest information.

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
4.3. All boats shall carry an operational marine band VHF transceiver and monitor the designated channels from 30 minutes before any scheduled start until after finishing.
4.4. On the water, the race committee will make courtesy broadcasts to competitors on VHF radio. The channel will be stated in the SIs.

MOBILE TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS
4.5. Competitors may receive courses and other information by text message from the Race Committee and may submit compulsory declarations by text using a single onboard mobile telephone.
4.6. In addition to the information published on the official website, the Race Committee may text courses, postponements and other information to a single mobile telephone number using “What’s App” that has been registered to a boat.
4.7. Delays or failure of the text messaging service shall not be grounds for redress.

5. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

5.1. The Regatta will have the following classes, which may be subdivided into divisions. A minimum of 4 boats are required to constitute a class or division. Classes may be amalgamated or divided at the discretion of the Race Committee. The organising authority may cancel any class if fewer than the minimum entries have been received by the closing date.
5.2. The Race Committee reserves the right to adjust the eligibility criteria and/or allocation of boats in the interests of fair competition. The determination of eligibility criteria and the allocation of boats to a particular class or division shall not be grounds for protest or redress. (This changes rules 60.1(b) and 62.1(a)).
5.3. IRC Racing Classes – Monohull keelboats, including Sportsboats, with a current valid IRC 2022 certificate. Based on entries, the Race Committee may divide IRC classes based on design and performance. Class divisions will be 17.00 on 29th June prior to the Skippers Briefing.
Draft class splits may be posted on the official website approximately one week earlier in order to allow comments from competitors.
5.4. Multihulls. Trimarans and Catamarans of a size and condition acceptable to the Race Committee. Subject to the number of entries, the Race Committee may split the Multihull Class based on design and performance.
5.5. IRC Cruising Classes.
Boats will be allocated a base rating by the Race Committee using the best information available.
5.6. Phuket Cruising Monohull Division and Phuket Cruising Multihull Division
Boats between 9 metres and 30 metres Length of Hull (LH) participating with the owner on board, or production charter boats available for bareboat charterers, which are acceptable to the Race Committee. Boats will be fitted out to cruising standards and will typically not have working sails of custom-built modern exotic construction.
Boats shall not be stripped or lightened and may be subject to a substantial handicap penalty unless the race committee grants dispensation. Cruising Divisions will sail passage races with islands and fixed marks as course marks in addition to inflatable special marks.
5.7. Non–Spinnaker Classes 
Non–Spinnaker Classes will be the same requirements as for Phuket Cruising Classes, except boats shall sail with a main and headsails only. A headsail is defined as a sail with the entire luff of the sail attached along a headstay. Boats shall not carry spinnakers or Code Zero sails. A Headsail may be poled out with a whisker pole on the windward side only, except during manoeuvres and short-term changes, of course. A whisker pole shall be used in accordance with RRS 50.2. Non-Spinnaker Class will sail passage type races with islands or fixed objects in addition to inflatable buoys as course marks.
5.8. One-Design Class Racing
5.9. One-design classes with paid entries of 4 or more boats may apply to the Race Committee for their own class or division status. Applications should be made to the Race Committee by the Class Association and must be submitted no later than 27^th May 2022.

6. FEES

6.1. Entry will be confirmed on receipt of a completed entry form and the entry fee as indicated in Table 1.
6.2. For more information, go to https://www.phuketraceweek.com/registration

Entries must be received by 16.00 Wednesday 29^th June 2022.

7. CANCELLATION POLICY

7.1. If circumstances out of the control of the organisers of The Phuket Raceweek 2022 at Cape Panwa Hotel results in the cancellation of the event. The event refund policy will be as follows:
7.1.1. For event cancellation prior to 1st June 2022, the organisers will refund 90% of Boat Entry and Crew tickets.
7.1.2. For event cancellation, prior to 15th June 2022, the organisers will refund 50% of Boat Entry and Crew tickets.
Any event cancellation after 15^th June 2022 will be at the organiser’s discretion. 
7.2. Refunds shall apply to pre-paid Boat Entry fees and Crew ticket fees only. No other claims for compensation will be entertained. Participants should ensure they have adequate insurance.

8. PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE

Registration for the 2022 Regatta and official social functions will take place at Cape Panwa Hotel.
Racing for all classes will be held in the waters around southern Phuket.

Wednesday 29^th June
10.00-16.00 Registration (late registration by prior arrangement only)
17.30 Skippers briefing.
18.30 Regatta Party Bar opens with drinks and Buffet for ticket holders.
19.00 21:30 Opening Ceremony & Party.

Thursday 30^th June
Time of first Warning Signal 10.30 hrs.
17:30 -21:00 Regatta Party Bar opens with drinks and Buffet for ticket holders.
19:00 Raceday 1 Prizegiving.

Friday 1^st July
Time of first Warning Signal 10.30 hrs.
Free Evening – no party. Day 2 Prizegiving will be held on Saturday 2^nd July.

Saturday 2^nd July
Time of first Warning Signal 10.30 hrs.
It is the intention of the organisers that the first race of the day will be raced under a PURSUIT race format.
(Full details will be published in the Sailing Instructions).

All classes will race in a timed/distance pursuit race with starts based on their IRC/OMR/PHS handicaps.

Special Prizes will be awarded for the Pursuit race. However, points for the overall series will be allocated by
class using standard handicap time/time calculations using individual start times.
Additional White Sail Cruising yachts may join as day sailors on application.

Any additional races held on that day will be based on standard handicap time/time rules.

17:30 -21:00 Regatta Party Bar opens with drinks and Buffet for ticket holders.
19:00 Raceday 2 Friday and Raceday 3 Prizegiving.

Sunday 3^rd July
Time of first Warning Signal 10.30 hrs.
18.00 – 22:00  Regatta Party Bar opens with drinks and Buffet for ticket holders.
19:00 Raceday 4 Prizegiving and Phuket Raceweek Series Prizegiving.

9. HANDICAP SYSTEM [NP]

9.1. The IRC 2022 Rating System shall be used for all Monohull Racing Classes. Owner initiated changes to IRC certificates will only be accepted after 26^th June 2022, with the agreement of the regatta IRC rating officer/measurer. For Platu 25’s racing under one design, any un-weighted boats will be given an allocated weight as specified by the Thailand Class Rules.
9.2. Boats racing in the IRC classes that do not wish to use a spinnaker or cruising chute at any time during the Regatta may use their non-spinnaker TCC. This choice must be made no later than 26^th June 2022. This alters IRC Rule 8.6.
9.3. For the unrated boats. Base ratings shall be provided by the organisers using the best information available. Boats not providing sufficient boat data will be allocated a handicap based on standard hull data and/or a known sistership. This will not be subject to protest or redress; this changes RRS 62.
9.4. An unrated or Cruising Boat’s boat handicap may be realigned during the course of the Regatta based on her performance compared to the initial base rating allocated. An adjustment in handicap number is not grounds for redress, this changes RRS 62.
9.5. The OMR handicap system shall be used for the Multihulls. Un-weighed boats without a valid OMR handicap will be allocated a TCC by the Racing Committee using the best information available.

10. SCORING

10.1. For all classes, a minimum of 2 completed races is required to constitute a series.
10.2. For all classes, there will be a maximum of 8 races scheduled. 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 worse score. If a race is cancelled or abandoned by the Race Committee, the above minimum may be adjusted accordingly.

11. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

11.1. It is the intention to have the Sailing Instructions available on the event website from Sunday 26^th June 2022. Printed copies will be provided to all competitors at registration on Wednesday, 29^th June 2022.

12. THE COURSES

The courses to be sailed will be passage, coastal, windward/leeward or geometric courses.

13. PENALTY SYSTEM

13.1. For all classes, RRS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty.
13.2. For any breach not involving RRS Part 2, the penalty is at the discretion of the protest committee, which may be less than disqualification. This changes Rule 64.1.

14. CREW LIMITATIONS [NP]

14.1. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, crew restrictions may be imposed by MBS to comply with the letter and spirit of government and local rules and guidance (if any) current at the time of the Regatta.
14.2. IRC Rule 22.4.2 shall not apply. There will be no limitations on crew number/weight or crew changes except as required in NoR 14.1 or for boats rated as one design, which shall comply with IRC Rule 22.4.1.
14.3. Subject to Class rating rules, the crew onboard may vary from day to day, but once the race day begins and with the exception of injury requiring medical attention, shall remain the same for each individual race day, including multiple-race days.
14.3.1. Once the race day begins, except as allowed by RRS 41, boats racing shall not have contact with a support boat or person.
This adds to RRS 41.
14.4. In the Multihull classes, the race committee must be notified of the declared crew weight at time of registration. No alteration to the boat’s TCC will be permitted during the Regatta except as a result or a rating protest or to correct rating errors.
14.5. Accredited journalists, photographers or cameramen who are not regular crew members may join and/or leave a boat at any time and by any means so long as their doing so does not directly affect another competitor and they play no part in the racing of the boat. This changes RRS 47.2.

15. BOAT IDENTIFICATION [NP]

15.1. All boats shall carry sail numbers or method of identification.
15.2. Sail numbers should be in suitable contrast to the sail as to be visible to the race committee.

16. ADVERTISING [NP]

16.1. Boats may carry advertising as allowed by the World Sailing advertising code unless their class rules further restrict the advertising that may be carried.
16.2. Boats shall be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the organizing authority. If this rule is broken,
World Sailing Regulation 20.9.2 applies.
16.3. The owner and skipper of all boats shall ensure that no entities form unauthorised associations between themselves (and their products or services) and the event (otherwise known as “ambush marketing”) or any “hijack signage” is carried out by or on behalf of themselves or their sponsors with reference to the event and that nothing else is done which might undermine the event, the rights of the event sponsor, or any other sponsor or participant in the event.
16.4. No more than 2 boats in a class or division listed in section 5 may carry advertising for the same organisation, person, product, service, brand or idea without the written permission of Media Business Services Co Ltd. Media Business Services Co Ltd,. reserves the right to refuse entry to any class of boat that contravenes this rule.
16.5. The Organising Authority reserves the right to forbid items of advertising which may conflict with the regatta sponsors or in any way offend Thai laws or customs by their nature.

17. INSURANCE

17.1. Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance to a minimum cover of Twenty Million Thai Baht per incident or the equivalent.

18. SECURITY

Whilst the regatta organisers will do their best to arrange a safe environment for competing boats and crews, all entrants are cautioned to secure valuables at all times during the Regatta. The Person in Charge is required to sign a Declaration upon registration, absolving the event organisers of liability in the event of loss. Access to official social functions will be restricted to those who have purchased the event entry ticket and are identified by a security tag issued by the Regatta organisers.

19. PRIZES FOR THE PHUKET RACEWEEK 2022 SERIES

19.1. Prizes for overall class 1^st, 2nd, and 3^rd will be awarded in each class or division sailed.
19.2. Other prizes, including prizes for individual races and divisional results, and line honours,
may be awarded at the discretion of the Organising Committee.

20. RACE ENTRY DECLARATION

20.1. The Person in Charge shall agree to the terms of the declaration below using the online entry system.

Race Entry Form Declaration to be signed by every Person in Charge.
To the best of my knowledge, the information I have given is accurate. I understand that Yacht Racing can be dangerous. I agree that Media Business Service Co Ltd, the Phuket Race Week organising committee, and their appointed officials, sponsors, and their agents have no responsibility for loss of life or injury to members or others or for the loss of or damage to any vessel or property. I have paid particular attention to and agree to be bound by Special Regulation 1.02, and I have read and understand and, where appropriate, agree to be bound by NoR 3 Responsibility.

Before racing, I will affect adequate and suitable insurance.
Before racing, I will ensure that my crew is aware of:
a) the undertaking in this Declaration
b) the importance of effecting appropriate personal insurance
c) their responsibility in rules observance and in particular RRS 1.2 (wearing personal floatation devices adequate for the conditions).

I agree to be bound by RRS and this Notice of Race, including any Prescriptions, World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations for Inshore Racing and other applicable rules. The boat will be available for inspection. If any alteration likely to affect the handicap or rating is made, e.g. to sails, rig, mast, ballast, trim, engine or propeller, I will notify the Rating Authority and Race Committee immediately. I will ensure that no crew member races contrary to the terms of any ban imposed by World Sailing, a National Authority.
20.2. If the person in charge will be under 18 years old on the first day of the Regatta, then a special disclaimer, available from the Regatta Office and downloadable from the website, shall also be countersigned by a parent or guardian. This should be returned to the Regatta Office no later than 17:00 on Wednesday 29^th June 2022.
20.3. I understand and agree that the information is given in this race entry, and also, the race entry lists and results will be maintained on the events organsiers’ computer to be used for all aspects of the race organisation.

21. CORRESPONDANCE

All enquiries should be addressed to:
Media Business Services Co Ltd,
113/155 Anupas Golf Ville,
Kathu, Phuket 83120,
Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 8 40 60 40 70
Web: www.phuketraceweek.com
E-mail: info@phuketraceweek.com

Entries may be made via the regatta website registration page: www.phuketraceweek.com/registration