NORTH FLORIDA CRUISING CLUB

NOTICE OF RACE AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

BLUE MAX RACE

APRIL 24, 2004

DATE & PLACE:            Saturday, April 24, 2004, on the St. Johns River, beginning in the vicinity of Whitney's Marine.

REGISTRATION:     The standard race entry form must be completed in full and filed with the Race Committee before the Skipper’s Meeting.   The Race Committee assumes no responsibility for delivery of entries submitted by mail.  Entries will also be accepted at the NFCC General Meeting, Thursday, April 15^th, 7:00 PM at the Florida Gun and Tackle Club.

ENTRY FEE:                 $25.00 for NFCC members, $35.00 for Non-members.

                                         (Non-members $30.00 with current US Sailing card)

ELIGIBILITY:             All yachts must have a valid PHRF certificate from the First Coast Sailing Association (FCSA).  (PHRF Club Handicapper is Bubba Futch.)  A yacht participating in the Spinnaker or Non-Spinnaker Racing Division must have her sail number on the mainsails, spinnakers, and all headsails with a LP exceeding 130%.  Her sail numbers are those allotted to her by US Sailing, her class, or her hull number.  A yacht sailing in the PHRF Cruiser Division must have an identifying sail number on her mainsail.

Yachts that do not have a current PHRF rating assigned by the First Coast Sailing Association (FCSA) may obtain a new rating ($35.00 first-time annual fee) or may renew their rating on the day of the race for the $30.00 renewal fee, prior to 10:30 AM at the registration table.

DIVISIONS:                PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, and PHRF Cruiser

Divisions will be further divided into classes if possible.

MANAGEMENT:      This race will be under the management of the North Florida Cruising Club, which is also the organizing authority.

RACING RULES:            This Regatta shall be governed in order of precedence by: (1) this Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions; (2) the rules of the First Coast Sailing Association (FCSA); and (3) The Racing Rules of Sailing (RSS) 2001-2004.

CHANGES:                 Changes in these sailing instructions will be announced at the Skipper’s Meeting at 10:30 AM or on VHF CH 68 as soon as the race committee boat is on station and the Race Committee is displaying Code Flag “L”.

SKIPPER’S MEETING: The Skipper’s Meeting will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, April 24, 2004, at Whitney’s Marine.  The courses and starting sequence for the racing divisions will be announced at that time.

CHECK-IN:            All yacht captains or their representatives are encouraged to attend the  Skipper’s Meeting; however, the Race Committee will register and handicap arriving boats on the water 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the first race. Payment will be due as soon as the race is completed and prior to awarding the trophies.

COURSE:            Will be announced at the Skipper's Meeting.

START:            The start of the PHRF Spinnaker Division will be at approximately 11:30 AM with the warning signal at 11:25 AM. The PHRF Non-Spinnaker and PHRF Cruiser Divisions will start together with a second starting sequence with a new warning signal after the spinnaker boats have cleared the starting area.  All yachts must cross the starting line within 20 minutes of their start time or will be scored DNS.  Starts will be in accordance with RRS Rule 26 “Starting Races”.

RECALLS:            Individual Recall will be in accordance with RRS 29.2, and General Recall will be in accordance with RRS 29.3.

PENALTIES:            The 720 degrees turns penalty will apply in accordance with RRS 44.1 and 44.2.  Any yacht which exonerates herself from a minor foul in this manner shall notify the Race Committee of such action at the finish line.

PROTESTS:            All protests must be submitted in writing to the Race Committee after the race within one hour following a horn signal made upon arrival of the Race Committee boat at the dock.  Notice of protest must also be given immediately after finishing by hail, and acknowledged by the Race Committee. There will be a protest filing fee of $20.00, which will be returned if the protest is upheld.

POST-RACE:            Race results will be provided as soon as possible after the race. The results will be posted on the NFCC website and the First Coast Sailing Association Web Site and ashore at Whitney’s Sailcenter. Trophies will be presented after the race either on shore or out on the water with an organized raft-up. Post race refreshments will be served. All unclaimed trophies will be available for pickup at the first NFCC general meeting. If trophies are not available after the race, an awards presentation will be held at the NFCC General Meeting, Thursday, May 20^th, 7:00 PM at the Florida Gun and Tackle Club on San Jose Blvd.

INFO:  For more information, contact Don Gilbert, Race Captain

260-2590 (Home); 591-0999 (Cell ); or e-mail: gilbdc@jea.com

Special Request Concerning Whitney Marine’s Docking Privileges

Whitney's Marine request that you not use their residents water or electric hook ups.  Also, please use sufficient fenders to protect their docks in heavy weather.  Whitney's Marine is very generous to allow us to use their facilities to hold our races so please observe their request.  If you wish to have a slip available contact Carol Ellis at 269-0027  for dockage.  You are welcome to tie up on the outside of the docks for the day.