Dear Captain,

Thank you for your interest in the 2005 Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race. Read these instructions carefully as the information we request is essential to your acceptance. Don't hesitate to e-mail the individuals listed at the bottom of these Instructions if you need assistance. You'll find all the forms, time tables, waivers and the like that you'll need to complete in order to be on the starting line this June 17th in the ENTERING THE RACE section of this website. Almost all the forms that we require are electronic. This means that either you or someone associated with your entry must be able to communicate with us on this website. We strongly recommend regular visits to the website to read announcements, amendments, and advisories to our Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions and other documents.

Since our first contest in 1977, the Marion - Bermuda Race has upheld its founders' vision that it be a race for cruising yachts and one with amateur captain and crew. We have upheld those two guiding objectives ever since.

Read Section 7of our Notice of Race, "YACHT ELIGIBILITY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS" , to ensure that your yacht qualifies. If you have any doubt about any aspect of your yacht's eligibility, please review "THE YACHT" section of the Application to Race and e-mail your questions to our Selection Committee for a prompt decision. Regrettably, the Committee has had to turn down a few entrants for past races.

If you're confident that your yacht is acceptable, fill out the Application to Race, answering every question, and submit it to us. Next, print off and sign the Race Agreement. Make out a check for the entry fee, $950.00 if before March 15, 2005 - or $1100.00 after that date - and mail it and the Agreement form to us at: Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race P. O. Box 916 Marion, MA 02738

If you have an AMERICAP II™ Certificate, enclose a copy in the envelope, ensuring that it is valid for 2005, as it must be renewed annually. If not, please start the process by telephoning US SAILING's Offshore Department at 401 683 0800. If your yacht's data is on file, you should receive your AMERICAP II Certificate approximately four weeks later.

The "International Sailing Federation Special Regulations 2004 - 2005" (ISAF) booklet is such a valuable guide to yacht preparation that we recommend having a look at a condensed extract of it in the PREPARING YOUR YACHT section of this website. US SAILING's website, www.ussailing.org has interesting material as well.

Please read and absorb Section 10 of our Notice of Race, "CAPTAIN AND CREW ELIGIBILITY", which discusses our requirements for amateur sailor status. Paragraph "b" states that "The captain and each member of the crew must obtain an ISAF Sailor's Classification from the ISAF." Instructions on getting a determination from ISAF are described in Section 10. Note carefully that a Protest Committee has no choice but to disqualify a yacht if it is found to be in non-compliance.

We will evaluate your "Application to Race" form, and if you're approved, we will ask you to complete the Acceptance Data Sheet, which asks for additional information on your yacht and your other ENT-instrs-05 9/24/2004 6:02 AM crewmembers. The entry fee is not refundable once your application is approved, although in the unlikely event that your application is not accepted, we will return your check.

Please note that we can't begin processing your application until we have received your entry fee.

Best wishes and good sailing!

Committee E-mail

• Selection:  acceptance@marionbermuda.com
• Inspection:  inspection@marionbermuda.com
• Administration
:  administration@marionbermuda.com
• Symposium
:  symposium@marionbermuda.com