The Marion - Bermuda Race is organized by the Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race Association, Inc. ("MBCYRA"). It is sponsored by the:

Beverly Yacht Club	"BYC"	Marion, Massachusetts
Blue Water Sailing Club	"BWSC"	Boston, Massachusetts
Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club	"RHADC"	Paget, Bermuda

1. The Race will be governed by:

   The 2007 Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race Association Notice of Race.

   The 2007 Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race Association Sailing Instructions.

   The Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005 - 2008 edition, including selected US SAILING Prescriptions.

   Equipment requirements as applicable to Category 1 events in the ISAF book, 2006 - 2007, as delineated by MBCYRA (see links below).

   Regulations of the Offshore Racing Rule, 2007. The ORR handicap will use the Marion - Bermuda Offshore All Purpose TOT rating.

   For Multihull yachts, the rating system provided by The New England Multihull Association.

2. Links to important web sites:

   • RRS
     http://www.ussailing.org/rules/

   • US SAILING's Prescriptions
     http://www.ussailing.org/rules/2005-2008%20Prescriptions.pdf

   • ISAF web site for Monohulls
     http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/2006/OSR2006_Mo1_250106.pdf

   • ISAF web site for Multihulls
     http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/2006/OSR2006_Mu1_250106.pdf

   • Offshore Racing Rule
     http://www.offshorerace.org

   • IRC web site
     http://www.us-irc.org

3. The Sailing Instructions or any advisories or amendments as issued by MBCYRA may change any of these documents as permitted by the RRS.

4. Copies of both the RRS and the ISAF book must be aboard your yacht at the start of the race.

5. An International Jury will be constituted in accordance with RRS Rule 70.4 and Appendix N.

6. Both the Jury and Compliance Committee may assess alternate time penalties in lieu of disqualification.

Any change in an official race document will be posted on our web site and on the Official Notice Board at the BYC or the RHADC as appropriate. Any changes in the Sailing Instructions will be posted by 2000 on the day before they take effect.

Registering will be done on line through our web site http://www.marionbermuda.com. Registration closes on June 8, 2007 and all payments must be made by that date. In addition, either the captain or the navigator must register the yacht on-site at BYC before 1400 on Thursday, June 14.

All monohull yachts will start on Friday, June 15, 2007 unless the start is postponed. The multihull division will start one day later, on Saturday, June 16.

We will host a Captains' Meeting on Thursday, June 14 at 1700. The captain or navigator must attend the entire meeting. The Meeting will include comprehensive briefings on the starting procedure, weather, the Gulf Stream and approaches to Bermuda. These briefings are the only ones sponsored by MBCYRA. Up to two other crew members are welcome to attend.

1. Scratch sheets will be distributed at the Captains' Meeting and will include class designation ("Class ID") flags. These are to flown from the yacht's backstay at the start and at the finish of the race.

2. Weather cloths, as described in paragraph 7 j of the Notice of Race, shall be attached to the port and starboard lifelines at the start, at the finish, and when no numbered sail is hoisted. See Paragraph 8 k of the Notice of Race.

1. Signals made ashore will be displayed from the BYC flagstaff.

2. Code flag "AP" (Answering Pennant) with two guns means: "The race is postponed. Do not leave the harbor area." The time of the warning signal for the first starting class will be announced on VHF channel 69 after the lowering of "AP", with one gun. See paragraph 10 b.

1. All yachts shall monitor VHF channel 69 from 0930 on the day of their start until they have started properly.

2. After starting properly, all yachts shall stand a continuous radio watch on VHF channel 16, and 4125 KHz if SSB equipment is carried. These frequencies are for calling and emergency transmissions only.

3. For safety reasons, yacht-to-yacht transmissions on VHF radio or satellite phones are prohibited from the time of the first attention signal until four hours after the last start of the day, except during emergencies. Thereafter, transmissions that do not contain information giving an advantage to any competitor are permitted. Re-transmitting the contents of public weather forecasts is encouraged if requested by another vessel.

4. Communications with both the Starting Line and the Finish Line Committees shall be limited to those permitted by these Sailing Instructions and emergency transmissions.

5. After a yacht's finish has been confirmed by the Finish Line Committee, she shall continue to monitor VHF channel 16 while underway in Bermuda waters.

1. All monohull yachts shall check-in on their way to the start with a "RACE PATROL" vessel that will be stationed near Centerboard Shoal Fl. Red Buoy "2", 1 nautical mile (NM) north-northwest of the starting line. Check-in commences at 1100 and is mandatory. Please leave the RACE PATROL vessel to starboard, passing in single file, maintaining a distance of approximately 100 feet between all vessels. The vessel will acknowledge your check-in by loudspeaker. Yachts should have their Class ID flag hoisted prior to their check-in.

2. A yacht not starting shall report this to the BYC Duty Officer via VHF channel 68 or at (508) 748-0540 not later than the warning signal for her class.

1. The Starting Line Committee may change starting dates and times in accordance with paragraph 3 or later if weather conditions are a concern. The Committee will announce any changes in the scheduled starting times (postponement, general recall, abandonment) on VHF channel 69. Starting dates and times are:
   

   Yacht type	Date	1st Attention Signal (EDT)
   Monohull	Friday, June 15, 2007	1230
   Multihull	Saturday, June 16, 2007	1100

2. The starting schedule will be distributed at the Captains' Meeting. Racing classes will start at 15 minute intervals.

3. The starting line is approximately four NM from Sippican (Marion) Harbor. Please plan your departure time accordingly.

4. Each yacht shall fly her Class ID flag from her check-in until she has started, and also while finishing.

5. The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Starting Line Committee boat at the starboard end, and Green Gong Buoy "1" at the port end. The buoy is 1 NM south-southeast of Centerboard Shoal, and is at 41° 39.0' N and 70° 42.8' W.

6. The Starting Area is rectangular and is bounded by yellow tetrahedral buoys. See the diagram in the Race Book.

7. Yachts whose class warning signal has not yet been made shall keep clear of the Starting Area and of all yachts whose class warning signal has been made. See paragraph 18 c.

8. A yacht starting later than ten minutes after the starting signal for her class shall notify the Starting Line Committee on VHF Ch 69 or, if unavailable, shall notify the BYC Duty Officer at (508 748-0540) by 1800 EDT on the day of the start.

Individual recalls will be signaled by displaying flag "X" with one horn. Sail numbers of the yachts concerned will be announced on VHF channel 69. Failure to hear such an announcement shall not be grounds for granting redress.

1. Yachts shall pass north and west of both United States marks. These are the only U. S. marks of the course:
   
   

   Name	Type	Characteristics	Lat. (N)	Long. (W)
   Penikese Island		Island	41° 27.0'	70° 55.4'
   Sow & Pigs Reef		Bell Buoy "36" Fl R 4s	41° 23.8'	70° 59.1'

   
   

2. Bermuda may be approached from any direction. All yachts approaching Bermuda from the north shall pass east of:
   
   

   Name	Type	Characteristics	Lat. (N)	Long. (W)
   North East Breaker	Beacon (45 ft. ht.)	Fl W 2.5s	32° 28.7'	64° 41.0'
   Kitchen Shoal	Beacon (45 ft. ht.)	Fl (3) W 15s	32° 26.1'	64° 37.6'
   Mills Breaker	Buoy	VQ (3) W 5s	32° 23.9'	64° 36.9'
   Sea Buoy	Buoy	Mo (A) W 6s	32° 22.9'	64° 37.1'

1. Yachts must show navigation lights from sunset to sunrise.

2. Use of other lights will not be grounds for protest, but strobe lights shall not be used except in an emergency. This changes RRS 60.1(a).

1. A yacht that withdraws from the race shall promptly notify race officials in one of the following ways.
   
   

   • Contact the Starting Line Committee on VHF Ch 69 if this option is available.

   • Telephone the BYC Duty Officer at (508) 748-0540 if her withdrawal occurs before 1800 on the day of the start.

   • After 1800 and at sea, contact Bermuda Harbour Radio on VHF channel 16 or 4125 KHz SSB or telephone the RHADC Duty Officer at (441) 236-2250 between 0800 and 1600 EDT. Please furnish the Duty Officer with your telephone number.

2. The captain shall complete both sheets (Sections 1 through 8) of the Certificate of Compliance and file this Certificate (including Section 8 on a separate sheet) with the RHADC Duty Officer, showing the details of her withdrawal. Send the complete Certificate by fax if you cannot present it in person. The RHADC fax number is (441) 236 8561.

3. Failure to comply with any part of 15 will be noted as a safety violation and will affect the Committee's acceptance decisions for future Marion - Bermuda Races.

1. Although Bermuda may be passed on either hand, yachts shall cross the finish line from north to south.

2. If a yacht estimates that she may finish before noon (EDT) Tuesday, June 19, the Race Committee requests that she make contact with Bermuda Harbour Radio on VHF channel 16 when approximately 15 NM from the finish line. This call serves as a valuable early alert for our shore-based personnel.

3. All communications with the Marion - Bermuda Race Finish Line Committee will be on VHF ch. 72.

4. When a yacht is approximately five miles from the finish line, or passing Kitchen Shoal beacon, she shall hail the Finish Line Committee. She shall announce her name, sail number, and her position relative to the finish line. This call will be acknowledged by the Committee. Weather cloths must be displayed as described in section 7.

5. A yacht finishing at night shall, when about five minutes from the finish line, shine a powerful light on her shoreward sail number on her mainsail. She shall repeat this illumination when about two minutes from the line and again as she finishes.

6. The finish line will be approximately 0.4 NM wide and will be marked by buoys at both the shoreward and the seaward ends. It will be on a 111° magnetic bearing from St. David's Light, which corresponds to the division between the Light's green and red sectors. The shoreward end of the line will be approximately 0.8 NM from St. David's Light, and that distance will be marked by a green buoy with a flashing green light. The seaward end of the line will be approximately 1.2 NM from St. David's Light, and that distance will be marked by a black buoy with a flashing white light.

7. Neither buoy will necessarily be on the finish line. Yachts must finish between the buoys and are advised to sail well beyond their estimated crossing of the finish line to ensure that they have actually crossed the line.

8. Each yacht shall take the time (EDT) of her own finish (when St. David's Light bears 291° magnetic), and shall enter that time on her Certificate of Compliance.

9. Yachts shall not at any time pass through a line joining the green finish line (shoreward end) buoy and St. David's Light.

10. Yachts that have finished shall not recross the finish line, but shall turn to seaward of both buoys, keeping well clear of the line and all yachts approaching the line.

11. Within two minutes after finishing, each yacht shall contact the Finish Line Committee. This call will be acknowledged. Yachts shall continue to monitor VHF channel 16 while underway in Bermuda waters.

12. Yachts that have not finished within five days of their start shall attempt to report their positions and estimated finishing times daily between 0800 and 1600 EDT. Yachts with SSB should contact Bermuda Harbour Radio, call sign ZBM, on 4125 KHz SSB. Yachts without SSB should contact Bermuda Harbour Radio on VHF channel 16, and the Finish Line Committee, or by any other means available.

13. The Finish Line Committee will cease manning the finish line seven days after the start of the last class, or earlier at its discretion.

1. Each yacht that finishes shall file her Certificate of Compliance with the RHADC Duty Officer within six hours of her finish if she finishes between 0600 and 1200 ADT, otherwise by the first 1200 ADT after her finish.

2. The Compliance Committee will review each yacht's Certificate of Compliance, reports of the Start and Finish Line Committees, and any other material it deems appropriate to verify each yacht's complete compliance with the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and any changes to these documents.

3. The Compliance Committee may grant time credits and assess penalties to competing yachts, without a hearing. This changes RRS rule 63.1. After prior races, the Committee granted time credits to yachts rendering assistance, and assessed the following penalties, included here as examples only:

   • Unreported sail number or weather cloth discrepancies - 30 minutes

   • Starting Area infringement - one hour

   • Passing the incorrect side of a mark of the course - two hours

   • Mid-race change from Celestial to Electronic navigation - five hours

   • Pre-race equipment deficiencies not corrected - disqualification and recommended exclusion from future events.

4. The Compliance Committee will post its findings on the RHADC Official Notice Board not later than 2000 ADT daily.

5. A yacht aggrieved by a posted finding may request a meeting with a representative of the Compliance Committee to hear an explanation of the finding. Such requests shall be initiated through the RHADC Duty Officer and must be made by:

   • Two hours after the yacht's Certificate of Compliance was due if the request concerns findings posted before the Certificate of Compliance was due, or

   • 1200 ADT on the day after the findings are posted if the request concerns a later posting.

   • The meeting(s) will be held between 1400 and 1700 ADT.

6. RRS 62.1(a) is changed by adding "or the Compliance Committee." This permits yachts aggrieved by the findings of the Compliance Committee to request redress from the International Jury in accordance with RRS 62. See paragraph 17 d.

7. RRS 60.2 is changed to permit the Compliance Committee to act in the same way as the Race Committee.

1. A yacht that intends to protest another yacht shall display her protest flag for one hour after the incident. This changes the second sentence of RRS 61.1(a).

2. Protest forms are available from, and once completed should be delivered to, the RHADC Duty Officer.

3. Protests shall be delivered by two hours after the time that the yacht's Certificate of Compliance was due, as described in paragraph 17 a.

4. RRS 62.2 is changed by adding: "The time limit for delivering a request for redress involving the findings of the Compliance Committee is as described in paragraph 17 e". If a yacht requests a meeting with a representative of the Compliance Committee in accordance with paragraph 17e, the International Jury shall extend the time limit for requesting redress from the findings being discussed until one hour after the conclusion of the meeting. This changes the last sentence of RRS 61.3.

5. Protest notices will be posted on the RHADC Official Notice Board to inform competitors when and where there is a hearing in which they are parties or witnesses.

6. Decisions of the Jury will be final in accordance with RRS 70.4.

7. The Jury may assess time penalties in lieu of disqualification. Such penalties will be applied to the corrected time.

A gala Awards Ceremony, featuring over thirty trophies, will be held in Bermuda on the afternoon of Saturday, June 23, 2007. Details will be posted on the RHADC Race Notice Board.