The Twenty-second Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race

June 14 - 22, 2019

Marion - Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race Association, Inc (“MBCYRA”) - Organizing Authority (“OA”)

Supported by:

1. RULES

   1. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (“RRS”), including the U.S. Sailing prescriptions, except as modified herein or by the Sailing Instructions.

   2. The Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements (“MBRSR”) revised August 1, 2018 and the Offshore Racing Association Offshore Racing Rule (“ORR”) shall apply to all Founder’s and Big Yacht division boats. Links to web sites containing these rules and other relevant information can be found on the MBR website - Official Documents.

   3. The current International Superyacht Rule (“ISYR”) and the current MBRSR shall apply to all boats entered in the Classic Yachts division. For this division only, a yacht’s compliance with World Sailing OSR Category 1 (with satellite phone) or the safety rules and regulations that apply to the boat by virtue of her flag or Classification Society are an acceptable alternative to the MBRSR where such rules conflict.

   4. This document changes the RRS of Part 2 and RRS 41 (Outside Help), 44 (Penalties at the time of an incident), 52 (Manual Power), 64.1(a), 77 and Appendix G (Identification on Sails) as follows:

      1. Between the times of local sunset and sunrise, RRS Part 2, WHEN BOATS MEET, will be replaced with Part B, Steering and Sailing Rules of the Navigation Rules International - Inland (commonly called 72 COLREGS). When yachts meet between local sunset and sunrise, for the purposes of keeping clear, they should act with the expectation that if they come within two of the longer yacht’s overall lengths of each other, the jury will conclude that the right-of-way yacht needed to take avoiding action and that the other yacht was not keeping clear.

      2. RRS 41 (OUTSIDE HELP) will be changed to add “e) Help in the form of information freely available to all boats even if that information is only accessible at a cost. However, such “at a cost” help shall not include private forecast or tactical advice or information customized for a particular boat or group of boats and/or her/their situation.”

      3. RRS 44.1 (b) (PENALTIES AT THE TIME OF AN INCIDENT) will be changed to read as follows: “If a boat causes injury or serious damage or gains a significant advantage in the race by her breach of a rule, her penalty shall be to retire. The Compliance Committee and the Protest Committee may impose suitable penalties other than disqualification, including time penalties, for breaches of a rule.” This also changes 64.1 (a).

      4. RRS 52 (Manual Power) shall not apply (as per ORR 4.08) In addition mechanical or electro-mechanical steering devises are permitted but not required.

      5. RRS 77 and Appendix G1.1(b) and G2 (IDENTIFICATION ON SAILS) shall be changed such that national letters, e.g. USA or BER, are not required.

      6. The Sailing Instructions may also change other racing rules.

   5. Breaches of the Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements (NoR 1.2), Registration (NoR 7), certain communications rules contained in the Sailing Instructions (e.g. transponders and AIS use) and RRS 55 (Trash Disposal) will not be grounds for protests by a yacht. This changes RRS 60.1(a). Class assignments will not be grounds for protests or requests for redress by yachts. This changes RRS 60.1(a) and 60.1(b).

   6. The Official Notice Board will be online at MBR website - Official Documents. Rules documents will be posted on the Official Notice Board. Additionally, there will be an Official Notice Board on the porch at BYC and on the television monitors in the bar at RHADC.

   7. In this document and in the Sailing Instructions, the word “skipper” refers to the “person in charge” according to RRS 46.

2. ELIGIBILITY

   1. All yachts must apply for entry.

   2. Applications are submitted using the online system accessible on the MBR website.

   3. Acceptance may be awarded by the OA to yachts and crews documenting the following requirements on the application:

      1. Yacht: Yachts must be seaworthy monohulls appropriate for a Category 1 (ocean) race as defined in Section 1.0.1 the US Safety Equipment Requirements (“USSER”) between 32-feet and 100-feet length on deck (LOD) (exclusive of spars or projections fixed to the hull such as bowsprits or pulpits) with fixed or lifting keels, immovable ballast, an enclosed head, and an enclosed cabin fitted out for comfortable cruising, including permanent bunks, a permanently installed and enclosed toilet, a dining table and permanently installed cooking facilities suitable for use at sea. Canting keels and moveable ballast are not permitted. A yacht with a canting keel and/or movable ballast may apply for entry if the designer will attest that the keel and/or ballast can be made immobile without adversely affecting the safety and stability of the yacht and/or if the suitability of the yacht is approved by the Acceptance Committee. Yachts will be, in the judgement of the Acceptance Committee, of a design of demonstrated seaworthiness and appropriate for a long distance, well offshore ocean race.

      2. Skipper and Crew

         1. The skipper and crew shall have a demonstrated competency for a long-distance ocean race. This means that enough of the crew to adequately manage the yacht shall have had prior experience with offshore passages or races of at least 250 miles. At a minimum, the Skipper and Navigator should submit their sailing resumes with their application for entry.
         2. Except for Double Handed and Short-Handed entries, each Founder’s and Big Yacht Division yacht must have a minimum of five crew members.

      3. Fee: The entry fee is paid through the online system. (See NoR 4.1 and 4.2)

   4. The race will be divided into three divisions:

      1. The Founder’s Division is for yachts between 32 and 80 feet LOD that wish to race with a cruising sail inventory:

         • Each yacht may carry one (1) mainsail, three (3) jibs or forestaysails, one (1) mizzen, one (1) mizzen staysail, an unlimited number of heavy weather or storm sails, and two (2) spinnakers of the same type (asymmetric or symmetric), same weight of sail cloth and same approximate size and cut. One spinnaker is to be the primary spinnaker and the second one is a spare and should be labelled “spare spinnaker.” The spare spinnaker is to be used only in the event the primary spinnaker is damaged. The yacht will report to the Compliance Committee at the end of the race if the spare was used and the nature of the damage to the primary spinnaker that required the use of the spare spinnaker. Large roach headsails, tweeners and Code 0’s that do not qualify as spinnakers by measurement are not allowed. This changes ORR 10.02.1.
         • Two headsails may be flown simultaneously, subject to the limitations of RRS 50.
         • A forestaysail is permitted only if the yacht has a professionally installed inner forestay and the sail has been declared on the handicap rating form.
         • A whisker pole’s length will not be longer than 105% of the yacht’s “J.” Adjustable whisker poles will be secured so that they cannot be extended beyond this limit. When in use, whisker poles shall be attached to the mast as described in RRS 50.2.
         • A yacht may elect to use a spinnaker attached at the centerline or a spinnaker (symmetrical or asymmetrical) on a pole but not both. Sail measurements and tack point must be declared in the ORR certificate application/amendment and declared in her registration.
         • If a yacht chooses to use a center line attached spinnaker, the tack line of the spinnaker may be attached to the stem of the yacht, to the bowsprit, or to the end of a sprit that is installed at the bow for that purpose but may not be attached to a spinnaker pole.
         • Mizzen spinnakers and bloopers may not be used. This changes ORR 10.02.2.
         • Sail “numbers” (which may be letters or numbers) must be at least two (2) characters long and are required on weather cloths if used, mainsails, spinnakers, and headsails having a luff perpendicular measurement exceeding 130% of the base of the fore triangle.
         • The yacht’s number will be displayed at all times while racing.
         • Other sails may be on board but should be boldly marked “NOT FOR RACING.”

      2. The Big Yacht Division is for yachts between 80 and 100 feet LOD that wish to race with a full inventory of sails:

         • Yachts may use any sails in their inventory but they must comply with the restrictions in ORR 10.02.1.
         • In addition to sails required in MBRSR 3.33.3 and 3.33.4, at least one storm trysail shall be aboard. Color patches are required on each side of all storm sails. We strongly recommend that the yacht’s sail number be displayed on the patches. See (MBRSR 3.33.2).
         • Sails other than those permitted by the ORR rules may be aboard provided they are stored separately and boldly marked “NOT FOR RACING.”

      3. The Classic Yacht Division is for classic yachts and reproductions of classic yachts. Classic Yachts must have

         • An explicit invitation to participate in this race from the Race Administrator,
         • an LWL of at least 45 feet,
         • an ISYR rating certificate from International Superyacht Rule

   5. Founder’s Division Races within the Race: There are several “races within the race” which require entry for a yacht to be eligible for the appropriate special prize or trophy. The races are the Family Race, the Offshore Youth Challenge, the Double Handed Race, the Short-handed Race, the All Female Crew Race and the Team Race. Election to enter any of these races except the Team Race must be made on or before Wednesday, June 5, 2019. An application to compete for the Team Prize must be submitted on or before June 10, 2019. See Attachment B - Prizes for details of these races.

3. CLASSIFICATION

   1. The skipper must be a member of their national yacht racing authority, such as US Sailing or the Bermuda Yachting Association.

   2. The race is open to all World Sailing Group Classifications that are fully in keeping with the spirit of the race. (See Race Description.) Questions about crew eligibility will be referred directly to the Acceptance Committee before the committee will extend an invitation to enter the race.

   3. Direct or indirect remuneration beyond covering direct expenses and simple remembrances to a captain or crew for the express purpose of participating in this race is specifically prohibited.

   4. For Founder“s and Big Boat Division yachts only, if a yacht has a regular full-time paid captain or crew member, this one person is allowed on the yacht during the race but shall take no active part in sailing, steering or navigating the yacht unless there is an emergency. The full-time paid captain or crew may act as cook and perform yacht maintenance. Any participation of the paid captain or crew in sailing, steering, or navigating the yacht during the race must be fully described in the yacht’s Certificate of Compliance.

4. FEES AND ENTRY

   1. Prior to April 15, 2019:

      1. The entry fee is $950 for yacht and skipper ($1100 after April 15, 2019) plus $50 for each additional crew member.

      2. The entry fee for a service academy or .edu defined organization’s yacht and skipper is $475 ($550 after April 15, 2019) plus $50 for each additional crew member.

   2. When the entry fee is received, the yacht will be considered for acceptance by the Acceptance Committee. Once an entry has been accepted, the entry fee is non-refundable. In the event that an entry is not accepted, the entry fee will be returned promptly.

   3. The entry fee includes:

      • Professional briefings on weather and the Gulf Stream at the Skipper’s meeting;
      • An on call professional medical diagnosis and consulting service provided by the George Washington University Maritime Medical Access facility during the race and your return passage;
      • Use of the transponder for the position tracking system during the race and during the return passage if the transponder can be returned to Marion, MA before July 1, 2019.

   4. Online registration closes on June 5, 2019 and all information required on the entry forms including a complete crew list must be completed by then. Early registration is encouraged. Registration documents may be completed prior to payment of the Entry Fee.

   5. As a condition of entry,

      1. The skipper must electronically sign the Race Waiver required by the online registration system.

      2. The skipper and each crew member must electronically sign the Release of Liability required by the online registration system,

      3. The skipper must submit electronically or in hard copy an MBR Equipment Inspection Checklist, signed by an inspector, indicating that the yacht has passed inspection.

   6. The OA will limit the number of entries to 100 boats. A wait list will be formed once the maximum number of entries has been reached. Yachts on the wait list will be allocated an entry as and when they become available.

5. RATINGS, SAFETY, INSPECTIONS AND COMPLIANCE

   1. Ratings Measurement

      1. All yachts in the Founders and Big Yacht Divisions must have a current Off-Shore Racing Rule (ORR) handicap certificate that may be based upon either full or partial measurement. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from US Sailing. A yacht must have her ORR rating certified by US Sailing before June 5, 2019.

      2. Classic Division yachts must have a current ISYR rating. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from the ORA/ISYR Management team. A yacht must have her rating certified by the ORA/ISYR Management team before June 5, 2019.

   2. Safety

      1. All yachts shall meet the Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements. A Classic Yacht’s compliance with World Sailing OSR Category 1 (with satellite phone) or the safety rules and regulations that apply to the boat by virtue of her flag or Classification Society are an acceptable alternative to the MBRSR where such rules conflict.

      2. At least 30% but not fewer than two members of the crew, including the Person-In-Charge and Navigator or a Watch Captain shall have completed a one-day or two-day US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea Seminar. Any certificate obtained more than five (5) years prior to the start of the race or as a result of exclusively internet-based training will not be acceptable for the purposes of this paragraph.

      3. At least two members of the crew must hold a US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Course Certificate. For Double Handed yachts, both members shall hold a US Sailing Sanctioned International Offshore Safety at Sea Course Certificate. Any certificate shall be obtained within five (5) years prior to the start of the race.

   3. Inspection

      1. All yachts must (1) request, (2) schedule and (3) pass a mandatory yacht inspection by a Race Inspector. The pre-race inspection must be completed by June 5, 2019.

      2. All deficiencies noted in the inspection shall be corrected before a yacht is permitted to complete on-site registration in Marion. Having the yacht inspected well before the deadline is strongly recommended.

      3. The Equipment Inspection Checklist and a list of authorized Inspectors will be available on the MBR website by September 13, 2018.

   4. Compliance

      1. At the completion of the Race, each Skipper or Navigator must file a signed MBR Certificate of Compliance with the RHADC Duty Officer. A copy of the Certificate of Compliance will be posted on the website.

      2. After the Race, a number of yachts, particularly prize candidates, will be inspected by the Compliance Committee Inspectors in Bermuda.

6. EQUIPMENT

   1. The following additional equipment is required to be on board:

      • copy of the 2017 - 2020 RRS;
      • copy of the Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements (A Classic Yacht should have a copy of the Safety Regulations of her country or World Sailing OSR 1 if she is not sailing under MBRSR);
      • copy of the Navigation Rules International - Inland (72 COLREGS);
      • federal VHF radio license, which is mandatory for international travel;
      • docking equipment for use in Bermuda including at least five (5) fenders, four (4) dock lines and a marine power cord(s) totaling at least 75 feet long.

   2. The following consumables must be on board at the start:

      • Sufficient fuel to motor at least 250 miles;
      • At least 10 gallons of fresh water per person;
      • Sufficient provisions for the crew for at least 14 days.

   3. All ordinary cruising gear, such as cabin tables and galley equipment, shall be on board and in its usual cruising position during the race.

7. REGISTRATION

   1. Either the Skipper or the Navigator must complete the on-site registration process at BYC before 1400 on Thursday June 13 or pay a late registration fee of $200. The registration desk’s schedule is as follows:

      Tuesday, June 11, 2019

      0900 - 1800

      Wednesday, June 12, 2019

      0900 - 1800

      Thursday, June 13, 2019

      0900 - 1400

      In addition, yachts may register on Sunday June 9, 2019 or Monday June 10, 2019 by making an appointment well in advance with the Race Administrator.

   2. At on-site registration, the Skipper or Navigator shall verify that

      • the detailed information entered in the online registration system is complete and accurate and that all waivers have been signed;
      • all documentation and inspections are complete;
      • that the satellite communication system has been tested and operates properly. See NoR 14.3.

   3. During the on-site registration, each yacht will receive the tracking transponder and instructions as to how and where it should be attached, the final copy of the Sailing Instructions, customs and immigration forms, and information about Bermuda.

   4. Skippers’ Meeting: The Skipper and Navigator must attend the entire Skipper’s Meeting held on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 1630. Failure to do so shall result in a penalty added to the yacht’s corrected time. The meeting will include briefings on weather, the Gulf Stream, and approaches to Bermuda. These briefings are the only ones sponsored by MBR. Up to two (2) other crew members are welcome to attend.

8. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

   The Sailing Instructions will be available on the Official Notice Board on the Marion Bermuda website after April 29, 2019 and at on-site registration.

9. THE START

   1. The first warning signal is scheduled for 1200 EDT on Friday, June 14, 2019.

   2. Each yacht shall exercise her responsibility under RRS Fundamental Rule 4 and decide whether to start or to continue to race. (See the Preamble to this NoR.)

10. THE COURSE

    The Race will start in Buzzards Bay off Marion, Massachusetts and finish off St. David’s Head, Bermuda.

11. PENALTY SYSTEM

    The Sailing Instructions will permit the Compliance Committee and the Protest Committee to grant time allowances and to assess time penalties in lieu of disqualification.

12. SCHEDULE

    The OA will maintain a race and social schedule on the MBR website, including:

    October 7, 2018

    Application for entry opens

    April 15, 2019

    Entry fee increases if not already paid

    April 29, 2019

    Sailing Instructions posted on the website

    June 5, 2019

    Online registration closes
    Certified ORR Rating deadline
    Inspections complete
    Crew list deadline
    Spinnaker choice deadline
    Celestial/electronic choice deadline
    Special Race entry deadline

    • Family Race;
    • The Offshore Youth Challenge;
    • The Double-Handed Competition;
    • Short-Handed Competition;
    • All Female Crew Races

    June 8, 2019

    Communications device verification opens

    June 10, 2019

    Team Race application deadline

    June 11, 2019

    On-site registration opens

    June 13, 2019

    Skipper’s meeting

    June 14, 2019

    Start

    June 22, 2019

    Awards

13. HANDICAPPING AND SCORING

    1. All Founder’s Division and Big Yacht Division yachts must have a current Off-Shore Racing Rule (ORR) handicap certificate that may be based upon either a full or partial measurement. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from US Sailing and will use a Time-on-Time rating customized for the Marion Bermuda Race.

    2. Classic yachts must have a current ISYR rating certificate. Corrected time will be calculated using a Time Correction Factor calculated using the ISYR constructed rating method for the Marion Bermuda constructed course used in the ORR Division.

    3. A yacht must have her ORR or ISYR rating certified before June 5, 2019. If she is late having her rating certified she may be subject to a finish time penalty. Skippers are encouraged to contact US Sailing for the yacht’s certified rating as early as possible.

    4. A Founder’s Division yacht may choose to compete with no spinnaker, with a spinnaker attached on the centerline or with a spinnaker (asymmetric or symmetric) on a pole. A yacht may not choose to use both a centerline and poled spinnaker. The yacht’s choice must be declared on their entry form prior to June 5, 2019 and the yacht’s rating certificate must match this selection. If a yacht chooses to carry a spinnaker and a spare (see 2.4.1a), the dimensions of both must be submitted to US Sailing.

    5. A yacht may elect to race using celestial navigation. If a yacht elects to be celestially navigated, she will receive a 3% favorable adjustment to her ORR or ISYR rating. This election must be made by June 5, 2019. See Attachment A for the details of the conditions that a yacht must meet to be considered a celestially navigated yacht.

    6. Each division will have its own starting time. The OA reserves the right to further divide divisions into starting classes of similar performance characteristics based upon their ORR or ISYR rating. Each starting class will have its own stating time.

14. NAVIGATION, COMMUNICATION AND AIS

    1. Each yacht must keep a log in a logbook and make entries at least once each watch. The log should show courses, distance made good and dead-reckoning (DR) positions. The logbook must be on paper and have a traditional format. The logbook must remain on board and be available for inspection in Bermuda by the Compliance Committee.

    2. Each yacht shall carry a satellite voice and text communication device operable from below decks (if needed via external antenna). The system shall be left on during the race and a communications watch shall be kept and logged that shows the device was checked at least every two hours.

    3. Each yacht shall demonstrate that the satellite communication system operates properly by having someone from the yacht’s crew, while on board the yacht, place a satellite phone call to and receive a satellite phone call from the Offshore Communications Team. The best satellite communications connections are made when away from the electronic noise of a harbor at mid day. Consequently, the Offshore Communications Team will be available for the Communications registration daily beginning from 0900 to 1600 Saturday, June 8 until the end of registration. The number to call will be provided to the participating yachts prior to June 8.

    4. The Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements and the Sailing Instructions will require yachts to do the following:

       • use their best efforts to monitor AIS or VHF DSC for AIS-SART or similar distress signals at all times;
       • use their best efforts to ensure that the transmitting mode of their AIS is enabled at all times;
       • ensure that the yacht name provided on the yacht’s entry form is transmitted on AIS rather than just an MMSI number;
       • call to and receive a call from the Offshore Communications Team via satellite telephone before the end of registration and be continuously capable of receiving voice calls via satellite telephone while racing; and
       • monitor VHF Ch 16 at all times and Ch. 72 near the start and finish.

    5. Professional weather routing services, professional Gulf Stream predicting services and other private communications for routing purposes are permitted prior to 1700 on the evening before the start of a yacht’s division and are prohibited after that time. This restriction also applies to yacht to yacht or yacht to shore transmissions for routing purposes.

    6. Except for the above restriction, yachts may use any communication device including VHF, cell phone, satellite voice and text system or SSB. There are no restrictions on obtaining information over the internet provided that the information is in the public domain and is not specific to individual yachts.

    7. Any information received from ashore via email, blogs, telephone, radio transmissions, etc., relating either to the yacht’s position or a competitor’s position is considered “assistance from the shore” and is prohibited by RRS 41.

15. PRIZES

    1. Prizes will be awarded on Saturday, June 22, 2019. The time and place will be provided in the Sailing Instructions.

    2. The BWSC Board of Governors Trophy will be awarded to the yacht from any division with the shortest elapsed time.

    3. The Robert N. Bavier Seamanship-Sportsmanship Trophy may be awarded to any registered yacht in any Division at the discretion of the MCBYRA Trustees in recognition of truly outstanding seamanship or sportsmanship, independent of the yacht’s finishing position.

    4. Commemorative bulkhead plaques will be awarded to each yacht that finishes the race.

    5. See Attachment B for prizes that may be awarded in each division.

16. RESPONSIBILITY, LIABILITY AND MEDIA

    1. The safety of a yacht and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the Skipper who must must do their best to:

       • ensure that the yacht is fully found thoroughly seaworthy and manned by an experienced crew who have undergone appropriate training and are physically fit to face bad weather.
       • be satisfied that hull, spars, rigging, sails and all gear are sound.
       • ensure that all safety equipment is properly maintained and stowed and that the crew knows where it is kept and how it is to be used.
       • nominate a person to take over the responsibilities of the Skipper in the event of his/her incapacitation.

    2. The Skipper’s responsibility is set forth herein, in the MBRSR, and on the entry forms, including the Skipper’s Waiver. Neither the establishment of the MBRSR, their use by race organizers, nor the inspection of a yacht under these Requirements in any way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of the Person in Charge.

    3. Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See RRS 4, Decision to Race. Neither the organizing authority (MBCYRA) nor the supporting organizations (BWSC, BYC and RHADC) bear any responsibility or liability for accidents, material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the race.

    4. Media and Commercial Rights. Competitors shall acknowledge during online registration that the OA owns all media and commercial rights to the race. Competitors will further grant the OA unrestricted and perpetual right to use and publish any biographical information, text, and images arising in connection with the race. The OA will exercise these rights in its sole discretion or as it may agree with the race’s sponsors.

17. FURTHER INFORMATION

    For further information and for all race related correspondence, including requirements for written notice or questions about the eligibility of your yacht, may be conducted by email addressed to the Race Administrator.