Photo courtesy of Tim Sutherland

Third Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge
Notice of Race 2009

Name of Event:  The name of the event shall be the "Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge."

Objective of Event: The objective of the Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge is to bring together yacht clubs from around the world to create international goodwill through friendly competition.

Entries: This is an invitational regatta. Any yacht club can request an entry.  The Selection Committee will review interested yacht clubs and issue invitations on the basis of geographic location and order of response.  The regatta will be limited to one or two entries per country.

Rules: The regatta will be raced according to the International Racing Rules of Sailing as adopted by US Sailing.  A panel of judges will oversee the regatta and all decisions of the judges will be final.

Yachts & Equipment: This regatta will be raced on identical J/24 sailboats provided by the Manhattan Sailing Club.  The club will provide all sails, sheets and other racing equipment.  Teams must use the equipment provided.  No additional boat equipment may be brought aboard by any teams.  Teams will switch boats after each race.  More information about the racing fleet.

Racing Area:  Races will be held in New York Harbor.  The scenery is spectacular with the skyline of Manhattan on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other.  The start and finish of all races will be from the harbor clubhouse which is permanently anchored north of Ellis Island.  More details about the race area.

Courses:  Courses will be windward-leeward.  Inflatable marks will be set by Race Committee.  Because the starting location is fixed, races may start in any direction, including upwind or downwind.

Crew:  This is an amateur competition designed to encourage foreign sailors to visit New York City.  Unlimited crew substitution, addition or subtraction, regardless of weight, is allowed during the regatta as long as these crew rules are not violated.

Following are the crew rules:
- Yacht clubs must be represented by amateur crews who are not paid to participate in this event.
- At least 2 members of each crew must be members of the yacht club they represent for one year or more.
- Unlimited crew addition, subtraction or substitution, regardless of weight, is allowed during the regatta.
- The maximum number of sailors (including Local Representative) on a J/24 at any time is 6 and the minimum number is 4.

Local Representative:  In addition to your crew, one Local Representative will sail on each boat.  The “Local Rep” will provide local knowledge and a VHF radio to communicate with the Race Committee.  Local Reps will stay with the boat while racing teams rotate.

Spectators:  All races will be run from the harbor clubhouse and spectators are invited to watch.  The clubhouse can hold up to 149 people and transportation is provided by club launch. 

Entry Fee: There is a $500 entry fee.
 
Damage Deposit: There is a $1,000 damage deposit which will be refunded to teams at the end of the regatta unless your team causes damage to one of the J/24 sailboats.
 
Scoring:  The Low Point Scoring System will be used with each yacht assigned points equivalent to their finishing position.  If 5 or more races are completed, each team may discard one race.
 
Prizes:  Regatta prizes will be awarded to the top team.  In addition, International Goodwill Prizes will be awarded to all teams in the regatta.
 
Special Awards:  Each team should bring a symbolic (and humorous) gift or trophy to give to the team which finishes directly behind them in the overall standings.  These gifts or trophies will be awarded at the Prize Giving.  

Racing Schedule:

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
1000 - Practice Sailing
1500 - Practice Race
1900 – Skippers' Meeting

Thursday, August 20, 2009
1100 - Race 1
Race 2
Race 3

Friday, August 21, 2009
1100 - Race 4
Race 5
Race 6 

Saturday, August 22, 2009
1100 - Race 7
Race 8

Social Schedule:

Tuesday & Wednesday, August 18 & 19, 2009
1000-1700 - champagne rides to the Statue of Liberty when you arrive at North Cove

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
1730 – Informal BBQ dinner on the Clubhouse in the Harbor

Thursday, August 20, 2009
1830 – Opening Ceremony at City Hall
2030 - Regatta Dinner

Friday, August 21, 2009
1930 - Regatta Party on Clubhouse in the harbor

Saturday, August 22, 2009
1900 - Awards Ceremony and celebration of International Goodwill

 

 

© copyright 2010 by Manhattan Sailing Club