Revised and republished on 5th December – See below updates and new entrance fee.
NOTICE OF RACE & Sailing Instructions
Boxing Day Barrel 2024
The Race will be known as “The Boxing Day Barrel” trophy and will consist of one longer race of approx. 2 plus hrs. duration
The Organizing Authority will be the Antigua Yacht Club.
The Rules will be the current RRS version
The Race will be held Thursday 26th December 2024.
First start will be not before 1.30 pm
Time Limits – for the race will be 30 mins. after the first boat in class finishes. Boats not finishing within the time limit will be scored DNF
Classes – There will be ONE (Class A) or TWO (Class B) classes for the CSA rated boats depending on the number of entries. If insufficient entries all CSA boats will be combined into Class A only
There will be a FUN – non-rated – class for Cruisers, Classic Yachts and Workboats, and for those yachts who either have no rating or who wish to race less seriously. These yachts will be given an appropriate AYC rating. Obvious performance yachts will not be allowed to enter this class. Boats in this class cannot qualify for the trophy.
Classes will be allocated solely by the Organizers – and skippers will be informed of their class at the Skippers Briefing and/or no later than the first warning signal for the first race.
Entry Fees – EC$100 / boat.
Note: Entries before noon on Monday 16th December, will qualify for a 20% discount.
Scoring – Will be RRS Appendix A, Scoring LOW POINT System – amended as follows: –
Finishing – points equal to finishing place in that race
DNF – points equal to ONE more than the score of the last boat to finish in that race
DSQ – points equal to TWO more than the score of the last boat to finish in that race
DNC – ditto DSQ
Prizes – Prizes will be awarded 1st. 2nd. 3rd. in each class.
The Boxing Day Barrel Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the more competitive class. If both classes A and B are considered equally competitive then Class A will have preference.
RATINGS: For classes A and B current 2024 CSA ratings will be used. Spinnaker ratings are encouraged in both classes. If a boat has an outdated rating it ‘may’ be accepted after updating by the organizers. Ratings prior to 2018 are unlikely to be accepted – these boats may then race in the fun class. However, performance boats will not be accepted into this class.
Boats in the non-CSA classes will be given an appropriate AYC club rating.
Courses – will be laid within the Snapper point to Old road Bluff / Curtain Bluff area.
The start/finish line will be Inside Falmouth Harbour. Course plans and diagrams will be emailed and displayed at AYC no later than Wednesday 20th December and confirmed at the Skippers Briefing. Last minute changes should wind conditions dictate will be published at the skipper’s briefing and on the AYC racing Whats App group
Any GPS positions (if given) for the marks will be approx. only and errors will not be grounds for redress.
Starting Procedure – Will be in accordance with RRS 26 (5: 4 : 1 : Go)
The First WARNING (5 mins.) signal for the day will be at 5 mins. prior to the advertised time of START.
Class A will start first – Warning signal is a GREEN Flag
Fun / Cruiser Class will start second – Warning signal is a PINK Flag
Class B will start third – Warning signal is a YELLOW Flag
A sound signal ‘may’ also be given to draw attention to the flags.
Note – depending on the number of entries, two or more classes may be combined for starting. This would be indicated by VHF radio and by flying the appropriate class flags together at the Warning signal.
Other Signals and Procedures – Postponement, Shorten Course, etc. shall be in accordance with RRS.
Skippers’ Briefing will be at AYC Upper Deck on Thursday December 26th at 11.30am. Final class allocations will be given at this time and communicated on the water by VHF ch. 12
For those unable to attend all information will be available on the WhatsApp group and on the water on VHF 12 up to the warning signal for the first race.
Radio – will use channel 12 which all yachts will be expected to monitor. Failure to hear any verbal instructions, properly put out, will not be grounds for protest or redress.
Sail Wardrobe – must be declared at the Skippers Briefing or to the AYC WhatsApp group beforehand. The rating will then reflect the sail wardrobe selected.
Boats not declaring their sail wardrobe by 12.00 noon on the day of the race may then be given the highest rating (spi. or non spi.) shown in the database.
The Boxing Day Barrel Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the most competitive class as judged by the organizer / race officer. Class A will take preference if a tie.
Protests –
Must be submitted in writing to the Race Officer within 90 minutes of the leading boat’s finish or 60 minutes of the protesting boat’s finish – whichever is the sooner.
Protests will be heard at the AYC as soon as possible by an ad hoc committee comprising of Race Officials and competitors not actively involved in the incident.
NOTE: This is a friendly club regatta – aggressive sailing is discouraged.
The Prize Giving will be held on the Event Centre Deck at 5pm or as soon as possible after that time.
Race Course – Revised Version to be published closer to the event
Registration is open – Register Here