MarionBermudaLogo

The Twenty-third Marion Bermuda Race

June 16 - 24, 2023

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

Supported by:

The Beverly Yacht Club (“BYC”)Marion, Massachusetts
The Blue Water Sailing Club (“BWSC”)Boston, Massachusetts
The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club (“RHADC”)Paget, Bermuda

RACE DESCRIPTION

Since its inception in 1977, the Marion Bermuda Race (“MBR”) has been a Corinthian event. The spirit of the race is that all yachts and crew are participating for the joy and pleasure of sailing, competition in a serious offshore race and the camaraderie that accompanies such an event.

The race provides an opportunity for racing and cruising yachts with amateur crews and sail training vessels to participate in a serious ocean race and a rendezvous in Bermuda. It encourages the development of blue water sailing skills on seaworthy yachts that can be handled safely offshore with limited crew in an environmentally sustainable way. Yachts must submit an application for acceptance.

The MBR is categorized as an Ocean Race as defined in the US Sailing Safety Equipment Requirements. It is a long-distance race, well offshore, out of range of shore-based helicopters, where rescue may be delayed.

The OA intends to operate the race as a “Clean Regatta” as defined by Sailors for the Sea. The host clubs in Marion and Bermuda will execute, to the greatest extent possible, the best practices as defined in the Clean Regatta program. It is strongly recommended that all yachts appoint a person on board to be the environmental steward for the yacht. The environmental steward can be identified during the registration process. The environmental steward will work with the crew to develop and implement a plan to race as sustainably as possible. Competitors should plan to promote and adopt a “leave no trace” approach while at sea and during events while ashore in Marion and Bermuda. The OA seeks the cooperation of all competitors and support personnel including vendors in reducing waste before, during and at the conclusion of the event.

COVID-19 STATEMENT

The Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race Association, Inc. is monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on our race and on entry requirements in Bermuda. The MBCYRA may, at a later date, announce health-related requirements including, but not limited to, requiring COVID-19 tests before and/or after the race and vaccination or other information and any changes to Bermuda travel authorizations. It is also expected that local restrictions and CDC guidelines will be observed in Marion and Bermuda.

NOTICE OF RACE (“NoR”)

Amendment #1 and #2 January 23, 2023

RRS 60.1(a) is changed such that the notation “[NP]” in a rule below means that a boat may not protest another boat for breaking that rule and “[DP]” in a rule below means that a boat breaking that rule may be subject to a discretionary penalty.

  1. RULES
    1. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2021 - 2024 (“RRS”), including the U.S. Sailing prescriptions, except as modified herein or by the Sailing Instructions.

    2. [NP] The Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements Monohulls - 2023 (“MBRSR”), revised July 1, 2022, and the Offshore Racing Association Offshore Racing Rule (“ORR”) shall apply to all Founders Division boats.

      [NP] The Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements Multihulls - 2023 (“MBRSRMH”), revised July 1, 2022, and the Offshore Racing Association Offshore Racing Rule for Multihulls (“ORR-MH”) shall apply to all Multihull Division boats.

      [NP] Sail training vessels must hold a current USCG Certificate of Inspection and a Certificate for Exposed Waters. The MBRSR and the Offshore Racing Association Offshore Racing Rule Special (“ORR-Special”) shall apply. A sail training vessel’s compliance with World Sailing OSR Category 1 (with satellite phone) or the safety rules and regulations that apply to the vessel by virtue of her flag or classification society are an acceptable alternative to the MBRSR where such rules conflict.

    3. The Racing Rules of Part 2 and RRS 60.1a and 60.1b (Right to Protest) are changed 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 the 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 60.1(a) is changed to exclude protests by yachts for breaches of the Marion Bermuda Race Safety Requirements (NoR 1.2), Entry and Fees (NoR 4), communications (NoR 9), AIS and Radio (NoR 10.2), and Trash Disposal RRS 47.

      3. RRS 60.1(a) and 60.1(b) are changed to exclude protests or requests for redress by a yacht on the grounds of class assignments.

      4. In this document and in the Sailing Instructions, the words “skipper” or “coskipper” refers to the “person in charge” according to RRS 46.

  2. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

    The Sailing Instructions will be available after 1200 EDT on May 15, 2023 on the online Official Notice Board.

  3. ELIGIBILITY
    1. All yachts must apply for entry.

    2. Acceptance may be granted by the OA to yachts and crews satisfying the following requirements on the application:

      1. Yacht: Yachts must be, in the judgement of the Acceptance Committee, of a design of demonstrated seaworthiness, appropriate for a long distance, well offshore ocean race as defined in the US Sailing Safety Equipment Requirements (“USSER”). Yachts must have 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. All ordinary cruising gear, such as cabin tables and galley equipment, shall be on board and in its usual cruising position throughout the race.

      2. Skipper and Crew: 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, two crew members, usually the skipper and navigator, must submit their sailing resumes with their application for entry. It is strongly recommended that all crew submit their sailing resume. Except for Double Handed and Short-Handed entries, each yacht must have a minimum of five crew members.

      3. Safety At Sea Seminar Attendance: At least 30% but not fewer than two members of the crew, including the skipper and the navigator or watch captain, shall hold a World Sailing Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course Certificate. For Double Handed yachts, both members shall hold a World Sailing Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course Certificate. Any certificate obtained more than five (5) years prior to the start of the race or as a result of exclusively internet-based training may not be acceptable.

    3. The race will be divided into three divisions:

      1. Founders Division is for yachts at least 32 feet ORR LOA.

        Within the Founders Division is a Performance class for monohull yachts at least 32 ORR LOA with performance enhancements that are not typical in more traditional designs. Features that might place a yacht in this class include moveable appendages (other than traditional centerboards and traditional rudders), moveable ballast, water ballast, extreme draft, etc. or an ORR MBR ToT rating greater than 1.000. The assignment of a yacht to this class will be at the discretion of the OA.

      2. Multihull Division is for multihulled yachts at least 32 feet ORR LOA.

      3. In Founders and Multihull Divisions:

        • Two headsails may be flown simultaneously, subject to the limitations of RRS 55. This changes ORR 10.05(g).
        • 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.
        • Sail “numbers” (which may be letters or numbers) must be at least two (2) characters long and of a high contrast color. They are required on mainsails, spinnakers, and headsails having a luff perpendicular measurement exceeding 130% of the base of the foretriangle and on weather cloths, if used.
        • The yacht’s number must be displayed at all times while racing. RRS 77 and Appendix G1.1(b) and G2 (IDENTIFICATION ON SAILS) are changed such that national letters, e.g., USA or BER, are not required.
        • Sails other than those permitted by the ORR rules may be aboard provided they are stored separately and boldly marked “NOT FOR RACING.”
        • RRS 52 (MANUAL POWER) shall not apply (as per ORR 4.08). In addition, mechanical or electro-mechanical steering devices are permitted but not required.
      4. Sail Training Division is for yachts at least 40 feet ORR LOA that are used primarily for sail training. Sail training yachts must have an explicit invitation to participate in this race from the Race Administrator (mail to: [email protected]).

  4. ENTRY AND FEES
    1. To enter:

      1. Yachts must pay the $250 application fee using the online system accessible on the Marion Bermuda website (http://www.marionbermuda.com/mb/registration/). Following payment the registration system becomes available. A yacht will be considered for acceptance when the yacht’s registration is substantially complete and payment of the entry fee has been received. The application fee will be applied to, and become part of the entry fee during the payment process. In the event a yacht is not accepted, the entry fee will be promptly refunded. Once a yacht is accepted for the race the entry fee is non-refundable.
      2. Yachts must provide all information required, including the yacht’s crew list, on the registration forms by June 7, 2023.
      3. The skipper must electronically sign the Race Waiver required by the online registration system by June 7, 2023.
      4. The skipper and each crew member must electronically sign the Release of Liability required by the online registration system.
      5. a. Founders and Multihull yachts shall obtain a full or partially measured current ORR certificate by June 7, 2023. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from the US Sailing Offshore office.
        b. Sail training vessels shall obtain a current ORR Special Rating Certificate generated by Offshore Racing Association (“ORA”) that is based on the vessel’s Coast Guard approved sail plan. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from the ORA management team.
      6. 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 by June 7, 2023.
      7. Yachts must complete in person registration, including payment of any outstanding fees, by June 15, 2023.
    2. The entry fee is paid through the online system and is based upon the length of the yacht (LOA excluding the bowsprit and other fittings attached to the hull) and the date on which the entry fee is fully paid:

      LOAUntil December 15, 2022Until April 17, 2023After April 17, 2023
      32’ to <40’$1,600$1,800$2,100
      40’ to <45’$1,700$1,900$2,200
      45’ to <50’$1,900$2,100$2,400
      50’ to <80’$2,100$2,300$2,600
      80’ and up$2,300$2,500$2,800

      The entry fee for a sail training vessel, a service academy’s yacht or a .edu defined organization’s yacht is 50% of the listed fee.

    3. Entry fees include:

      1. Professional briefings on weather and the Gulf Stream at the Skipper’s meeting.

      2. An on call professional medical diagnosis and consulting service provided by the George Washington University Maritime Medical Access facility during the race and also your return passage as long as it’s completed by July 31, 2023.

      3. Use of the OA supplied transponder for the position tracking system during the race.

      4. Attendance for all crew members and guests at the awards presentation in Bermuda.

      5. Discounted dockage at RHADC post race until July 1, 2023.

      6. Use of the OA supplied transponder for the position tracking system during return passage provided the transponder is returned to Marion, MA before July 3, 2023.

    4. Force Majeure - Cancellation/Postponement

      If the race is cancelled or postponed for more than 30 days for reasons beyond the OA’s control, the OA will refund a yacht’s entry fee according to the following schedule:

      Prior to March 15, 2023
      The OA will refund entry fees less expenses it has incurred that are necessary to support the race. Those expenses will be capped at $250 per yacht.
      After March 15, 2023
      The OA will make the largest refund possible considering the necessary expenses. In no event will the refund by less than 50% of the entry fee.

      In either case, a skipper may choose instead to apply the entire entry fee as a credit toward the 2025 Marion Bermuda Race.

    5. The race will be limited to 100 entries.

  5. CREW LIMITATIONS
    1. Skippers must be a member of their national authority, such as US Sailing or the Bermuda Sailing 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.) Any yacht with a crew member classified as Group 3 by World Sailing shall contact the Acceptance Committee for permission by emailing [email protected] no later than the crew list deadline.

    3. For Founders and Multihull divisions, 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 Founders and Multihull divisions, 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.

  6. SCHEDULE
    1. The OA will maintain a race and social schedule on the MBR website including:

      DateActivity
      July 1, 2022Application for entry opens
      December 15, 2022Entry fee increases if not already paid
      April 17, 2023Entry fee increases again if not already paid
      May 15, 2023Sailing Instructions posted on website
      June 7, 2023Online registration closes
      Certified ORR Rating deadline
      Inspections complete
      Crew list deadline
      Spinnaker/nonspinnaker choice deadline
      Celestial/electronic choice deadline (See Attachment A for the conditions a yacht must meet to be considered a celestially navigated yacht.)
      Founders Division Race within Race entry deadline. (See Attachment B.)
      June 8, 2023Satellite communications device verification/registration begins
      June 13, 2023Onsite registration opens
      Team Race registration deadline
      June 15, 2023Onsite registration closes
      Satellite communications device verification/registration ends
      Skipper’s Meeting
      Crew dinner at BYC
      June 16, 2023Start
      June 24, 2023Awards Presentation at RHADC
      Gala dinner at RHADC
    2. The scheduled time of the first warning signal for the race is 1200 EDT, Friday June 16, 2023.

    3. Each division will have its own starting time. The OA reserves the right to further divide each division into starting classes of similar performance characteristics based upon their ORR rating.

  7. INSPECTIONS AND COMPLIANCE
    1. [DP] 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 7, 2023.

      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 - Monohulls, Equipment Inspection Checklist - Multihulls and a list of authorized inspectors is available on the MBR website.

    2. Compliance

      1. At the completion of the race, each yacht’s skipper or navigator must file a signed MBR Certificate of Compliance, available on the MBR website, with the RHADC Duty Officer.

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

  8. ONSITE REGISTRATION AND SKIPPERS’ MEETING
    1. On-site Registration: Either the skipper or the navigator must complete the on-site registration process at BYC before 1400 on Thursday June 15 or pay a late registration fee of $200. The registration desk will be open from 0900 - 1800 Tuesday and Wednesday June 13 and 14 and 0900 - 1400 on Thursday June 15, 2023. In addition, yachts may register on Sunday June 11, 2023 or Monday June 12, 2023 by making an appointment well in advance with the Race Administrator (mail to: [email protected]).

    2. At on-site registration, the skipper or navigator shall verify that:

      1. the detailed information entered in the online registration system is complete and accurate and that all waivers have been signed;

      2. all documentation, training exercises and inspections are complete;

      3. the satellite communication system has been tested and operates properly. See NoR 9.2.2.

    3. [NP] During the on-site registration, each yacht will receive her 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: Two crew members, preferably the skipper and navigator, must attend the entire Skipper’s Meeting held on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 1600. Failure to do so shall result in a penalty added to the yacht’s corrected time. The location of the meeting will be in the Sailing Instructions.The meeting will include briefings on weather, the Gulf Stream, and approaches to Bermuda. These briefings are the only ones sponsored by MBR.

  9. COMMUNICATIONS
    1. The Official Notice Board will be online at https://www.marionbermuda.com/official-documents (“the race website”). Rules documents will be posted on the Official Notice Board.

    2. Each yacht shall carry a satellite voice and text communication device operable from below decks via external antenna.

      1. 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 once every watch.

      2. Each yacht shall demonstrate that the satellite communication system operates properly by having someone from the yacht’s crew, while below on board the yacht, place a satellite phone call to and receive a satellite phone call from the Offshore Communication Team before completing registration. The best satellite communications connections are made when away from the electronic noise of a harbor at mid day. The Offshore Communications Team will be available for the Communications verification/registration daily beginning from 0900 to 1600 Thursday, June 8, 2023 until 1400 Thursday June 15, 2023. The number to call will be provided to the participating yachts prior to June 8, 2023.

    3. Except for the restriction in 10.3, yachts may use any communication device including VHF, cell phone, satellite voice and text system or SSB. 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 “outside help” and is prohibited by RRS 41.

  10. NAVIGATION AND AIS
    1. [NP] Navigation:

      Each yacht must keep a log in a logbook and make entries at least once each watch. In addition to the communication information of 9.2.2, the log should show courses, distance made good and best estimate of 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. [NP] AIS and Radio: The MBR Safety Requirements and the Sailing Instructions will require yachts to do the following:

      1. use their best efforts to monitor AIS for AIS-SART or similar distress signals at all times;

      2. use their best efforts to ensure that the transmitting mode of their AIS is enabled at all times;

      3. ensure that the yacht name provided on the yacht’s entry form is transmitted on AIS rather than just an MMSI number;

      4. monitor VHF Ch 16 at all times and Ch. 72 near the start and finish.

    3. RRS 41 (OUTSIDE HELP) will be changed to add “e) Help in the form of information freely available to all yachts even if that information is only accessible ‘at a cost.’ However, after 1700 on the evening before the start of a yacht’s division such ‘at a cost’ help shall not include professional weather routing services, professional Gulf Stream predicting services, private forecast or tactical advice, other private communications for routing purposes or information customized for a particular boat or group of boats and/or their situation. This includes yacht to yacht and yacht to shore transmissions for routing purposes.”

  11. THE COURSE

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

  12. PENALTY SYSTEM
    1. 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.

    2. RRS 64.2 (PENALTIES) first sentence is changed to “When the Protest Committee or Compliance Committee decides a boat that is a party to a protest hearing has broken a rule and is not exonerated, it may impose a discretionary penalty unless some other penalty applies.“ The discretionary penalty will be an elapsed time penalty calculated at the time of the hearing, no penalty at all, or disqualification.

  13. HANDICAPPING AND SCORING
    1. All Founders Division yachts must have a current Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) handicap certificate that may be based upon either a full or partial measurement. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from the US Sailing Offshore Office and will use Performance Curve Scoring customized for the Marion Bermuda Race.

    2. All Multihull Yachts must have a current Offshore Racing Rule Multihull (ORR MH) rating. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from ORA Management Team and will use Performance Curve Scoring customized for the Marion Bermuda Race.

    3. Sail Training vessels must have a current Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) Special Certificate. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from ORA Management Team and will use Performance Curve Scoring customized for the Marion Bermuda Race.

    4. Each yacht must have her rating certified before June 7, 2023. If a yacht is late having her rating certified she may be subject to a time penalty. Skippers are encouraged to contact the US Sailing Offshore Office or the ORA Management Team for the yacht’s certified rating as early as possible.

    5. A yacht may elect to race using celestial navigation. If a yacht elects to be celestially navigated, she shall have her elapsed time reduced by 3%. See Attachment A for the details of the conditions that a yacht must meet to be considered a celestially navigated yacht.

    6. Founders Division Races within the Race include: the Family Race, The Offshore Youth Challenge, The Double Handed Race, the Short Handed Race, The All Female Crew Race, and the Team Race. See Attachment B for the requirements to qualify for any of these races.

  14. PRIZES
    1. Prizes will be awarded on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The time and place will be provided in the Sailing Instructions.

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

    3. Information on prizes will be provided in Attachment B to the Notice of Race.

  15. RESPONSIBILITY, LIABILITY AND MEDIA
    1. The safety of a yacht and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the skipper who 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 3, Decision to Race. Neither the organizing authority (MBYRA) 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 sponsors.

  16. FURTHER INFORMATION

    For further information and for all race related correspondence, including requirements for written notice or questions about the eligibility of your yacht, please email the Race Administrator (mail to: [email protected]).

ATTACHMENT A

CELESTIALLY NAVIGATED YACHT CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. CELESTIAL ELECTION

    A yacht with a navigator skilled and experienced in celestial navigation at sea may elect to compete using celestial navigation. This election must be made in the online registration system on or before June 7, 2023.

  2. HANDICAP ADJUSTMENT

    Yachts that elect to compete using celestial navigation will have her elapsed time reduced by 3%. The adjustment will be calculated in the following manner:

    Celestial_Elapsed_Time = Elapsed_Time 0.97      rounded to nearest second with 0.5 second rounded up.

  3. NAVIGATION
    1. During the race a yacht’s location must be determined by traditional star, sun, planet or moon sights. Navigators of yachts competing using celestial navigation must at a minimum maintain, and have ready for inspection in Bermuda, the paper-based plotting sheets for the entire race which demonstrate the method of obtaining the vessel’s position at any time during the race. All fixes resulting from Lines of Position shall have recorded the GMT, altitude, azimuth and intercept of the body or bodies of each LOP. Any Local Apparent Noon fixes shall have GMT and altitude data recorded and available for inspection. Most important will be the fix used to determine that the yacht was, or was not, within 50 NM of Kitchen Shoals beacon.

    2. The yacht’s log must be maintained hourly and dead-reckoning positions must be easily derived from the log entries for any time during the race.

    3. The Compliance Committee may ask a navigator to demonstrate how a particular fix on the plotting sheets was derived using the corresponding sight data.

  4. NAVIGATION DEVICES
    1. The following electronic navigation devices may be used throughout the race:

      • Knotmeter,
      • Log,
      • Compass,
      • Depth finder,
      • Wind speed and direction indicator,
      • Radio receiver,
      • Radar,
      • Temperature indicating devices,
      • Voice recorders and other note-taking devices,
      • Calculators or computers for reducing sights or computing courses
    2. No GPS device may be used for distance or speed over ground information. Any electronic device aboard, including AIS, VHF radios, SSB radios, chartplotters and hand-held instruments that display or report position information must be placarded (covered from view) while the yacht is under celestial navigation. Placards are to be removed only in case of emergency. The existence and effectiveness of placards must be demonstrable to the Compliance Committee in Bermuda.

  5. POSITION INFORMATION

    Viewing or downloading any information that can be used to derive the yacht’s position is strictly prohibited. Any yacht sailing in the Celestial Division that chooses or inadvertently receives position data from another vessel (including via AIS) shall log each such occasion and must state in the Certificate of Compliance that in no instance (other than an emergency) were the coordinates of that vessel recorded and or otherwise used to determine or infer the position of the yacht.

  6. PUBLIC INFORMATION

    Downloading free, publicly available weather or ocean current information is allowed.

  7. ELECTRONIC POSITIONING
    1. Electronic positioning devices, such as GPS, may be used within Buzzards Bay and out to 20 nautical miles from the tower on Nomans Island, and within 50 nautical miles of Kitchen Shoals beacon off Bermuda. If, on approach to Bermuda, a celestially-navigated yacht turns on a GPS or other electronic positioning system before finishing, she must determine and show on her Certificate of Compliance:

      • the time she turned on her electronic positioning device;
      • her dead-reckoned (“DR”) position or celestial fix at that time;
      • the position shown on her electronic positioning device at that time; and
      • the bearing and distance to the Kitchen Shoal beacon from both the celestial fix or DR and from the electronic fix.
    2. All uses of electronic positioning devices by a celestially navigated yacht must be fully documented and included in the yacht’s Certificate of Compliance.

  8. NON-COMPLIANCE
    1. If when approaching Bermuda the initial electronic fix places the yacht greater than 50 nautical miles from Kitchen Shoal beacon the Compliance Committee may impose a time penalty.

    2. If the Compliance Committee determines that a yacht which elected to be navigated celestially has not complied with all other conditions the Committee shall impose a time penalty.

  9. CONVERSION TO ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION

    If a yacht which elected to be navigated celestially converts to electronic navigation during the race, she shall lose her 3.0% time adjustment and a time penalty as determined by the Compliance Committee shall be imposed.

ATTACHMENT B

PRIZES

Prizes will be awarded to yachts based upon their ORR corrected time unless otherwise described. Corrected times will be adjusted for starting time and time credits or penalties at the decision of the Compliance Committee or the Protest Committee. Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Race Committee.

ALL YACHTS:
Celestial Trophy presented by CelestaireThe celestial navigator who is judged “best” according to the panel of Celestaire judges. See Attachment C for criteria.
FOUNDERS DIVISION:
OVERALL TROPHIES: The following trophies will be awarded to yachts in the Founders Division regardless of their Starting Class.
Goslings Founders TrophyThe yacht with the best overall corrected time
Navigator’s TrophyThe Navigator of the first celestially navigated yacht.
BWSC Board of Governor’s TrophyA Coming Home pennant is awarded to the yacht with the shortest elapsed time
Beverly Yacht Club Polaris TrophyA Coming Home pennant is awarded to the first celestially navigated yacht
CLASS TROPHIES: The following trophies will be awarded in each starting class
First Place Trophy presented by MaximumFirst place based upon corrected time in their class
Second and Third Place TrophiesTo the yachts with the second, and third best corrected time in their class
Cook’s TrophiesTo the cook of the last yacht in each starting class to physically finish
MULTIHULL DIVISION:
Multihull TrophyThe yacht with the best corrected time
Second and Third Place To the multihulls with the second and third best corrected times if more than five entries
SAIL TRAINING VESSEL DIVISION:
The Captain Ed Williams TrophyVessel with the best corrected time
Second and Third Place To the sail training vessels with the second and third best corrected times if more than three entries
SPECIAL PRIZES AND TROPHIES: These prizes and trophies were established to foster competition between crews, teams, and yachts of similar design. These prizes and trophies will be awarded if there are three (3) or more yachts starting the Race in the category or at the discretion of the Race Committee.
L. Bryon Kingery, Jr. Memorial TrophyFirst “short-handed” yacht, one with three (3) or four (4) people aboard. A regular full-time paid captain or crew member is not allowed on a short-handed yacht.
Double-Handed TrophyFirst yacht with a crew of two (2) sailors. A regular full-time paid captain or crew member is not allowed on a double-handed yacht
Beverly Family TrophyFirst “family-crewed” yacht. Beverly Family Trophy First “family-crewed” yacht has a crew of five (5) or more with all or all-but-one being members of a single household or single family. Persons related to a common grandparent and spouses of these will be considered “family.” A regular full time paid captain or crewmember is not allowed on a “family.” yacht.
Commodore Faith Paulsen TrophyFirst yacht that is crewed entirely by females. A regular full-time paid captain or crew member on an all-female yacht must be female.
Offshore Youth Challenge TrophyFirst “Youth” yacht has at least four (4) youths aboard with at least 66% of the crew qualified as youths. A youth sailor must be 16 years of age or older but not more than 23 years old by June 15, 2023. One or more adults at least 23 years old by June 15, 2023 must be onboard.
R & W Ropes Rigging Solutions Team TrophyAwarded to the established yacht club or sailing club whose team of three (3) yachts has the lowest combined corrected time. The club’s commodore must submit an application naming the yachts forming the team by Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
“Mini-class” TrophiesFirst yacht in each mini-class. When three (3) yachts of similar hull design or same manufacturer start the race, they may constitute a “mini-class,” regardless of their Skipper’s Starting Class.
Bartram TrophyBest performance by a US service academy, maritime college or ROTC yacht.
Ancient Mariners Golden Teapot TrophyAwarded to the crew having the highest average age who finishes the race.
Bermuda Ocean Cruising Yacht TrophySponsored by Sail Magazine and awarded to the Skipper who has the best finish in consecutive Marion-Bermuda and Newport-Bermuda Finisterre Division Races.
REGIONAL AND CLUB TROPHIES: Awarded to yachts that have not received an Overall Trophy. Only one Regional or Club trophy will be awarded per yacht.
Corporation of Hamilton TrophyA Bermuda yacht
Commodore’s CupA Blue Water Sailing Club yacht
Bermuda Longtail TrophyA Beverly Yacht Club yacht

ATTACHMENT C

CRITERIA FOR THE CELESTIAL TROPHY PRESENTED BY CELESTAIRE

This award is given to the celestial navigator who submits an application before the start of the race (email [email protected]), turns in their celestial navigation worksheets immediately after clearing Customs and Immigration in Bermuda and whose work is selected as “best” by an impartial panel of judges. The judging panel will be comprised of two or more navigators, skilled in the art of celestial navigation, selected by the Organizing Authority. Judges serving on the panel are ineligible to compete for the award for the year for which they are serving as a judge. The judging will be subjective and final, and will be based on the difficulty of the navigational techniques used and the skill exhibited in the submitted work. The judges will use the following criteria to weigh the navigator’s proficiency and efficiency:

Major Criteria

  • Tabular reductions will be more highly regarded than celestial computer or celestial calculator reductions;
  • Accuracy of the sextant observations, as evidenced by the size of the “cocked hat” of the combined fixes;
  • Number of observations for the race, all properly logged;
  • Variation of number of celestial bodies used for sights (sun, moon, planets and stars);
  • How close was the position when the GPS was turned on.

Minor Criteria

  • The accuracy of the submitted work will be checked, and any errors in traditional sight correction, sight reduction, or plotting of the sights and running fix will be weighed against the submission;
  • Watch records for keeping log time, speed, and course;
  • Neatness;
  • Was the work all the navigator’s or did others assist with sights and reductions.