NOTICE OF RACE (“NoR”)

1. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2025 - 2029 (“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 - 2025 (“MBRSR”), revised July 1, 2024, and the Offshore Racing Association Offshore Racing Rule (“ORR”) shall apply to all Founders Division boats.

3. [NP] The Offshore Racing Association Offshore Racing Rule (“ORR”) shall apply to all Founders Division boats.

4. [NP] All PHRF boats shall have a current PHRF NE Racing certificate.

5. [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.

6. 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 bosts 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 boat’s overall lengths of each other, the jury will conclude that the right-of-way boat needed to take avoiding action and that the other boat was not keeping clear.

   2. RRS 60.1(a) is changed to exclude protests by boats 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 boat 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.

The Sailing Instructions will be available after 1200 EDT on May 15, 2025 on the online Official Notice Board.

1. All boats must apply for entry.

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

   1. Boat: Boats 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”). Boats 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 boat 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 boat 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 boats, 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 monohull boats at least 32 feet ORR LOA (Length Overall).

      Within the Founders Division are three classes: Performance, Electronic, and Celestial.

      • The Performance class is for boats with performance enhancements that are not typical in more traditional designs. Features that might place a boat 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 boat to this class will be at the discretion of the OA.
      • The Electronic class is for boats using electronic navigation.
      • The Celestial class is for using celestial navigation.

   2. Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (“PHRF”) Division is for monohull boats at least 32 feet ORR LOA sailing with an PHRF-NE certificate

      • The Electronic class is for boats using electronic navigation.
      • The Celestial class is for using celestial navigation.

   3. Sail Training Division is for boats at least 40 feet ORR LOA that are used primarily for sail training. Sail training boats must have an explicit invitation to participate in this race from the Race Administrator (mail to: [email protected]).

4. Special rules for Founders and PHRF divisions:

   1. Two headsails may be flown simultaneously, subject to the limitations of RRS 55. This changes ORR 10.05(g).

   2. A forestaysail is permitted only if the boat has a professionally installed inner forestay and the sail has been declared on the handicap rating form.

   3. 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.

   4. The boat’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.

   5. Sails other than those permitted by the ORR rules may be aboard provided they are stored separately and boldly marked “NOT FOR RACING.”

   6. 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.

1. To enter:

   1. Boat, represented by the skipper, coskipper, coach or administrator, requests entry using the online system accessible on the Marion Bermuda website (http://www.marionbermuda.com/mb/registration/). A boat will be considered for acceptance when the boat’s registration is substantially complete.
   2. Boats must provide all information required, including the boat’s crew list, on the registration forms by June 7, 2025.
   3. The skipper/ coskipper must electronically sign the Race Waiver required by the online registration system by June 7, 2025.
   4. The skipper/coskipper and each crew member must electronically sign the Release of Liability required by the online registration system.
   5. 1. Founders boats shall obtain a full or partially measured current ORR certificate by June 7, 2025. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from the US Sailing Offshore office.
      2. All PHRF Boats must have a current PHRF NE rating.
      3. 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, coskipper, coach or administrator must submit electronically or in hard copy an MBR Equipment Inspection Checklist, signed by an MBCYRA inspector, indicating that the boat has passed inspection by June 11, 2025.
   7. Boats must complete in person registration at BYC, including payment of any outstanding fees, by June 19, 2025.

2. The entry fee is paid through the online system and is based upon the length of the boat (LOA excluding the bowsprit and other fittings attached to the hull) and the date on which the entry fee is fully paid:

   LOA	Until December 15, 2024	Until April 17, 2025	After April 17, 2025
   32’ to <40’	$1,700	$1,900	$2,225
   40’ to <45’	$1,800	$2,025	$2,325
   45’ to <50’	$2,025	$2,225	$2,550
   50’ to <80’	$2,225	$2,450	$2,750
   80’ and up	$2,450	$2,650	$3,000

   The entry fee for a sail training vessel, a service academy’s boat or a .edu defined organization’s boat 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, 2025.

   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 3, 2025.

   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, 2025.

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 boat’s entry fee according to the following schedule:

   Prior to March 15, 2025

   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 boat.

   After March 15, 2025

   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 2027 Marion Bermuda Race.

5. The race will be limited to 100 entries.

1. Skippers and coskippers 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 boat 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 PHRF 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 PHRF divisions, if a boat has a regular full-time paid captain or crew member, this one person is allowed on the boat during the race but shall take no active part in sailing, steering or navigating the boat unless there is an emergency. The full-time paid captain or crew may act as cook and perform boat maintenance. Any participation of the paid captain or crew in sailing, steering, or navigating the boat during the race must be fully described in the boat’s Certificate of Compliance.

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

   Date	Activity
   July 1, 2024	Application for entry opens
   December 15, 2024	Entry fee increases if not already paid
   April 17, 2025	Entry fee increases again if not already paid
   May 15, 2025	Sailing Instructions posted on website
   June 11, 2025	Online 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 boat must meet to be considered celestially navigated.) Founders Division Race within Race entry deadline. (See Attachment B.)
   June 12, 2025	Satellite communications device verification/registration begins
   June 17, 2025	Onsite registration opens Team Race registration deadline
   June 19, 2025	Onsite registration closes Satellite communications device verification/registration ends Skipper’s Meeting Crew dinner at BYC
   June 20, 2025	Start
   June 28, 2025	Awards Presentation at RHADC Gala dinner at RHADC

2. The scheduled time of the first warning signal for the race is 1200 EDT, Friday June 20, 2025.

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 or PHRF rating.

1. [DP] Inspection

   1. All boats must (1) request, (2) schedule and (3) pass a mandatory boat inspection by a race inspector. The pre-race inspection must be completed by June 7, 2025.

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

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

2. Compliance

   1. At the completion of the race, each boat’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 boats, particularly prize candidates, will be inspected by the Compliance Committee Inspectors in Bermuda.

1. 1. On-site Registration: Either the skipper or the navigator must complete the on-site registration process at BYC before 1400 on Thursday June 19 or pay a late registration fee of $200. The registration desk will be open from 0900 - 1800 Tuesday and Wednesday June 17 and 18 and 0900 - 1400 on Thursday June 19, 2025. In addition, boats may register on Sunday June 14, 2025 or Monday June 15, 2025 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 boat 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 19, 2025 at 1600. Failure to do so shall result in a penalty added to the boat’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.

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 boat 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 boat shall demonstrate that the satellite communication system operates properly by having someone from the boat’s crew, while below on board the boat, 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, 2025 until 1400 Thursday June 15, 2025. The number to call will be provided to the participating boats prior to June 12, 2025.

3. Except for the restriction in 10.3, boats 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 boat’s position or a competitor’s position is considered “outside help” and is prohibited by RRS 41.

1. [NP] Navigation:

   Each boat 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 boats 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 boat name provided on the boat’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 boats even if that information is only accessible ‘at a cost.’ However, after 1700 on the evening before the start of a boat’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 boat to boat and boat to shore transmissions for routing purposes.”

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

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.

1. All Founders Division boats 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 PHRF Boats must have a current PHRF NE rating. The OA will obtain handicaps directly from PHRF-NE and will use Time-on-Time (“ToT”) 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 boat must have her rating certified before June 7, 2025. If a boat 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 boat’s certified rating as early as possible.

5. 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.

1. Prizes will be awarded on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The time and place will be provided in the Sailing Instructions.

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

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

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

   • ensure that the boat 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 boat 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.

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