Notice of Race WORA 2022

1.         ORGANISING AUTHORITY
The Organising Authority (OA) is the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland (RWYCI) in conjunction with the West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association (WIORA).2.         RULES
2.1       The Event is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2021-2024, the prescriptions of Irish Sailing, the IRC Rating Rule parts A-C, the Irish Sailing ECHO Performance Handicap System, the WIORA Constitution, class association rules where applicable, this Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions and any changes thereto.
2.2       ECHO handicaps will be issued by the OA and will be published before the event starts and are not open to protest. Progressive ECHO handicap system will be used. The act of handicap adjustment or failure to adjust will not be grounds for protest.
2.3       Crew Limit for Spinnaker Class is IRC plus 1. There is no crew limit for White Sails Class. There are no crew weight limits. There must be at least two capable sailors on board during racing.
2.4       ISAF Category Group 3 sailors are only allowed to sail under the following conditions: An IRC boat may carry ONE Group 3 sailor on ONE day only. The Group 3 sailor is not allowed to helm.3.         ADVERTISING
Boats may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the OA.4.         ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1       General. The Championship is open to all boats holding a valid IRC and/or ECHO certificate.
4.2       To be eligible for the overall prizes a boat must comply with the definition of a cruiser racer promulgated by the Irish Cruiser Racing Association.
4.3       Registration. The entry form will be available at www.westernyachtclub.com or at registration. All entrants shall register with the Event Office upon arrival, in any case not later than 1000hrs on Friday 24th June, 2022.
4.4       The Race Office shall be open for registration from 1800hrs to 2000hrs on Thursday 23rd June 2022 and from 0900hrs on Friday 24th June 2022.
4.5       Entry Fee. Required fees are as follows:

4.6       Entry forms can be filled in online – CLICK HERE 
4.7       Entrants shall: Comply with Irish Sailing national authority eligibility requirements, submit a copy of their current ECHO and/or IRC Certificate at or before registration, complete and return a valid Entry Form accompanied by the appropriate Entry Fee. The OA reserve the absolute right to refuse any entry, boat, or its crew, or to ask any entrant to complete further undertakings or declarations.
4.8       Refunds or partial refunds may be made at the sole discretion of the OA.
4.9       All participating sailors shall be members of the West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association for 2022. Subscriptions shall be paid at or before registration. Subscription is €10 per person. Persons under 18 years or over 65 years on the first day of the event are exempt from subscription.
4.10      Lift in and lift out for participating yachts is provided free of charge by Kilrush Marina Boatyard.
4.11      Visiting boats shall be accommodated free of charge by Kilrush Marina for the duration of the event plus four additional nights at the discretion of the boat owner.
4.12      Entries may be split into classes based on rating. The PRO may combine the start of one class with another depending on number of entries or exceptionally for other reasons. The allocation of entries into classes will be posted on the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland website at close of registration.5.           DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY 
Competitors participate in the event entirely at their own risk – see RRS 4 – Decision to Race. The Organising Authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the event. The RWYCI, including its officers, employees and agents, the race management team, the support boats and anyone helping to run the event shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury however caused to the owner / competitor or crew as a result of their taking part in the event.6.         INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of €3,000,000 per incident.7.         SCHEDULE
7.1       Lift In and Lift Out facilities will be available by appointment only at Kilrush Marina Boatyard. Contact the marina office at 065 9052072 for booking.
7.2       Racing is scheduled for Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th June 2022.
7.3       It is proposed to sail eight races in Spinnaker Class and six races in White Sails Class.
7.4       The OA reserves the right to amend the schedule of races depending on prevailing conditions.

8.         SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
The Sailing Instructions will be available from the Event Office at registration. Prior to this they may be available at www.westernyachtclub.com.

9.         THE COURSES
The courses to be sailed will be as listed in the Sailing Instructions.

10.       VENUE
The venue will be Kilrush Marina and the Lower Shannon Estuary.

11.       SCORING
11.1      The Low Points Scoring System of Appendix A shall apply.
11.2      Three races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
11.3      When fewer than four races have been sailed, a boats’ series score will be the total of her race scores.
11.4      When four or more races have been completed, a boats’ series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
11.5      Results will be given under ECHO and IRC systems where appropriate.

12.       RATINGS & HANDICAPS
IRC and ECHO certs shall have a VALIDITY DATE no later than 24th June 2022. Changes to the rating of a boat will not be accepted after this cut-off date except as a result of a rating protest or to correct Rating Office errors.

13.       PRIZES
13.1      Prizes will be awarded under IRC and ECHO handicap systems depending on the number of entries.
13.2      The overall winner will be selected from the IRC classes by using a system of weighted scoring to reflect the number of boats competing in each class.

14.       ARBITRATION
Arbitration is a quicker and less contentions means of resolving rules disputes. Arbitration carries a maximum penalty of a 3-point scoring penalty. All protests not resolved by arbitration will go to a full protest hearing where the potential penalty is disqualification. The Protest Committee decides what protests are suitable for arbitration based on Appendix T as modified by the Sailing Instructions. When a protest is marked for arbitration, both parties are expected to attend.

15.       CORONA VIRUS RESTRICTIONS
The event will proceed under the restrictions in place at the time and subject to the advice of Irish Sailing regarding sailing events.

16.       FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information please see the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland website or
contact Simon McGibney at contactrwyci@gmail.com or 0877774946.