For entry forms please contact race chair Dan Benjamin at (925) 443-3213

1. GENERAL

1.1 The Race is intended to be a sporting event, and to encourage the development of suitable yachts, gear, supplies and techniques for shorthanded ocean crossings under sail.

2. ELIGIBILITY

2.1 The Race is open to seaworthy cruising or racing yachts of any type or nationality, capable of safe ocean passages, provided the overall length on deck is between 20 feet and 60 feet. The Race Committee reserves the right to exclude any yacht that it regards as unseaworthy or a yacht with inadequate equipment.

2.2. Monohulled yachts shall be self-righting, with essentially watertight enclosed accommodations, and with self-bailing cockpits.

2.3. Multihulled yachts shall have the ability to float indefinitely in an inverted position, with essentially watertight enclosed accommodations, and with self-bailing cockpits.

3. MANAGEMENT

3.1. The Race will be under the management of the Race Committee of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, which shall have the full power to establish and interpret the rules and conditions governing the Race, to decide all protests, and to reject the entry of any yacht at any time prior to the preparatory signal for the start.

4. AUTHORITY

4.1. These Rules dated 22 March, 1999 are published by the Singlehanded Sailing Society which reserves the right to amend or add to these rules at any time up to the start of the Race, such amendments being immediately promulgated to all entrants who have been provisionally accepted for the Race.

5. RACING RULES

5.1. The 1997-2000 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Rules as adopted by the USSA (United States Sailing Association), as amended by these Rules and Conditions shall govern the Race. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise the Steering and Sailing Rules from the current International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) shall replace Part 2 of the USSA rules as required by rule 86.1 of the USSA racing rules.

5.2. The following exceptions to the racing rules are allowed:

(a) A yacht may carry two headsails simultaneously.

(b) One or more whisker poles may be carried to pole out the head sail(s), but the length of these poles may not exceed the LP of the largest rated headsail, and may not be used for setting the spinnaker.

(c) Mechanical or electronic self steering devices may be employed.

(d) Asymmetrical spinnakers are permitted, and will use the rating as determined by San Francisco Bay PHRF.

(e) A fixed pole extending beyond the bow of the yacht will be permitted, and will use the rating as determined by San Francisco Bay PHRF.

(f) Yachts are permitted to be fitted with tanks permanently secured to port and starboard with provision for the athwartship transfer of liquid ballast through permanently fitted pipes. Such transferable liquid must have a density no greater than that of sea water. No form of solid or granular transferable ballast may be used apart from any ordinary stores or provisions appropriate to the Race. Yachts will use rating as determined by San Francisco Bay PHRF.

 
(i) In such cases, all tanks for transferable ballast and stowage for transferable stores must be inside the hull(s) and below decks.

(ii) Competitors must demonstrate an efficient and safe manual method of discharging, transferring, or taking on liquid ballast with the yacht up to 50 degrees angle of heel to port or starboard of the normal laden trim.

(iii) Competitors must demonstrate that with all such ballast transferred to one side to its maximum possible extent the static angle of heel of the yacht will not exceed 10 degrees to port or starboard of the normal laden trim.

(iv) If yachts are fitted with fresh water or fuel tanks to port or starboard such tanks will be considered as part of the transferable ballast system and must be completely full and empty on the appropriate sides during the inclining test.

(v) Owners intending to use other forms of transferable water ballast not covered by these rules should clear the project of eligibility with the Race Committee first.

(g) Other forms of transferable ballast will be considered on a case by case basis by the Race Committee.

(h) For advertising purposes, the race is a Category B event.

6. COURSE

6.1. Leave the starting buoy ("X" buoy off the Golden Gate Yacht Club) to starboard, by any route to any point on longitude 126 degrees 40 minutes west, then by any route to the finish, leaving the "X" buoy to port. The calculated distance for the race is 400 miles.

7. ENTRIES

7.1. Singlehanded: A singlehanded entry shall consist of a sailing yacht plus a named Skipper who shall be at least 18 years of age by the start of the race.

The singlehanded entry fee shall be $50.00 for members of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, and $60.00 for non-members. The entry fee is reduced by $5.00 for US Sailing members.

7.2. Doublehanded: A doublehanded entry shall consist of a sailing yacht plus a named crew of two people, one of whom shall be at least 18 years of age by the start of the race.

The doublehanded entry fee shall be $70.00 for members of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, and $80.00 for non-members. The entry fee is reduced by $5.00 for US Sailing members.

7.3. Entries must be made on the enclosed application forms and received by the Race Committee no later than August 11, 1999. The following items must be provided with the race entry for it to be considered complete:

(a) A completed entry form.

(b) Signed 1999 SSS Waiver, Release, and Indemnification form(s).

(c) Certification of the qualifying cruise, as specified in Rule 12.

(d) A copy of the entered yacht's San Francisco Bay PHRF or MPHRF certificate.

(e) Check or money order for the entry fee, made payable to the Singlehanded Sailing Society..

7.4. The mailing address for the Race entries and the Race Committee is: The 1999 Great Pacific Longitude Race
c/o Singlehanded Sailing Society
Post Office Box 1716
Mill Valley, California 94942
USA 8. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.

8.1. All equipment shall:

(a) Function properly

(b) Be readily accessible

(c) Be of a type, size and capacity suitable and adequate for the intended us and size of yacht.

8.2. Cockpits must be strong, self-bailing and permanently incorporated as an integral part of the hull. All openings above the waterline into the hull below must be capable of being strongly secured.

8.3. Storm coverings for all windows more than two square feet in area, unless the windows are made of a material at least as strong as the surrounding superstructure.

8.4. Seacocks or valves are to be attached to all through hull openings below the waterline except integral scuppers, shafts, log or speed indicators, depth finders, and the like. Softwood plugs tapered and of the correct size shall be attached to or adjacent to, such through hull openings.

8.5. The following systems for personal safety shall be fitted:

(a) Multi-strand steel wire lifelines fitted continuously all around the working deck with a minimum height of 2 feet above the local deck, with an intermediate lifeline. The minimum height is reduced to 18" for yachts less than 28 feet in length.

A taut lanyard of synthetic rope may be used to secure lifelines, provided that when in position its length does not exceed 4 inches. These lifelines shall enclose all permanent stays, and shall be supported by pulpits and stanchions at intervals of not more than 7 feet, which shall be securely mounted.

(b) Jackstays fitted on the deck to port and starboard of the yacht's center line to provide secure attachments for safety harnesses. Jackstays must be attached to through-bolted or welded deck plates, or other suitable and strong anchorages. The jackstays must be fitted in such a way that the Skipper and Crew when clipped on can move from the cockpit to the forward and to the aft end of the deck without unclipping the harness. The Skipper and Crew must be able to clip on before coming on deck, unclip after going below, and remain clipped on while on the foredeck, the afterdeck, and amidships. Jackstays should be sited in such a way that the safety harness lanyard can be kept as short as possible. The jackstays shall stop short of the transom a distance equal to the length of the safety harness lanyard. The jackstays shall have a minimum 6000 pound breaking strength.

8.6. Safety harness with a minimum 3300 pound breaking strength, and safety harness lanyard with a minimum 4950 pound breaking strength.

8.7. Mainsail reefing to reduce the luff by at least 40%, or a trysail with an area not greater than 17.5% of the mainsail.

8.8. Galley facilities suitable to be used at sea.

8.9. Food for 7 days.

8.10. Seven gallons of fresh water per person, plus at least one gallon of emergency reserve water for each person, carried in a separate container.

8.11. Fire extinguishers of the type and number required by the United States Coast Guard.

8.12. US Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for each person, each bearing the yacht's name with a whistle and strobe light attached.

8.13. One manually operated bilge-pump permanently fitted and operable from the cockpit with hatches and companionway closed that is capable of pumping at least 10 gallons/minute, plus a second bilge pump operable from inside the yacht, and a bucket.

8.14. Suitable anchor with chain and line capable of holding the yacht.

8.15. At least two waterproof flashlights suitable for offshore racing.

8.16. First aid kit and manual.

8.17. Manually operated horn.

8.18. Radar reflector properly mounted at least 13 feet above the water. If a radar reflector is octahedral it must have a minimum measurement of 12 inches, or if not octahedral must have a documented 'equivalent echoing area' of not less than 6 square meters.

8.19. Running lights as required by the current International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).

8.20. A minimum battery capacity of at least 80 amp-hours. Battery(ies) are to be securely anchored in place.

8.21. Means of charging the battery at sea at a rate that will allow the running lights to be used during the period of darkness each day.

8.22. VHF radio with Channels 6, 16, and 69 with a minimum output of 25 watts. One VHF antenna shall be permanently mounted at the masthead. An emergency VHF antenna to allow the VHF radio to be used even if the yacht is dismasted. A handheld VHF radio may be substituted for an emergency VHF antenna.

8.23. A masthead strobe light.

8.24. For doublehanded yachts, a man overboard pole handy to the helmsman. The pole must be equipped with the following:

1. Horseshoe buoy
2. Whistle
3. Strobe light
4. Sea anchor
5. 12" x 12’ highly visible flag

8.25. White parachute flare, or white hand-held flare.

8.26. A properly installed and adjusted mechanical magnetic marine compass with a deviation card, and a spare compass.

8.27. Plotting instruments and current charts, or charts corrected to the latest Notice to Mariners, which must include chart numbers 18020 - San Diego to Cape Mendocino, 18645 - Gulf of the Farallones, and 18649 - San Francisco Bay Entrance.

8.28. Sextant, appropriate sight reduction tables, and a radio capable of receiving the Time Broadcast Service from stations WWV and WWVH.

8.29. Depth sounder or lead line.

8.30. Knot meter or log.

8.31. GPS or LORAN.

8.32. Tools and spare parts including adequate means to disconnect or sever the standing rigging from the hull in the case of need.

8.33. An emergency tiller capable of being fitted to the rudder stock.

8.34. An alternative method of steering the yacht in any sea condition in the event of rudder failure. The Race Committee may require that this method be demonstrated.

8.35. Sail repair kit.

8.36. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that will broadcast on either 121.5 or 406 MHz with a battery whose expiration date is no earlier than September 1, 1999. If a 406 MHz EPIRB is carried, it must be registered with NOAA and a copy of the registration provided to the race committee before the start of the race.

8.37. Life raft designed specifically for saving life at sea that will remain afloat and support the Skipper and Crew even when filled with water.

Stowage shall be one of the following:

(a) On the working deck.

(b) In a compartment opening immediately to the working deck containing the life raft only, provided that:

(i) The compartment is watertight or self-draining

(ii) The cover of the compartment is capable of being easily opened under water pressure.

(c) Packed in a valise not exceeding 88 pounds, and securely stowed below deck adjacent to the companionway. The life raft must be capable of being got to the lifeline within 15 seconds. The Race Committee may require demonstration of transporting the life raft to the lifeline.

The Skipper shall carry on board the life raft's serial number and a copy of an inspection certificate dated not earlier than August 30, 1998. Each raft must contain the following minimum equipment:

(a) Sea anchor.

(b) Repair kit, inflation pump and oral inflation tube.

(c) An integral canopy or cover to protect occupant(s) from the elements.

(d) A kit attached securely to the raft, but not necessarily packed inside it, containing the following:

(i) Four red parachute flares.
(ii) Four hand held red flares.
(iii) Two orange smoke flares.
(iv) Bailer.
(v) Knife.
(vi) Flashlight.
(vii) Water and emergency food for four days.

(e) Pyrotechnics (flares) shall have an expiration date no earlier than August 30, 1999.

8.38. All hatch boards must be attached by a lanyard to the yacht.

8.39. Shut off valves on all fuel tanks.

8.40. No yacht shall have less than two halyards each capable of hoisting a sail.

8.41. Fixed berth suitable for use at sea.

8.42. A survival suit or full body wet suit for each person on board is recommended.

9. MULTIHULL STRUCTURE

9.1. All multihull entries must meet the requirements of Rules 2 and 8 as well as the following:

(a) A combined length and beam of at least 40 feet, with a minimum beam of half the length.

(b) A watertight bulkhead within 15 percent of the yacht's overall length from the bow of each hull and abaft the forward limit of the waterline.

(c) A safety harness anchorage point that is accessible should the yacht be capsized.

(d) An access hatch to the living quarters while the boat is inverted.

(e) All sheets leading to quick release cleats or self tailing winches.

(f) The ability to reef the main sail.

(g) The backstay(s) must be permanently mounted. No permanent backstay shall interfere with the boom in a jibe. This requirement is not applicable to certain types of rigs, i.e., rotating, unstayed, etc.

(h) Adequate safety netting shall be installed over open spaces between the cross beams.

(i) A qualifying cruise as provided for in Rule 12, of which at least half is downwind.

(j) A survival suit or full body wet suit for each person on board.

(k) A single point of attachment using a tether instead of lifelines and jackstays will be considered as an alternative. The skipper must receive written permission from the race committee.

10. ENGINES AND POWER

10.1. No means of propulsion may be employed other than the force of the wind.

10.2. An internal combustion engine may be used to generate electricity, water, heat, etc., as long as it is not used to propel the vessel.

11. left blank intentionally

12. QUALIFYING CRUISE

12.1. Singlehanded yachts: Before an entry is accepted, and in any case no later than August 11, 1999, the skipper shall have sailed in the entered yacht on a qualifying cruise of not less than 40 miles. This cruise must be made entirely under sail, without use of power, non-stop, singlehanded, and may be between two ports or may start and finish at the same port provided that one turning point is a least 20 miles offshore. As evidence of the qualifying cruise, the entrant must submit a log of the cruise on the form provided by the Race Committee.

12.1. Doublehanded yachts: Before an entry is accepted, and in any case no later than August 11, 1999, the skipper and/or crew shall have sailed in the entered yacht on a qualifying cruise of not less than 40 miles. This cruise must be made entirely under sail, without use of power, non-stop, singlehanded, and may be between two ports or may start and finish at the same port provided that one turning point is a least 20 miles offshore. As evidence of the qualifying cruise, the entrant must submit a log of the cruise on the form provided by the Race Committee.

13. INSPECTION

13.1. The Race Committee reserves the right to inspect any yacht and reject its entry if it finds the yacht does not meet the requirements of the race. The object of the inspection is to verify that the Required Equipment detailed in Rules 8 and 9 has been properly installed, and that any part of the yacht's design, construction, or equipment does not negatively impact the seaworthiness of the yacht to participate in the Race.

14. RESPONSIBILITY

14.1. Yachts must be fully independent and capable of carrying out their own emergency repairs at sea. Skippers have no right to expect or demand a rescue operation to be launched on their behalf. If a yacht is dismasted, her Skipper is expected to set up a jury rig and sail towards a suitable port.

14.2. Full responsibility for any mishap will rest with the owner or Skipper under ordinary process of law. The organizers do not accept any responsibility towards the entrants nor towards third parties with whom the entrants have become involved.

14.3. Any Skipper deciding not to continue the race after starting, must notify the Race Committee as quickly as possible that he or she is withdrawing.

15. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

15.1. No physical contact except for the passing of written messages, may be made with other ships or boats at sea, and no stores may be received from any ship or aircraft during the Race.

15.2. During the Race, a yacht may put in anywhere and anchor or moor for any purpose. She may be towed for a distance not exceeding two miles into, and for a distance not exceeding two miles out of any harbor or anchorage, provided that the result of such towage does not advance the yacht in the direction of the finish line.

15.3. When moored or anchored, other people may come aboard, stores or equipment may be embarked and repairs effected.

15.4. Yachts must sail the whole course independently and may not deliberately escort each other or arrange any other escort.

15.5. No outside assistance of any kind is permitted except as noted in 15.3.

16. left blank intentionally

17. PROTESTS and Penalties

17.1. A protesting yacht shall:

(a) Display a red protest flag at the first reasonable opportunity and keep it displayed for one hour or until the protested yacht can no longer be seen, whichever occurs later.

(b) Display a red protest flag again as it approaches the finish and continue to display the protest flag until it has finished.

(c) File a written protest with the Race Committee within 24 hours of the protesting yacht's finish time.

17.2. Protests will be heard by the Protest Committee as soon as practical. Penalties for infringements of the rules shall be in accordance with the Rule 44.3 of the USSA racing rules.

18. MEETINGS

18.1. There is a mandatory Skippers’ meeting at 7:30 pm on August 11, 1999 at the Oakland Yacht Club.

18.2. The trophy presentation will be at 7:30 p.m. on September 1, 1999 ad the Oakland Yacht Club.

19. CHECK IN

All yachts must check in with the Race Committee prior to the warning signal on VHF radio channel 69, advising the Race Committee of the yacht's name and sail number, and receiving an acknowledgment from the Race Committee. A yacht failing to notify the Race Committee successfully will be scored "Did Not Start".

20. RESTRICTIONS

20.1. Any yacht whose Preparatory signal has not been displayed shall keep clear of any yacht whose Preparatory signal has been displayed. The area within 100 yards of the starting line is restricted to all contestants until after their Preparatory signal.

20.2. The following are restricted areas. Any vessel entering a restricted area may not "unwind" and must retire or face protest and disqualification from the race (this modifies RRS 28.1)

1. The areas between the SF shoreline, Anita Rock and any marking buoy.
2. The area between the SF shoreline and the H Beam near St. Francis Yacht Club.
3. The areas between Alcatraz, Little Alcatraz and any marking buoy.
4. The area between Fort Point and the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.
5. The area between Point Belvedere and its marking buoy.
6. The area between Point Blunt and its marking buoy.
7. All areas identified by the U.S. Coast Guard as restricted to small craft.

21. START

21.1. The Race will start on Wednesday August 18, 1999, with starting times as follows:
 

	Shape	Time
Warning	Yellow	10:00
Preparatory	Blue	10:05
Multihull Start	Red	10:10
Doublehanded Start	Red	10:15
Singlehanded Start	Red	10:20

21.2. The starting lines is between an orange shape on the Golden Gate Yacht Club race deck and the "X" buoy, leaving the "X" buoy to starboard.

22. POSTPONEMENT

The signal to postpone will be the hoisting of the Answering Pennant (red and white) and the firing of two guns. The postponement period will end with the lowering of the Answering Pennant and the firing of one gun. One minute after the ending of the postponement period, the warning gun and signal will be made, signifying the resumption of the regular starting sequence. Code flag 'P' will be hoisted to indicate that a Postponement or General Recall took place and the scheduled starting times have been canceled. Boats will then start in order indicated on the individual race Sailing Instructions rather than at the designated time. The time limit for the race will be extended by an amount of time equal to the duration of the postponement.

23. INDIVIDUAL RECALL

Boats prematurely across the starting line at their starting signal may be notified by horn blast, hailer and/or over VHF radio channel 69. The Race Committee may also display Code Flag "X" if any boats are over early. However, nothing contained in these instructions shall relieve a boat of its obligation to make a proper start. A boat which starts before their prep signal will be scored DNS. A boat starting prematurely after the prep signal may opt to have 20 minutes added to their elapsed time, rather than being scored DNS, by notifying the race committee immediately.

24. GENERAL RECALL

Recall of the entire starting class will be signaled by the hoisting of the First Substitute pennant (blue and yellow) and the firing of two guns. When recalled, all boats of that class, shall immediately leave the starting area and their starting time shall be postponed to 5 minutes after the last scheduled class of starters. If there is more than one general recall, the recalled classes will start in the order of their initially scheduled starts, following the completion of the regularly scheduled starts.

25. TIME LIMIT

25.1. In order to qualify as a finisher a yacht must finish no later than 2400 hours Pacific Daylight Time, Tuesday, August 24, 1999. If 50% of the boats that started have not finished by that time, this deadline may be extended at the discretion of the Race Committee.

26. REPORTING FINISH

Boats approaching the finish are requested to notify the Race Committee. Any boat not finishing within the time limit or withdrawing from the race for any reason must contact the race committee immediately by VHF radio channel 69, or by telephone as soon as possible after returning to shore. Failure to do so will result in the boat being refused entry in the next race sponsored by the Singlehanded Sailing Society. Participating boats are encouraged to relay VHF transmissions when it becomes obvious that direct communication with the Race Committee is not possible.

27. FINISH

27.1. The finish line is the same as the starting line, but leaving the ‘X’ buoy to port.

27.2. All yachts shall radio the Race Committee on VHF channel 69 when they are within radio range of the Golden Gate Yacht Club and are preparing to finish. In the event the yacht is unable to reach the Race Committee via VHF radio, then as soon as practical after docking the skipper must notify the Race Committee by telephone at (925) 443-3213 of their finish and finish time (leave message if no answer)..

28. DIVISIONS

28.1. There will be four singlehanded and four doublehanded divisions, as follows:

I. Multihulls
II. Monohulls PHRF 129 and under
III. Monohulls PHRF 130-168
IV. Monohulls PHRF 169 and over

28.2. One-design classes may be created for one-design yachts that agree to sail as a class. There must be four or more entrants.

28.3. The Race Committee reserves the right to change the divisions based on the number of entrants.

29. TROPHIES

29.1. Singlehanded: First to finish; First, Second, and Third on corrected time. Division trophies: First if three or more starters, Second if 6 or more starters, Third if 10 or more starters.

29.2. Doublehanded: First to finish; First, Second, and Third on corrected time. Division trophies: First if three or more starters, Second if 6 or more starters, Third if 10 or more starters.

30. AMENDMENTS

Written changes to the sailing instructions may be distributed at the skippers meeting and shall prevail over these written instructions. Verbal changes may be made over the VHF on channel 69 up to the warning signal of the first class. Code flag L will be flown if any verbal changes are announced.