NOTICE OF RACE
1. RULES
1.1 The event is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
1.2 The Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Racing Rules shall apply.
2. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2.1 The Sailing Instructions (SIs) will be available after 1200 on September 4 at registration.
3. COMMUNICATION
3.1 The Official Notice Board is located next to the TSS flagpole.
3.2 All boats are encouraged to carry a VHF radio capable of communicating on channel 72.
3.3 Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmission and shall not
receive voice or data communications that are not available to all boats.
4. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1 The regatta is open to all boats of the Buccaneer 18 Class. Chartered boats are eligible.
4.2 One member of the sailing team must be a BCA member (full, associate, family or lifetime) with
membership established no later than 1200 on September 4, 2024.
4.3 Boats that have never been measured and/or weighed and unmeasured sails shall be presented for
inspection prior to 1200 on Thursday September 5. Boats that have been previously measured and
weighed will not be subject to inspection other than safety checks unless protested.
4.4 Eligible boats may enter by completing the entry form and submitting it, together with the required
fee, to www.buccaneer18.org by September 3, 2024.
4.5 To be considered an entry in the event, a boat shall complete all registration requirements and pay
all fees.
5. FEES
5.2 Fees - The regatta fee includes sailing, Welcome party Thursday for two , Dinner at TTS on Friday for
two, regatta shirts for Skipper and Crew, a welcome goody bag, and awards for the top 5 finishers in A
fleet and top two finishers in B fleet
$320 + any extras – Received by July 1st 11:59 PM
$350 + any extras – Received by July 30 th 11:59PM
$375 + any extras – Received after July 30th 11:59 PM
Lunches, and extra apparel, as well as extra people beyond skipper and one crew for the
Friday/Saturday dinners will incur extra charges.
Lunch = $10 each day
Shirts = $20
Dinner Friday = $35
Dinner Saturday = $35
Online registration will be through the BCA website events section at www.buccaneer18.org
6. FLEETS
6.1 There will be two fleets, A Fleet and B Fleet. The national champion is the winner of A fleet.
6.2 No individual who has placed first in A Fleet or B Fleet as helmsperson at a previous BNAC will be
permitted to compete in B Fleet as a helmsperson.
6.3 Boats wishing to compete in B Fleet are encouraged to submit the Registration Form with the fleet
designation of B fleet. However, boats can revise their fleet designation up until 1300 on September 5,
2024 by notifying the Regatta Chairperson.
6.4 Boats in A fleet and B Fleet will start and stop separately. Boats in B Fleet will display an indication
they are participating in B Fleet.. These indicators will be described in the Sailing Instructions and
distributed at the regatta check-in or at the Competitors’ Meeting.
7. SCHEDULE
Wednesday September 4, 2024
1200-1700 Early arrival and early inspection/measurement
Thursday, September 5, 2024
0900 - 1300 Check-in, onsite registration, boat and sail inspection/measurement.
1400 - 1600 Practice races.
1700 - All inspections/safety check forms due.
1700 - 1900 hrs. Welcome Party at Finns restaurant (250’ east of TSS)
Friday, September 6, 2024
0800 Light continental breakfast.
0900 Competitors’ Meeting.
1030 hrs. Warning signal for first race. The target is 5 races per day. No race shall start after 1600 hrs.
There will be a break for lunch on the water, a minimum of 15 minutes from the time the last boat
finishes a race to the warning signal for the next race. This break will be announced with flag signal from
the committee boat as described in the SI's.
1800 -2200 hrs. Dinner at TSS followed by BCA Annual Meeting
Saturday, September 7, 2024
0800 Light continental breakfast.
1000 Warning signal for first race. The target is 5 races per day. No race shall start after 1600 hrs.
There will be a break for lunch on the water, a minimum of 15 minutes from the time the last boat
finishes a race to the warning signal for the next race. This break will be announced with flag signal from
the committee boat as described in the SI's.
Dinner at TSS
Sunday September 8, 2024
0800 Light continental breakfast.
1000 Warning signal for first race. Target 3 races. No race shall start after 1200 hrs.
1300-1500 Pack up boats for the road.
1500 Awards ceremony on site at TSS.
Note, "target" races for each day is simply that, a goal, not a requirement. The number of races held
each day shall be determined by the PRO in consultation with the Regatta Chair and be based on
weather, wind, and sea conditions. If all or a portion of a scheduled days racing is lost due to these
conditions, the PRO and Regatta Chair may decide to increase the target number of races
for following days to compensate for "lost" races.
8. VENUE
8.1 Notice of Race Addendum 1 shows the location of the racing areas
9. COURSES
9.1 The courses will be a windward/leeward with an offset at the windward mark and a gate at the
leeward mark. The last leg will be a short reach to the finish.
10. SCORING
10.1 Three races are required to be completed to constitute a championship regatta.
10.2 The regatta will be scored using the RRS Appendix A, Low Point System.
10.3 In accordance with A2.1:
a) When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of
her race scores.
(b) When from 5 to 9 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her
race scores excluding her worst score.
(c) When 10 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her
race scores excluding her two worst scores.
10.4 Boats failing to start within 5 minutes of the start signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes
RRS rule A4.
11. CREW SUBSTITUTION
11.1 Crew substitutions from the registered crew are not allowed unless approved by the PRO in
advance of a day’s racing and are typically reserved for emergency or special cases.
12. PRIZES
12.1 Prizes are to be awarded for A Fleet 1st through 5th places and B Fleet 1st-2rd places if 20 or more
boats are registered. If less than 20 boats, one less place per fleet may be awarded
13. LAUNCHING
13.1 Launching is available by hoist for BNAC competitors and provisions for lifting via a harness which
each boat should supply.
14 RISK STATEMENT
14.1 RRS 3 states: ‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race
is hers alone.’ By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a
potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas,
sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other
boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent
in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma,
hypothermia or other causes. Each venue jurisdiction may need a different or modified version of this
risk statement.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This regatta is a "Clean Regatta." Racers are encouraged to use non-single use water bottles and recycle
all appropriate items. Racers shall not intentionally put trash in the water.
Boats can be kept on their trailers in the designated parking area, beached on the shore or tied to the
floating dock. A hoist and a ramp are available for launching.
Some free housing is available with TSS members and local residents. Some TSS members offer free
berths aboard their boats to racers. RVs may hook up water and electricity but shall not pump out. Tent
space is available. Hotels are within 15 miles. Laundries are within driving distance.
There is limited parking inside the gate and overflow parking on the street.
The TSS Clubhouse has showers, bathrooms, 2 futons, a carpeted area for sleeping bags and a kitchen. A
charcoal grill is available.
A West Marine store is in Apollo Beach, within 3 miles of the Tampa Sailing Squadron. Restaurants and
grocery stores are within short driving distances and food delivery services are available. Three
restaurants are within walking distance of the Tampa Sailing Squadron.
Beaches, parks and recreational opportunities are within short driving distances.
For more information, contact the Regatta Chair Michael Aubrey at (813) 399-7377 or
maubrey2011@gmail.com