Eligibility

(a) All vessels entering the races must be Bahamian built and Bahamian owned. They must also be skippered and crewed by Bahamians, but four non-Bahamians in Class A and three non-Bahamians in Class B will be allowed per race.

(b) Alterations to hull/rigging may affect a vessel's eligibility to participate in the Regatta. It is the responsibility of the owner or captain to report any such changes to the Race Committee for a decision on that vessel's eligibility.

(c) In order to be eligible to race in a designated class, a vessel (whether a dinghy or a sloop) must not depart radically from the traditional Bahamian sailing vessel design, either in its general configuration or in material used in construction. If, in the opinion of the Race Committee, a vessel will not offer fair competition in one of the designated classes, it will be assigned to an Open Class, provided three or more vessels are present to compete in this Open Class. The committee will arrange suitable prizes.

(d) A committee made up of the Race Chairman, a person designated by the Bahamas Boat Owners' Association, and a designated member of the National Regatta Committee, shall hear and decide on any protests arising from the Race Committee’s decision under Rules (b) or (c) in this section. The decision of the committee shall be FINAL. Protests must be in writing and submitted by 6:00 p.m. on the day of registration.

BOAT NAMES

Boat names must be painted on the transom of ALL vessels three inches high with the same spelling used on the entry blanks. All boats must have their assigned numbers on their sails.

KEEL

Keel to be continuous line or fair curve. No fin keels allowed. The maximum depth of keel allowed shall not exceed the following: Class A - 24”; Class B - 18”; Dinghies - 12”. If, in the opinion of the committee, a boat has committed some alteration in its stem of transom solely for the purpose of reducing its overall length so as to achieve a lower rating the committee may assign it an overall length which would be the same as it would have been had the alteration not been undertaken.

HULL & MASTS

Hull and masts must be of wooden construction. The hull may not be fibreglass although the deck may. The use of fibreglass in limited areas for reinforcing shall be allowed.

RIGGING

No bowsprit. No spreaders or aluminium spars. No winches. No wind or speed instruments and tell-tales. No bending masts.

SAILS

No Dacron or synthetic material may be used. No luff tension device other than the goose neck will be used. Batons A not exceeding four feet in length may be used. No wire luffs will be allowed in either the jib or mainsail.

ON THE STARTING LINE

All boats must be at the starting line fifteen minutes before the start of the race. When the boats are lined up and officials of the Race Committee order a boat to get in line, the order has to be carried out immediately.

Failing to do so results in a warning: “THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET IN LINE.” Failure to cooperate, depending on the case may lead to the boat sailing from that position under a one point penalty or disqualification of the boat from that particular race. All boats must start on starboard tack except the number one boat which is the only boat to have an option. If a boat tries to start on a port tack and this causes a collision, a one point penalty will be imposed from each boat involved against the boat who caused the accident. There will be no penalty for hitting a marker at the start.

STARTING TIMES OF RACES:

The published schedule gives the starting times of all races. Except in the event of an official postponement or delay, the Race Committee will adhere to the posted schedule and races will not be delayed for late arrivals at the starting line. Vessels arriving late at the starting line must keep clear of other vessels and cross the starting line in the proper direction.

LATE STARTS:

All boats arriving late at the starting line, MUST lower sails, drop anchor and start in the normal fashion.

THE COURSE

The course shall be indicated before each race and all marks must be turned in the direction indicated at the start or by a patrol boat which may be substituted for any mark missing. This means that all boats must leave the mark on the same side. All marks must be left untouched until the race is over. (Two point penalty)

A MARKER can be moved if the wind shifts and if moving a marker will provide for more competitive sailing. The marker must be moved before the first boat reaches the previous marker. All boats must be informed before they reach the previous marker.

NO SCULLING OR SETTING

In the event a boat runs aground, she may use an oar to put herself about and get off, but sculling and setting beyond this will lead to a penalty. If a boat is in danger of being severely damaged and has been making an effort to get off for a least ten minutes it is permissible to get outside help without penalty.

RACE COMMITTEE

The Race Committee shall consist of a chairman and three assistants who are experienced and familiar with the rules. Members of the Race Committee are not allowed to hold any personal interest of any kind in any vessel competing in the regatta. If it is determined that a member holds such interest, any penalties added against any competing vessel by the member concerned shall be null and void and the member will be discharged forthwith.

PROTEST COMMITTEE

The Protest Committee shall be appointed by the Organizing Committee and shall be approved by the participants at a skippers meeting if one is held.

The decision of the Protest Committee shall be FINAL. No appeal is allowed regarding the racing rules.

BREAKING THE TIES

When there is a tie in total points between two or more boats it will be resolved in favor of the boat which beat the other boat or boats the most times in the three race series. If this does not resolve the tie then the boat which beats the others in the last race will be the winner.

OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

No boat is allowed outside assistance except when a life is in danger or the safety of the vessel is in jeopardy. If a man falls overboard, the boat must stop even though outside assistance can be engaged to bring the man back to the boat. If the boat is bedding, the boom has to be pulled in right to the deck or the mainsail lowered.

If a boat is checking or going to the wind, the sail must be lowered until the crew member is back on deck. Failure to observe this rule will result in disqualification. If a pry falls overboard the same rule applies, except the skipper is allowed to leave the pry without incurring a penalty. If the pry is returned with outside assistance and the sail has not been lowered, a one point penalty will result.

TIME ALLOWED

All boats have a time allowance. Class A boats start at 28 feet. Class B at 21 feet and Class C at 17 feet.

DAMAGES

Accidents do happen. If an accident involves damage, the boat in the wrong is responsible for the incurred damage. The cost of such damage will be estimated by the general committee of the sailing body responsible. Any boat failing to repair damages right away, after being ordered to do so, will face a fine, suspension, expulsion or possible legal action, and could be disqualified from that race.

COLLISIONS

Three point penalty against the offending vessel.

PROTEST

Protests must be filled within one hour after all races in which the incident being protested occurred, except where races are back to back. In the latter case all protests must be filed within one hour of the last race. While protests will be heard by the Protest Committee in the usual manner, the committee may propose penalties without a hearing in the event that infractions of the rules are observed.

RACING RULES

No logos or other product identification allowed on sails during racing. No restriction on crew apparel. Product sponsor identification or logos may be displayed on the hull but must not interfere with identification names or numbers on the hull.

TACKING

When on the port tack, keep clear of boats on the starboard tack. Failure to do so could lead to a two point penalty.

OBSTRUCTIONS & BUOY ROOM

When two boats are approaching a marker all boats must give the boat nearest the buoy room to round the marker, or face a one point penalty.

HITTING THE MARKER

If a boat hits the marker there will be a two point penalty. Reports of infractions can only be made by designated persons aboard designated committee boats. Specified patrol boats may be designed in such a way.

OVERLAP

When approaching the buoy, if the boat behind cannot establish an overlap of 200 feet before reaching the buoy, the boat should immediately proceed to give the other boat buoy room. Overlap means that any part of the boat behind cannot swing clear of any part of the boat ahead. Penalty of one point.

OVERTAKING

When passing a boat on an off wing leg or checking, the overtaking boat can pass on either side but when passing on the weather side it should be three boat lengths or more between boats. If the overtaking boat tries to pull down, the Race Committee will warn the skipper once and if the warning is not heeded a two point penalty will result. There should be three boat lengths or more between boats. No boat can be directly behind another boats stern.

AMENDMENTS TO RULES

The committee reserves the right to amend the rules and regulations if prior to the first race it appears in the interest of good racing to do so. The decision of the committee in each case shall be final.