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BNAC 2023

About this event

NOTICE OF RACE 

2023 Buccaneer North American Championship 

Niantic Bay YC, 8 Shore Road , Niantic, Ct 

Sept 28 - Oct 1, 2023

  

Rev 1, April 2

Presiding Officers 

Regatta Chair:  Scott Laundry

Principal Race Officer: TBD

Protest committee Chair:  TBD

Buccaneer Class Measurer: Scott Laundry 

  

  

1. RULES  

  

1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, except as modified by the Sailing Instructions and any amendments thereto. 

  

1.2 The Buccaneer Class Association (BCA) Racing Rules in effect at the time of the regatta shall apply and prevail, if there is a conflict with this Notice, unless modified by the Sailing Instructions.  

  

  1. ORGANIZING AUTHORITY.  The organizing authority for this regatta is the BCA in conjunction with the Niantic Bay Yacht Club.

  

  1. ELIGIBILITY.  

  

  1. The regatta is open to all boats of the Buccaneer 18 Class as defined in paragraph III.A of the BCA Racing RulesChartered boats are eligible.  

  

  1. One member of the sailing team must be a BCA member (full, associate, family or lifetime) with membership established no later than 9:00 a.m. on Sept 28, 2023.  

  

  1. MEASURING Boats that have never been measured and/or weighed and unmeasured sails shall be presented for inspection prior to 12:00 PM Thursday Sept 28 . Boats that have been previously measured and weighed will not be subject to inspection other than safety checks unless protested. 

 

  

5.  REGISTRATION AND FEES 

  

5.1  RegistrationNo entry will be accepted after 5 PM on Sept 28, 2017.  Sept 282023* (Corrected 9/5/2023Registrations received after Sept 5th will not receive regatta shirts 

5.2 Fees  - The regatta fee includes sailing, Welcome party Thursday for 2 , Dinner at NBYC Friday for 2, and regatta shirts for Skipper and crew welcome goody bag and awards for the top 5 finishers  in A fleet and top 2 finishers in B fleet

$ 315 + any extras – Received by June 1st 11:59 PM

$ 375 + any extras – Received after July 30th 11:59 PM

Lunches, and extra apparel , as well as extra people beyond skipper and crew for the welcome party and Friday dinner will incur extra charges.  

 

Online registration will be through the BCA website events section .

   

6.  FLEETS 

  

6.1  There will be two fleets, "A" Fleet and "B" FleetThe national champion is the winner of "A" fleet. 

  

6.2  No previous winner of an A or B Fleet BNAC Championship will be permitted to compete in B Fleet. 

  

6.3  Skippers wishing to compete in B Fleet are encouraged to submit the Registration Form with the fleet designation of "B" fleetHowever, skippers can revise their fleet designation up until 9 a.m. on Sept 29, 2023 by notifying the Regatta Chair. 

  

6.4  The decision as to whether both fleets will race together, but with separate scoring, or race as individual fleets will be made prior to the Skipper's Meeting by the Regatta Chair and the PRO.  If both fleets race together each boat will display an indication of the fleet it is racing in.  These indicators will be described in the Sailing Instructions and handed out to each skipper at regatta check-in or at the Skipper's Meeting. 

  

7. RACING SCHEDULE 

 

Wednesday Sept 27, 2023

1200-1700 Early arrival and early inspection/ measurement 

  

Thursday, Sept 28, 2023:

0900 -1300  hrs.   Check-in, onsite registration, boat and sail inspection/measurement.  

0900-1300 hrs Check-in, onsite registration1400 -1600 hrs.   Practice races.  

1700 hrs All inspections/safety check forms due.

1700 - 1900 hrs.  Welcome Party at NBYC 

  

Friday, Sept 29:  

0800 hrs. Light continental breakfast - Crumb Cake & Mini Muffins

0900 hrs.  Skippers Meeting for Championship Regatta.  

1030 hrs.   Warning signal for first raceTarget is 5 races for the dayNo 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 raceThis break will be announced with flag signal from the committee boat as described in the SI's.  

1800 -2200 hrs.  Dinner at NBYC followed by BCA Annual Meeting  

  

Saturday, Sept 30:

0830 Light continental breakfast - Mini Bagels & Munchkins

1000 hrs.  Warning signal for first raceTarget is 5 races for the dayNo race shall start after 1530 hrs.  There will be a break for lunch on the water as described for Friday.  

Dinner on your own or as a group off site TBD

  

Sunday, Oct 1:

0830 hrs Light continental breakfast - Fresh Fruit & Mini Donuts

1000 hrs.  Warning signal for first raceTarget 3 racesNo race shall start after 1300 hrs. 

1300-1500 hrs.  Pack up boats for the road. 

1500 hrs.  Awards ceremony on site at NBYC. 

  

Note, "target" races for each day is simply that, a goal, not a requirementThe 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 conditionsIf 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. 

  

  1. 8. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS - Sailing Instructions will be available at check-in and will be posted on the BNAC 2023 regatta site

9. VENUE AND COURSES - The race courses will be located in Niantic Bay and the 

adjoining waters of Long Island Sound. The courses to be sailed will be described in the Sailing Instructions.  

  

  1. 10 PROTESTS AND ARBITRATION -Protests must be hailed at the time of the incident per the RRS and filed with the PRO within 45 minutes of the RC signaling ashore after racing

  

11.  SCORING 

  

11.1 The regatta will be scored using the RRS Appendix A, Low Point System.  

  

11.2 A minimum of three completed races is required for the regatta to be official.  

  

11.3 Throwouts:

  1. When four or fewer races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. 

  

  1. 11.4 Boats failing to start within 15 minutes of the start signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes RRS rule A4. 

  

  1. 11.5 Boats having started but failing to finish within the longer of 90 minutes or 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored the number of boats that finished within the time limit plus 1. This changes RRS rules 35 and A4. 

   

12.  CREW AND EQUIPMENT SUBSTITUTION Crew substitutions from he registered crew are not allowed unless approved by the PRO in advance of a days racing and are typically reserved for emergency or special cases

  

13.  PRIZES 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

  

14.  BERTHING/LAUNCHING -Launching is available by hoist for BNAC competitors and provisions for a lifting via  harness should be in place for each boat.

  

  1. 15 SOCIAL EVENT SCHEDULESee the attached Social Event Schedule.  

  

LunchesThe Slipper Shell Galley located at NBYC will be open for lunch Thursday-Sunday of BNACThe menu is posted on the NBYC websiteIf there is sufficient interest, bagged lunches can be provided for an additional fee ($10 each lunch) by the Slipper Shell on Friday,Saturday and Sunday . 

  

  1. 16. SPECTATOR BOATSIf there is interest, places may be available for spectators on some of the race committee boats or a spectator boat.   Please indicate interest on the Registration Form.  

  

  1. 17.MEDIA RIGHTS - Competitors give absolute right and permission to the BCA and NBYC for any photography and video footage taken of persons and boats during the event, to be published in any media worldwide whatsoever for any editorial, promotional, and advertising purposes and to be used in press information. 

  

  1. 18. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY - Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own riskSee RRS rule 4, Decision to RaceEach registered member of each boat's sailing team releases the Organizing Authority and NBYC of all liability for material damage, personal injury, or death, sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regattaAll competitors will be required to sign a liability release when checking in for the regatta. 

  

  1. 19. Dogs - Dogs are not allowed on the NBYC site. 

  

  

  1. 20. FURTHER INFORMATION AND LODGING

20.1 Hotel A block of 20 rooms has been reserved for BNAC 2023 at
Sleep Inn and
Suites ,
5 King Arthur Dr, Niantic, CT 06357 .   Phone 860-739-1994
The rate is $89/night on the 27
th, 28t, 29th  and Oct 1st and $189/night on Saturday the 30th only.
Rooms can be reserved up until Aug 28
th using the link https://choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/SS25J3
If you need lodging for Sunday nightat$89/night  call the hotel and extend the reservation. 

20.2 Camping – Camping is available at Rocky Neck State Park , 228 W Main St, Niantic, CT 06357 but is only available until Sept 30. The Camground is closed Oct 1 . A nearby KOA campground is available but sites are $85/night. 

  

  

    

BNAC 2023 Social Event Schedule 

  

Rev 1 April 2, 2023

  

Thursday,  Sept 28.  Welcome Party at NBYC, 5:30-7:30 pm.  Beer, wine, soft drinks, burgers, hot dogs veggie fare, and hors d'oeuvres provided.  

  

Friday, Sept 29Dinner at NBYC followed by BCA Annual Meeting, 6-10 pm.  Bring your own beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)Food is served buffet-style. 

   

Saturday, Sept 30Dinner On your own or as a group off site 

   

Sunday, Oct 1Awards after racing . No social events planned. 







2023 Buccaneer North American Championship

September 27 - Oct 1, 2023

Buccaneer Class Association

Niantic Bay Yacht Club, Niantic, CT

 

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Rev 3 September 25 2023

 

  1. RULES

1.1      This regatta will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the US Sailing Prescriptions, the Rules of the Buccaneer Class Association and these Sailing Instructions (SI's).

1.2      If there is a conflict between the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail.  This changes rule 63.7.

 

2.        ELIGIBILITY   

2.1      The regatta is open to all boats of the Buccaneer 18 Class as defined in paragraph III.A of the BCA Racing Rules.  Chartered boats are eligible.  One member of the sailing team must be a BCA member (full, associate, family or lifetime) as of 0900 hrs. Sept 28, 2023.

2.2      Registration forms must be received by the Regatta Committee by 0900 hrs Sept 29, 2023.

2.3      There will be two fleets, A Fleet and B Fleet as described in section 6 of the NOR.  No previous winner of an A or B Fleet BNAC Championship will be permitted to compete in B Fleet.

 

3.  MEASURING OF BOATS AND SAILS

3.1      Skippers may file a protest to request measurement of other boats after a race day if they believe a boat does not conform to the class measurement rules. Boats that fail to meet class measurements will be DSQ for the racing day. Request for measurement will conform to Protest filing rules and be filed on a Protest form.  Protests must specify the measurement rule being questioned.

3.2      Sails with a BCA royalty patch and measurement initials will not be measured unless the sail has been modified.  Such sails are "grandfathered" and they cannot be protested.   Sails without a BCA royalty patch and measurement initials or ones that have been altered will be measured between 1200-1700 hours on Sept 27th and  0900 - 1300 hours on Sept 28 . Sail measurement may be performed at the discretion of the class measurer at other times as needed.

3.3      Hulls and spars will not be measured or weighed unless there is a protest or a boat has never been weighed at a BNAC.

 

4.        NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

4.1     A skipper's meeting will be held at the NBYC clubhouse at 0900 hours on Friday, Sept 29, 2023. 

4.2.     Notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board located under the tent next to the Niantic Bay YC (NBYC) clubhouse.

 

5.        CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

5.1      Any change in these Sailing Instructions will be posted on the Official Notice Board immediately following the Skippers’ Meeting Friday, Sept 29, and no later than 0900 hrs Saturday and Sunday.

5.2      Any change in the schedule of races will be posted on the Official Notice Board by 2000 hrs on the day before it will take effect.

5.3      Oral changes may be made by the Race Committee on the water by displaying Code Flag L and stating the change to every boat that comes within hail. 

 

6.        SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

6.1      Signals made ashore will be displayed from the NBYC flagpole.

6.2      When flag AP (postponement) is displayed ashore, the warning signal will be made not less than 45 minutes after AP is lowered. This replaces “1 minute” in the RRS Race Signals. 

 

7.        SCHEDULE

The regatta schedule is as follows:

 

Thursday, Sept 28, 2017:

0900 -1300  hrs.   Check-in, onsite registration, sail measurement.

1400 -1600 hrs.   Practice race(s).

1700 - 1900 hrs.  Welcome Party at NBYC with burgers, hot dogs, snack food and drinks . Musical entertainment is scheduled during the welcome party

 

Friday, Sept 29:

0800 hrs Light Continental breakfast

0900 hrs.  Skippers Meeting for Championship Regatta.

1030 hrs.   Warning signal for first race.  Target is 5 races for the 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  raising signal  "G" from the committee boat accompanied by two sound signals.  

1800 -2200 hrs.  Dinner at NBYC followed by BCA Annual Meeting.

 

Saturday, Sept 30:

0800 hrs Light Continental Breakfast

1000 hrs.  Warning signal for first race.  Target is 5 races for the day.  No race shall start after 1530hrs.  There will be a break for lunch on the water as described for Friday.  

         Dinner on your own as a group offsite TBD

 

Sunday, Oct 1:

1000 hrs.  Warning signal for first race.  Target 3 races.  No race shall start after 1300 hrs.

1300-1500 hrs.  Pack up boats for the road.

1500 hrs.  Awards ceremony on site at NBYC.

 

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 BCA Race Chairman 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 Race Chairman may decide to increase the target number of races for following days to compensate for "lost" races.


 

 

8.        CLASS FLAG

The Class flag will be the Buccaneer 18 Class flag. If there is a separate start for

the B Fleet, a skull and crossbones flag will serve as the B Fleet class flag.

 

9.        RACING AREA

The racing area is  Niantic Bay and the adjoining waters of Long Island

Sound.

 

10.      COURSES

10.1    The following courses may be used during the regatta: W1, W2, O.  See the attached course sheet for diagrams of the courses.   All courses include an optional leeward gate indicated by mark G which will be in proximity to the leeward mark. Whether an optional gate will used shall be determined by the Principal Race Officer

10.2    No later than the warning signal, the Race Committee Signal Boat will display the course to be sailed.  A compass bearing to the first mark may also be displayed, if the mark is not easily visible.

10.3    For windward-leeward courses an Offset Mark may be used

10.4    All inflatable marks are to be left to port with the exception of the optional gate mark. If a gate is used boats must pass between the leeward mark and the gate mark before rounding either and may leave the gate mark to starboard.

10.5   Course changes , if made , shall follow RRS 33  using +/- for course length and red/green placards for changes to port and starboard respectively.

10.6    The start/finish line is considered “open” and boats may pass through it when not starting or finishing

 

 

11.      MARKS

11.1    Windward and leeward marks of the course will be yellow cylindrical inflatable buoys unless a course change is made during a race, in which case change mark(s)s will be  orange tetrahedron(s)

11.2    The windward offset mark, if used, will be a red inflatable ball and is considered part of the Windward Mark.

 

12.      THE START

12.1  The decision as to whether both fleets will race together, but with separate scoring, or race as individual fleets will be made prior to the Skipper's Meeting by the Regatta Chair and the Principal Race Officer (PRO).  If both fleets race together each boat will display an indication of the fleet it is racing in.  These indicators will be described in the Sailing Instructions (later) and handed out to each skipper at regatta check-in or at the Skipper's Meeting.  The decision to race both fleets together or separately may be changed during the regatta by the PRO. 

12.2   The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Boat and the course side of a red inflatable cylinder located to port  of the RC Signal boat. 

12.3  The time and signal sequence for the start will follow rule 26 of the RRS.

12.4    Prior to the warning signal for each race, a series of short sound signals will be made in order to alert the fleet. If A Fleet and B Fleet are starting separately, the sound signals will not be repeated before the B Fleet starting sequence begins.  The B Fleet warning signal will occur no sooner than 1 minute after the A Fleet starting signal. 

12.5    A boat starting later than 15 minutes after her starting signal shall be scored Did Not Start (DNS) without a hearing. This changes rule A4.

 

13.      THE FINISH

13.1    The finish line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Boat and the course side ofa red inflatable cylinder located to port of the RC Signal Boat.  Note: the finish line may be shorter than the starting line.

13.2    Code flag A displayed with no sound while boats are finishing means “No

           more races today”.

 

14.      ABANDONMENT

In the event the PRO determines that dangerous weather conditions are occurring

or likely to occur soon, the race committee may immediately cancel a race by

hoisting the N flag over the H flag and giving three sound signals.  All boats are to

return to the NBYC docks promptly.  Further instructions will be given ashore.

 

15.      TIME LIMIT

15.1    The time limit for the first boat to finish each race is 90 minutes.

15.2    If no boat has properly rounded the first mark of the course within 30 minutes after the start, the race shall be abandoned.

15.3   Boats finishing more than 30 minutes after the first boat in her class finishes, and not thereafter retiring, being disqualified, or given redress, will            be scored TLE (Time Limit Expired).  The score for TLE boats will be two more than the number of boats that properly finished that race in that fleet (A or B fleet).. This changes RRS 35 and A4.1, A4.2, A5, and A11.

 

16. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

.  The Race Committee

intends to use VHF radio channel 1001 (01A) for all communications with the fleet. Failure on the part of a competitor hear or understand such communications shall not be considered grounds for a request for redress The use of handheld VHF radios by competitors shall be restricted to  Race committee communications and emergency communications

17 DIGITAL DEVICES

Devices that provide real time or near real time boat speed, location, distance, wind

speed, wind direction or water current information are prohibited.

 

18.      SCORING

18.1   A minimum of three completed races is required for the regatta to be

           official.

18.2   When less than 5 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.

18.3    When 5 to 9 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

18.4    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.

 

19.      PROTESTS

19.1    Protest forms will be available at the Official Notice Board.  Protests must be delivered to the PRO within the protest time limit.

19.2    The protest time limit is 60 minutes after the Race Committee Signal Boat docks and raises signal flag “B” with one sound signal.

19.3   Hearings will be held as soon as possible after racing each day.

19.4    Appendix T, T1, T4, Arbitration, shall apply.

19.6    The Scoring Penalty shall be 5 places in A Fleet and 2 places in B Fleet.   This changes rule 44.3(c) and T1(b).

 

20.  TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

20.1  The Technical Committee (RRS rule 92) shall provide recommendations to the Protest Committee for protests pertaining to boat measurement issues.

20.2  The Technical Committee shall consist of the BCA National Committee members attending the regatta plus the BCA Class Measurer.

20.3  A member of the Technical Committee shall recuse themself if there is a conflict. 

20.4  Decisions by the Technical Committee shall be by majority vote.  If there is a tie vote, the recommendation of the Technical Committee to the Protest Committee shall be that the measurement rule was not broken.  

 

21.  SUBSTITUTION OF PERSONNEL ON A BOAT

21.1  If a sailing team requires substitution for any member of the team, a written request should be submitted to the PRO or the BCA Race Chairman prior to the substitution.  The request should include the reason for the substitution and the height, weight, age and experience level of the people involved. 

21.2  The Race Committee shall determine if the request is granted or denied.  In general, a request for substitution will not be granted if the substitution would provide the sailing team with a significant advantage. 

21.3  In the event that a team change is made prior to approval by the Race Committee, the Race Committee will review the application as soon as practical. If the Race Committee votes against the team change, all races sailed with the new team shall be scored DSQ or, at the Race Committee's discretion, a scoring penalty may be applied

 

22.      SAIL SUBSTITUTION

Switching one or more sails from the sails used during the first race is prohibited unless approved by the Race Committee.  See clauses IV.D.5-6 of the BCA Racing Rules for more details.

 

23.      SAFETY REGULATIONS

23.1    Check-in is required prior to a boat’s first start of the day.  A competitor shall sail past the stern of the Race Committee signal boat and hail its sail number until acknowledged by the Race Committee.

23.2    A boat that retires from a race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as practical.

23.3    The Race Committee, for reasons of safety or to avoid unreasonable delays in racing, may direct that capsized boat(s) be rescued and scored 1 place more than the number of finishers.  This changes rule A4.1.

 

24.      PRIZES

Trophies will be awarded per the Notice of Race.

 

25.      DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk.  See rule 4, Decision

to Race.  The organizing authority will not accept any liability for the material

damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during,

or after the regatta.

 

BNAC Courses

Note Diagrams cannot be attached here. Diagrams will be available on printed copies of SI's
W1 windward leeward once around with optional windward offset mark and optional leeward gate
W2 windward leeward twice around with optional windward offset mark and optional leeward gate 
O Modified Olympic Triangle followed by windward leeward with optional leeward gate




Date and Time

Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 12:00 PM until Sunday, October 1, 2023, 4:00 PM

Location

Niantic Bay Yacht Club 8 Shore Rd , Niantic CT
nbyc.org
8 Shore Rd
Niantic, CT  06357
USA
8607390558

Event Contact(s)

Scott A Laundry

Category

BNAC

Registration Info

Registration is closed
Activities/Items (Click the down-arrow to view details)
BNAC 2023
BCA Membership
Bag Lunch Voucher
Thursday Welcome Party Extra Tickets
Friday Dinner Extra Tickets
Extra Merchandise - BNAC Shirt
Extra Merchandise - BNAC 2023 Hat
US Sailing
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