NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER CRUISER ASSOCIATION

CONTEST RULES

[Revised Spring 2006]

SPEEDS

1.         Each contestant will advise the Contest Committee on an entry blank of his/her designated speed.

 2.         Speeds over-the-bottom must be run at 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 knots.

CONTEST NUMBERS

1.         Each contestant will be given a permanent official contest number by the Commodore of NCPCA.

2.         The numbers must be affixed in a conspicuous position, above the deck line and outside the deck house on both sides of the vessel so that the vessel may be easily identified at any time during a contest.

START TIMES

1.         The starting time for each contestant is determined by the Contest Committee.

2.         Starting times shall be sent so that they arrive by Wednesday before each contest.

3.         All starting times will be even numbered minutes.

START

1.         Four minutes before the start of the first boat of each contest speed, the number "000" of the “fictitious boat" will be announced on designated VHF radio channel 68.

2.         At exactly two minutes before the contestant's starting time, his/her contest number will be announced.

3.         At exactly one minute before the contestant's starting time, a red flag will be smartly raised.

4.         At the designated time of the contestant's start time, the red flag will be smartly lowered.

5.         The Contest Committee will make every effort to have these operations executed accurately.  When all else fails, the dropping of the red flag indicates the start time for the scheduled vessel.

6.         When any part of the vessel crosses the "start line", that time will be recorded as the vessel's start time.

7.         A "Restart" may be given to any vessel at the discretion of the Commodore acting for the Contest Committee.

 NAVIGATION RULES

1.         While under way during any contest, all boats must comply with the "Inland Navigation Rules" commonly called 72 COLREGS published as COMDTINST M16672.2B.

2.         Boats may use clocks, a compass and any other type of navigational equipment.

3.         The vessel starting the contest shall be given clear access to the start line by other contestants.

4.         No "practice starts" are allowed at the start line after the number "000" is displayed at the beginning of each contest speed.

COURSE INSTRUCTIONS

1.         Instructions containing the exact course to be followed will be supplied to each contestant by the Contest Committee.

2.         Charts which contain the charted contest courses are available from the Contest Committee for a nominal fee.

CHECK POINTS

1.         All checkpoints will be determined by sight lines to or from fixed aids to navigation (ATON's),and/or fixed land marks.  No floating ATON's are permitted for use as sighting lines.

2.         The checkpoint sighting angle shall not be less than 45 degrees to the true course for any respective leg.

3.         When conditions require that the sighting angle be less than 45 decrees to the true course, the Checker Manager will first receive approval from the Commodore who will act for the Contest Committee.

4.                  Any vessel that passes a checkpoint and cannot be seen by the checkers because of weather or other traffic conditions will cause this check point to be eliminated from the contest.

FINISH LINE  

The "Finish Line" will be taken as a line designated in the contest course instructions.

When any part of the vessel crosses the finish line, a black and white checkered flag will be dropped and the time will be recorded as the vessel's finish time.

CALCULATING THE CONTEST RESULTS

1.         The winner of each contest will be determined by a point system which is directly proportional to percentage error.  "Error points" will be calculated by multiplying total seconds of error by the entered boat speed.  The boat with the least number of error points  will be the winner.  The boat with the next lowest number of error points will be second, etc.

1.a.    Certain designated contests may use an alternate scoring calculation. The winner of these contests will be determined by the total seconds of error only regardless of boat speed.  The boat with the least number seconds of error will be the winner.  The boat with the next lowest number seconds of error will be second, etc.

2.         To be eligible for overall season awards, the contestant must complete at least six contests.

3.         To determine the season's winner, the first place winner of each contest will earn 10 points, second place will earn 20 points, third place 30 points and so on in multiples of 10 points.

4.         The season's overall winner will be the skipper with the least number of points for his/her best six contests and the other winners will be determined in that order.

5.         If a tie results in any position, the 7th, 8th, 9th and/or 10th contest points will be used to break the tie.

PROTESTS

1          A verbal protest given to any member of the Contest Committee the day of the contest must be followed with a written protest filed within three days.

2.         On the day of the contest after receiving a verbal protest from any contestant, the Contest Committee shall meet with the protester to resolve the matter.

3.         If the protest is not resolved, the Contest Committee will meet with the protester at the next contest and present their findings.  The findings of the Contest Committee will be final.

CONTESTANT CREDIT

1.         Each  vessel must start, run the complete course and finish the contest under its own power to be credited for that contest.

2.         The contestant's Yacht Club shall receive credit for any member who starts a contest even if the contestant does not finish the contest.