The "Over-The-Bottom" Contest in a Nutshell.....

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Many people ask, "What is an 'Over-the-Bottom' Contest?

It is not easy to describe to someone who has not been in one (the best way to find out is to ride with a Member, or Enter yourself!), but here it is in very simple terms...

The Contest is similar to a Car Rally Race, only for Motor Yachts.

Each contest has a specific course that all boats must follow.

Boaters may select the speed class they want to run - generally 6, 8 or 10 knots.

Each boat must maintain the selected speed over the entire course, which sounds simple on the surface. However, tides, currents, and even obstacles must be taken into account!

In addition, to make sure the boaters follow the correct course, and speed - there are "checkers" placed in strategic spots along the course. If a boat is early, or late, crossing a checkpoint - error points are given to that boat. The vessel with the least error points (ie: most accurate course and time) is the winner!

"Over-the-Bottom" Contests are not only a lot of fun - they are a great way to improve navigational skills.