Singlehanded Sailing Society
P.O. Box 1716, Mill Valley, CA 94942
415-332-5073 or 707-745-6979

Tenth Bienniel Singlehanded TransPacific Yacht Race

RULES AND CONDITIONS

1. GENERAL

1.1. The Race is intended to be a sporting event, and to encourage the development of suitable yachts, gear, supplies and techniques for shorthanded ocean crossings under sail.

2. ELIGIBILITY

2.1. The Race is open to seaworthy cruising or racing yachts of any type or nationality, capable of safe ocean passages, provided the overall length on deck is between 20 feet and 60 feet. The Race Committee reserves the right to exclude any yacht that it regards as unseaworthy or a yacht with inadequate equipment.

2.2. Monohulled yachts shall be self-righting, with essentially watertight enclosed accommodations, and with self-bailing cockpits.

2.3. Multihulled yachts shall have the ability to float indefinitely in an inverted position, with essentially watertight enclosed accommodations, and with self bailing cockpits.

3. MANAGEMENT

3.1. The Race will be under the management of the Race Committee of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, which shall have the full power to establish and interpret the rules and conditions governing the Race, to decide all protests, and to reject the entry of any yacht at any time prior to the preparatory signal for the start. There shall be no appeals from the decision of the Race Committee.

4. AUTHORITY

4.1. These Rules dated 1 October, 1995, are published by the Singlehanded Sailing Society which reserves the right to amend or add to these rules at any time up to the start of the Race, such amendments being immediately promulgated to all entrants who have been provisionally accepted for the Race.

5. RACING RULES

5.1. The 1993-1996 International Yacht Racing Rules as adopted by the USSA (United States Sailing Association), as amended by these Rules and Conditions shall govern the Race. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise the Steering and Sailing Rules from the current International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) shall replace Part IV of the USSA rules as required by rule 3.2(b)(xxxii) of the USSA racing rules.

5.2. The following exceptions to the racing rules are allowed:

(a) A yacht may carry two headsails simultaneously.
(b) One or more whisker poles may be carried to pole out the head sail(s), but the length of these poles may not exceed the LP of the largest rated headsail, and may not be used for setting the spinnaker.
(c) A mechanical or electronic self steering device may be employed.
(d) Asymmetrical spinnakers are permitted. See 22.1 for ratings exceptions.
(e) A fixed pole extending beyond the bow of the yacht will be permitted, and will use the rating as determined by San Francisco Bay PHRF.
(f) Yachts are permitted to be fitted with tanks permanently secured to port and starboard with provision for the athwartship transfer of liquid ballast through permanently fitted pipes. Such transferable liquid must have a density no greater than that of sea water. No form of solid or granular transferable ballast may be used apart from any ordinary stores or provisions appropriate to the Race. Yachts will use rating as determined by San Francisco Bay PHRF.

(i) In such cases, all tanks for transferable ballast and stowage for transferable stores must be inside the hull(s) and below decks.
(ii) Competitors must demonstrate an efficient and safe manual method of discharging, transferring, or taking on liquid ballast with the yacht up to 50 degrees angle of heel to port or starboard of the normal laden trim.
(iii) Competitors must demonstrate that with all such ballast transferred to one side to its maximum possible extent the static angle of heel of the yacht will not exceed 10 degrees to port or starboard of the normal laden trim.
(iv) If yachts are fitted with fresh water or fuel tanks to port or starboard such tanks will be considered as part of the transferable ballast system and must be completely full and empty on the appropriate sides during the inclining test.
(v) Owners intending to use other forms of transferable water ballast not covered by these rules should clear the project of eligibility with the Race Committee first.

(g) The limitations of Appendix A1 are deleted in their entirety.
(h) The limitations of Appendix A3 are deleted in their entirety.

5.3. Supplemental sailing instructions will be provided to Skippers on or prior to June 28, 1996.

6. COURSE

6.1. The course is from a starting line in San Francisco Bay to finish line in Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii, a course distance of 2120 nautical miles.

6.2. The Race will start on June 29, 1996, at a time to be specified in the supplemental sailing instructions.

7. ENTRIES

7.1. An entry shall consist of a sailing yacht plus a named Skipper who shall be at least 18 years of age by the start of the race.

7.2. The entry fee shall be $550 (USD) for members of the Singlehanded Sailing Society, and $600 (USD) for non-members, plus an additional amount of $600 (USD) for sponsored entrants.

7.3. Entries may be sponsored and or financed by another person, body or organization. The Singlehanded Sailing Society is appreciative of the help that is given to the competitors, but it nevertheless is concerned that this Race should remain a sporting event and reserves the right to refuse an entry if it appears that the primary object of the entry is to promote a commercial product not connected with the spirit of the Race. A yacht that displays commercial advertising material by its name or otherwise, between assembly in San Francisco and dispersal in Hanalei Bay, will be deemed to be a sponsored entrant and required to pay a sponsorship supplement of $600.

7.4. Where more than one yacht bears the same name they must be identified by an addition of a name rather than a number and this must be acceptable to the Race Committee.

7.5. The Race Committee reserves the right to reject a name or logo which they feel is distasteful, offensive, or confusing in layout. Skipper's of all yachts are encouraged to send detailed drawing of the proposed name or logo to the Race Committee.

7.6. Entries must be made on the enclosed application forms and received by the Race Committee prior to May 31, 1996. The following items are also required and must be received on or before May 31, 1996, unless otherwise stated.

(a) A completed entry form.
(b) A signed Waiver.
(c) A completed sailing experience sheet.
(d) Details of the qualifying cruise. Where a qualifying cruise has yet to be completed the details called for in Rule 19 may be submitted later, but in any event no later than May 31, 1996.
(e) A copy of the entered monohull yachts San Francisco Bay PHRF certificate. Where a PHRF certificate is not currently available this may be submitted later, but in any event no later than June 22, 1996.
(f) A photograph of the Skipper, passport size or larger, for safety, security, and publicity purposes.
(g) One or more 5x7 glossy photographs of the yacht under sail.
(h) A copy of the most recent survey of the entered yacht.
(i) Check or money order made payable to the Singlehanded Sailing Society. A partial payment of not less than fifty percent of the entry fee and sponsorship supplement if applicable is required for consideration as a Provisional l Entry.

7.7. The total amount of the entry fee and sponsorship supplement must be received by the Race Committee prior to May 31, 1996. Any entry fees or sponsorship supplements paid before February 1, 1996, are refundable should the Skipper wish to withdraw his entry by notifying the Race Committee in writing by February 1, 1996. All entry fees and sponsorship supplements paid after February 1, 1996, are non-refundable should the Skipper either, wish to withdraw or fail to meet the requirements of any of these Rules. No entry fees or sponsorship supplements will be refunded after February 1, 1996.

7.8. If the total entry fee is paid in full before February 1, 1996, then the entry fee is reduced by $50.00 (USD). The sponsor fee will remain the same regardless of when it is paid.

7.9. The mailing address for the Race entries and the Race Committee is:

7.10. An applicant whose entry is accepted by the Race Committee will be deemed a Provisional Entry and so advised in writing by the Race Committee as soon as possible after receipt of the entry.

7.11. An applicant whose entry is not accepted by the Race Committee will be informed in writing of the reason for non-acceptance as soon as possible after receipt of the entry.

7.12. Every Provisional Entry must arrive at the designated assembly location in San Francisco Bay no later than noon on Sunday, June 23, 1996. The Race Committee will advise all Provisional Entries in writing of the specific assembly location prior to May 31, 1996. Any yacht arriving late will be subject to a penalty as provide for in Rule 16.

7.13. The total number of Provisional Entries in the Race will be limited to 50. A waiting list will be maintained in the event that an entry position becomes available.

8. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.

8.1. All equipment shall:

(a) Function properly
(b) Be readily accessible
(c) Be of a type, size and capacity suitable and adequate for the intended us and size of yacht.

8.2. Cockpits must be strong, self-bailing and permanently incorporated as an integral part of the hull. All openings above the waterline into the hull below must be capable of being strongly secured.

8.3. Storm coverings for all windows more than two square feet in area, unless the windows are made of a material at least as strong as the surrounding superstructure.

8.4. Seacocks or valves are to be attached to all through hull openings below the waterline except integral scuppers, shafts, log or speed indicators, depth finders, and the like. Softwood plugs tapered and of the correct size shall be attached to or adjacent to, such through hull openings.

8.5. The following systems for personal safety shall be fitted:

(a)

(b)

8.6. Safety harness with a minimum 2000 pounds test.

8.7. Galley facilities suitable to be used at sea.

8.8. Water containers capable of holding at least 15 gallons of water, in two separate containers, no more than half of which may be carried in any one container.

8.9. Fire extinguishers of the type and number required by the United States Coast Guard.

8.10. One manually operated bilge-pump permanently fitted and operable with hatches and companionway closed that is capable of pumping at least 10 gallons/minute, plus a second bilge pump and bucket.

8.11. Anchor with suitable chain and line capable of holding the yacht.

8.12. At least two waterproof flashlights suitable for offshore racing.

8.13. First aid kit and manual.

8.14. Horn.

8.15. Radar reflector properly mounted at least 6 feet above the water. If a radar deflector is octahedral it must have a minimum diagonal measurement of 46 centimeters, or if not octahedral must have a documented 'equivalent echoing area' of not less than 10 square meters.

8.16. Running lights as required by the current International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).

8.17. A minimum of two batteries with a combined capacity of at least 80 amp hours.

8.18. Means of charging the battery at sea at a rate that will allow the running lights to be used during the period of darkness each day. A second method of charging the battery is strongly recommended.

8.19. VHF radio with Channels 6, 16, and 68 with a minimum output of 25 watts. One VHF antenna shall be permanently mounted at the masthead. An emergency antenna shall be mounted in such a way that the VHF radio may be used even if the yacht is dismasted.

8.20. A permanently mounted mast head strobe light and a personal strobe light.

8.21. Personal Flotation Device (PFD) with a whistle and light attached and bearing the yacht's name.

8.22. White parachute flare, or white hand-held flare.

8.23. Food for 30 days.

8.24. A properly installed and adjusted mechanical magnetic marine compass with a spare.

8.25. Plotting instruments and current charts, or charts corrected to the latest Notice to Mariners, which must include chart numbers 18022, 19004, and 19381.

8.26. Sextant, appropriate sight reduction tables, and a radio capable of receiving the Time Broadcast Service from stations WWV and WWVH.

8.27. Knot meter or log.

8.28. Tools and spare parts including adequate means to disconnect or sever the standing rigging from the hull in the case of need.

8.29. An emergency tiller capable of being fitted to the rudder stock.

8.30. An alternative method of steering the yacht in any sea condition in the event of rudder failure. The Race Committee may require that this method be demonstrated. Skipper's are strongly advised to submit sketches of their proposed alternative method steering to the Race Committee for an advance ruling.

8.31. Sail repair kit.

8.32. For emergencies, one of the following indicating radios must be carried:

(a) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that will broadcast on 406.0 MHz with a battery whose expiration date is no earlier than August 1, 1996 or,
(b) Deck mounted Argos unit or,
(c) Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that will broadcast on 121.5 and 243.0 MHz with a battery whose expiration date is no earlier than August 1, 1996, as well as, the yacht must be equipped with a properly installed SSB radio capability of sending and receiving international emergency frequencies.

8.33. Life raft designed specifically for saving life at sea that will remain afloat and support the Skipper even when filled with water. The life raft must be carried on the working deck or in a special stowage area opening immediately to the working deck and containing only the life raft. The cover of such a special life raft stowage area shall be capable of being opened under water pressure. The Skipper must provide the Inspector with the life rafts serial number and a copy of an inspection certificate dated not earlier than July 30, 1995. Each raft must contain the following minimum equipment:

(a) Sea anchor.
(b) Repair kit, inflation pump and oral inflation tube.
(c) An integral canopy or cover to protect occupant from the elements.
(d) A kit attached securely to the raft, but not necessarily packed inside it, containing the following:

(i) Four red parachute flares.
(ii) Two hand held red flares.
(iii) Two orange smoke flares.
(iv) Bailer.
(v) Knife.
(vi) Flashlight.
(vii) Water and emergency food for four days.

8.34. All hatch boards must be attached by a lanyard to the yacht.

8.35. Shut off valves on all fuel tanks.

8.36. No mast shall have less than two halyards each capable of hoisting a sail to the masthead.

8.37. A survival suit or full body wet suit is recommended.

9. MULTIHULL STRUCTURE

9.1. All multihull entries must meet the requirements of Rules 2 and 8 as well as the following:

(a) A combined length and beam of at least 40 feet, with a minimum beam of half the length.
(b) A watertight bulkhead within 15 percent of the yacht's overall length from the bow of each hull and abaft the forward limit of the waterline.
(c) A safety harness anchorage point that is accessible should the yacht be capsized.
(d) A means of gaining access to the living quarters while the boat is inverted.
(e) All sheets leading to quick release cleats or self tailing winches.
(f) The ability to reef the main sail.
(g) The backstay(s) must be permanently mounted. No permanent backstay shall interfere with the boom in a jibe. This requirement is not applicable to certain types of rigs, i.e., rotating, unstayed, etc.
(h) Adequate safety netting shall be installed over open spaces between the cross beams.
(i) A back up means of self steering.
(j) A qualifying cruise as provided for in Rule 19, of which at least half is downwind.
(k) A survival suit or full body wet suit.
(l) A single point of attachment using a tether instead of lifelines and jackstays will be considered as an alternative. The skipper must receive written permission from the race committee.

10. INSPECTION

10.1. The object of the inspection is to verify that the Required Equipment detailed in Rules 8 and 9 has been properly installed, and that any part of the yacht's design, construction, or equipment does not negatively impact the seaworthiness of the yacht to participate in the Race.

10.2. Provisional Entrants must be ready in all respects for inspection by noon on Monday, June 24, 1996, or be subject to a penalty as provided for in Rule 16.

10.3. The Race Committee reserves the right to require of any entered yacht a more recent marine survey than that required with the entry forms. The Race Committee will advise any Provisional Entry in writing of such requirement within 30 days of receipt of the entry, but in any event no later than June 12, 1996. Where applicable a letter from the marine surveyor stating that all deficiencies noted in the marine survey have been corrected must be submitted with the marine survey. Such marine survey and letter must be received by the Race Committee by June 24, 1996, or the yacht shall be subject to a penalty as provided for in Rule 16.

10.4. A Skipper will be notified in writing regarding any defects or deficiencies that have caused the entered yacht to fail the inspection. The Skipper will then be free to remedy the defects of deficiencies and to ask for re-inspection, or to accept disqualification.

10.5. Yacht's failing to pass inspection by noon on Thursday, June 27, 1996, will be subject to a penalty as provided for in Rule 16.

10.6. Yachts that have qualified and have passed inspection will be provided with an Acceptance Certificate and will be considered an Official Entry in the Race.

10.7. Yachts and Skipper's that have not received an Acceptance Certificate may not start in the Race.

10.8. Yachts will be inspected after crossing the finish line. Yachts failing to pass the finish inspection will be subject to disqualification from the Race.

11. ENGINES AND POWER

11.1. No means of propulsion may be employed other than the force of the wind.

11.2. An internal combustion engine may be used to generate electricity, water, heat, etc., as long as it is not used to propel the vessel.

11.3. Shafts or gear levers shall be sealed to the satisfaction of the Race Committee prior to the start of the Race.

12. RECOGNITION

12.1. Distinguishing number(s) must be prominently displayed on each side of the yacht's hull during the race. Numbers must be a minimum height of 12 inches or 1/40th of the yacht's overall length, whichever is larger.

12.2. The number used is at the discretion of the Skipper. In the case of duplicate choices, the Race Committee will resolve the duplication and assign the number.

12.3. Numbers on the hull must be either painted on or applied using an approved semi-permanent system that will not be removed by the action of the sea.

12.4. Weather Cloths or Number Boards will be allowed if they are attached in a manner such that they will not be removed by the action of the sea. They must meet the size requirements of 12.1

13. RESPONSIBILITY

13.1. Yachts must be fully independent and capable of carrying out their own emergency repairs at sea. Skippers have no right to expect or demand a rescue operation to be launched on their behalf. If a yacht is dismasted, her Skipper is expected to set up a jury rig and sail towards a suitable port.

13.2. Full responsibility for any mishap will rest with the owner or Skipper under ordinary process of law. The organizers do not accept any responsibility towards the entrants nor towards third parties with whom the entrants have become involved.

13.3. Any Skipper deciding not to continue the race after starting, must notify the Race Committee that he or she is withdrawing, as quickly as possible.

14. DECLARATION

14.1. Immediately after finishing, each Skipper will be required to sign a declaration that the skipper has sailed the Race in accordance with all published rules, or if any rule has been breached to give a full account of the circumstances, establishing to what extent, if any, the yacht's progress towards the finish was helped by the breach of rules in question.

15. FINISHING

15.1. In order to qualify as a finisher a yacht must finish no later than 2400 hours Hawaii Standard Time July 19, 1996. If 50% of the boats that started have not finished by July 19, 1996, at 2400 Hawaii Standard Time, this deadline may be extended at the discretion of the Race Committee.

15.2. If at the finish line, the yacht does not have any radio capable of contacting the race committee, the shall skipper will use a white parachute flare when they reach the vicinity of the finish line to notify the Race Committee during non-daylight hours.

16. PENALTIES

16.1. Time penalties will be assessed for non-compliance with deadlines, and other rules if not carried out properly in accordance with the spirit of the Race, before or after the start. Such penalties will be given as a percentage and published as soon as awarded. Time penalties will be applied to the yacht's elapsed time and added to the yachts elapsed time.

16.2. Any yacht that is late for the deadlines specified in Rules 7 and 10, will be subject to a time penalty of 0.05% per whole hour late. The total percentage will be applied to the yacht's elapsed time. For example: A yacht 2 hours late at the assembly point will incur a penalty of 0.1%. If her elapsed time for the Race is 360 hours, the penalty will be approximately 22 minutes.

17. PROTESTS

17.1. A protesting yacht shall:

(a) Display a red protest flag at the first reasonable opportunity and keep it displayed for one hour or until the protested yacht can no longer be seen, whichever occurs later.
(b) Display a red protest flag again as it approaches the finish and continue to display the protest flag until it has anchored in Hanalei Bay.
(c) File a written protest with the Race Committee within 12 hours of the protesting yacht's finish time.

17.2. Protests will be heard by the Protest Committee as soon as practical. Penalties for infringements of the rules shall be in accordance with the Scoring Penalty Section of Appendix B1 of the USSA racing rules. There shall be no appeal to the decision of the Protest Committee concerning a protest.

18. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE

18.1. No physical contact except for the passing of written messages, may be made with other ships or boats at sea, and no stores may be received from any ship or aircraft during the Race.

18.2. During the Race, a yacht may put in anywhere and anchor or moor for any purpose. She may be towed for a distance not exceeding two miles into, and for a distance not exceeding two miles out of any harbor or anchorage, provided that the result of such towage does not advance the yacht in the direction of the finish line.

18.3. When moored or anchored, other people may come aboard, stores or equipment may be embarked and repairs effected.

18.4. Yachts must sail the whole course independently and may not deliberately escort each other or arrange any other escort.

18.5. No outside assistance of any kind is permitted except as noted in 18.3.

19. QUALIFYING CRUISE

19.1. Before an entry is accepted as official, and in any case no later than May 31, 1996, the entrant shall have sailed in the entered yacht on a qualifying cruise of not less than 400 miles. This sail must be made entirely under sail, without use of power, non-stop, singlehanded, and may be between two ports or may start and finish at the same port provided that one turning point is a least 100 miles offshore. As evidence of the qualifying cruise, the entrant must submit a log of the cruise on the form provided by the Race Committee. This log must include details of two celestial navigation shots that were taken during the qualifying cruise.

20. DIVISIONS

20.1. For the purpose of handicap racing, there will be two divisions, MULTIHULL and MONOHULL.

20.2. Multihulls will be divided into length overall classes.

20.3. Multihull class assignments will be determined by the Race Committee based on the entries received.

20.4. All monohull yachts will use the PCR (Pacific Cup Rating) rating for handicap rating purposes.

20.5. The Monohull division will be subdivided by the Race Committee into classes by the PCR rating, based on the number of entries received

20.6. One-design classes may be created for one-design production yachts that agree to sail as a one design class. There must be four or more entrants.

20.7. Additional classes may be created by the Race Committee based on the entries received.

21. TROPHIES

21.1. First, Second, and Third to finish in each Division and Class based on corrected time.

21.2. First monohull to finish on PHRF corrected time (Perpetual Trophy).

21.3. First to finish for Monohull and Multihull on elapsed time (Perpetual Trophy).

21.4. First ULDB (Ultra Light Displacement Boat) to finish (Grover Nibouar Perpetual Trophy) on corrected time.

21.5. First in any one-design class if they exist.

21.6. Additional trophies may be awarded at the discretion of the Race Committee.

22. RATINGS

22.1. The PCR Rule has been adopted for use in this Race. The time allowance for the race will be computed for a distance of 2120 miles based on a PCR. The PCR is computed from the San Francisco Bay PHRF with a modification for length and displacement/Length ratio as follows:

Effective Length: L = LWL + 0.35* (LOA-LWL)
Displacement/Length Ratio: DLR = (DISP/2240)/((L/100)^3)
Displacement/Length Factor: DLF

For DLR less than 75: DLF = 0
For DLR from 75 to 150: DLF = (DLR - 75)/3
For DLR from 150 to 200: DLF = 25 + (DLR - 150)*0.10
For DLR greater than 200: DLF = 30
DLF is rounded up to the next greater integer

Length Factor: LF = 0.5*(345-3600/(1.34*sq rt(L)) + PHRF)

Rating: PCR = PHRF + DLF - LF

22.2. The ULDB Formula that will be used is as follows: Displacement / (2.24 x (LWL/10)^3) = 150 & below

Singlehanded Sailing Society P.O. Box 1716, Mill Valley, CA 94942 415-332-5073 or 707-745-6979