Sailing Instructions of the 41st
Bonaire Intl. Sailing Regatta 2008

1. Rules. The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of sailing for 2005-2008, the prescription of the NASAF, the rules of the entered classes, except as any of these are altered by these sailing instructions. The Regatta is designated Category C.

2. Entries. Boats must be entered by completing registration and paying entry-fee to the Race Committee at latest 14:00 hrs on Sunday October 5th 2008 at ‘Kas di Regatta’. Yachts wishing to participate in the Open Class are requested to meet the Race Committee as from 09:00 hrs Saturday October 4, 2008. The entry-fee amounts to:

Us$. 80 - for Yachts (4 goody bags)
Us$. 40 - for Beachcats (2 goody bags)
Us$. 20 - for Optimists and Windsurf Kids (1 goody bag)
Us$. 25 - for Fishingboats (2 goody bag)
Us$. 15 - for Microboats (1 goody bag)
Us$. 30 - for all other (single) classes (1 goody bag)
Each additional goody bag will cost $.15,00

3. Definition of classes. Races will be organized for the following classes:

The Race Committee reserves the right to require upon registration written proof of identification of a boat’s type and model name to establish handicaps. Racing Class I and II and Performance Multihullswill receive handicaps from the Average US Performance Handicap Racing Fleet list 2007. Cruising Class I and II will receive handicaps as derived from results in former Bonaire Regatta’s and / or SPY results. Boats not figuring in the PHRF list and who never participated in the Bonaire Regatta (and from whom the RC does not keep a performance record) may elect to sail in the Open Class under Simplified CSA Rating Rule. These boats do not need to be measured. Filling out a simple form is all that is required. The idea behind this ‘open class’ is to allow live-aboard cruising boats to join the fun. It is not intended for boats that do a fair amount of racing nor for high performance boats. The division between classes will be announced at Sunday Oct 5th 15:00 hrs. Written requests for Redress on ratings and class division will be received till 16:00 hrs and be considered by the RC.

The RC decision as to which class and rating a boat will participate will be announced not later than 20:00 hrs. This decision will be final.

4. Division: all classes. The race committee reserves the right to subdivide or amalgamate any class depending on the entries received. Any such changes shall be notified not later than Sunday October 5th, 2008 at 15.00 hours.

5. Amendments to class rules. - For Cruising Class II. Amendments to rule 54: Forestays and headsail tacks, including those of spinnaker staysails shall be fixed approximately on a boat’s centre-line.

6. Identification. Participating boats shall exhibit on their main sail a unique sail number. The sail number shall be at least 18 cm high and placed on both sides of the sail at different heights. This is a registration requirement. Boats that fail to comply may be considered not entered in the race and may not be scored.

7. Notice to competitors. Notice to competitors will be posted on the Official Regatta Notice Board, located near the Race Control Center in front of ‘Kas di Regatta’. Meteorological Information: Each morning at approximately 08:00 hrs.

8. Changes in sailing Instructions. Any change in the “Sailing Instructions” will be posted at least one hour before the warning signal of the race for which it will take effect. Route changes for all classes will be announced in the same way and be advised by displaying code flag “L” (black-yellow squares) from the control center.

9. Schedule of Races. The schedule of races , starting times ,class flags and course to sail for all classes are indicated on this programbook and form part of these sailing instructions.

10. Signals made ashore. There will be no signals made ashore except as indicated under sailing instruction nr.8.

11. Class flag

12. Courses. The courses to sail for each class are published on this site under Courses. If circumstances require to change the course to sail this will be published on the Noticeboard Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall stay at least 0,25 of mile away from the starting line. Boats that break this rule may be protested by the RC. In case a course is shortened after the start rule 32 of the ISAF Racing rules shall apply, in which case a vessel showing the S-flag has to be rounded to starboard and course to be continued straight to the finishline.

Courses shall be sailed seaward of the imaginary line connecting mooring spars, mooring buoys, diving flags, anchored boats and shallow water marks. The area between this line and nearest shore shall be considered a continuing obstruction.

13. Marks. Marks will be orange inflated buoys. A missing mark will be replaced by a committee boat, displaying code flag “M”.

14. Start. Races will be started in accordance with rule 26 of the ISAF rulebook. Warning signal will be made 5 minutes before the starting signal of that class.The starting signal of a preceding class is the warning signal for the succeeding class The starting line will be determined by the red flag on the RC boat and Mark “A” at the port end. Any object connected to the RC boat will be considered as part of the starting mark.

15. Recalls. Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with rule 29.2. General recalls will be signalled in accordance with rule 29.3. In the event of a general recall, starts for succeeding classes will be postponed accordingly

16. Finish. The finishing line shall be the imaginary line between mark F and a blue flag on the Control Center.

17. Protests. (a) Protests shall be written on forms available at the control center and lodged there within 60 minutes after the time of the last boat’s finish in that class. (b) Protest notices will be posted on the notice board within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors if they are parties to a protest or named as witnesses. Although this is considered official notice to all parties concerned, it does not relieve a protesting party from her obligation to make a reasonable effort to inform the parties involved in her protest. (c) Protests will be heard in approximately the order of receipt, starting as soon as possible each day of the races after the last race.

18. Scoring. For Optimist, Laser, Splash, Sunfish and Beachcats, 8 races are scheduled. For yacht classes Racing I, Racing II, Cruising I and Multihulls 5 races are scheduled. For yacht classes Cruising II and Open TCF 4 races are scheduled. For all classes, the low points scoring system according to appendix A will apply. Any number of races completed shall constitute a series. Each boat’s series score shall be the total of the race scores excluding her worst score.

19. Radio/telephone Communications. The Control Center can be reached by phone number (599) 7177425 or via VHF channel 71. A designated observer may report over the radio a time check, changes to the sailing instructions and visual displays by the Race Committee,This changes RRS rule 41. This information is provided as a courtesy to competitors, Any errors or omissions of the observer will not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS rule 62.1(a).Calls will not be answered during the starting procedure.

20. Prizes. Prizes will be awarded to winners, depending on the total number of competitors in the class concerned. An Overall cup for Racing, Cruising, Open Class and Multihulls will be awarded to the boat with best results over all races (including Round Bonaire and Lac Bay Race). Please note that a special price will be awarded to the winner of the Round Bonaire and Lac Bay Race. Presentation of prizes takes place on Friday, October 12th at 20.00 hrs at Kas di Regatta.

21. Safety. For all classes: Boats which do not start, which retire or do not finish, shall inform the Control Center as soon as possible. Failing to do so may result in disqualification. For Optimist A/B/C and windsurf kids the use of a life jacket is compulsory.

22. Responsibilities/liabilities. The responsibilities for the safety and security of each participating boat, its crew and its gear as well as for the decision whether or not to race or continue to race lies entirely with the participant. Participants in the race do so entirely on their own account. The race committee shall not and cannot be held liable for any damage, loss or injury of whatever nature which directly or indirectly could result in connection with participating in the races.

23. Skippers meeting/briefing. Briefing (except for Micro and Fishing boats) will held on Sunday October 5th, 18:30 - 19:30 hrs at ‘Kas di Regatta’. Briefing for Fishing and Micro boats will take place on Monday October 6th, 19:00 - 20:30 at Kas di Regatta.

24. Further Information. (A) Authorities: When sailing for Bonaire, yachts classes are advised to report to their harbour authorities, indicating their expected time of arrival at Bonaire. For the return trip, the rule is applicable in reverse order. Arriving at Bonaire, these yachts are to report to the Immigration and Customs Office of Bonaire. (B) Regatta Control Center is located at ‘Kas di Regatta’, Kaya Jan N.E. Craane. Open from Saturday October 4rd till Saturday October 11th 2006 from 08.00 – 19.00 hr.