MPSC Yachting Championships 2010

29th Sept - 1st October 2010

Notice of Race

1.             Organising Authority:

This event is organised by the Metropolitan Police Sailing Club Ltd (M.P.S.C.)

2.             Rules:

2.1                The racing will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012, this Notice of Race, the existing Sunfast 37 class rules and the Sailing Instructions. In the case of conflict the Sailing Instructions shall prevail.

2.2                All competitors must comply with Associated British Ports Notice to Mariners “MOVING PROHIBITED ZONE”. A copy of this Notice will be included as an Appendix of the Sailing Instructions.

 3.             Conditions of Entry:

3.1          The Championship will be sailed in Sunfast 37’s, which will be chartered from Sunsail at Port Solent.

3.2          All those sailing in the Championship must either be current members of the MPSC or attending as ‘guests’ by invitation of the organising committee and be members of another Police Service or other Organisation. (Members of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) the new law enforcement agency are defined as ‘other organisation’ for the purposes of this event).

(The M.P.S.C. does not permit Temporary Membership within its Club Rules)

3.3          The M.P.S.C. welcomes guest crews. However such crews will not be eligible for the police awards and trophies.

3.4          Crew - There shall be a minimum of five (5) and no more than eight (8) including the helmsman.

3.5.1       A boat is entirely responsible for its own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in this Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces that responsibility.

3.5.2       It is for the boat to decide whether it is fit to sail in the conditions in which it finds itself. By launching or going to sea, the boat confirms that it is fit for those conditions and that its crew is competent to sail and compete in them.

3.5.3       The boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £3,000,000.

3.5.4       Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the racing and the event, and include the organising authority, the race committee, the race officer, the race management team and patrol boats.

3.5.5       The provision of support boats does not relieve the boat of its responsibilities.

4.    Race Fees:

The Fee for this event will be £260.00. This includes berthing on Wednesday and Thursday night, and a meal on Thursday evening. A non-returnable deposit of £80.00 must accompany the completed Entry Form. The balance of £180.00 must be paid in full before the start of the first race.

5.            Advertising:

                The event is designated as Category C.

6.             Briefing & Draw:

6.1          The draw for boats will take place prior to 29th September, 2010 at Sunsail UK, Port Solent, Portsmouth.

6.2          The Regatta Briefing for crews will take place at 2100hrs on Wednesday, 29th September, 2010 at The Custom House, Gun Wharf Quays.

7.             Race Area:

                Racing will take place in the Solent and adjacent waters.

8.             Race Schedule:

There will be a maximum of five races. The warning signal for the first race will be not before 07:55 hours on Thursday, 30^th September 2010. Subsequent races will follow as signaled.

9.             Courses:

Courses will be set using the racing and permitted navigational marks in the race area. (Para. 7) 

10.          Sailing Instructions:

Sailing Instructions will be emailed to skippers or available for viewing by skippers on MPSC internet site on or before the 20th September 2010. Entries received after that date may collect their Sailing Instructions at the Regatta Briefing

11.          Scoring:

The Low Point Scoring System will be used. Discards - when four or more races are completed a boat may discard her worst score. If three or less races are completed then all a boat’s scores shall count.

12. Categories, Prizes and Prize-giving:

The event will consist of the following categories: -

• MPSC Championship - Yachts must be crewed entirely by serving or retired Metropolitan Police Officers or Staff, who are full members of the MPSC.

• OCU Challenge - Yachts must be crewed entirely by serving or retired Metropolitan Police Officers or Staff, who are full members of the MPSC. A minimum four of the crew must be serving on the same OCU/Directorate at the time of entering the competition 

• Visitors Trophy - Yachts must be crewed by a visiting team representing an emergency service and invited by the MPSC Committee. (Emergency service is defined as any agency that has a duty to respond to 999 calls).
  Any invited entry that is ineligible to enter under any of the above categories. A yacht may also be crewed by a team comprising of SOCA staff.

• Open Event - Yachts may be crewed by any persons as described at 3.2 but must include a minimum of one non MPSC member.

• Sailing School Trophy - Yachts must be crewed by any persons as described at 3.2 but a minimum of four of the crew must have attended an MPSC theory course in the twelve months preceding the date of the competition.

• White Sail Trophy – Yachts must be sailed for the duration of the event without the use of a spinnaker. Competing yachts must declare this on entry. Yachts entered in this class would not qualify for MPAA sponsorship to the PSUK Offshore Yacht Championship.

• Cadet Cup – Yachts must be crewed by at least 4 members of the Volunteer Police Cadets.

Prizes will be awarded for first two boats of the MPSC Championship and the first placed: - OCU Challenge, Visitor, Open Event, Sailing School and White Sail. A ‘guest’ prize may also be awarded at the discretion of the organising committee.

The first placed yacht in the MPSC Championship category will be eligible to enter The PSUK Offshore Yacht Championships with an application for support by the MPSC/MPAA.

The second placed yacht in the MPSC Championship category will also be eligible to enter The PSUK Offshore Yacht Championships with an application for support by the MPSC/MPAA.

The third placed yacht in the MPSC Championship category will also be eligible to enter the PSUK Offshore Yacht Championships with partial support by the MPSC

It is the overarching aim of the MPSC Ltd and the MPSC Yachting Championships (the selection process) to ensure the best crews are entered into the PSUK Offshore Yacht Championships. Therefore, in the interest of fairness, for the selected yacht crews to maintain their selection no more than one member of the selected crew can change to compete in the PSUK Yacht Championships. The Skipper and main Helm of the selected yachts cannot be changed. If there are any changes other than those defined above the matter will be referred to the MPSC’s Rear Commodore Racing and Executive Committee for a decision as to whether the crew selected is still eligible to enter the PSUK Yacht Championships.

The Championship prize giving will be held at Sunsail UK, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Hampshire at 1700 on Friday, 1st October 2010.

Contact/Organiser 2010:
Edward Piggin
18 Meadow Lane, Hamble, Hants. SO31 4RD
Home: -02380 454862
Mobile: -07712232690
Email:- E.piggin@sky.com