NOTICE OF RACE – VSC’s Boxing Day Round the Bay Rally

Thursday 31st December 2026

VINCENTIA SAILING CLUB, JERVIS BAY

The organising authority is Vincentia Sailing Club.

Revised 12/03/2026

RULES

• The Regatta will be governed by the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 (RRS), the prescriptions and special regulations of Australian Sailing, the rules of the individual classes (except as any of these are altered by the Sailing Instructions) and the Sailing Instructions.
• Attention is drawn to RRS Part 1 Rule 3 ‘Decision to Race’ and RRS Rule 40.1 applies for this Regatta.
• Attention is also drawn to changes to RRS 46 Person in Charge – from 1 January 2022 all persons on board a boat while racing shall be members of a Club affiliated to Australian Sailing and have an active Australian Sailing number. You can check your AS number here www.sailing.org.au/member-finder/.
• The prescriptions of Australian Sailing will apply.
• Racing rule 40 will be changed as follows:
  • Competitors shall wear personal flotation devices whilst afloat, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Wet suits and dry suits are not personal flotation devices. Changes RRS Rule 40.

ADVERTISING

• Advertising will be as defined by World Sailing Regulation 20.
• Boats may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the Organising Authority. If this rule is broken, World Sailing Regulation 20.9.2 applies. [DP]

COMMUNICATION

• The official notice board will be located at the VSC Clubhouse.
• Upon entry to the regatta, the helm (and crew) will be added to a WhatsApp group where all notifications will be posted. Minimal notifications regarding the regatta will be made on the VSC Facebook and Instagram pages.

ELIGIBILITY and ENTRY

• Competitors shall be members of a sailing club affiliated with Australian Sailing or a National Authority.
• A minimum of 5 entries are required to form a class. If insufficient entries for a class are not received by 30th of December 2026, the Organising Authority has the right to merge classes. 
• Entry shall be made online at www.vincentiasailingclub.com.au

FEES

• Required registration fees are in $AUD as follows:
  • double-handed $TBA
  • double-handed youth (both crew under 21) $TBA
  • single-handed $TBA
  • single-handed youth (under 21) $TBA

SCHEDULE

• Registration & Payment: 1100 – 1200 hrs
• Competitors Briefing 1200 hrs
• Race Commencing at 1300 hrs
• Post-Racing: PARTY

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

• The sailing instructions can be found on the event webpage. 
• Printed copies will not be available.

VENUE

• Attachment A shows the venue and location of the racing area.

THE COURSE

• The course(s) to be sailed will be as described in the Sailing Instructions. 

PENALTY SYSTEM

• Any infringement caused on the race track must be rectified with a 1-turn penalty. If no penalty turn is made, the sailor(s) must provide the first (and/or second dependent on the severity) ‘round’ at Jervis Bay Brewing Co. X Vincentia Sailing Club Pop-Up Bar.

SCORING

• All boats competing on the same course will be scored on yardstick collectively. 

SAFETY

• All competitors shall wear personal flotation devices whilst afloat which are in good condition and are in accordance with the specifications issued or approved by a national authority affiliated to the International Sailing Federation, or a standards organisation, or certification authority. Attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 1.2
• Sailors are strongly recommended to use trapeze harnesses with a quick release hookless system or a quick release hook, which meets the ISO 10862 standard.
• HELMETS – If sailors wish to wear head protection it is strongly recommend they use helmets of European standard EN1385

SUPPORT BOATS

• Team Managers, Coaches and other support personnel shall keep 100m clear of boats on the course except when assisting a capsized vessel. 

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

• Except in an emergency, a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.

BOAT STORAGE

• Boats and trailers shall be kept in the areas assigned by the Organising Authority while off the water.

PRIZES

• Prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the Organising Authority.

RIGHTS TO USE NAME AND LIKENESS

• In participating in an event, a competitor automatically grants the Organising Authority, the Class and the sponsors of the event, the right in perpetuity, to make, use and show, from time to time and at their discretion, any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or film television and other reproductions of him/her during the period of the competition for the said event in which the competitor participates and in all material related to the said event without compensation.

RISK STATEMENT

• Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk and they are reminded of the provisions of RRS 4, Decision to Race. Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that they participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk.
• They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and the boat supplied to them to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event.
• They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore.
• They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions.
• By participating in any race, they are satisfied that their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate.
• The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities.
• The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances.
• These terms do not operate to exclude any provision of the Australian Consumer Law that applies and cannot be excluded by agreement.

INSURANCE

• Each participating boat shall present a valid insurance certificate showing proof of third party liability coverage of at least AUD $5,000,000 (recommended $10,000,000) (or equivalent) per incident.
• Competitors will be required to supply insurance details as part of the online entry.

AMENDMENTS

• Any amendments to this Notice of Race will be posted on the event website at: https://vincentiasailingclub.com.au/

FURTHER INFORMATION

• For further information please contact the organisers via the website https://vincentiasailingclub.com.au/

SAFETY NOTES TO THE SAILORS:

• Act Responsibly.
• Keep an eye out for rocks, reefs and marine mammals.
• Take care of your mates.

GENERAL

• If wind, wave, or water conditions make you doubtful of your ability to handle the conditions, retire from the race.

ELECTRICAL POWER LINES – AVOID!!!

Before raising the mast, and always while sailing, check for and avoid low overhead electrical power lines. If you see a power line, AVOID IT! A MAST COMING IN CONTACT OR EVEN NEAR AN ELECTRICAL POWER LINE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO PEOPLE ON OR TOUCHING THE BOAT!