Untitled 1

PART 1 - GENERAL AND RACE MANAGEMENT

1.1 Eligibility

A boat has to be entered by a fully paid up Member of the Contessa 32 Class and the owner, or their designated representative, who must also be a paid up member of the Class, must be on board. For boats that are chartered, then the charterer must be a Member or become a Member of the Class before they can enter and compete in a race. To be a Member the annual subscription must have been received by the Class Treasurer. A yacht's entry to compete in any class event will be regarded as a declaration to this effect.

1.2 Entry Procedure

Entry to class races will be made on the entry form(s) provided through the Race Entry Secretary or directly to the yacht club organising the event as prescribed by the Sailing Secretary or Race Entry Secretary or the Class.

1.3 Race Instructions

The Class will race under the Class Rules, ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing, RYA prescriptions and the sailing and special instructions of the club organising the event. The latter will wherever possible, be sent to members who have entered , or be available from the Sailing Secretary, or the organising club. Yachts racing offshore should refer to the current ISAF Offshore. Regulations, available from http://www.sailing.org/documents/special-regs.php

1.4 Safety

Class Rules PART 4 sets out the safety equipment requirements for the Class, both for inshore and offshore category races. Yachts shall comply fully to the requirements in Class Rules PART 4. It is the sole and exclusive responsibility of each owner/skipper to ensure that their yacht complies fully to Class Rules PART 4 and to decide whether or not to start, or to continue to race, and that the yacht and crew are equal to the conditions.

1.5 Insurance

Entries for all Class racing are accepted on the understanding that the yacht has adequate insurance for third party liability. It is the owner/skipper's responsibility to ensure that such insurance cover is as required or greater than that specified in Notice of Races and Race Instructions

1.6 Scoring

Unless otherwise stated in Notice of Race or Race Instructions, the points system shall be as follows:-

1.6.1 Inshore Weekends/Series

Scoring will be in accordance with RRS Appendix 2 with the Low-Point System, with the number of discards as follows:

4-7 Valid points races	8-11 Valid points races	12-15 Valid points races
1 discard	2 discards	3 discards
16-19 Valid points races	20-23 Valid points races	over 23 races
4 discards	5 discards	6 discards

The number of discards may be varied at the National Championships by decision of the Committee and any such change will be clearly stated in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions

1.6.2 Offshore (Category 2 or 3)

For the Chaos Trophy Series, yachts will receive points for each offshore race entered in accordance with the following formula: Points =(Race length in miles) x [1 +(log Number of Co32 starters)-(log Co32 finishing position)] Where:

"Race length" is the distance in miles indicated in the sailing instructions. In the event of alternative courses, the course that is set will be used. Where no distance is stated in the sailing instructions, it will be calculated by the Offshore Representative.
"Number of Co32 Starters" will be taken as the actual number of Contessa 32's ranking as starters.

The points on each yachts best 300 miles will count towards the Chaos Trophy, further mileage being discarded. Yachts which retire count points for 0.25 x Race Length. Yachts disqualified count NIL points. For ease of calculation, the multiplier, for up to 5 entries is :

PLACE	1 ENTRY	2 ENTRIES	3 ENTRIES	4 ENTRIES	5 ENTRIES
1st	1.0	1.3010	1.4771	1.6021	1.6990
2nd		1.0	1.1761	1.3011	1.3980
3rd			1.0	1.1250	1.2219
4th				1.0	1.0969
5th					1.0

1.7 Scrubbing

No yacht may be hauled out or scrubbed during a Class series as specified in Clause 1.8. This ban shall apply from the time of the start of the first race of the Regatta or series, until after the last race in which the yacht takes part.

Whilst racing, all yachts are to have a proper coating of antifouling.

In special circumstances (e.g. damage below waterline), written permission to haul out may be given by a member of the Technical Committee.

1.8 Class Series

For the purposes of these rules a Class Series is defined as one when there are one or more races per day or when racing is scheduled for two or more consecutive days. (e.g. Cowes Week, The Championships three day event, or a weekend Inshore or Offshore in the Points Series but not individual races in the Spring or Winter Series or between weekends of the Points Series.)

1.9 Class Prizes

When prizes or trophies are to be awarded for a race and less than five yachts compete, these will generally be awarded as follows:-

One yacht racing - No prize
Two yachts racing - 1st prize only
Three and four yachts racing - 1st and 2nd prizes only
Five or more yachts racing - Class prizes equal to the square root of those started rounded up (e.g. 5-9 starters= 3 prizes,10 starters= 4 prizes etc)

This does not affect the points which will be awarded as in Clause 1.6 above.

1.10 Class Signals

Code flag G will be the class signal and the code flag will be flown from the backstay when racing. The signal flag to be a minimum 500mm fly 375mm hoist, a maximum 700mm 525mm hoist. The CO sign must be on the mainsail in a position above sail numbers. For size see Clause 3.3 below.

1.11 Inspection & Class Certificates

All yachts entered for Class races must have a valid Class Certificate. The only exception is the ISC Round the Island Race where entries will be accepted from Contessa 32s without a Class Certificate but all Contessa 32's competing in the Class race must fully conform to PART 2 (Yacht Specification) and PART 3 (Sail Specification) and PART 4 ( Safety Equipment). If they finish in the first five they will be inspected and be required to comply with class sail measurement rules.

1.11.1 Inspection

Owners/skippers are to contact the Official Measurer who will arrange for inspection of the Contessa 32. This inspection will cover all items in PART 2 (Yacht Specification) and PART4 ( Safety Equipment). Owners/skippers must check that the Contessa 32 conforms fully to these rules.

1.11.2 Class Certificate

Upon satisfactory completion of 1.11.1 the Official Measurer will issue a Class Certificate which must be kept on board. This Certificate becomes invalid if:

There is any alteration to the items listed in PART 2 (Yacht Specification).These must be notified to the Official Measurer so that a new certificate can be issued after re-inspection if necessary
There is any change in ownership of the Contessa 32. The new owners must apply for a new Certificate from the Official Measurer

The result of a yacht without a Sail Certificate will be accepted provided the yacht is measured within one week of completing such race.

1.12 Sail Measurement

Sails shall be limited in numbers and size as per PART 3 (Sail Specification).

1.12.1 Sail Measurement

Any boat finishing in the first five in any race or series must obtain sail measurement certificates for all sails carried aboard during that race, from their Sailmaker. These certificates must be obtained within 2 weeks of finishing the race, or returning to UK, in the case of an offshore race. Owners/Skippers are therefore strongly recommended to obtain these certificates in advance, as this period will be strictly adhered to.

1.12.2 Sail Measurement Procedure

Sails shall be measured according to the current ISAF Sail Measurement Rules.
Sailmakers shall raise a certificate for a new sail, which shall be stamped, numbered and signed by their measurer and have the dimensions and date of measurement clearly marked. The sailmaker shall then send the certificate to the Official Measurer for endorsement.
Such sails will be stamped, numbered, signed by the measurer and have the dimensions and date of measurement clearly marked.
These Sail Measurement Certificates shall become invalid if the sail is re-cut or altered beyond Class limits. Such sails will have to be re-measured and a new Certificate issued.

1.13 Register of Certificates

A register is kept of all Class Certificates and Sail Measurement Certificates. These must be valid and in order before the standard Channel Handicap will be issued by RORC.
Class certificates and sail certificates must be kept on board.
The Technical Committee shall decide when any Class Rules have been infringed. The Class reserves the right to inspect any yacht at any time for this purpose. In addition the Class will from time to time inspect any of the first five boats in any Class race. Penalty for infringement of Class Rules is either disqualification from the race or from the series of which the race forms part.

1.14 Electronics

The choice of instruments including computer equipment and how they are interfaced is not governed. Competitor's attention is drawn to Rule 2.2 General, in PART 2 Yacht Specification.

1.15 Protests

Protests will conform to the race and sailing instructions issued by the organising club.

1.16 Disclaimer

Entries for all Class events are accepted only on the understanding that the Class Officers, Committee or its representatives bear no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury or inconvenience to yachts or persons howsoever arising directly or indirectly from their rules, policy or rulings for races or any related activities.

1.17 Rule Changes

The Officers and Committee in pursuance of the objects of the Class reserve the right to alter Class Rules at any time, such alterations to be notified to all Class members in writing or in race instructions and any such alterations to be ratified at the next Contessa 32 Annual General Meeting.

1.18 Data Protection Act 1984

Membership of the Class and acceptance of the Rules of the Class shall be deemed to be approval and consent to the maintenance by the Class of personal details about the Member on computer for the purposes of Class administration.

1.19 Advertising

The Class has adopted Category A of the ISAF Advertising Code and accordingly no yacht may carry advertising (other than may be permitted under Category A) at any time whilst taking part in any regatta or in Class racing.