Rules:

The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined by U.S. Sailing prescriptions of the 2009-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing.

 http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/RRS2009-2012-%5B5950%5D.pdf

 Eligibility:

The regatta is open to all sailing yachts “ready for sea” in all aspects. It is up to the Captain to insure suitability of the Yacht for racing, including having sufficient fuel on board for the event. Safety gear and proper preparation cannot be overstated in offshore racing.

 Classes:

Depending on the number of entries, there will be at least one PHRF class and one JAM (jib and main) class.  Other classes will be created as needed with a minimum of 3 entries (i.e. Multi-hull) per class.  PHRF and JAM class participants will sail under the PHRF handicap system.  If a valid PHRF Certificate is submitted, that handicap will be used.

 Scoring:

Finish positions and times will be recorded for both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races.  Both will be used to calculate the individual race awards and the Castaways Cup  overall winner for each class.

Skippers Meeting:  

A skipper’s meeting was Thursday, September 10, 2009, at 1900 at Duffy's in Oakbrook Square. The purpose of the meeting is to:  pass out the: Sailing Instructions, define Classes and assign a Yacht Number for those boats that do not have Sail Numbers, identify Class Flags, clarify any issues, and give out the start times for Saturday’s Pursuit Race. Notification of the time and place for the Skippers Meeting will be to the e-mail address you provide on your completed registration form.

Last minute Race  cancellation due to weather or unforeseen circumstances will be sent by e-mail to the addresses on file by 6 pm Friday evening, and will be posted on the Castaways Cup web site (this page):

http://castawayscup.org

The Starts, The Courses, The Finishes: 

Saturday, September 12th:

Saturday/Start:  The start will be a pursuit start beginning approximately one-quarter mile north of the Lake Worth/Palm Beach Inlet.  The first start will be at 1000, Committee Boat G.P.S. time.  All auxiliary engines must be shut off no later than 5 minutes before your starting time and remain off until your finish.  Any boats seen by the race committee running their engine WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF THEIR START time will be protested.

In the unusual case of lack of wind, the race committee may delay the start until the breeze arrives.   The race committee will announce new times over the VHF radio channel 72 to all competitors.   Continue to monitor Channel 72 throughout the race for relevant information from the race committee.

A pursuit start is a start where an exact starting time based on your rating will be assigned to you.  There will be a starting line between the committee boat and a floating mark.  We try to use a floating pool with a palm tree.   The plan is to have all boats, fast and slow alike, finish the race at approximately the same time thereby giving everybody a chance for “first in the pool” honors.

The Course:    Saturday’s race will go from a starting line approx 1/4 mile north of Palm Beach/Lake Worth Inlet to a finish line ½ mile East of “R”2, the St Lucie Entrance Buoy. The course length is 24 nm.  The course is sailed in the Atlantic Ocean with no eastern boundary except possibly the Bahamas or Spain, and no western boundary except say, Florida. 

The Finish:   The finish line will be between the RC Boat ( at 27 09.942N  80 07.834W) and a floating mark.  There is a time limit for the race.  If no boats finish before 1800 the race is abandoned.  Any boat finishing in class makes it a race for the whole class.  Announcements will be made via VHF radio Channel 72. 

Sunday, September 13th:

Sunday/ Start:   The Starting line will be just south of the St. Lucie Inlet Channel around ½ mile offshore.  The start will be a traditional Class Start in accordance with RRS 26.  That means a five (5) minute start sequence for each class.  Class flags and starting sequences will be announced at the Skippers Meeting Sept. 10^th and again at the Marriott Pool Party.   The first signal marking the beginning of the five (5) minute sequence will be at 1000 by the committee boat’s G.P.S. time. That means that at 1005, the first class will start.   Subsequent classes will start at their class signal at 5:00 minute intervals.   All auxiliary engines must be shut off at the five (5) minute warning signal to your class start or else you will get protested.   The starting time and location may be changed due to weather. Announcements will be made from the committee boat on Channel 72 the morning of the race.

Some of you may wonder what you are supposed to do during this “lag”, shall we say, of time between your “warning” and your “start”.   Well, most boats sail around saying good morning, or harass last night’s revelers.   Others try to jockey for the best starting position.   For those of you who have not experienced this pleasure/chaos, when you join in you will love it! 

Sunday: The Course and the Finish:   From the starting position at St Lucie to the finish at R"2",   Palm Beach/Lake Worth Inlet, the reverse of the course from Saturday.  The course length will be 24 nm.  There is a time limit of 8 hours for the race. Any boat finishing in class makes it a race for the whole class. The finish line is between R"2" and a beach flag ashore near the pump house.

You are required to announce your boat name, and sail numbers or assigned Yacht Number,  on Channel 72 as you approach the finish line, as the distance from shore and other circumstances can make identifications difficult.

Awards:

Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each class for each day depending on the number of entrants: 1^st for 3 entrants; 1^st and 2^nd for 5 entrants; 1^st, 2nd and 3^rd for 7 entrants; 1^st, 2nd, 3rd and 4^th for 10 or more entrants.   Classes may be split if we have over14 entrants/class.  A CASTAWAYS CUP will be awarded to the best overall combined finishes and times for both racing days in each class.   Saturday’s race results will be announced at the Pool Party at the Marriott.

Saturday’s and Sunday’s Awards and the coveted CASTAWAYS CUPS will be presented at the 5^th Annual  CASTAWAYS CUP Dinner and Awards Banquet  on October  4^th., beginning at 5 pm in the Jupiter Park Civic Center.  The Awards Banquet is a catered affair with fine food, music, dancing, and general frivolity for skippers, their mates, crews, and guests.

 Our trophies are world class, distinct and tasteful, and have received many compliments, so come and give it a go!

Entry fees:

Entry fee includes skipper’s materials and one dinner ticket for the Castaways Cup Dinner and Awards Banquet on October 4th.

Note: Substantial discounts, shown below, are available for those who register early.

Racing Vessel Entry Fee Received:

Please make your check payable to: Castaways Sailing Inc. and mail to: Sandy Smith, 1251 Gulfstream Way, Singer Island, FL 33404. The Release of Liability and Entrance form Click here, and your Check must be received by August 1, 2009, to receive the maximum discount.   

Crew Dinner Fees for Reservations for the Oct. 4^th Awards Banquet Received:                       

We must have an accurate head count of crew members and guests who are planning to attend the Castaways Cup Awards Banquet so that enough food can be ordered.  Prior reservations are a must (Click here).

You may mail the Crew Registration Form (Click Here), and your check for your crew and guests for the banquet,  any time prior to Sept. 27^th . Please make your check payable to:  Castaways Sailing Inc. and mail to: Sandy Smith, 1251 Gulfstream Way, Singer Island, FL 33404.

If this is your first time sailing with us, please include a copy of your PHRF handicap certificate with your application.  If you have no handicap, one will be assigned to you prior to the race based on National PHRF ratings.  It is to your advantage to have a certificate as an assigned rating is based on national averages.

http://www.ussailing.org/phrf/Tool_%20HI_LO_AVG%20Report%20Oct%2021%202008.pdf

 Race Applications cannot be accepted after September 10, 2009.

 If you have any questions about the race please call Jon Luscomb (561) 575-4097 or Gordon Rowse, Race Chairman, 561-844-9161 for additional information. Questions about the October 4^th Dinner and Awards Banquet can be answered by Sandy Smith, 561-685-7244.

Dockage and Hotel Reservations:

Attendees may make hotel reservations with the Marriott at (772) 225-7139.   A block of reduced- rate rooms have been reserved at a rate of $109.00/night for this regatta. You may make your reservations by advising the reservations clerk that you are sailing in the Castaways Cup Regatta.  Dock rates are $1.50 per foot and YOU are responsible for making your own dock reservations. Each boat is responsible for gratuities for the dockhands.

 For reservations via the Internet: 

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pbiir-hutchinson-island-resort-and-marina/

On the right side of the Internet page, you will see:  Check rate and availability.  Simply enter September 12^th and follow the directions.  Our group code is CRECREA.  This code will give you the discounted room rate if you reserve early enough.

Click Here for the:

5th Castaways Cup Release of Liability

The above form registers the vessel for both legs of the race.  As noted above, you must also register for a slip and hotel room if desired.

Additional crew member registrations for the 4^th Dinner and Awards Banquet can be completed with the form below.

Click Here for the: