Organizing Authority

The organizing authority is the Shorthanded Ocean Racing Association of Australia Inc. (SHORAA), which is affiliated with Australian Sailing as a class association.

World Sailing, Australian Sailing, and AMSA

The event will run under the auspices of the governing bodies for sailing, including World Sailing and Australian Sailing. The route and safety equipment requirements, communications, and risk management planning will be finalized after consultation with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). We will also consult with marine, port and conservation agencies (e.g. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority).

Rules

The rules which will apply will be:

• The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS)
• The Prescriptions and Special Regulations of Australian Sailing (AS)
• The IRC and OMR Rating System Rules
• International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea 1972 (COLREGS)

Changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing:

• Between the hours of official sunset and sunrise and when motoring, the rules of Part 2 will be replaced by the right-of-way rules of the International Regulations Preventing Collisions at Sea.
• RRS 41: will be changed to allow outside assistance for medical help, repairs and reprovisioning (see section below).
• RRS 41: will be changed to allow outside assistance the form of weather and fleet position information freely available to all boats and any publicly offered internet or broadcast weather information from sources available to all yachts, whether on a subscription or free basis. Information received whilst racing must be computer generated and not have any direct human input from outside the boat. To avoid any doubt, human weather routers are not permitted.
• RRS41: will be changed to allow outside assistance when a yacht temporarily ceases racing, providing a 24 hour stop before restart at the same point.
• RRS 44.1: will be changed so that the Two-Turn Penalty is replaced by a One-Turn Penalty including one tack and one gybe.
• RRS 51: A yacht with movable ballast or variable ballast (within the meaning of those terms in the Special Regulations) may move that ballast for the purpose of changing trim or stability.
• RRS 52: is modified to allow self-steering equipment to be used by all yachts, and to allow the use of stored power for the adjustment and operation of sails and the adjustment of movable water ballast or canting keels on any yacht.  However, the formal Notice of Race will include restrictions which would preclude a yacht needing to constantly run an internal combustion engine to power electrical or hydraulic systems.
• RRS 55.3: Fixed and retractable spinnaker poles and bowsprits are permitted for the purpose of setting asymmetrical spinnakers.

The Notice of Race will include provisions relating to protests, jury and arbitration.

Disqualification and Retirement

A Yacht that breaks a rule in Part 2 or 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing and does not take an alternative penalty may be disqualified from that Leg of the race. The race score for that Leg will reflect the DSQ.

A Yacht that breaks any other rule, the Notice of Race, or the Sailing Instructions, does not sail the course, or brings the event into disrepute in any way, may be disqualified from the whole event.

A Yacht which in any way breaks the COLREGS (e.g. sails through an exclusion zone, sails incorrectly in a traffic separation zone, does not show the correct navigation lights, or does not give way to right of way vessels) may be referred to the Protest Committee by the Race Director, and the Committee may impose a penalty or disqualify the yacht from the Leg or event.

A Yacht that fails in their position or media reporting may have a penalty imposed by the Race Director, ranging from hours added to a Leg’s elapsed time or position penalties for the Leg. Persistent failure in communications and reporting may be referred to the Protest Committee by the Race Director, and the Committee may impose a penalty or disqualify the yacht from the Leg or event.

A Yacht that in any way brings the event or the sport of yacht racing into disrepute may be disqualified or have another penalty imposed by the Race Director. This decision will not be subject to any appeal rights.

A Yacht may retire from a Leg or the race at any time. Unless they enter the Aussie Adventure Class, all yachts must return their trackers to the Race Director at the next port and positions will not be further publicized in event media.

Declarations

Both Crew to sign a declaration that all safety gear is aboard and functioning, that the Yacht is seaworthy, and that the Crew are medically fit prior to each Leg.

There will be a finish declaration after each Leg confirming compliance with race rules, reporting of any incidents and state of Yacht and Crew.

Race and Leg Starter

There will be a process (including the declaration above), media commitments, updated certifications, payment of moneys owed to the event or marinas/ports, placement of event provided flags, decals etc., and other requirements to be qualified as Race Starter and for each Restart a Leg Starter.

Reporting

The Sailing Instructions will require that Yachts report by email when they pass nominated gates, making a declaration that all safety gear is aboard and functioning, and that the Yacht is seaworthy and the crew is medically fit to continue the Leg. Voice communications, messaging, email and VHF reporting will be required before each Leg Restart (to confirm communications functioning).