40th Annual Mariner Nationals Gathering
July 18-20, 2008
Surf City Yacht Club
9th Street and the Bay, Surf City, NJ
609 494 1532 www.scyc-nj.org

THIS REGATTA IS THE 2008 NATIONAL AND PRESIDENT’S CHAMPIONSHIP
REGATTA GATHERING OF THE MARINER CLASS ASSOCIATION.

Rules – The regatta will be governed the 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of US SAILING, the Mariner Class Association Rules Governing National and Regional Championships. Revised July 2006 (except as amended by this notice and the Sailing Instructions), this Notice of Race and any amendments thereto, and the Sailing Instructions and any amendments thereto.

1. Eligibility – The 2008 Mariner Nationals is open to all owners of Mariner one-design sailboats who have paid their 2008 Mariner Class Association dues by July 19, 2008 and who are otherwise qualified by applicable rules. The Regatta Committee is encouraging Mariner Sailors to come and enjoy sailing and socializing whether or not you want to actually participate in the racing part of the Regatta.
2. Entry Procedure – Entries will be accepted by the Surf City Yacht Club’s Mariner Nationals Regatta Committee. To enter the regatta an Official Entry Form must be completed. The Official Entry Form is attached to the Notice of Race and posted on the Association Website.(USMARINER.org). All boats must register. Official entry will not be considered complete unless accompanied by the appropriate entry fee and a signed skipper/crew waiver. The regatta entry fee is $110.00 per boat.
3. NOTE: The first 5 entries received from Skippers attending the Mariner Nationals Gathering for the first time will be charged only $60 as the Association wants to encourage your participation. The $50 reduction in the fee will be returned to you at the Regatta.
4. Entry Forms with the appropriate fee must be received by the Regatta Registration Manager by 8 PM Friday, July 18, 2008. Entries received after this time shall incur a late fee of $20.00. No entry will be accepted after 9 AM Saturday, July 19, 2008. The entry fee is not refundable.
5. Regatta Headquarters and Registration Manager – Regatta Headquarters will be the clubhouse of the Surf City Yacht Club, 9th Street and the Bay, Surf City, New Jersey, telephone (609) 494-1532. The Regatta Registration Manager is Bill D’Autrechy. Participants may register in advance by mailing a completed Official Entry Form with appropriate fee made out to SCYC Mail to: Bill D’Autrechy 2008 Mariner Nationals Registration Manager
   372 4nd Street
   Surf City, NJ 08008
   ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED.
6. Mandatory Check-In The Registration desk will be open from 1 PM to 8 PM Friday, July 18, 2008 for registration without late fee and check-in. The registration desk will be open on Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 8 AM to 9 AM for late registration and check-in.
7. Check-In Procedures – The skipper and crewmember(s) from each registered boat must check-in at the registration desk to verify that:
   • A. A properly completed Official Entry Form, including a signed skipper/ crewmember waiver, has been received by the Registration Manager and the appropriate entry fee paid;
   • B. Mariner Class Association dues for 2008 have been paid;
   • C. Sails to be used in the regatta have been measured at Regatta Headquarters and stamped as approved by the Regatta Measurer;
   • D. The registered boat has been inspected by the Regatta Measurer for compliance with class rules;
   • E. The skipper and crewmember(s) receive wrist bands for Saturday/Sunday lunches and admission to the Saturday Evening Social at the Surf City Yacht Club.
8. Waiver of Liability – Each boat shall submit a Waiver of Liability signed by the skipper and all crewmembers not later than 9 AM, Saturday, July 19, 2008. In the event of a crew substitution thereafter, the new crew(s) must submit a signed waiver to Bill D’Autrechy at Regatta Headquarters prior to racing.
9. Racing – Racing will be held in Manahawkin Bay. The number of races each day will be determined by the Race Committee based upon weather conditions. It is the intent of the Race Committee to conduct six (6) races over the two days of the regatta.
10. Mandatory and Voluntary Boat Weighing – Boats placing first, second and third in the Championship Fleet and the President’s Fleet must be weighed by the Regatta Measurer on the official Mariner Class Association scale at the lift in the SCYC marina promptly after the last race of the regatta is concluded. Any boat not meeting the class weight minimum of 1375 pounds will be disqualified in the sole discretion of the Regatta Measurer. The official scale will be available on Friday, July 18, 2008 between 1 PM and 8 PM for competitors desiring to weigh their boats in advance of racing.
11. Schedule of Events:

    	  Date 		  Day 		Time				 Function
    	7/18/08 	Friday 		1-8 PM 		Registration, mandatory check-in, sail
    							measurement, boat inspection, optional weigh-in,
    							Tuning/Sail Clinic 3-5 PM.
    							Cookout Approx. 6 PM
    							Annual Meeting Approx.7 PM
    
    	7/19/08 	Saturday	8-9 AM		Late registration and check-in.
    							Light breakfast served to competitors at 
    							Regatta Headquarters.
    					9:30-9:45 AM 	Skippers meeting at Regatta Headquarters.
    					10 AM 		Harbor gun.
    					10:45 AM 	First Race of the day. 4 Races
    							Scheduled. Lunch “On The Water”
    					Approx.5 PM 	Refreshments after the races.
    					6:30 -8:30 PM 	Club Social at Regatta Headquarters. 
    							Luau Theme, Open Bar, and Band
    
    	7/20/08 	Sunday 		8-9 AM 		Light breakfast served to competitors at
    							Regatta Headquarters.
    					9 AM 		Skippers meeting at Regatta Headquarters to announce
    							Championship and President’s Fleets.
    					9:30 AM 	Harbor gun.
    					10:15 AM 	First race of the day. (No race to start after 2 PM)
    					Approx.3 PM 	Lunch and refreshments after racing,
    							mandatory weighing of first, second
    							and third place boats in each fleet, and
    							Awards Ceremony at Regatta Headquarters
    

12. Scoring – RRS A4 Low Point Scoring System will apply. One race shall constitute a series. A boat’s worst finish will be discarded after six (6) races have been completed. After Saturday’s races have been scored, the Race Committee will divide the entire fleet into two fleets – a Championship Fleet and a President’s Fleet – for Sunday’s races. The cut point for the Championship Fleet will be determined by the Race Committee based upon the entire fleet size and will be announced by the Race Committee at the July 20, 2008 Skipper’s Meeting. Final scoring for the Championship fleet will include all races sailed during the regatta. Final scoring for the President’s fleet will include only the races sailed on Sunday, July 20, 2008. Both Fleets will sail together.
13. Protests – Protests must be filed with the Race Committee within one hour of the completion of the last race of the day as fixed by the Race Committee. Official protest forms may be obtained at the radio desk at Regatta Headquarters.
14. Prizes – Prizes will be awarded to at least the skipper and crew of the first, second and third place boats in the Championship and President’s Fleets. Prizes will also be awarded to the skipper traveling the farthest distance to participate, the highest finish for a “Rookie” Mariner Nationals Skipper, and the Most Improved Skipper from the previous years’ Nationals. Additional placement prizes will be awarded as available from donated items. A commemorative regatta T-Shirt will be given to each skipper and crewmember.
15. Sailing Instructions – Sailing Instructions will be available at the registration desk at Regatta Headquarters from 1-8 PM on July 18, 2008 and 8-9 AM on July 19, 2008.
16. Personal Flotation – The wearing of PFD’s by all competitors at all times while on the water is highly recommended.
17. Facilities and Dockage – Surf City Yacht Club has dry-sailing facilities with two (2) hoists to accommodate Mariners and a protected marina. Boats may be pulled out after Saturday’s races or left in the water, at the owner’s risk, for the duration of the regatta, to the extent that dockage/rafting space is available. Competitors should bring sufficient dock lines and fenders for overnight tie-up. There is a public launching ramp about ½ miles from SCYC that can be used for launching from a trailer for small fee.
18. Food for Competitors> – The Regatta fee includes a light breakfast for all competitors on Saturday and Sunday, lunch on Saturday and Sunday, refreshments and cookout Friday afternoon, refreshments after the racing Saturday and Sunday and the Saturday evening social at the SCYC. Lunches will be handed out on Saturday July 19, 2008 immediately following the Skipper’s Meeting.
19. Lodging For Competitors –See websites: LBI.com and discoversouthernocean.com. Lodging for sailors may be available on a limited basis. Contact Angie Pearce at 903 348 9700 or E Mail angie@pearcecrew.com
20. Notice of Mariner Class Association Annual Meeting – The Annual Meeting of the members of the Mariner Class Association will be held during the regatta at Regatta Headquarters. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7 PM Friday, July 18, 2008. All Mariner Class Members in the area are encouraged to attend.
21. Request that Competitors Provide Advance Notice of Intent to Participate – In order to assist in planning for this regatta, Surf City Yacht Club and the Mariner Nationals Committee request that competitors who reasonably anticipate registering for this regatta advise the Registration Manager of such intent, by telephone or email, as soon as possible prior to July 18, 2008. Such advance notice is requested as a courtesy for regatta planning purposes. Bill D’Autrechy 609 494 3016 E Mail: scmariner@Shorenetworks.com