Thirty-Second Annual George Moffett Race

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Organizing Authority: Holmes Hole Sailing Association
11:10 AM Warning Gun

Entry Deadline: Friday, September 4^th. Be on time: late entries will not be accepted!

1. Rules

The Moffett Race will be governed by the Rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 and these Sailing Instructions.

2. Entries

Competitors may enter by mailing or delivering a completed entry form to:

HHSA c/o Gates
26 Ocean View Farm Road
Chilmark, MA 02535

so that it will arrive no later than Friday September 4, 2009. [Do not hand-deliver to mailbox; post office will confiscate!]

3. Notices to Competitors

Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at Race Headquarters located at Gannon and Benjamin.

4. Signals Made Ashore

Signals made ashore will be displayed from the flagpole located at Gannon & Benjamin on the southwest side of Vineyard Haven harbor. If a postponement is signaled ashore, the warning signal will be made not less than one hour after the AP is lowered.

5. Courses and Marks

The courses to be sailed will be chosen from the following (or their reverse, as applicable):

Course 1

Start between an inflatable mark and the Committee Boat. Leave RW “NW” Mo(A) Bell to port; Falmouth Fl. Red Bell “16” to starboard; Fl. R “12” off Succonesset Shoal to port; Falmouth Fl. Red Bell “16” to port; RW “NW” Mo(A) Bell to starboard. Finish between committee boat and an inflatable mark off Eastville. Nominal distance: 20.0 nm.

762k Map Image (Not for navigational use.)

Course 2

Start between an inflatable mark and the Committee Boat. Leave C “23A” and Fl G Bell “23” to starboard. Leave all the following marks to port in the following order: R Gong “22” at east end of Hedge Fence; Bell R “10” southwest of Wreck Shoal; Bell R “2” off Waquoit; Green can C“15” at west end of L’Hommedieu Shoal. Leave RW “NW” Mo(A) Bell to starboard, regard C “23A” off East Chop and finish between Committee Boat and an inflatable mark off Eastville. Nominal distance: 18.1 nm.

826k Map Image (Not for navigational use.)

Course 3

Start between an inflatable mark and the Committee Boat. Leave G Can “23A” and Fl G Bell “23” off East Chop to starboard; G/R Bell, east end of Squash Meadow to starboard; R Bell “2” off Edgartown Harbor to starboard; both Fl G Bell “23” and G Can “23A”off East Chop to port. Finish between Committee Boat and an inflatable mark off Eastville. Nominal distance: 10.1 nm.

407k Map Image (Not for navigational use.)

Course 4

Start between an inflatable mark and the Committee Boat. Leave RW “NW” Mo(A) Bell to port. Leave all of the following marks to port in the following order: Fl R Bell “16” off Falmouth Harbor; Fl G Bell “23” off East Chop; R Bell “2” off Edgartown Harbor; Fl R Gong “22” at east end of Hedge Fence; Fl G Bell “23” off East Chop. Regard C “23A” off East Chop and finish between Committee Boat and an inflatable mark off Eastville. Nominal distance: 19.1 nm.

829k Map Image (Not for navigational use.)

Note: All vessels shall honor N “4” and C “23A” at the entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor.

Course Designation:

The course for each Division will be designated by the appropriate number displayed on a white board on the starboard side of the Committee Boat. If a course designation is followed by “R”, the course is to be sailed in the reverse order as shown above. In that case, code flag “R” will also be displayed. All marks except start and finish will be government marks.

The diagrams linked above show the courses and course designations. They are supplied for convenience and should not be relied upon for navigation.

6. Starting and Finishing Lines; Starting System (This changes rule 26.)

All boats shall sail by the stern of the Committee Boat on starboard tack and check in prior to their warning signal. The Race Committee may deploy a small orange inflatable spherical buoy at a distance of eight to ten feet from the transom of the Committee Boat, the purpose of which will be to keep starting boats well clear of the Committee Boat. Such buoy and its painter, if deployed, will be deemed to be an extension of the Race Committee Boat.

The course will be designated by the appropriate Number displayed on a white board on the starboard side of the Committee Boat.

The starting sequence shall be:

Watch the shapes — Do not depend on the gun. Start may be delayed to let ferries pass.

Signals Sequence	Time Sequence
Division II	AM
Yellow flag or shape	11:10	Warning Gun
Blue flag or shape	11:15	Preparatory Gun
Red flag or shape	11:20	Starting Gun
Division I	AM
Red flag or shape	11:20	Warning Gun
Blue flag or shape	11:25	Preparatory Gun
Red flag or shape	11:30	Starting Gun

7. Postponement

In accordance with Racing Rule 27.3, the Race Committee may postpone the Race prior to its start by displaying Code Flag AP and two guns up, one gun down. If the Race is not abandoned pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the warning signal will be made one minute after the AP is removed with one gun.

8. Recalls/Restarts

An Individual Recall will be signaled in accordance with Racing Rule 29.1 (Code Flag X and one sound signal). The Race Committee will also attempt to hail the boat's sail number or name and on VHF Channel 73. The Penalty for failing to start properly is 15 minutes.

A General Recall and a subsequent restart will be signaled in accordance with Racing Rule 29.2 (Code Flag 1^st Substitute , and two guns up, one gun down).

9. Abandonment

Abandonment of the race will be signaled by the display of Code Flags N over A and firing 3 guns.

10. Shortened Course

The Race Committee at its discretion may shorten the course by finishing the race at any prescribed turning mark, flying code flag S , displaying a blue flag and firing two guns. Boats will finish between the prescribed turning mark and the Race Committee boat.

11. Time Limit

If no boat has finished after five hours from the Div. II start, then the race is canceled. If a boat fails to finish within two (2) hours of the first boat to finish in her Division she will be scored DNF. This changes RRS 35.

12. Scoring

Scoring is based on The Holmes Hole Sailing Association handicap system. The handicap system has worked well for 30 years and it is based on the type of vessel and its assumed performance. HHSA Handicaps are recorded in seconds/mile from which Time Allowances & Corrected Times are calculated. Scratch Sheets may show rounded minutes of allowance but seconds/mile will prevail in scoring.

13. Race Committee

The Race Committee Boat will be the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club's Committee Boat. The committee will monitor Channel 73 for emergency purposes.

14. Restrictions

No spinnakers or loose-luffed sails. Running of engines for the purpose of propulsion after the preparatory signal will disqualify a yacht, Racing Rule 42.1. All ferries are deemed restricted in their ability to maneuver and shall have the right of way

15. Safety Requirements

Life-Saving Equipment and Personal Buoyancy: Life jackets must be worn at all times while racing; this changes RRS 40.1. Please notify the Committee Boat if leaving the race area with the intention of not completing the race (VHF channel 73 or cell phone #508-627-0509).

16. Protests

Protests shall be delivered to the Race Committee at Race Headquarters within one hour after the Race Committee boat moors. Hearings will be held as soon as possible, and the schedule thereof will be posted.

17. Violation of “Ferry” Channel

A racing boat that causes any Steamship Authority vessel, or other large commercial vessel, southwest of a line at the mouth of Vineyard Haven harbor between RN “4” and C “23A” to: alter course, slow down, back down, or that passes in front of such vessels and does not yield them right of way, or which in the judgment of the Race Committee passes too close shall be disqualified without protest or hearing. This changes RRS 35 and A4.1.

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[There is no stigma in protesting what you believe to be a real infringement. This is the traditional way of keeping the sport clean and friendly. You may exonerate yourself by doing 2 circles (720°) as soon after the incident as safely possible as described in Rules 44.1 and 44.2: Penalties for Breaking Rules of Part 2.]

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Skippers' Meeting Friday, September 11^th, 5:00 PM at Gannon & Benjamin. Please attend for Division assignment, Division streamer, Sailing instructions, and crew availability.

DIVISION ASSIGNMENT: The fleet will be divided into two divisions; the scratch sheet will show division assignments. Division II boats will start first, and fly a green streamer from the permanent backstay or the end of the aft boom. Division I boats will fly a red or orange streamer. You are responsible for obtaining your division assignment and streamer at or after the Skipper's Meeting, at Gannon & Benjamin. Failure to fly the proper streamer will result in a 15-minute penalty.

ALTERNATE RACE DAY: Sunday, September 13^th. The decision will be made no later than the Friday night Skippers' meeting. Check Friday night or Saturday morning for a “C” Flag on rigging pole at Gannon and Benjamin or listen to WMVY 92.7 FM if you are unable to attend.

ENTRY FORM: Send Entry Form and $40.00 made out to Holmes Hole Sailing Association to arrive by Friday, September 4^th. Members of USSA: $35.00 ($5.00 off). >>>>>>Late entries will not be accepted. <<<<<<

Mail to:

AWARDS PARTY: 5:00 PM. The Vineyard Haven Yacht Club has graciously agreed to open their facility (at the foot of Owen Little Way) for our use. We will supply chowder and race results. We ask that any boat with more than three crew members at the party make a donation of $5.00/head to help defray the cost. We also strongly encourage carpooling, walking, and/or arriving by water as parking at VHYC is limited.

PRIZES: George Moffett Trophy, a beautiful half-model made by Nathaniel West of the gaff sloop LUCIA, for first on corrected time, with winner's name and yacht inscribed. To be raced for annually. Pewter keeper prizes awarded for first through fifth places, overall.

Committee

• Hugh Schwarz, Honorary Race Chair
• Harry Duane, Honorary Race Chair
• Brock Callen, Principal Race Officer
• Roger Becker, Chief Race Scorer
• Charlie Felder, Chief Race Scorer
• John Amabile, Commodore
• Kathy Logue, Moffett Race Secretary (693-7074)
• Irving Gates (645-9870)
• Jerry Goodale
• Philip Hale
• Nat Benjamin
• Sally Culkin

We dedicate this race to Pat West and George Moffett

Francis “Pat” West and George Moffett, Jr. were founding fathers of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association. Pat was our first and only Commodore until his death on July 4, 2002. Among many other achievements, he was responsible for keeping courtesy and a love of sailing foremost in all HHSA events. George was a veteran racing and cruising sailor who won both the SORC and Bermuda race on his yacht GUINEVERE. He gave Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary to the island and explored both Newfoundland and the Ethiopian Highlands with his camera.

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PAT WEST MEMORIAL GAFF RIG & SCHOONER RACE will be held Saturday, September 19^th.
Call 508-693-4658 for entry and all other information.

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