4   ADVERTISING 

4.1 Advertising is permitted, unless class rules do not permit, in accordance with ISAF Regulation 20.

Boats that intend to display advertising must so indicate on their entry form and pay the event advertising fee of $250. Class or boat manufacturer names and logos on sails and hulls will not be considered advertising and no additional fee will be required. Competitors are requested to respect the brand exclusivity of the Official Sponsors of this event. Their participation enhances the event for all competitors.

4.2 All boats shall display the event bow stickers on their bow while racing.

5   ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

5.1 Key West 2010 is open to One Design, PHRF, and IRC monohull boats, 24-85 feet LOA between hull perpendiculars, 20’ Sportboats (as described in NOR 5.7) and Corsair multihulls (Sprint 750 and 28R) that submit a completed entry.

5.2 Key West 2010 is open to those boats whose Owner or Skipper is a current member of their National Authority (US SAILING for U.S. entries; to join call 1-800-877-2451).

5.3 The entry deadline is 1700, December 18, 2009. A completed entry form, a signed waiver form and the entry fee must be received by Premiere Racing by December 18, 2009 to avoid the late fee of $200. No entries will be accepted after December 30, 2009 without an additional surcharge. Entry acknowledgment will be sent to valid entrants shortly after entry receipt.

5.4 The following one design classes are invited to participate: Corsair 28R, Corsair Sprint 750, Farr 40, Farr 30, J/105, J/109, J/120, J/80, Melges 24, Melges 32, Swan 42, TP52 and 20’ Sportboat one designs (as described in NOR 5.7). At the discretion of the Race Chairman, additional one design classes and groups of boats wishing to race level will be provided a separate class start or scored as a separate sub-class within their class based on the number of entries and the event classes that are established. 

5.5 PHRF entries must have a PHRF handicap of 175 or less. Entrants who competed in Acura Key West 2008 and/or Acura Key West 2009 and whose boats will be in the identical configuration do not need to submit the full handicap application. They must instead submit the renewal application and all current PHRF handicap certificates. All other PHRF entrants must submit a completed PHRF handicap application and all current PHRF handicap certificates prior to the December 18, 2009 entry deadline. After that date a late fee of US$100 must accompany the PHRF application. Current local certificate(s) are required of all PHRF entries for measurement verification only. Assigned handicaps may differ from local handicaps and from the Acura Key West 2008 or 2009 handicap in the case of a renewal application. A Key West PHRF certificate will be sent to entrants after the PHRF Consortium has assigned a handicap. PHRF entrants should not wait for their Key West handicap certificate before submitting their entry. 

5.6 IRC entries must have a minimum TCC of 0.970. Competitors wishing to race under IRC must submit a copy of their 2009 valid “Endorsed” IRC rating certificate with their completed entry form prior to the December 18, 2009 deadline. IRC rating applications for US flagged boats can be obtained through US SAILING (401-683-0800 or IRC@ussailing.org). Boats from other nations should consult their rating office or contact www.ircrating.org.

5.7 There will be a start for a 20’ Sportboat class at this year's Key West Race Week. We extend an invitation to one design 20’ Sportboats of similar size (20-22’ LOA), including the Laser SB3, Melges 20, Ultimate 20, Viper 640 and other similar designs as approved by Premiere Racing. The fleet will be scored with elapsed time, within their respective one-design fleets for designs with 8 or more entrants and on corrected time for all other sportboat entrants. Specific information regarding handicapping, crew weight limits and safety requirements will be provided in the 2010 Key West 20’ Sportboat Rules and Safety Requirements (to be posted on the event web site on or about September 30, 2009).

5.8 International Team Competition – The Nautica Watches Trophy

5.8.1 Key West 2010, presented by Nautica will feature an International Team Competition. The competition will be based upon cumulative scoring of national/regional teams composed of three boats competing in three separate classes, provided there are sufficient entries in each class. The participating classes may be selected from the Farr 40, Melges 32 and Melges 24 classes. Based upon final entries, the participating classes may be changed at the discretion of the Race Chairman. Each country/region may enter as many as three teams of boats. Teams may be nominated from geographically recognized regions such as Europe or the Pacific Rim when there are not sufficient boats from a single country represented to constitute a three-boat team. Team nominations should be received in writing no later than December 11, 2009. Team applications are available by contacting Premiere Racing or on the event web site.

5.8.2 If a three boat team cannot be created from one country or region, two of the three boats on each team may hail from or be chartered by representatives from the country or region represented. At least 30% of the crew members from those two boats should be nationals or legal residents of that country or region.

5.9 Each owner, skipper and individual participating crew member shall execute a waiver of liability and media release / crew waiver. This form will be available on the event web site and on site at Race Headquarters.   

6   FEES

6.1 The entry application shall be accompanied by an entry fee. The entry fee, based on LOA, is delineated below.

            20’ Sport Boat   $550

24'                    $725    

            25' - 29'             $775    

            30' - 34'             $850    

            35' - 39'             $950    

            40' - 44'             $1,150

            45' - 49'             $1,300

            50' - 54'            $1,600  

            55' +                 $1,900

A boat's LOA is to be rounded to the lower whole number (i.e. 29.01' = 29' and 29.99' = 29') for the purpose of determining entry fees.

6.2 A Race Week Access Card will be required for each person participating in any of the event's shoreside activities. The card provides access to the race week reception tent and Industry Partner exhibit area for six evenings. Shoreside activities will include trophy presentations, beverages, raffle prizes, Sponsor and Partner demonstrations, panel discussions, snacks, race video, music and local Key West entertainment. Access Cards, which are optional, are US$60 in advance and US$65 on-site (price includes sales tax).

7   PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, January 15

1300-1800         One Design Crew Weigh-In / Bow Stickers &

Numbers Available for Pre-Registration Pick Up 

Saturday, January 16

0900-1800         One Design Crew Weigh-In / Bow Stickers &

Numbers Available for Pre-Registration Pick Up 

Sunday, January 17

0800-0900         Filing of PHRF Handicap Appeals

0900-1200         PHRF Rating Appeal Hearings

0900-1800         One Design Crew Weigh-In

0900-1700         Registration

1600-1700         Presentation / Panel Discussion

1700-1730         Skippers' Meeting

1800-2000         Welcoming Reception

Monday-Friday, January 18 - 22

0900                 Harbor Start  

1030-1630         Racing  

1700-1800         Shoreside Activities and Briefings

1800-2000         Prize Giving and Evening Party

8   MEASUREMENT, APPEALS AND CLASSES

8.1 The preliminary scratch sheet will be available on or before December 30, 2009 on the event web site.

8.2 PHRF

8.2.1 Best efforts will be made to have the preliminary PHRF class breaks with the PHRF handicap for each entry posted on the event web site by December 30, 2009. Additionally, they will be posted on-site at Race Headquarters no later than 1800 on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

8.2.2 PHRF Class Breaks: In an effort to provide 'like racing' under PHRF, boat displacement, sail area to displacement, and other factors will be considered when determining class breaks. Rating adjustments of up to 3 seconds per mile may be assigned to boats after class splits are determined.

8.2.3 Premiere Racing will appoint a Special PHRF Handicapping Appeals Committee. Those owners who wish to appeal their handicap or the handicap of a competitor must pay an administrative fee of US$150 for each handicap they are appealing and submit their appeal in writing to Premiere Racing no later than Tuesday January 5, 2010. Checks should be payable to Premiere Racing, Inc. If the appeal is denied, this fee will be donated to race week’s official charity, Shake-A-Leg Miami. If the appeal is upheld the fee will be returned to the appellant. Appeals should be filed only if there is new and relevant information that the Consortium was unaware of at the time the handicap was assigned. Any questions pertaining to PHRF handicaps should be referred to Premiere Racing and not to the individual members of the PHRF Consortium.

8.2.4 No appeals will be accepted on-site except those dealing with administrative or certificate errors. On-site appeals must be submitted at Race Headquarters between 0800-0900 Sunday, January 17, 2010. Both appellant and owner/representative of the boat whose rating is being appealed (if applicable) must be at Race Headquarters at 0900 for the appeal hearing. The appellant is responsible for notifying the owner of the boat whose rating is being appealed (if applicable). Appeal forms are available by contacting Premiere Racing.

8.3 IRC

8.3.1 The IRC Rating Authority has directed that the 2009 IRC Rules shall apply and that the validity of the 2009 IRC certificates is extended for the purpose of the Key West 2010.

8.3.2 Owners must provide an “Endorsed” IRC rating certificate. To insure receipt of an endorsed certificate by the December 18 deadline, US flagged boats are to submit a fully completed, measurer verified IRC application to IRC@ussailing.org prior to November 25, 2009. Boats from other nations should consult their IRC Rule Authority as shown on www.ircrating.org.

8.3.3 Rating changes should be submitted to US SAILING (or for non-U.S. boats to their appropriate IRC Rule Authority) prior to 1700 (EST) Friday January 8, 2010. Requests submitted to a Rule Authority after 1700 (EST) Monday January 4 will be subject to Expedited Processing fees. Acceptance of changes submitted after that date require the approval of the RORC Rating Office. Except in the case of Rating Office error, or (at the discretion of the RORC Rating Office) other errors which increase TCC, no IRC rating change will be accepted after January 14, 2010.

8.3.4 For the ‘IRC Big Boat Class’ (or Classes) only, IRC Rules 26.1.5 (d) and (e) are replaced. For reference purposes, the minimum TCC in 2009 for the Big Boat Class was 1.257 (2010 TCC to be determined following the entry deadline, December 18, 2009).

IRC Rule 26.1.5 (d) and (e) are replaced with: During the regatta, the sails on board (including mainsails) may vary from day to day but shall remain the same for each individual race day, including multiple race days and cases of damage to sails.

9   SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The Sailing Instructions will be available on or about January 4, 2010 on the event web site and at Race Headquarters beginning on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

10   RACING AREAS

It is anticipated that there will be three separate racing areas, one for each Division. As entries and class splits are not known this far in advance, it is not possible to assign definitive racing areas in advance for all PHRF, IRC and One Design boats. The preliminary class assignments will be posted on the event web site on or about September 30, 2009.

11   SCORING

11.1 Ten races are scheduled of which three must be completed to constitute a series. A maximum of three races may be held on any race day.

11.2 For the Melges 24 and Melges 32 classes, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score subject to rule 90.3(b) if at least seven races are completed. For all other classes, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores. No scores will be excluded. This modifies RRS Appendix A2.

11.3 PHRF Classes will be scored using the handicaps provided by the Key West PHRF Consortium with the actual course distances used.

11.4 The IRC Classes will be scored using the IRC Time Correction Factor using time on time scoring.

11.5 The Corsair Sprint 750 and 28R multihulls will be scored using handicaps provided by Corsair Marine with the actual distances used.

12   DECISIONS OF THE JURY

12.1 When an international jury is constituted in accordance with rules 70.5, 91(b) and Appendix N its decisions are final.

12.2 Decisions of a national jury are subject to appeal.

13   ARBITRATION

For protests involving an alleged breach of the rules of Part 2 of the RRS, a short arbitration hearing will be held prior to a protest hearing. This modifies Part 5 Section B of the RRS.

14   RESPONSIBILITY

14.1 The safety of a boat and its crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the Skipper who must ensure that the boat is fully sound, thoroughly seaworthy and manned by an experienced and physically capable crew. Neither the establishment of regulations or inspection of a boat in any way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of the Skipper.

14.2 It is the sole and inescapable responsibility of each boat to decide whether or not to start or continue in any race.

14.3 Premiere Racing and participating Sponsors and Industry Partners of Key West 2010 do not accept responsibility for loss of life or injury to participants or others, or for the loss or damage to any vessel in any way or from any cause during or related to this event.

15   PRIZES

15.1 Regatta class awards will be presented to first, second and third place boats each day.

15.2 Overall series awards based on the cumulative scores for the event will be awarded to first, second and third place boats in each class after the final race.

15.3 For classes with fewer than 8 entries, daily and series awards for first and second place boats will be awarded.

15.4 Specialty Trophies: The Paul Washburn Sportsmanship award will be presented at the Skippers’ Meeting. A Boat of the Day award will be presented for each day's top performer. The first place team participating in the International Team competition will be recognized with the Nautica Watches Trophy. The Key West Trophy will be awarded to the PHRF Boat of the Week.  The Boat of the Week Trophy will be awarded to the Overall Winner of Race Week.

16   AMENDMENTS TO THIS NOTICE

Premiere Racing reserves the right to amend this notice. Any amendments of this notice made prior to January 8, 2010 will be posted on the event web site.  All amendments will be posted on the Official Notice Board and copies will be available at Race Headquarters.

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