Race Instructions – McMillan Race
Ahoy racers and cruisers, the following are the race instructions for the upcoming McMillan Memorial Race, scheduled for May 1st 2010.
1. This event is intended to include all interested boaters including racers, cruisers and power boaters. Sailboats will finish in 5 to 6 hours, prevailing wind should make it an off the wind run or reach! Oh, Yea! Powerboats can probably make the trip in about 1 ½ hours, passing sailboats all the way! Could be fun! Racers; There will not be a committee boat for this race.
2. Skippers Meeting; time; 8; 00 AM Saturday morning May 1st at the LMYC. $10 entry fee for racers
3. Race Start Time; 10; 30 AM. We will be doing a staggered start on this race. What this means is that each boat will be given a start time at the skippers meeting, the boats with slower handicaps will start before boats with faster handicaps. The boat with the slowest handicap will start at 10; 30, all other boats will start at the time given to them at the skippers meeting. This will result in the fastest boats leaving close to an hour later. For this reason it is important to attend the skippers meeting. Also, I would appreciate a heads up if you intend to race so I can calculate as many as possible of the start times before hand. Each boat will self start at the GPS time allotted to your boat at the skippers meeting.
4. Start line; Green Can GC“143” on the ICW just north of the bridge will be the start line marker. A line extending west, 270 degrees, from the marker will be the start line. No motoring 10 minutes prior to your boats start time. It is each skipper’s responsibility to know his boats start time and make a clean start.
5. Race Course; 30.5 nautical miles. Proceed north in the ICW. This is simple, if you are sailing north in the ICW and don’t run aground, you will be on course.
6. Finish Line; Green marker G“143” will be the finish line marker. This is the last green marker before the intersection of the PM channel and the ICW. A line extending west, 270 degrees, from the marker will be the finish line. Please note your time when crossing the line. The order of finish will be the same as placing but we may be spread out and not know who was ahead or behind you.
7. Special rules; This race has some inherent safety concerns unique to this race. Since we will be racing in a narrow channel no blocking will be allowed. It is conceivable that a boat that started before other boats could prevent the following boats from passing for 30 miles, therefore, no blocking. Sportsmanlike behavior required. Motoring will be allowed for safety purposes, however any use of the motor to advance toward the finish line is prohibited. Double head sails are not permitted. Spinnakers optional, declare spin. or no spin. Auto-Pilots permitted.
8. Safety; A concern while sailing in the ICW is barge traffic. If a barge is sighted and you are dueling with another boat for position, the boat that is leading has right of way. For simplicity, a boat who’s bow is ahead of another is leading. The burden boat or the boat that is behind must yield to the leading boat. Please yield early, put some clear water between you and the lead boat before the barge gets on top of you. You can resume dueling with the lead boat after the barge passes. Monitor channel 69 VHF radio and channel 13 for ICW traffic.
9. Sailors: 5 to 6 hour sail, flat water, prevailing wind makes this a downwind run. Power boaters: 1 ½ hour run, start late and pass sailboats all the way.
10. After the race: No organized events scheduled. Options: anchor near marker “13” in the Port Mansfield cut. This is a fine spot with deep water up to the beach. OR get a slip in Port Mansfield. El Jeffies Marina, phone # 956-944-2876, or call Port Mansfield harbor master, there are other slips available. FYI, motel rooms are available in Port Mansfield for overflow crew or if you just want to drive up and party after the race.