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1. ORGANISING AUTHORITY

The Organising Authority (OA) will be The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) 15 Point Pleasant Road, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda.
Tel: (441) 294-6716, Fax: (441) 295-6361, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
All communications should be marked for the attention of the Sailing Secretary.

2. VENUE

The venue will be Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda.

3. EVENT GRADING

The Argo Group Gold Cup is an ISAF Grade WC event.
This grading is subject to review by the ISAF Match Race Rankings Sub Committee. The event may be re-graded when there is clear reason to do so.

4. PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

4.1 (a) The Race office will be open from 1400 hours Sunday 2nd October 2011.
(b)(i) Registration for Skippers will be between 1500 hours and 1800 hours and also between 1930 hours and 2100 hours on Sunday 2nd October 2011 and between 0830 hours and 1200 hours on Monday 3rd October 2011;
(ii) Skippers are required to contact the OA either by telephone at 441-294-6716 or E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it attention the Sailing Secretary to obtain permission and make arrangements for a possible late registration.
(c) Crew weigh in will be at the time of registration.
(d) Practice for Skippers will be between 0900 hours and 1100 hours, 1130 hours and 1330 hours, and also between 1400 hours and 1600 hours Monday 3rd October 2011.
(e) The first briefing with the OA will be at 1700 hours, Monday 3rd October 2011 with the first briefing with the umpires held immediately afterward.
(f) The Opening Reception will be at 1830 hours on Monday 3rd October 2011.
(g) Racing days will be Tuesday 4th October to Sunday 9th October 2011.
(h) Daily briefings will be held one hour before the first scheduled race each day.
(i) Time of the first race each day except Sunday 9th October 2011 will be 0900 hours. On Sunday 9th October 2011 the scheduled time of the first race is 1000 hours.
(j) Daily press conferences will be held at 5:00pm unless delayed by racing.
(k) The Prizegiving will be held on Sunday 9th October 2011 immediately following completion of racing.

4.2 Unless excused by the OA, attendance at the following is mandatory:
(a) Initial Briefing for skippers.
(b) Daily briefing, for skippers.
(c) Daily press conferences, for skippers sailing that day.
(d) Pro-Am event (scheduled for Friday 7th October, 2011).
(e) The Final Four Reception for semi final skippers and crews.
(f) Prizegiving for the final skippers and crews.

5. SKIPPERS ELIGIBILITY

(a) Up to 24 Skippers will be invited to sail in the event. Only skippers invited by the OA will be eligible to enter this event. Of these 24 skippers, one place will be reserved for a skipper from the Bermuda National Match Race Championship, one place will be reserved for a skipper from the Knickerbocker Cup and one place will be reserved for a skipper from the Detroit Cup.
(b) The registered skipper shall helm the boat at all times while racing, except in an emergency.
(c) To remain eligible a skipper shall confirm acceptance of invitation in writing, (fax or e-mail is acceptable) to be received by the date specified in the letter of invitation.
Tour Card Holders shall also confirm their participation to the Tour Office.
(d) A non-refundable entry bond of US $1,500 shall accompany the acceptance of invitation for this to be valid unless extended by the OA.
(e) All competitors shall meet the eligibility requirements of ISAF Regulation 19.2.
(f) All competitors shall obtain an ISAF Sailor ID by registering online at www.sailing.org/isafsailor. Skippers shall inform the OA of their ISAF Sailor ID at registration.

6. ENTRIES

The skipper shall be entered on completion of registration, crew weigh in and the payment of all fees and deposits. All payments shall be made by credit card (MasterCard or VISA) or US$ or BD$ currency / cheque.

6.1 Skippers:
(a) The RBYC will consider entry applications from potential Skippers as received. Accepted applicants must ensure all remaining forms are received by the RBYC not later than one week after acceptance unless an extension is granted.
(b) In order to confirm their entry, Skippers shall at the same time remit an appearance bond in compliance with paragraph 5 (d). This appearance bond will also serve as the U.S. $1,500 damage deposit (see paragraph 6.4).
(c) The bond will not be refunded to any Skipper who fails to attend and complete registration.

6.2 Entry Fee
There is no entry fee.

6.3 When a skipper accepts an invitation and later withdraws within two months of the event or leaves the event before the end without written approval from the OA, a zero score may be applied to their ISAF Ranking points for that event by the ISAF (ISAF Regulation 27.2.2(d)). In addition the World Match Racing Tour may deduct points from the skippers overall Tour standings.

6.4 Damage deposit
(a) The $1,500 damage deposit is the maximum payable by the skipper as a result of any one incident.
(b) In the event a deduction from the damage deposit is decided by the OA it shall require that the deposit be restored to its original amount before the skipper will be permitted to continue in the event.
(c) Any remaining deposit after the event will be refunded within 10 days after the event.

6.5 Insurance
All competitors are required to have adequate third party insurance.

7. RULES

7.1 Rules:
(a) The event will be governed by the rules as defined in the RRS, and including Appendix C. (b) The rules for the handling of boats will apply, and will also apply to any practice sailing and sponsor races. IOD Class rules will not apply.
(c) The National Authority prescriptions will apply except the prescriptions to rules 34, 37 and 40.1.
(d) The National Authority Code of Conduct (attached) will apply. This shall be posted on the official notice board.

7.2 Major Alterations to the RRS

A boat may not request redress under RRS 62.1(a). The protest committee may decide to consider giving redress under that rule if it believes that an error has been made. The race committee may request the protest committee to consider this. This changes RRS 60.1(b) and 62.1(a).

Add to RRS C8.3: (d) made excessive attempts to verbally coerce, coach or influence an umpire decision; objected repetitively to an umpire decision (verbally or otherwise); or abused the umpires before or after an umpire decision.

Add to RRS 41: (e) help to recover from the water and return on board a crew member, provided the return on board is at the approximate location of the recovery.

Add to the last sentence of RRS 47.2 - Limitations on Equipment & Crew
"unless that person was placed on board by the OA and they have been retrieved from the water by a support boat or official boat."

7.3 An International Jury (IJ) will be appointed, in accordance with RRS Appendix N.

7.4 The OA may place an observer on each boat to provide information to the umpires.

8. BOATS AND SAILS

(a) The event will be sailed in International One Design Class type boats.
(b) Ten boats will be provided.
(c) The following sails will be provided for each boat:
Mainsail, Jib and Spinnaker.
(e) Boats will be allocated by draw, either daily or for each round as decided by the Race Committee.

9. CREW (INCLUDING SKIPPER)

(a) The number of crew (including the skipper) shall be four or five as declared at registration.
All registered crew shall sail all races.
(b) The maximum total crew weight, determined prior to racing shall be 350 kg, when wearing at least shorts and shirts.
(c) When a registered skipper is unable to continue in the event the OA may authorise an original crew member to substitute.
(d) When a registered crew member is unable to continue in the event the OA may authorise a substitute, a temporary substitute or other adjustment.

10. EVENT FORMAT

(a) Competitors will be divided into three groups of up to 8 skippers. Group appointments will be in accordance with ISAF Match Race Rankings list 30 days prior to the event, or at the discretion of the OA. The decision of the OA concerning group appointments is final and shall not be grounds for redress.
(b) The event will consist of the following stages:
(i) First Stage: Each group will be scheduled to sail a round robin (Each skipper will be scheduled to sail once against each other skipper in his group).
(ii) Second Stage: The third and fourth place skippers in each group will proceed to a repechage round robin (Each skipper will be scheduled to sail once against each other skipper in the group).
(iii) Third Stage: The two top skippers in each group from the First Stage will proceed to a knock-out competition along with the two top skippers from the repechage round (second stage).
(iv) Fourth Stage: Winners from the third stage will proceed to a semi-final knock-out competition. Losers from the third stage will proceed to a knock-out competition to determine places 5 through 8.
(v) Fifth Stage: Finals and Petite Finals knock-out competition.
(c) The OA may change the format, terminate or eliminate any round, when conditions do not permit the completion of the intended format.

11. COURSE

(a) The course will be windward/leeward with starboard roundings, finishing downwind.
(b) The intended course area will be Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda.

12. ADVERTISING

(a) As boats and equipment will be supplied by the OA, Regulation 20.4 applies. Each boat will be required to display advertising as supplied by the OA.
(b) Competitors may be permitted to display advertising ashore at the venue, but this is subject to individual negotiation with the OA.
(c) Boats shall not be permitted the right to protest for breaches of any rules regarding advertising (amends RRS 60.1).

13. PRIZES

(a) The first place skipper will be known as the 2011 winner of the Argo Group Gold Cup and recipient of the King Edward VII Gold Cup.
(b) There will be cash prizes, subject to funding, but the minimum total will be $100,000, which will be distributed as follows:

First place $ 50,000
Second place $ 20,000
Third place $ 10,000
Fourth place $ 7,000
Fifth place $ 5,500
Sixth place $ 4,000
Seventh place $ 2,500
Eighth place $ 1,000

(c) Points will be awarded to the top 8 for the World Match Racing Tour Championship.
(d) These prizes have been approved by the national authority.
(e) ISAF has been notified of these prizes.
(f) The OA may reduce a prize in the case of misconduct or refusal to comply with any reasonable request, including attendance at official functions.

14. MEDIA, IMAGES AND SOUND

14.1 If required by the OA:
(a) Television personnel and equipment (or dummies) supplied by the OA shall be carried on board while racing.
(b) Competitors shall wear microphones supplied by the OA during racing and be available for interviews when advised by the OA or RC.
(c) Registered skippers shall wear communications equipment supplied by the OA that will allow commentators to communicate with them whilst racing.

14.2 Competitors shall not interfere with the normal working of the OA supplied media equipment.

14.3 The OA and the World Match Racing Tour shall have the right to use any images and sound recorded during the event free of any charge.

15. COACH BOATS

Coach boats shall not be permitted.
A coach boat is any boat that is under the direction or control of a person gathering information or giving material support for the benefit of particular competitors either on the water or off.

16. DISCLAIMER

All those taking part in the event do so at their own risk. The OA, its associates and appointees accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury or inconvenience incurred, howsoever caused.

17. INVITATIONS

Entries will only be accepted from invited skippers. If you wish to be invited please register your request for an invitation as soon as possible by contacting the OA as indicated in para. 1above.

Date of Issue: March 17, 2011
Notice of Race - Final

1. All sailors competing in the sport of Sailing in Bermuda shall be members of the Bermuda Sailing Association (B.S.A), its clubs or Associate Organizations or Classes; or shall be members of the International Sailing Federation (I.S.A.F.); its Member National Authorities or their clubs, Associate Organizations or Classes.

2. All sailors competing in Bermuda shall be bound by the rules of the I.S.A.F. (RRS- current edition) as administered by the B.S.A. and this Code of Conduct. No sailor may compete in Bermuda when ineligible under the Rules of the I.S.A.F.

3. Any Competitor, Juror, Race Committee Member or person associated in the running of an event is prohibited from wagering on the outcome of any race or series of races in any event that has been sanctioned by the Bermuda Sailing Association.

4. All sailors and associated persons participating in sailing in Bermuda shall observe standards of good manners and sportsmanship in all their affairs.

5. All sailors and associated persons shall refrain from the use of illicit drugs and drugs banned under the RRS, while in Bermuda or representing Bermuda overseas.

6. Any incident(s) or failure to observe the standards of paragraphs 3, 4 and/or 5 by any sailor or associated person, may be brought to the attention of the B.S.A. for investigation and a hearing under the Rules of the I.S.A.F., and this Code of Conduct. This shall include the authority to impose penalties in accordance with Rule 69 where appropriate.

7. The B.S.A. may impose a penalty on a sailor or associated person in accordance with the Rules of the I.S.A.F. in the event that the I.S.A.F. or another Member National Authority has penalised a sailor or associate person under their Code of Conduct.

Timothy Patton
President, Bermuda Sailing Association