WIORA

1.1 Racing Rules of Sailing
The race will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The prescriptions of Irish Sailing will apply.

1.2 Offshore Special Regulations
The World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR), Monohulls Cat 3 with Category 2 Life Raft and any amendments thereto for 2024 will apply. Where Offshore Special Regulations cannot be met, the OA may accept an alternative.

1.3 IRPCAS
Between local sunset and sunrise, the rules of RRS Part 2 shall cease to be applicable and shall be replaced IRPCAS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea).Between the times of local sunset and sunrise a boat shall take a scoring penalty as detailed in the Sailing Instructions.

1.4 Advertising
Boats may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the OA.  

 

2.1 Boat & Crew
The race is open to seaworthy boats which comply with the Rules and Regulations described in this Notice of Race and which are manned by an adequate number of experienced crew who are physically fit to face bad weather and which: -
i) are of monohull construction with a minimum length overall of 25ft;
ii) have a valid 2024 IRC Rating certificate issued no later than 1700hrs on August 2nd 2024;
iii) have a minimum SSS Numeral of 15 or STIX of 23;
iv) comply with the requirements of the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR)
2024-24 for races of OSR Category 3 Monohulls with a Category 2 life raft and AIS
Transponder;

2.2 Race Sub Divisions
There will be IRC Racing, IRC Cruiser, IRC Double Handed and an Echo division within the Race. All boats will be scored in IRC overall and their IRC sub-divisions, Echo overall

2.3 Cruiser - Furling Headsail
Boats entered in the IRC Cruiser division shall have a furling headsail in addition to the requirements above.

2.4 Minimum Crew numbers
The minimum crew on any boat shall be three apart from boats entered in the DoubleHanded/Mixed Two Person Classes.

2.5 Number of crew and Weight
IRC Rule 22.4 is amended to read “There are no limits on the number of crew and crew weight. This is subject to the number of crew being limited to the maximum capacity of the liferaft(s) carried on the boat.”

2.6 Automatic Steering – Double Handed/Two Person Mixed
Automatic or wind-vane steering is permitted (changes RRS 52) in the Double Handed & Two Person Mixed Classes. Entries must satisfy the OA that they have suitable and adequate experience and that their boat is appropriately organised for two-handed sailing.

2.7 Rating Deadline
Entrants shall email a copy of the boat’s 2021 IRC certificate to wioraenquiries@gmail.com or submit at registration. Changes to Ratings and Class certificates will only be accepted after the Rating Deadline (1700hrs on Wednesday 2nd August 2024) in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the OA.

 

Responsibility for compliance rests with the Person in Charge. However WIORA will endeavour to help Competitors to understand the OSR and reserves the right to conduct an OSR inspection on any boat at any time. The entrant shall complete an OSR Category 3 Checklist (available on www.wiora.ie) and declaration stating that the boat complies with the World Sailing Special Offshore Regulations and return to wioraenquiries@gmail.com by Friday 2nd August 2024.

4.1 Entry Limit
The total number of entries in the Race is restricted to 30 boats. The OA may increase this at its discretion subject to the availability of berths in finishing ports.

4.2 Entry Fee
Entries of eligible boats shall be made online through www.wiora.ie paying the entry fee of €180 for the 3 race series or €65 for a single race. 

4.3 Entry Cancellation
Cancellations by competitors before the 14th July 2024 will be eligible for a full refund of the race entry fee. Cancellations after 14th July 2024 will be eligible for a refund of 50% of the standard race entry fee. The entry fee will be refunded in full should the OA cancel or reject an entry.

4.4 Crew List
The Person in Charge will be required to file a crew list and emergency shore contact details at registration [DP]. A boat shall not sail with a crew member whose personal details and emergency contact details are not filed at the race office.

Race 1 Foynes to Fenit
Friday 23rd August – 1800-1900 Registration - Foynes YC
1930 Briefing

Race 2 Foynes to Kilrush
Friday 30th August – 2000 Briefing. Tralee Bay Sailing Club
Saturday 31st August 0755 Race Warning Signal

Race 3 Kilrush to Foyness
Sunday 1st September – 1800 Briefing. Royal Western Yacht Club
Prize giving Sunday 1st September Venue Foynes Yacht Club

Sailing Instructions will be available on the Event website prior to registration.

Race 1 shall be from the start in the vicinity of Foynes port leaving Scattery island to port, and Maherees to port, to the finishing line off Fenit Harbour.

Race 2 shall be from the start line off Fenit Harbour, leaving a laid windward mark to starboard, Maherees to starboard to port finish line in Cappagh Pier

Race 3 shall be from the start off Cappagh Pier finish line in Foynes, leaving Inish Maan to port, Scattery island to starboard, finish off Cappagh pier.

Race 1 shall be from the start in the vicinity of Foynes port leaving Scattery island to port, and Maherees to port, to the finishing line off Fenit Harbour.

Race 2 shall be from the start line off Fenit Harbour, leaving a laid windward mark to starboard, Maherees to starboard, Inish Maan starboard, Straw Island to port finish line in Killeany Bay

Race 3 shall be from the start off Galway harbour, leaving Inish Maan to port, Scattery island to starboard, finish off Cappagh pier.

The penalty for breaking a rule of RRS Part 2 shall be a Two Turns Penalty as permitted and described in RRS 44.2. When the right-of- way rules of IRPCAS apply (between the hours of local sunset and local sunrise), the penalty for a breach shall be a scoring penalty in accordance with RRS 44.3. Penalties shall be 10 minutes added to a boats corrected time. A scoring penalty shall be declared on the boats Declaration Form. This adds to RRS 44.3.

Mandatory reporting procedures during the race will be given in the Sailing Instructions. Boats may carry an AIS Transponder. Competitors should ensure that the racing name of the boat is transmitted rather than just the MMSI number. Competitors shall use their best endeavours to ensure that their AIS Transponder is switched on (i.e. transmitting and receiving) at least every 5 seconds during the race.

Rule 41(c) is replaced by:-
“A boat shall not receive help from any outside source, except (c) help in the form of information which is freely available to all boats, which shall include navigational, weather, tide or current information from any source which is available to all boats whether or not by payment of a fee or subscription, but shall not include any information gathered or the subject of interpretation by, or any advice received from, any source not on board the boat and which is specific to the boat and her situation.”
By way of example and interpretation: downloading charts, weather and/or tidal GRIB files from subscription services, or having such information passed to the boat in its pure form, is permitted but receiving messages or information which is the result of interpretation as it applies to the boat is not permitted.

Prizes will be awarded as follows:-
• Line Honours
• IRC Overall
• IRC Rating (<0.970, 0.970-1.020, >1.020)
• IRC Cruiser
• IRC Double handed
• Echo Overall
• Mixed crew (two or more Women competing)
When no boat qualifies to win a particular prize, the OA may, at its discretion, award it otherwise.

Competitors’ attention is drawn to RRS 1.2 life-saving equipment: “Each Competitor is individually responsible for wearing a personal flotation device adequate for the conditions.” However, in the Atlantic Cup race series, a combined Lifejacket and Harness shall be worn when on deck:
• Between the hours of sunset and sunrise
• When alone on deck
• When reefed
• When the true wind speed is 25 knots or above
• When the visibility is less than 1 nautical mile
See also Special Regulation 5.02. 2024-2026

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See RRS 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the race. Yacht racing can be dangerous. The attention of Persons in Charge is drawn to RRS Fundamental Rule 4: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone” and to Special Regulation 1.02.1 which begins: “The safety of a yacht and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the Person in Charge….”
Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the race, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

a) they are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
b) they are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
c) they accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omission;
d) their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
e) the provision of a race management team and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
f) they are responsible for ensuring that their boat is equipped and seaworthy so as to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed, in date and familiar to the crew

Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of €3m or the equivalent during the race.

For further information please contact
WIORA Committee
Tel +353 xxxxxxx, 08x xxxxxxxx
E-mail: wioraenquiries@gmail.com