Loch Broom Regatta Race Instructions v1.5 1

Ullapool Coastal Rowing ClubUllapool Coastal Rowing ClubUllapool Coastal Rowing ClubUllapool Coastal Rowing ClubLoch Broom Skiff RegattaLoch Broom Skiff RegattaLoch Broom Skiff RegattaLoch Broom Skiff Regatta

13th/14th August 2011

Regatta Instructions

The Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club is delighted to welcome you to the first Loch BroomSkiff Regatta. Because of space constraints entry to the regatta has been restricted to thefirst ten skiffs applying – the list of successful applicants may be seen athttp://ullcoastrow.wordpress.com/loch-broom-skiff-regatta-2011.

St Ayles Skiff racing is held under the rules of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association asin the Rules of Racing and Class Measurement Rules found on the SCRA website. Allcraft and crews must be covered by suitable third party insurance, and it is theresponsibility of participants to ensure that they are so covered. Registration is taken tobe a declaration of compliance with this insurance requirement.Please read this entire document to ensure that you and your club are properly preparedfor the Loch Broom weekend.

Entries

All Clubs are to declare their race entries by email to ullacoastrowing@btinternet.com by23.59 on Sunday 7th August 2011, this is to enable printing of the programme.The headings for the entries will be emailed to all clubs, who are asked to ensure that theinformation is received by UCRC by the deadline. Initially entries are for Skiffs in races,nomination of Crews, Beachholders and FirstAiders (see below) may be made at anytimeupto 09:00 Friday 12th by email (preferred) or after that time at Registration. Nominationof Umpires and Beachmasters to be made by email (stating in which races they will NOTbe able to officiate) no later than 09:00 on Friday 12th. Clubs with more than one skiff atUllapool may enter more than one crew in a single event although it should beremembered that points are awarded to the boat, not the club. Everybody nominated byregistration will be allocated a wristband (see below) so make sure we know who isparticipating.

Race Entry Fee

The costs of running this regatta are being borne by the Ullapool Coastal Rowing Clubso entry is free (however responsible support of our licensed Bar at the evenings jolly inthe Village Hall will be very much appreciated – any profits will help defray our costs).

Course

The graphic shows the intended course of racing. The White line representing the beachbelow West Shore Street is the start line. Races will be a beach start from pre allocatedpegs along the beach to the south of the Harbour. Boats will be held by the stern by aBeacholder and released upon the start signal. Readiness to start will be indicated byboats coxes lowering their arm. When all Boats are showing ready the start procedurewill begin. The start signal will be by PA announcement and a single blast on a klaxon.

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Rowing South East on a line towards the white cottage on the far shore, a starboard turnround a marker at approximately 1.2km, north-west to a starboard turn round afluorescent mark at approximately 2km, the boats will then head back parallel with shorestreet to cross the finish line (yellow) marked by two buoys and a shore mark. Onceacross the line boats will make a port turn round the inside buoy and return to theirbeach peg without impeding the racing line of any boats yet to finish.Course length is approximately 3 km. This may be varied on the day according toconditions.

Start Beach

Boats will be allocated one of the ten beach pegs at a draw in the Regatta Marquee at19:00 on Friday evening. The pegs will be placed by 08:30 on Saturday morning. This willbe the Start point for each race and boats should return to their designated peg quicklyafter each race ready for the next crew to take over. We will provide an identificationcard attached to the peg but further displays of ‘ownership’ by means of Club Flags,banners etc. is encouraged

Changeovers

Because the Start and Finish lines are in the same area we expect changeovers to bereasonably quick. To keep the race schedule on track please make sure that you have thecrew for the next race available as your boat finishes the previous race.

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Crew Age

Please ensure that the crews are in the correct age category. It is not fair on clubs whoobserve the age categories to slot someone younger into a crew. It is a club responsibilityto ensure that rowers are in the correct age bracket.

Umpires and other non-racing personnel.

Each club will need to nominate a Beach holder – who will hold the stern of your Skiffon the beach prior to the start. As this will involve standing in the water at knee depthwhile waiting for the start, waders would be a very useful accessory – we suspect thatwellies will get overtopped. Umpires and beachmasters will be readily identified by theirdistinctive badge – please make sure it is visible while on duty.

We need Clubs to provide at least one Umpire/Beachmaster each; we will need four onduty (one starter, one race umpire and two finish umpires) at any one time. Umpires maybe rowers, or from other attendees. The umpire rota will make sure umpires are availableto row in races. Clubs should also nominate any qualified First Aider they have atregistration.There will be a separate briefing for the Umpires and Beachmasters on the Saturdaymorning following the Coxes Briefing. Please ensure that they are aware of this.

Essential Equipment

This is “must have” equipment for each skiff on Loch Broom, in addition to the safetyequipment specified in the rules of racing.Following the successful use of VHF radios at Portsoy, each Cox must carry a MarineVHF so that umpires or safety boats can contact the skiff. All skiffs, safety boats andumpires will use one channel so unnecessary chat is discouraged. Channel number will begiven at the briefing.

Prizes

There will be Line honours 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for each race. Each boat finishing willaccumulate points according to the list below. There will be two trophies awarded – tobe held until the next Loch Broom Skiff Regatta – based on the day’s scores. ‘TheHarbour Centenary Shield’, sponsored by the Ullapool Harbour Trust, for the bestperforming boat overall and ‘The Seaforth Bowl’ sponsored by The Seaforth Inn forthe best performing boat from the wider Loch Broom area.Note – points are awarded to boats not Clubs, so clubs with more than one boat are onan equal footing with smaller clubs. Composite crew’s shares of the points are allocatedto their respective boats. Where a composite crewmember rows in more than one oftheir club’s boats at this event their points shall be divided equally between those boats.

Overall Championship Points

For the award of both the Loch Broom Trophies, points will be awarded to boats asfollows:1st 12 Points 6th 52nd 10 7th 43rd 8 8th 34th 7 9th 25th 6 10th 1

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There will also be a prize for the club who is judged by general acclaim to have thesmartest boat and crew. This will be decided by a count of returned voting slips from thefree regatta programme, don’t forget to put your name and contact details on the votingslip for your chance in the prize draw.

Weekend Schedule

Friday: Arrival and launching.

Skiffs arriving on Friday may be launched on arrival at the WEE PIER and beachedbelow the boat trip booking huts next to the Harbour above the High Tide level (seemap). Any skiffs not launched on Friday evening MUST be launched and rowed over tothe start beach by 09:15 on Saturday morning. There is a risk of conflicting with FerryMovements (arrives 09:45 and departs 10:25) if launching is delayed – and rest assured, ifyou argue with the Ferry, the Ferry will win.

After launching trailers should be moved to the designated area on the Harbour pier (seemap).Vehicles should not be parked by the Wee Pier or on the Harbour Pier. More thanadequate parking is provided in the Latheron Car Park near Tesco’s (see map), a five-minute stroll from the Regatta Marquee. The Ferry Car Park is only available for FerryTraffic.The Regatta Marquee is on the green in front of West Shore Street. Please note this is aresidential area and no vehicles are to be parked here. The start beach is below theMarquee.

Should problems arise en-route or on arrival the Committee Mobile Phone numbers are:Topher Dawson 07597568210Fiona McDonald 07801 533369Sue Agnew 07941026331Sue Evans 07952805311Chris Perkins 07506828608

Saturday: Race Day

Tides : High 07:45 (4.7m) Low 13:55 (1.1m) High 19:48 (5.1m)Launching of any remaining boats, to be on the start beach no later than 09:15. Seeinstructions above for parking etc.

09:00 Boat Registration, the boats representative will be issued with wristbands forparticipating members; Rowers & Coxes, Umpires, Beach Masters, Boatholders andFirstAiders, which will give entry to the Village Hall evening event. Please wear thesewristbands throughout the event – apart from enabling easy recognition amongst Skiffiesthey will help show Ullapool what a boost to trade the Skiffies generate.

09:45 Captains & Coxes Briefing in the Regatta Marquee on the green in front of WestShore Street. Umpires and Beachmasters briefing follows.09:45 Ferry arrives10:25 Ferry departs – be aware that a significant wash can rise on the starting beach asthe ferry arrives and leaves, make sure your boat is watched/secure at this time.10:45 Men 35+11:30 Women 35+12:15 Mixed 35+

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13:00 Men Open13:45 Women Open14:30 Mixed Open

Once the serious stuff is out of the way there will be opportunity to catch your supper –the Ferry returns at 17:15 to depart at 18:15 so please avoid the main approach andHarbour area during that time. We suggest bringing mackerel lures and spinners. Weighyour catch at the Regatta Marquee to enter the ‘Biggest Catch’ competition.Those who still have surplus energy can take part in the unique ‘Oddballs’ Three leggedfancy dress pub crawl in aid of the local Footy and Shinty Clubs. More details on ourWebsite when we can get them. Anybody taking part will need to make sure they are atthe Village Hall for 20:00 for our Prize giving.

19:30 Village Hall and Bar opens – Free entry to wristband wearers, £5.00p charge toeverybody else (accompanied under 18’s FREE).20:00 Prizegiving, followed by a ceilidh dance22:00 Raffle draw, and you should have been enjoying a display of the days racing snapson the walls: these will be sold, in aid of club funds, to the highest offer made by 22:00.22:50 Last orders – Our license expires at 23:00 so, reluctantly, we will have to close.

Sunday: Social row & BBQ

Meet at 11:00 and row in company to the Bring Your Own Barbecue Beach (thedecision on where exactly will be made on Saturday depending on forecast conditions)where we will provide the fire and rowers provide the grub, not restricted to the Skiffs soif it will row/paddle/sail bring it. Some transport in ribs may be available on the day.Timing and distance will allow those from afar a mid afternoon departure South.

Administration & Camping

Camping is available on the Broomfield Campsite BUT they do not take bookings, it isunusual for them to be completely full but in that event we undertake to find a GardenSite from within our membership. See our Website for more accommodation options.

The Regatta Marquee will be manned during the races and available for temporarystorage of participants effects but we can accept no responsibility for security of anythingleft. There will also be a constant supply of cakes and water for participants.Race results will be displayed as soon as possible at the Regatta Marquee – aggregatedpoints will be on a separate board.

Public Toilets are available up the steps at the back of the Ferry Carpark (see map).

Ullapool has a good variety of quality food outlets ranging from take-away to silverservice should you not fancy doing your own catering. But it’s busy – so book early!

The Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club welcome you and we look forwardto hosting you for an enjoyable weekend of skiffing!

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