2024 Great River Race

Sailing Instructions

Brown’s Creek Sailing Association
Lake Guntersville, AL

October 25–27, 2024

Participation in the Great River Race is voluntary. The decision to start, continue, or withdraw from the event is solely the participant’s responsibility.

1. Schedule of Events

• Friday, October 25 (BCSA Clubhouse)
  • 12:00 PM – Registration & Check-In
  • 6:00 PM – Social and Dinner
  • 7:00 PM – Skippers Meeting
  • 8:00 PM – Registration Closes
• Saturday, October 26 (Lake Guntersville)
  • 8:55 AM – Warning Signal (All Classes)
  • 6:00 PM – Short Course Time Limit
• Sunday, October 27
  • 9:00 AM – Long Course Time Limit
  • 11:00 AM – Awards (BCSA Clubhouse)

1.1 Entries

Eligible yachts can register by completing the registration form and paying the entry fee. Registration must be completed by 8:00 AM on Saturday, October 26.

2. Rules

2.1 The regatta will be governed by:

1. a) The current Racing Rules of Sailing.
2. b) Prescriptions of the US Sailing Association.
3. c) Navigation Rules for International/Inland Waterways.
4. d) The Notice of Race.
5. e) These Sailing Instructions.

2.2 In case of a conflict between the Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions will take precedence.

2.3 Yachts must have unique identification by sail number or other visible means.

2.4 Dinghies are permitted to enter the Short Course only.

2.5 Yachts on the long course must carry an auxiliary motor, anchor, anchor rode, marine radio, one crew member and working navigation lights as required by law. Outboard motors should be ready for operation but may be tilted if necessary.

2.6 All yachts are recommended to have signaling lights and required Coast Guard safety equipment. Wearing life vests is encouraged for all participants, and each yacht should have a man-overboard procedure in place.

2.7 Yachts leaving the race must notify the Race Committee via marine radio, cell phone (number provided during the skippers meeting), or by hailing the race committee stationed near the finish line.

3. Handicapping/Scoring

3.1 The latest Portsmouth Yardstick will be used to determine handicaps. If no handicap is listed, the Race Committee will assign one.

3.2 Corrected times will be calculated by dividing the elapsed time (in decimal minutes) by the handicap “BASE DP-N” and then multiplying by 100:

Corrected Time = (Elapsed Time ÷ BASE DP-N) × 100.

Boats will be scored in order of corrected time, with the smallest corrected time placing first, followed by the next smallest, and so on.

4. Notices to Competitors

Notices will be posted on the official GRR website: https://nextsailor.com/regatta/773

5. Changes to Sailing Instructions

Any changes will be posted by 10:00 PM, Friday, October 25.

6. Signals Ashore

No signals will be made ashore. All signals will be displayed by the race committee on station before and during the race.

7. Racing Area

The racing area is between the start/finish area, marked by a yellow cylinder approximately 1 mile west-southwest of Lower Guntersville Light (mile marker 356.5), and Seibold Branch Light (mile marker 363.4).

*Note: Lower Guntersville Light, Upper Guntersville Light, and Short Creek Light are not course marks.

8. Race Course

8.1 Starting Area

A starting line will be set about 0.75 miles west of Lower Guntersville Light. The line will be between a staff with an orange flag on the race committee boat (starboard) and a yellow cylinder (port).

8.2 Starting Sequence

The race will follow Rule 26 of the Racing Rules of Sailing. All classes will start simultaneously. The warning signal will be at 8:55 AM, with no signals before this time. The answering pennant will be removed (with one sound) one minute before the warning signal.

8.3 Course Instructions

Short Course and First Lap of Long Course: Boats will start, pass through Guntersville Bridge using the center or the openings on either side of the main span only, round Seibold Branch Light (port), and return to the start area. Short course boats finish here, while long course boats continue.

Long Course (Laps 2-4) After completing the first lap, long course boats will complete three more laps, rounding the yellow cylinder and Seibold Branch Light (port) at each lap.

8.4 Yachts must hail the Race Committee with their sail number at the end of each lap (via radio, voice, or cell phone). Failure to pass between the mark and committee boat will result in disqualification.

9. Shortening Course

9.1 If, by 2:00 AM on Sunday no yacht has completed the long course, the required number of laps for all yachts will be adjusted based on the number of laps completed by the lead yacht at that time. The Race Committee will then display the “shorten course” signal, which is the code flag “S,” along with the number of laps to be completed. All yachts must finish the adjusted number of laps before the time limit of 9:00 AM on Sunday. The Race Committee also reserves the right to shorten the course before 2:00 AM if conditions require it.

10. Protests

10.1 Yachts intending to protest must display a red flag at the earliest opportunity.

10.2 Protests must be made in writing on the form provided at the Official Notice Board.

10.3 Protests must be filed within 30 minutes after the Race Committee boat docks and sounds one horn blast.

11. Support Boats and Radios

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary or Alabama Marine Police may patrol the racecourse during the event. To contact the Race Committee, use Channel 16 and then switch to Channel 68 for further communication. The Race Committee can also be reached by cell phone (numbers provided during the skippers meeting) or by hailing the committee stationed near the finish line.

12. Use of Auxiliary Power

Auxiliary power may be used in situations of safety or emergency, such as avoiding a towboat or recovering from grounding. No penalty will be given, provided the yacht resumes racing from a position that does not advance its standing or provide any advantage. Yachts that use auxiliary power must submit a written report to the Race Committee detailing the circumstances, including the purpose, time, location, and duration of use.

13. Towboats

Towboats will pass through the racecourse during the event. Give them wide clearance as they have limited maneuverability. Follow Rule 9(b) of the Navigation Rules, which prohibits vessels under 20 meters from impeding the passage of vessels constrained to the channel.

TVCC Schedule Update Due to Weather

In light of the weather concerns surrounding Helene, we’ve decided to adjust our Saturday race schedule. Participants are now welcome to arrive and set up on Saturday instead of Friday, allowing for safer travel. However, all of Friday’s scheduled events are still happening, so feel free to join us then if you prefer.

This change will help ensure everyone’s safety while still allowing us to have a fantastic regatta. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to a great event!

Saturdays Original Schedule:

11:00 Skippers Meeting
11:30 Lunch
12:30 Warning signal for first race, additional races to follow
17:00 No Race Begins afterward

Saturdays New Schedule:

11:30 Lunch
13:30 Skippers Meeting
15:00 Warning signal for first race, additional races to follow
18:00 No Race Begins afterward

Thanks,

Chris Edwards

BCSA Race Chair

^{Browns Creek Sailing Association
Tennessee Valley Challenge Cup
September 27th, 28th & 29th, 2024}
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1. RULES
1.1 The Regatta will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing and by these Sailing Instructions.

2. SAFETY
2.1 The hosting organizations are not responsible for the seaworthiness of a boat whose entry is accepted. Attention is drawn to Part 1, Fundamental Rule 3. All competitors, by entering this regatta, acknowledging acceptance of responsibility for their own safety.

3. ENTRIES
3.1 All sailboats are invited to enter.

4. MEASUREMENT
4.1 Sail or boat measurement is not required. Sail choice is indicated at Registration (Spinnaker, jib choice, etc. for handicapping purposes.).

5. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
5.1 Notices to Competitors are on-line.

6. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
6.1 Changes to the Sailing Instructions or any changes to the racing schedule will be posted on-line.  Notices may also be given from the RC boat with the “L” flag flown with one horn.

7. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
7.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the Race Committee Boat at the Dock

8. SCHEDULE OF RACES
8.1 Day        Date        Time      Activity

Saturday  Sept 28   12:30     First Warning Signal, followed by additional races.
17:00     No Race Begins Afterwards.

Sunday     Sept 29   10:00    First Warning Signal, followed by additional races.
12:30 No Race Begins Afterwards.

8.2 Competitors are responsible for getting to the starting area on time. If suitable conditions exist for starting a race, the Race Committee (RC) may not wait for latecomers.

9. RACING AREA
9.1 Racing will take place in in proximity of the LGL marker on Guntersville Lake.

10. COURSES
10.1 The course shall be an Olympic triangle. The diagram in Attachment A show the course, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left.

11. CHECK IN
11.1 All boats shall check in with the Race Committee before the first preparatory signal. Boats should pass astern of the Committee Vessel on either tack, so that their sail number can be recorded.

12. MARKS
12.1 Marks will be yellow cylinders. The offset will be an orange hippity hop by the windward mark. The start pin will be floating orange flag. The finish will be an orange hippity hop.

13. STARTS
13.1 Starts will be the usual Racing Rule 26 starts, five-minute sequence. There will be a multiple horn notification one minute before the first start sequence. Dinghies start first, Black Scull & Cross bones; Keelboat spinnaker, White flag; Non spinnaker Keelboat, Brown flag.

14. CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START
14.1 It is not expected that there will be any changes of course after the start. Before a start, yes.
14.2 Courses may be shortened by shortening the length of a leg or number of legs of a course.

15. THE FINISH
15.1 The finish shall be between the anchored RC boat’s Blue flag and the course side of a floating flag set on its starboard side.

16. TIME LIMIT
16.1 The time limit will be 90 minutes for the first boat. Any boat that finishes within 30 minutes of the first boat shall be scored. All others shall be scored TLE. TLE shall be defined as one more than the number of starters. This changes RRS 35, A5.1, A5.2 and A10. The Race Committee, in their sole discretion, may award places to any of the last 3 boats, before they have crossed the finish line.

18. SCORING
18.1 The Low point scoring system, Appendix A4 of the racing rules will be used. Six races are planned; one race constitutes a regatta. All races count for scoring, no throw-out race.

19. PROTESTS
19.1 Any yacht that wishes to protest, shall comply with RRS 61. A protesting boat shall inform the finishing vessel of the sail numbers(s) of the boat(s) being protested. This information must be communicated to the finish vessel soon after the finish of that race. The protest must be filed with the Committee, within 1 hour of the docking of the Race Committee Vessel, unless the Race Committee feels that a later time is justified. Protests shall be written upon the forms available from the Race Committee and submitted to the Race Committee. Protests will be heard in the approximate order of their receipt following the day’s racing.

20. PRIZES
20.1 Prizes will be awarded according to the following schedule based on the expected number of entries.

Spinnaker –         First Place                          Dinghies – First Place

Second Place                                      Second Place

Third Place                                          Third Place

Non-Spinnaker – First Place                          Overall Club Winner –

Second Place                                     First Place

Third Place

Attachment A:

The Tennessee Valley Challenge Cup (TVCC) regatta was established in 1987 as a successor to the retired Wheeler Cup regatta. From 1976 through 1986, the Wheeler Cup was an annual competition between three sailing clubs: Wheeler Yacht Club, Brown’s Creek Sailing Association, and Muscle Shoals Sailing Club. Each club sent only one boat and crew to compete for the Wheeler Cup, making it a small regatta, akin to a match race but with just three boats.

After 1986, the Wheeler Cup Regatta was retired. In response, the three clubs created the TVCC in 1987 to broaden the interclub competition by including all interested crews and boats from the original three clubs. The significant increase in the number of boats and crews intensified the competition and enhanced the weekend festivities. The Wheeler Cup trophy was repurposed as the new TVCC perpetual trophy, awarded to the winning club.

The annual regatta takes place in the fall when the winds and weather are more favorable for sailing. Typically, the regatta consists of five races and two parties over a two-day weekend. The winning club is determined by scoring the best three finishes of boats from each club in each race. In the first four years, all boats raced together in a single large fleet. However, in 1991, the competition was divided into three fleets: Dinghy, Non-Spinnaker, and Spinnaker.

Over the first eight years, three additional sailing clubs joined the competition: Pickwick Sailing Association, Lake Guntersville Sailing Club, and Privateer Yacht Club near Chattanooga. This expansion led to a record 45 boats racing in 1996. Concord Yacht Club near Knoxville joined the competition in 2012 and hosted 43 boats in the 2018 TVCC.

The host location of the TVCC regatta rotates annually among the participating clubs, giving each club the opportunity to compete on its home waters and showcase its ability to host memorable parties.

Gar Bouse

Secure your Mayor’s Cup T-Shirt before the 5th of May to enjoy free delivery directly to the regatta! In addition, BCSA is currently offering a wide range of shirts and merchandise, which also qualify for free delivery to the regatta. Explore our selections at our stores:

• Mayor’s Cup Store
• BCSA Store