Geezer ‘Gatta 15

HOST: Lake Providence Radio Control Club

LOCATION: Lake Providence, Mount Juliet, Tennessee

PRIMARY CAVEAT: Please read these completely and fully understand the effect they will have on how we race and why we do it this way.  At the Geezer ‘Gatta the spirit of the rules is everything and ignorance of the rules is no defense.  If you have to err, do it on the side of courtesy and good sportsmanship.

RULES: All competition shall be governed by the latest version of the Racing Rules of Sailing, as amended by the United States Sailing prescriptions and incorporating Appendix E – Radio Controlled Boat Racing Rules, rules of the RC Laser class, these sailing instructions, AND a healthy dose of Geezer sensibility! The Geezer ‘Gatta is a competitive and cooperative venture: competitive, because everybody wants to do their best, and cooperative, because we all rely on each other to obey the rules and voluntarily take penalty turns when we realize (or are reminded) that we’ve broken one. This voluntary aspect is called the “Corinthian Spirit,” after an early yacht club, and is best expressed by the statement that you sail by the rules even when no one is looking. This is neither the Olympics nor the national championships – we’re here to have fun, so relax and don’t sweat the small stuff!   Since the emphasis of the whole regatta is to have fun, we do not allow “sea lawyering” or contentious disputes to mess up a good time.  Yelling at someone that has completely screwed-up is profoundly prohibited … unless you have never screwed up, ever… and can prove it!

CHANGES TO THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS: The Race Director (RD) has the authority to change these Sailing Instructions during the course of the sailing day by announcing changes to competitors (posting is optional).

ELIGIBILITY: If you are 55 years of age, and pay the entry fee, you qualify.  Entries are strictly limited to the 30 available slots that fill early in the year, but historically we have last minute cancels that open slots to the waiting list.

UNIFORMITY: All RC Lasers supplied for this regatta will be identical in equipment and performance.  The host club will be responsible for maintenance, but each skipper may adjust his/her assigned boat for racing (sail clew tension is only adjustment available).  Sails and radios are identical, sails are marked with very large single digits, and the transmitters are marked with the same digit.

BOAT ASSIGNMENT: Local owners of RC Lasers will be assigned to a boat other than their own.  Visitors will be assigned to a boat (and team) based on performance survey.  Each participant will have only one boat to sail the entire regatta in hopes you can remember one sail number digit.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, April 24
1:00–5:00 pm – Registration and familiarization sailing/racing with assigned RC Lasers on the Lake Providence course.  Settle-in for Home Stays.
6:00 pm    Welcome Party – food and drink provided. Community maps provided at registration.

Saturday, April 25
9:30 am    – Skippers Meeting
10:00 am – First race with additional races to follow.
Lunch will be served at the race site during break in racing.
6:00 pm    – Dinner Party – food and drink provided.

Sunday, April 26
9:30 am    – First Race with additional races to follow
Lunch will be served at the race site during break in racing
3:00 pm    – Last heat starts no later than 3 pm
4:00 pm    – Awards presented in the ballroom.

ENTRY FEE: $135.00 (early entrant fee – before March 15, 2015 is only $125.00). This fee covers participation fees, Welcome Party Friday Evening, Dinner Party Saturday evening, lunches Saturday & Sunday, and trophies.  NOTE: There is a 50% cancellation fee after March 31st.

For Spouses:  $55 includes 2 suppers and 2 lunches.

SCORING: Scoring will be done using the low point system.  First place boat gets 1 point; second place gets 2 points and so on.  The low point score wins.   Tie breakers will include all races including throw-outs.

We’ll do the scoring, and we will post the scores as we go along. No bitching at the computer!  All scores will appear on a flat screen TV at the racing venue in real time.  No touchy the TV!

Note: Real time postings do not include throw-outs.  The final calculations, including the throw-outs, will be done at the end of racing on Sunday and usually results in some change in standings.

INFORMATION:
Regatta Chairman: Tim DeWitt TDDD1009@yahoo.com 615-758-3257
Registrations: Randy McDonald mcdonald.rj@gmail.com 615-758-8288
HomeStay: Clayton Fryer claytonfryer@tds.net 615-773-2410

ENTRY FORM: Geezer ‘Gatta 2015 Entry Form & Notice of Race

FULL SAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Geezer ‘Gatta 2015 Sailing Instructions