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NOTICE OF RACE
1. Event
The Formula Experience PanAmerican Invitational Championship will
be held from July 13-16, 2006.
2. Organizer
The event will be organized by VMG Events for and on behalf of US
Windsurfing, and the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association.
3. Venue
Racing will take place at the Event Site in Hood River, Oregon,
USA on the Columbia River. The weather conditions in July are influenced
by cool ocean air moving through the Columbia River Gorge to the
heat of the inland deserts. Air temperature: 24-37 C (75-100 F)
Water temperature: 22 C 72 F Winds: predominantly West 10-25+ knots
Current: 0-3 knots
4. Rules
This event is governed by: ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (ISAF RRS)
2005-2008, the Formula Experience Class Rules, this Notice of Race
(NOR) and the Sailing Instructions. The event is classified as a
Category C event as outlined in the ISAF RRS Regulation 20.
Please note that the Formula Experience Class rules will apply.
Visit
http://www.formula-experience.org/FE/class/rule05.html to see
the complete document. In alteration to class rule 3.3.1 the following
applies: Masts must be on the approved list (see the list at http://www.formula-experience.org/FE/class/equipment06.html)
or, if requested for on site approval, they will be subject to an
extra weight penalty requirement.
Summary of Formula Experience Class rules:
• The following boards are eligible: Starboard FE Formula
(Tufskin) 160 and 117, 136 ASA, 156 ASA and BIC Techno Formula (ASA)
• Only alloy booms are allowed (no carbon or carbon tail pieces.
100% carbon masts are not allowed. See the equipment list for approved
masts.
• Sails may have 7 (or fewer battens) and 3 (or fewer cams)
– top gaffs are considered a batten and counted toward the
7 batten limit.
• Only the original fins, or their change down sizes supplied
with or specially intended for FE approved boards are allowed. In
other words, no custom or high end fins will be allowed. Fins from
any approved FE board (and any year) are acceptable.
5. Eligibility and Discipline
The PanAmerican Championship is open to all sailors, subject to
approval of the national member association, if any*, in the following
divisions (age divisions are defined by the FE class): * In countries
where a national selection system is in force or other selection
criteria or requirements for international competition apply, the
FE member national association must give prior approval.
• Fun Time Racing / Hybrids (all ages)
• Juniors Boys & Girls (7.5m2)
• Juniors Boys & Girls (8.5m2)
• Youth Boys & Girls (11m2)
• Espoir Men & Women (11m2)
• Senior Men & Women (11 m2)
• Masters Men & Women (11m2)
• Grand Masters Men & Women (11m2)
Age
• A Junior 7.5m2 shall be under the age of 15 (born 1992 or
later). A Junior 7.5m2 may sail in the Junior 8.5m2 class if he/she
so desires.
• A Junior shall be under the age of 17 (born 1990 or later).
A junior may sail in the 11m2 class in the youth ranking if he/she
so desires.
• A Youth shall be under the age of 19 (born 1988 or later)
• An Espoir shall be under the age of 22 (born 1985 or later)
• A Senior is a man between the ages of 22 and 35 or a woman
between the ages of 22 and 30.
• A Master is a man who has reached the age of 35 (born in
1971 or before) or a woman who has reached the age of 30 (born in
1975 or before)
• Grand Master is a man who has reached the age of 50 (born
in 1956 or before) or a woman who has reached the age of 45 (born
in 1961 or before)
6. Championships
The Championship shall be a single discipline event. There is a
maximum of 18 races over 3 days of competition.
7. General
A minimum of 5 entries is required to constitute a "fleet"
or a division within a fleet.
8. Measurement
It is the responsibility of each owner/competitor to ensure that
his/her sailboard and equipment conforms to Class Rules. To see
the 2006 list of Approved Equipment, please visit http://www.formula-experience.org/FE/class/equipment06.html.
Equipment checks may be performed throughout the event. Charter
Equipment will be available (refer to section 20 of this NOR).
Note of rules clarification (permitted sails): Top Gaffs
in sails are considered Battens, and Leech Battens are unrestricted.
Regular Battens originally designed to fit in full length batten
pockets intended to span the length of the sail, or come in contact
or close proximity with the mast, but which have been cut, or shortened,
in an attempt to convert them to qualify as leech battens are not
permitted. Leech Battens must be equivalent to the original design
of the manufacturer. Sails which have no more than 7 battens and
3 cams are permitted. As previously stated in a note of clarification
about the rules, a sail may have full length battens removed so
there are no more than 7 full length battens, and one or more cams
may be removed in order for a sail to have no more than 3 cams.
-- FE Technical Committee Chairman
9. Sail Insignias
All sails shall comply with Appendix B 2.4 Windsurfing Competition
Rules of the RRS 2005-2008 (www.isaf.org). National letters and
sail numbers shall be in capital letters and Arabic numerals, clearly
legible and of the same color. Commercially available typefaces
giving the same or better legibility than Helvetica are acceptable.
The height of characters shall be a minimum of 230mm and space between
adjoining characters on the same and opposite sides of the sail
shall be a minimum of 45mm. They shall be placed at different heights
on the two sides of the sail, those on the starboard side being
uppermost.
Sail Numbers are available from Sailworks R+D Loft in Hood River
for $2.00 per letter/number. Email info@sailworks.com
or call (541) 386-6561 to request your numbers.
10. Liability
Competitors take part in all races at their own risk. VMG Events,
US Windsurfing, Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association, Formula
Experience Class, Event Sponsors or any of their officials or representatives
are not responsible, under any circumstances, for any damage, loss
or injury, either ashore or on the water, either to persons or equipment,
which may result. Participation in this event, supporting events,
and in each race therein, is at the sole discretion of the sailor
and at his/her own risk.
11. Courses
Courses will be specified in the Sailing Instructions and on the
Official Notice Board.
12. Schedule
Thursday, July 13
Registration and Check-in
Practice Races
Welcome Party
Friday, July 14
Racing
Saturday, July 15
Racing
Sunday, July 16
Racing
Awards Presentation
13. Scoring
The Alternative Scoring System, Appendix B 8.3 of the RRS 2005/2008
will apply.
14. Sailing Instructions (SI's) / Event Program
The SI's will be available at registration as will the event program,
which will outline the schedule for social events, clinics, etc.
15. Drug Testing
Competitors are reminded of the ISAF rules and regulations concerning
the use of banned methods and substances. Drug testing may take
place during the event.
16. Medals and Prizes
Medals/Prizes will be awarded to the first three competitors in
each fleet.
17. Television and Media
In registering for the event, competitors automatically grant to
VMG Events the right in perpetuity to make, use and show at their
discretion, any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped
or filmed television and other reproduction of them, taken during
the period of the event, for the said Championship as defined in
the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions in which he/she participates
without compensation.
18. Accommodations
Accommodations in Hood River and the Gorge are plentiful and varied.
Information is available on the following websites:
Best Western Hood River Inn www.hoodriverinn.com
1-800-828-7873
Hood River Vacation Rentals www.hrvacations.com
1-877-260-2519
Gorge Central Vacation Rentals www.gorgeres.com
1-877-386-6109
The Bingen School Inn (Hostel) http://www.bsi-cgoc.com/
Gorge Networks ISP Lodging Page www.gorge.net/lodging.htm
Hood River County Chamber of Commerce www.hoodriver.org
Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association http://business.gorge.net/crgva
Skamania County Chamber of Commerce www.skamania.org
Camping
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Campgrounds http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/campgrounds/
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/camp.htm
Gorge.net Campground Directory http://www.gorge.net/business/camping.htm
19. Air Travel/Transportation
The nearest Airport is Portland International (1 hour by car). Airport
transfers are available through Blue Star Transportation 800-247-2272
or www.bluestarbus.com.
Rental Cars are available through Enterprise Rent-a-Car. If you
are making a reservation online, go to www.enterprise.com.
If you wish to reserve your car by phone call toll free 800-593-0505.
20. Equipment Charter
There will be a limited number of Starboard and BIC charter boards
available during the event. The charter fee is $125 USD per board
with a damage deposit of $125 USD. Rigs will also be available from
Severne and Sailworks
for $125 USD per week per rig with a damage deposit of $125 USD.
Charters will be assigned on a strict first come - first serve basis.
Please reserve your charters before June 15, 2006. Charter boards
& rigs will be available for purchase after the event.
21. Registration
Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Go to www.vmgevents.com/fe/register.htm
to register online.
On-site registration will take place on Thursday, July 13 from
9:00am – 12:00pm at the Hood River Event Site.
Competitors may pre-register online or by sending an official entry
form with their entry fees of $100 USD by July 1, 2006. All entries
received after this date will be charged an additional late entry
fee of $25 USD. All on site payments will be in US Dollars.
22. Payment
Pre-registration entry fees and charter fees are payable through
PayPal at www.paypal.com.
Money should be sent to account: vmgevents@earthlink.net in US Dollars.
You have the choice of funds transfer from a bank account, Visa
or MasterCard. If you have any questions or problems using this
payment service, please contact VMG Events at vmgevents@earthlink.net.
23. Contact Information
VMG Events
Scotia Bauer, Race Director, vmgevents@earthlink.net,
541-806-5137
Darren Rogers, Principal Race Officer, drogers@gorge.net,
541-490-7137
Mail: 510 Cascade Street, Suite 100, Hood River, OR 97031
Fax: 541-610-1804
Web: www.vmgevents.com
PayPal User id: vmgevents@earthlink.net
Formula Experience
Web: www.formula-experience.org
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