Specifications for the organisation of the Micro Cup – World Championship –

edition 2008

Changes to the previous version (2007) are marked by putting the added texts in Bold and Blue.

IMPORTANT PRELIMINARY NOTICE:
To avoid any confusion, there is ONE World Championship, hence ONE Champion, regardless of his Division. Claims to be e.g. “World Champion Micro Cruiser” are breaches of ISAF Regulation 18 and may lead to actions by ISAF. This notice is NOT new, just focusing attention on exact wording of Art 10.c of this Regulation.

1. Candidature

a. Bids to IMCCA
An IMCCA member National Class Association can pose a candidature for Organising a World Championship by sending a letter with pictures or film 2 years before the proposed event.
Before the 31st of July in the year before the event the organisation has to specify the following points:

    • the venue (where, racing area, club);
    • the proposed date;
    • the history of the spot and the club (how many big events organised…);
    • travel information (distance to bigger towns, high ways, borders…);
    • accommodation (prices for rooms, when to book…)
    • information for accompanying people (tourist sites in the neighbourhood).

b. Contact Person (chairman of the organisation)
Designate a contact person with all possibilities of contact (mobile phone, fax, email).
He has to work together with the IMCCA representative (see 6.).

c. The organiser has to sign a contract with IMCCA:
to comply with the IMCCA Regulation;
to guarantee the venue and the date.
This contract is to create by a (international/European) law expert.

 

2. General Conditions

a. Duration
7 days including 2 days for measurement controls. An additional measurement day is allowed if the number of expected competitors exceeds 40. This additional day shall be included in the intended dates of the event and mentioned in the Notice of Race. Crews unable to show the boat for measurement on this additional day shall not be penalised.
The last day should be a Saturday and the last start possibility not later than 15:00 Hrs.
On the last day at least one race has to be organised.

b. Number of races and race courses
There shall be 10 races planned, 8 or 9 short races and 1 or 2 long distance race(s).
Long distance race: 20 to 25 nautical miles, finish for the last boat not later than 30 minutes after sunset. A second long distance race may be shorter: 12 to 15 nautical miles.
Short races: Target time 60 to 75 minutes for the first boat.
Course types:

    • up-and-down with leeward gate (recommended);
    • olympic trapezoïd;
    • (former) olympic triangle.

c. Wind and waves conditions
The minimum wind velocity for racing shall be 3 knots.
The maximum wind velocity for racing shall be 26 knots (6 Beaufort), and the waves shall not exceed 2 metres.

d. Validation of shortened races
Shortened races will be valid if at least 50% of the distance is sailed.

e. Validation of the Championship
The Championship shall be valid if at least three races are sailed.

f. Discards
One result shall be discarded if more than 3 valid races are sailed.
A second result shall be discarded if more than 8 valid races are sailed.
Every type of race can be discarded.

g. Tie breaks
In case of a tie, the tie will be broken for the better place in the long distance race, then on the medium distance race if any, further according to ISAF RRS App 8.1 and 8.2.

h. Time limits
A time limit is allowed, in principle 50% of the time of the first in each division.

 

3. Safety

The organisers shall commit themselves to follow the safety rules and regulations valid in the country where the Championship is organised.
A number of a least one safety boat for 20 competitors shall be provided, in addition of committee boats and in radio liaison with them. This number shall be adapted to the specificity of the spot.

 

4. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions

a. Draft
The ISAF-Standard Notice of Race, well-known as Appendix K, shall be used.
The draft notice of race shall be sent to the President of IMCCA for approval no later than 5 months before the race, and if possible before the annual meeting of IMCCA.
A mutual arrangement with the organisers and the IMCCA representative is desirable.

b. Official notice of race
The official notices of race, written in English, shall be sent to the national representatives and other addressees no later than 3 months before the event. They shall mention, in addition of items required by ISAF, the names and co-ordinates of a point of contact, able to give additional information.

c. Information about access to the spot and accommodation shall be appended to the Notice of Race.

d. Sailing Instructions
The ISAF-Standard Sailing Instructions well known as Appendix L shall be used.
The Sailing Instructions shall be approved by the IMCCA representative before the registration on site starts.

 

5. Entries

a. Entry fees
Shall not exceed 170 Euro, and shall include:

    • all taxes for racing, launching, berthing, free access and parking for the competitors;
    • opening ceremony (see Social events);
    • sailors dinner (see Social events);
    • competitor’s souvenir (T-Shirt).

b. Time limit for entry
Shall not be more than 20 days before the beginning of the event.
Unless circumstances beyond one’s control, late entries shall be accepted up to the beginning of the event, with fees increased by no more than 50%.

 

6. Committees and Jury

a. Jury
Shall be international, according to ISAF RRS Appendix N.

b. Race Committee
The Chairman of the Race Committee shall be an ISAF International Race Officer (see ISAF Regulation 18)
If not, IMCCA may appoint a Race Adviser (to be paid by the Organisation).

c. Measurement Committee
IMCCA will appoint the Event Chief Measurer, which has to be an official Micro Class Measurer from another country as the organisation.
The number of experienced measurers for the event measurement shall be no less than three for 40 boats expected or less. This number shall be increased by 1 for each 20 expected boats in addition. For each measurer, an assistant is required.

Competitors and persons interested in the race (families, trainers, sponsors, builders) may not direct any of these committees.
Such persons may be members of the measurement staff during measurement days, but they are not allowed to measure any boat in which they are interested.

 

7. IMCCA Representative
IMCCA will appoint an IMCCA representative; he will be the contact person for the organisation before the event.
The IMCCA representative will open the Championship (see Opening ceremony).
The IMCCA representative shall be member of the Organising Committee, unless he is a competitor.
He shall be associated to all decisions concerning the conduct of the regatta.
He shall be given all necessary means to follow the regatta.

 

8. Validation of Results
IMCCA reserves the right not to validate the results of the Championship if it was not organised in accordance with this Regulation or if it did not pass off satisfactorily.

 

9. Infrastructure

a. Dimensions: shall allow an olympic course of at least 1 nautical mile upwind leg or up-and-down of 2 nautical miles.

b. Depths shall be no less than 2 metres over the entire sailing area.

c. The sailing area shall be sheltered in order to limit waves to no more than 2 metres.

d. Courses should not extend to more than 5 nautical miles from a shelter.

e. Safe Berths or moorings, reserved for the competitors, shall be available for all boats, with a depth of no less than 1,30 metre. For moorings, a shuttle service shall be organised in due time before and after the races.

f. A safe parking, if possible enclosed, accessible all days, shall be available for the trailers. Personal vehicles of the competitors should be allowed to park for a short time in the vicinity of the board to load or unload material.
A permanent parking shall be available for the competitor, if possible free of charge, with permanent access.

g. Rooms shall be available in the vicinity of the berthing place of the boats for the Race Officer, Secretary, Jury, race committee and measurers.
An information room or meeting place for the crews shall be available, with opportunities to buy drinks and snacks in the vicinity.

h. Requirements for the measurers:

    • a measurement hall, with a hard floor of at least 12 by 6 metres for sails measurement; in this hall, a measurement table of 8 by 2,70 metres and a height of 0,90 metre is highly recommended; a second smaller measurement table for headsails is recommended if the number of competitors implies two sail measurement teams;
    • a crane with certified weighing scale;
    • Calm area on the water near pontoons for stability and draught tests.

 

10. Social Events
Following social events shall be organised be the Organisation:

a. Opening Ceremony
On the evening before the first day of sailing.
Welcome of all participating nations.
Presentation of the Race Officials.
Speeches (not too long).
Opening by the IMCCA-representative “I declare the XXX World Championship open!”.
Welcome drink, snacks or buffet.

b. Sailors Dinner
On one evening during the event.
At least a warm meal/participant and a drink/participant. Perhaps with live music or something else.
Perhaps with traditional or local character.
With the possibility to buy (food- and drink-) voucher for accompanying people.

c. Prize giving Ceremony
On the last day of racing not too far from the site.
Short speeches.
Declaration of results beginning at the end of the list.
Souvenir prices for all competitors (bottle of wine, glass, CD-Rom with event photos…).
Prices for 1st, 2nd and 3rd on General.
Prices for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Racer Division.
Prices for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Cruiser Division.
Declaration of the 1st General as “Micro World Champion” with National Hymn?
Closing by the IMCCA-representative “I declare the XXX World Championship closed!”.

 

11. Access to cranes and slipways – Courtesy Rule
The organising authority shall organise access to cranes and slipways in order to facilitate handling of boats coming from far away.