1.       DEFINITIONS

1.1     Sears, Bemis, Smythe.  US SAILING organizes the United States Junior Sailing Championships which consist of three championships; triple- or quadruple-handed teams competing for the Sears Cup and the Judges' Trophy, doublehanded teams for the Bemis Trophy, and singlehanded for the Smythe Trophy.

1.2     Championship Levels. Local Sailing Organizations enter teams in championships conducted by their respective Regional Sailing Association.  Each RSA is a member of one of the eleven geographic Areas of US SAILING. By sailing elimination ladder events, from the LSO level through Association, and Area competition, a team may progress to the National Championship.  Each Area qualifies one team for the Sears Cup, two teams for the Bemis, and two teams for the Smythe except for Areas H and L which will qualify one team each for the Sears, Bemis and Smythe for the National championships which are run at a time and venue selected by the Junior Championships Committee.

1.3     Sailing Club signifies any sailing organization belonging to a RSA that is recognized by US SAILING. It may be a private, community, philanthropic, youth, or etc. sailing organization.  A boat may not protest a boat or competitor for an alleged breach of ISAF Regulation 19.2. 

1.4     Team signifies all contestants listed on the entry form except the alternate. The skipper (used for either female or male) shall helm the yacht while racing except for brief periods. If s/he is unable to continue, see 2.6 A and B below.

1.5     Area Representative signifies the person that represents an Area to the US SAILING Junior Championships Committee. A list of Area Representatives is included with the Notice of Race.

1.6     Round Robin signifies a series of races in which each team sails each boat in one race.

1.7     Regulations. The above definitions apply to these Conditions, to the Notice of Race, and to the Championship Sailing Instructions which together regulate the National and Area levels of the US SAILING Junior Championships and, except as provided below, are recommended for use at all other levels. There shall be no departure from the Conditions, Notice of Race, or Championship Sailing Instructions without the approval of the Junior Championships Committee Chair, except as provided below.

1.8      Distribution. The Notice of Race (including entry form), the Conditions, and the Championship Sailing Instructions are distributed to RSA secretaries, RSA event coordinators and US SAILING Junior Championships Committee members.

2.       ENTRY AND ADVANCEMENT

2.1     Eligibility – Once a competitor enters an elimination event for the purpose of                 qualifying for a National Championship, they will not be eligible to qualify for that Championship in any other quarter or semi-final event for that year.

            All competitors including alternates must:

A.      Have reached their 13^th birthday, but not their 19^th birthday during the calendar year;

B.      Be members of US SAILING to compete at the Regional Sailing Association level and up; and

C.      Be members of the same Sailing Club (see Condition 1.3)

D.      A competitor may only sail in the elimination for the Area in which he or she resides in or regularly competes.  Each competitor’s Sailing Club shall be located within the geographical borders of the Area conducting the elimination.

2.2     Absent AREA Entry – In the event an entry from an Area, or a letter from the Area Coordinator committing to an entry, has not been received by the host club within two weeks of the event, the host chairman shall notify the national chairman, who shall then award the host area an additional entry to replace the uncommitted area entry to the finals.  In the event that there is more than one area which does not commit to an entry, in alphabetical order, the area following the host area, shall be entitled to send an additional entry to the finals.  The area Coordinator shall be responsible for obtaining the additional entry or waiving same.  Any additional entry shall have competed in the elimination in their respective area and shall fulfill all entry requirements.

2.3     Area Championship Teams may not be appointed. Helmsmen must continue through to the Nationals if they qualify (see 2.6B below.) Crews, as they advance, may be replaced only by substitutes as provided in 2.6B and 2.6D. The Area Representative, working with the Host Club of the Area Championship, may provide for as many properly qualified teams as practical from each Association. All concerned sailing associations must agree on the chosen plan and the plan must be reported to the Junior Championships committee Chair, the Area Representative, and be publicized well in advance to all eligible sailing clubs.

2.4      National Teams are the winners or runners-up (see 2.6B) from each Area Championship.

2.5      Alternates.  An Alternate may be named, prior to competing, on an entry form for any level of these Championships. This alternate may not be changed during the year of competition.

2.6      Substitute. Once a team is entered at the Association level or above, there may be no substitution of crew or skipper except as provided below.

A.     If a skipper is unable to continue an event in progress, a crew (excluding alternates or substitutes) may, with Protest Committee approval, become skipper and be replaced as crew by the named alternate. If this team wins, it may advance to the next level with either the original or replacement skipper, as approved by the completed event Protest Committee.

B.     If an event-winning skipper is unable to continue to the next level, that team will be ineligible to participate further and that event' runner-up will become eligible, subject to the same provision.  “Skipper” shall mean that person or persons described in paragraph A above.

C.    If a crew is unable to continue an event in progress, the named alternate may, with Protest Committee approval, be substituted for one or more races.

D.     If an event-winning crew is unable to continue to the next level, the named alternate shall be substituted for the rest of the year. A new alternate shall not be named. If there is no named alternate, any substitute must be approved in advance in writing by the next-level Protest Committee.

E.    In the named-alternate's absence, or when none has been named, the host club may provide a substitute crew of approximately the same height and weight as the crew being substituted for, either between levels of the Championship or during an event in progress.

2.7     Entry Fees. The Area Championships entry fee shall be agreed upon by the RSAs concerned. The National entry fee is stated in the Notice of Race and is retained by the National's host.

2.8     Entry Form Distribution. The entry forms of the Area Championship winner and runner-up and the entry fees must be sent to the Host Club Regatta Chairman. Copies of these entry forms must also be sent to the Championship Office at US SAILING. Each skipper is expected to hand-carry one copy to the National.

3.       BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

3.1     Boat Selection. Boats used in the National Championship of each competition will depend on local availability and on manufacturer support and will vary from year to year. The Junior Championships Committee intends to announce the National's boat selection and size of a Triplehanded team before November 1 of the year preceding the Nationals.

3.2     Borrowed Boats. The boats used at the National and other levels may be borrowed either from private owners or from manufacturers. It is of the utmost importance that they be treated with care at all times. The future of these Championships depends on being able to borrow boats again.

3.3     Shipshape Inspection. All boats should be inspected after each day's racing and the teams who put them away scored toward the Shipshape Awards recommended in the Notice of Race. The boats' put-away condition is often improved and the scoring is simplified if each team puts the same boat away each day (usually the boat it will sail in the final race.) Suggested inspection items, which can be scored on scales of l-to-10 are:

A.     Keelboat in the water: mooring/float tie-up; halyards; mast straightness; tiller lashing; sheets and lines; cockpit and deck; sails; loose gear; cabin/cuddy; bilge.

B.     Dry-sailed keelboat or dinghy: halyards; sheets and lines; tiller & rudder; sails; hull clean and rinsed; loose gear; cockpit; air tanks drained and open; bilge; trailer/float and surroundings.

C.     De-riggable dinghies: hull drained, open, cleaned, rinsed, and inverted if required; trailer/float area; spar, blade and line stowage; sails; loose gear.

D.     Housekeeping and behavior in private-host homes should be scored.

3.4      Insurance. Boats used in the National Championship may be covered by a borrowed-boat insurance program for the owner's protection only.  Borrowed boats at the Area or Association Championship and below may also be covered by a  Borrowed-Boat Insurance Program.

A.     The US SAILING Borrowed-Boat Insurance Program is recommended. Application forms are available from the National host, from RSA secretaries, and from US SAILING. Payment prior to the event is required.

B.     The event organizer should require a damage deposit, usually equal to the insurance deductible shown in the Notice of Race, from each team. This is advisable also for bring your-own-boat round robins. The check should be made payable to the host club.

C.     When damage occurs, the cost will be paid from the deposit of the team causing the damage.

D.     Damages not attributable to a team will be prorated against all teams in the same competition.  The remaining balance will be returned by the host club.

E.     A detailed accounting of expended funds will be rendered to each team that did not receive the full deposit back.

F.     Responsibility for damage to boats or to other property will be determined by the Protest Committee and all contestants will be bound thereby.

G.      A Borrowed-Boat Insurance Program protects only those owners who lend boats and DOES NOT RELIEVE A SAILOR OF RESPONSIBILITY in the event s/he does injury to another person or property. Sailors' parent/guardians should consult their own insurance carrier regarding possible personal liability. (Personal liability insurance is available from US SAILING.)

H.     Teams are not covered by any insurance provided by the host club, and should have or seek their own coverage for personal goods and liability. At-fault occurrences to other boats are the responsibility of the skipper.

3.5      Loss/Damage Reporting.  Any damage or loss of equipment, no matter how slight, must be reported to the Protest Committee at the completion of the race in which it occurs. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the race or event, at the discretion of the Protest Committee. The yellow flag specified in 3.8 a) below must be displayed as soon as any damage or loss occurs and for the remainder of that race, whether or not breakdown points will be requested.

3.6      Replacement Boat.  If a boat is disabled and cannot be repaired before the next race, another boat, with the Protest Committee's approval, may be substituted and shall continue to be used for the remainder of the event. The disabled boat's sails shall continue to be used if possible.

3.7     Preparation and Adjustment. At all levels of these Championships

A.     Every effort must be made to equalize all borrowed boats used in a round-robin before an event begins.

B.     Only one suit of sails per boat may be used, except for changes approved by the Protest Committee in the event of sail damage.

C.     Teams shall not in any way adjust standing rigging of any boat in a round robin event before or during the event except with consent of the Protest Committee and race committee.

D.     Teams shall not clean the bottoms of wet-sailed boats during an event without Protest Committee approval.

3.8     Personal Equipment.  At all levels of these Championships:

A.     Each skipper in a round-robin event shall be supplied with a yellow breakdown flag.

B       Mandatory Use of PFDs – US SAILING Regulation 10.01 D  requires that all competitors in US SAILING Championships at all levels, shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal Flotation device (PFD), while on the water, other than for brief periods while adding or removing clothing.  For the US Junior Sailing Championships the PFD will be a USCG Type III device. (Competitors from outside the U.S. may wear a PFD approved by their nations’ certification authority to the extent permitted by international treaty.) The PFD must be worn outside of all clothing, including foul weather gear, and be properly secured.  A thin shirt may be worn over the PFD to prevent snagging on lines and equipment.

C.     The only gear, rigging, or equipment teams may take aboard a boat is: magnetic card compass; flags; sponge, plastic bucket or bailer, normally equipped ditty bag; personal effects, including PFD and protective clothing.  Electronic fluxgate compasses and GPS devices of all varieties, styles and combinations are specifically banned.

D.     Neither wet clothing nor any device may be used to add to a sailor's weight. RRS 43 will apply, with two modifications: Class rules permitting weight jackets will not apply; clothes worn for additional warmth must be worn inside spray suits or foul weather gear.

3.9      Association and Area Boats. The boats used in Association and Area championships should when possible, be similar to those being used in the Nationals; but these Championships are not intended to be a one-design class event. They are a test of seamanship, crew proficiency and tactical racing skills regardless of the type of boat sailed.

4.        RACING FORMAT

4.1      Calendar. All levels of these Championships must be completed in the same calendar year. Area finals should be completed at least two weeks before the Nationals start.

4.2      Number and Type of Area Races. Each Area may run their elimination to provide the most practical and fair event. All concerned sailing associations must agree on the chosen plan and the plan must be reported to the Junior Championship Committee Chair and be publicized well in advance to all eligible sailing clubs.

A.     In a round-robin event, the number of races should equal the number of registered yachts. If there are less than four teams, a double round- robin should be sailed.

B.      If teams at the Area Event must sail the same boat throughout the event; there should be no less than three races with a throw out after five races. Breakdown points shall not be allowed.

4.3      Number and Type of Races for the Finals.

A.     In a round-robin event, the number of races should equal the number of registered yachts.

B.    At the Finals where Teams must sail the same boats, ten races shall be scheduled.  There shall be one throw out after seven races have been sailed.  When borrowed/chartered boats are used redress may be granted for breakdowns

4.4      Boat Rotation. The last-race boat assignment should be drawn at random by teams prior to the start of the event.

A.     If there is an even number of teams, the direct-swap system of exchanging boats between races (see US SAILING Race Management Manual) shall be used.

B.     For an odd number of teams, the boat rotation shall be determined by the Protest Committee.

4.5      Other Procedures. Weather conditions, the need to protect borrowed boats and equipment or the need to expedite completion of the event may, at any level of these Championships, require other procedures than those mentioned above. These might include swapping boats on a day rather than a race basis. Any such special procedure must be approved by the Protest Committee.

4.6      Shortened Event. Should wind, weather or other conditions make it impossible to complete the scheduled number of races within the publicized time, the event shall be terminated and the results based on the completed number of races. Termination and decisions regarding results shall be made by the Protest Committee.

5.        RACE MANAGEMENT

5.1      Race Committee. At all levels of these Championships, the race committee will be appointed by the host organization, however they must conform to the US Sailing General Policy.

5.2      Protest Committee Selection At each level of these Championships, the Protest Committee shall be appointed in the following manner:

A.     Association: By the RSA;

B.     Area: By the Area Representative in conjunction with the Area RSAs or any existing Area coordinating group;

C.     National: By the Junior Championships Committee Chair.

5.3      Protest Committee Composition. At Association level and up, at least one judge should be US SAILING certified.

5.4      Protest Committee Authority. The Protest Committee is appointed to advise and assist with the running of the event.

A.     One or more judges shall be present at all races.

B.     The Protest Committee shall determine all matters not covered by these Conditions and the Sailing Instructions.

5.5      Waiver.  US SAILING does not require the use of liability waiver forms. It strongly recommends that organizing authorities seek local legal advice on the question, and that they carry adequate insurance coverage such as that provided by the US SAILING Regatta Liability Insurance Program.

6.        FAMILIARIZATION

6.1      Practice Sailing. At any level of these Championships, the event boats will be available for practice sailing only on the day prior to the first race, and shall not be used immediately prior to racing or during the event for practice sailing, except as follows:

A.    For the benefit of the race committee and Protest Committee as well as teams, a pre-regatta practice race should be held

B.     The boats will be available for an official practice race whenever one is scheduled.

C.     If a pre-regatta clinic is scheduled, the boats will be available during its scheduled hours.

6.2      Local Knowledge. At any level of these Championships, before beginning an event, the host club should familiarize all teams with the waters, wind and seasonal weather conditions in which the races are to be held, emphasizing obstructions (if any), tidal currents and conditions, and probable location of marks.

6.3      Clinics. A one or two-day pre-regatta training clinic, using the boats to be raced, should be held for each competition at each level of these Championships. These clinics should have four objectives:

A.     Make the racing fairer by familiarizing all teams as equally as possible with the boats to be raced -- familiarity with the boat should not be a competitive factor;

B.     Familiarize all teams as equally as possible with the racing venue, weakening any potential "home-court" advantage as much as possible;

C.     Take advantage of the opportunity to further advance the skills of already-advanced junior sailors whom elimination regattas have brought together at this event, and through them the skills of many other junior sailors;

D.     Attract Junior Championships participation, especially at the entry level, by providing every team a growth and success opportunity independent of regatta placement.

7.         OUTSIDE CONTACT WITH COMPETITORS

7.1        Competitors shall not receive advice, instruction, or any type of outside assistance (other than provided by the US SAILING committee) including electronic communication devices while at the sailing venue during the clinic and racing days. 

7.2        Clinic and racing days are defined as the time period commencing with the competitor’s arrival at the sailing venue continuing until dismissed by the National Coach on clinic days, or released by the Protest Committee on racing days.

7.3        All support persons except those described in 8 below shall not go afloat in the racing area or the waters giving access to it during any practice or racing day except in spectator boats provided for the purpose and approved by the Organizing Authority.  Any additional spectator boats must be approved by the Organizing Authority.  There can be no contact or support of any kind to the competitors on the water unless directed by the Protest Committee for reasons of safety. 

7.4        The US SAILING provided coaches will follow racing during the day and offer individual on–the- water and group commentary and advice each evening. Such commentary and advice is to be given to all competitors on as equal a basis as possible.

7.5        The host club shall welcome contestant parents and instructors and provide them opportunity to see the racing within the above restrictions.

7.6        The Protest Committee may disqualify a competitor who infringes this prohibition from all races on the day of the infringement.

8.         PRIVATE PERSONAL AND PROGRAM COACHES

            The fundamental basis for limiting “outside contact” of any type is to provide as equitable an environment as possible for the competitors. It is recognized that some competitors will have their personal or their local program coaches attend the event with them. These private coaches are restricted to the conditions of Article 7 above unless all of the following conditions are met:

8.1        Any private coach wishing to be present at the event must agree to follow the direction of the head national coach or the head of the Protest Committee. Private coaches shall register online in advance and register at the regatta venue.  Private coaches are responsible for their own expenses and housing during the event.

8.2        Unless specifically approved by the Championship Event Committee Chair, private coaches are required to hold US SAILING Level 2 certification or its equivalent from another National Authority.  A complete list of Level 1 and Level 2 courses can be found at www.ussailing.org/training/calendar/sb_calendar.asp.

8.3        Private coaches will be expected to act for the benefit of the safety of all competitors at all times. 

8.4        In order to ensure on-the-water access any private coach should provide their own boat and agree to use that boat as directed by the head national coach including all phases of clinic and event safety support. If the private coach does not provide their own boat neither organizing authority nor the host club is under any obligation to provide a boat for the use of the private coach.

8.5        The Protest Committee in conjunction with the advice and recommendations of the head national coach can refuse the participation of any private coach at any time and can have any private coach removed from the event at any time if it is felt that these conditions are not being met.

8.6        The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions may have further instructions for and restrictions of Private Coaches at specific events.

9.        SPECIAL CONDITIONS

9.1      Power lines. Per US SAILING Regulation 10.02, all levels of these Championships must be held at sites free of overhead power line hazards in any area. Written compliance must be filed by the host organization with the appropriate organizing authority (RSA, Area, or National level) and copied to the Championship Manager at US SAILING.

9.2      Adults serving the regatta in any official capacity shall honor Regulation 14.04 during the event. Additionally, they shall not drink any alcoholic beverage on or off the water while on duty. 

10.       DISCIPLINE

10.1      Per US SAILING Regulation 10.01 C.2, no contestant shall use, either on or off the water, during any US SAILING Junior Championship event: marijuana or any other controlled substance (as defined in 21 U.S. Code 802) the possession of which is unlawful under 21 U.S. Code 841, or alcoholic beverages (distilled spirits, wine and beer, each as defined in chapter 51 of the U.S: Internal Revenue Code and intended for beverage use). The penalty shall be that the contestant after a proper hearing, be immediately removed from the regatta venue and, where practical, sent home.

10.2      An alleged breach of one of these Conditions shall not be grounds for a protest.  However, when the protest committee believes that a competitor may have breached one of these Conditions, it shall follow the process described in Condition 10.5 below.  A competitor found to have breached one of these Conditions shall be excluded from the remaining races of the series and where practicable removed from the regatta venue and sent home.  The competitor’s boat shall be disqualified from all races in the series.

10.3      Per US SAILING Regulation 10.01 C.4 Conditions 10.1 and 10.3 shall be included in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions for every US SAILING championship.

10. 4    All competitors are expected to maintain the highest level of conduct throughout the entire event. When the Protest Committee, from its own observation or a report received from any source believes that a competitor may have committed a breach of a rule, good manners, or sportsmanship, or may have brought the sport into disrepute, it may call a hearing. After a proper hearing the penalty may range from a reprimand to dismissal from the regatta and additional action may be taken under RRS 69.

 10.5     Hearings shall follow the process described in racing rule 69.1 .  The officers for hearing a violation will consist of the Chief Judge, acting as chairman of the hearing, the Protest Committee and the Junior Championships Committee Chairperson or his or her designee in the event he or she is not present. The regatta chair shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the panel and will have an open right to express his or her views during the course of the hearing process.

 Revision Date – December 2007

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