2nd Annual

OPEN HOUSE REGATTA PARTY

May 23, 2015

Start your Memorial Weekend festivities with your fellow club members in a fun-filled day of racing, camaraderie, music, and summer-inspired food. The Open House Regatta and Party is the one event for every part of the club.  We've got offshore, one design, junior, cruising and social - all coming together for an easy race, a raft-up and a dinner/band.  Our members are encouraged to invite all of their friends on their boats and to the club for the festivities.

The day starts with a staggered start race for all boats around a set of government marks finishing in the early afternoon just off the FBYC pier. Then all of the boats are encouraged to raft up and we'll shuttle folks from the FBYC dock to the boats. To end the evening there will be a dinner & and a band.

"Sail fast, have fun, bring a friend, and enjoy the party!"

Watch from the dock or take a motorboat shuttle for a closer view of the formation of the raft-up. Beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks will be provided on board a boat within the raft-up. Kid-friendly event.

The 2015 Raft Up Marshall is Waddy Garrett! He will be graciously directing the formation of the raft up. Contact him on Channel 71 and state your intentions.

Both Racing (Offshore & One Design) and Cruising sailboats are encouraged to participate.  Optimist and Juniors will have their own course setup for casual racing near the club.  Select 'assign me a rating' when signing up. All spectators on land are encouraged to take the shuttle to the raft-up. 

REGISTER HERE

 
Schedule of Events:
1100: First warning signal for racers
1200 - 1600: Sunflower raft up
1300: Racing boats finishing, spectators watch from pier.
1700 - 1830: Onshore Happy Hour
1830: Pig Pickin' and dinner
1900 - 2300: Jackass Flats Band...a Virginia favorite

Dinner is a full fledged pig pickin'. That means it's pulled right there! There will also be BBQ chicken, pasta salad, dessert! Kids under 12 - Chicken Tenders!

NOTICE OF RACE:

CLASSES: The Open House Regatta is a handicap race open to any boat rated with Portsmouth Yardstick D-PN Handicap rating or PHRF rating.  (courtesy ratings will be given to boats without certificates)

THE START: At the skipper's meeting each boat will be given a staggered start time based on their rating determining when they will start.  (This enables an orderly start and prevents a jumble of boats from being in the starting area at once)

SAILING AREA: Will start in Godfrey Bay, sail to the Bay around marks at the entrance of the Piankatank and then back to a finish near the club pier in Fishing Bay.

FINISH: Spectators should congregate around 2pm on the Fishing Bay hillside and pier to watch the sailboats finish racing off the dock.

TIME LIMIT: If one boat finishes within 3 hours from the start, the race will be valid for all racers.  All boats must finish within 1h 30m of the first finisher or 1500, whichever is later.

SCORING: All boats will be scored using the Portsmouth Rating.  Boats with PHRF ratings will be converted to Portsmouth.  Boats without PHRF ratings will be assigned a courtesy rating. 

RAFT UP: Following the finish, from 12 pm - 4:00 pm boats will raft up in a sunflower formation. Beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks will be provided on board a boat within the raft-up. This is a kid-friendly event.  A shuttle will be available between the Fishing Bay pier and the raft up.

RACE SCHEDULE:
0900: Skippers Meeting
1100: Warning Signal for first boat to start
1300: After finishing please join the raft up! Radio your intention on channel 71 to the raft up marshall.

AWARDS described in the Sailing Instructions.