Hosting a US Sailing Championship

Regulation 10

updated: January 25, 2021

ALL US SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEIR QUALIFIERS ARE GOVERNED ARE BY REGULATION 10.

10.01 ADMINISTRATION

A. US Sailing Events and Championships

        1. All US Sailing events and championships, at all levels, shall be held at sites free of power line hazards.

B. US Sailing Championships

        1. Guidelines for sailing instructions, notices of race and conditions adopted by the Championships Committee shall be used for all US Sailing championships at all levels. Exceptions shall be approved in advance by the relevant championship chair and organizing committee, and the Chair of the Championships Committee.
        2. Race officers, judges, and umpires at US Sailing championships shall be appointed in accordance with Regulation 10.06.
        3. Championship conditions shall be maintained and approved by the sponsoring committee and the Championship Committee. The current version of the championship conditions shall be available on the US Sailing website.  As documented below, some conditions may require permission of the Board.
        4. Event organizing committees shall communicate, coordinate, and consult with US Sailing committees that support and promote the event’s sailing discipline or constituency.
        5. The venues for US Sailing championships shall be located in the U.S. unless an exception is approved by the Board. A Regional Sailing Association, club or Local Sailing Organization outside the United States may host qualifiers for US Sailing championships, provided the host club or Local Sailing Organization is a member of US Sailing.
10.02 NON-USA RESIDENT PARTICIPATION IN US SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS

A. Unless the notice of race for a particular championship requires US citizenship or resident alien status, participation in US Sailing championships is open to non-US citizens (including resident and non-resident aliens), provided all other requirements of the Championship are met. Specific championships may require US citizenship or resident alien status by stating the requirements in the notice of race and in the championship conditions.  Non-resident aliens may request a waiver.  Creating a new requirement of US citizenship for a championship requires approval of the Board.

B. When the Championship is a qualifier for international or any other competition the top finisher(s) qualified to represent the US will qualify. The Olympic Sailing Committee may make exceptions to this regulation for any trials held under the auspices of the OSC.

C. Non-US citizens may serve as race officials at US Sailing championships as per Regulation 10.06.

10.03 PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES

A. For adult US Sailing championship events, no competitor shall use or possess, either on or off the water: marijuana or any other substance if possession is illegal under state or federal law.

B. For Junior and Youth events or for junior or youth competitors in any US Sailing championship, no participant or competitor shall use or possess, either on or off the water:

C. Marijuana or any other substance if possession is illegal under state or federal law; or any alcoholic beverages. D. An alleged breach of one of these regulations shall not be grounds for a protest. However, when the protest committee believes that a competitor may have breached one of these regulations, it shall follow the process described in the Championships Code of Conduct. If  a competitor found to have breached one of the elements within the Code of Conduct, they 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 of the series.

D. Either Regulation 10.03 A or 10.03 B, as appropriate, and Regulation 10.03 C shall be included in the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions for every US Sailing championship.

10.04 USE OF PERSONAL FLOTATION

A. Adult Qualifying and Championship Events

        1. For US Sailing Adult qualifying and championship events in keelboats, each competitor shall wear a USCG approved PFD at all times while on the water, except for brief periods while adding or removing clothing.
        2. For championship and qualifying events in dinghies, each competitor shall wear a USCG approved life jacket that is 100% dependent on foam for flotation and the appropriate size for the sailor, at all times while on the water, except for brief periods while adding or removing clothing.

B. Youth or Junior Events, including Junior Olympics, Qualifying, and Championship Events For all US Sailing Youth or Junior sanctioned events (JOs, qualifiers, finals), each competitor shall wear a USCG approved life jacket that is 100% dependent on foam for flotation and the appropriate size for the sailor, at all times while on the water, except for brief periods while adding or removing clothing.

C. EXCEPTIONS                                                                                                                                                                               Where the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) apply, they replace this requirement.  Competitors from outside the U.S. may wear a PFD approved by their nations’ certification authority to the extent permitted by international treaty.

D. NOTICE OF RACE AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS                                                                                                                      Regulations 10.04 A 1, 10.04 A 2, or 10.04 B, as appropriate, shall be included in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. The Sailing Instructions shall include the words, “A violation of this Instruction may be protested by race officials or a competitor; however an inadvertent and momentary breach of this instruction may receive a penalty less than disqualification at the discretion of the protest committee. This changes rule 64.1”

10.05 PERPETUAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES

A. Perpetual trophies for US Sailing Championships shall be on permanent display in a place approved by the relevant sponsoring committee and the Championship Committee.

B. The perpetual trophy for a US Sailing Championship shall be on display at the venue for that event while it is being held whenever possible. US Sailing shall arrange for the transport of perpetual trophies to and from such venue (including appropriate insurance).

C. Winners of a US Sailing perpetual trophy shall receive a framed photograph of the trophy, with a similar framed copy to go to the winner’s club.

10.06 RACE MANAGEMENT, UMPIRING, AND JUDGING

A. General Policy

        1. No person may serve as a member of the umpire team, protest committee, or as the principal race officer at an event in which any competitor in the event is a close relative, an employer, or an employee. A close relative is an individual related to another person or the person’s spouse within the third degree. This includes a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, child, grandchild, great-grandchild spouse or close relative of a spouse including a step- or in-law relative.
        2. Volunteers shall comply with US Sailing Regulation 14 – Code of Ethics.
        3. The host club or venue shall appoint US Sailing certified race officials, at the appropriate level, to the protest committee or the umpire team, and to key positions on the race committee.
        4. Except in case of illness or emergency, the protest committee shall consist of a minimum of three judges.

B. US Sailing Championship qualifying events:

        1. Require the appointment of a certified US Sailing Regional Race Officer. However, a certified US Sailing Club Race Officer may serve as Principal Race Officer with the approval of the Area Race Officer (ARO) and the Area Championship Representative if a Regional or National Race Officer acts as Deputy Race Officer (DRO).
        2. Require the appointment of a certified US Sailing Judge or National Judge as chief judge. Require that a majority of the jury be certified US Sailing judges (at any certification level).
        3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a certified US Sailing National Umpire as chief umpire. Require that at least one half of the umpire team be US Sailing certified umpires (at any certification level).
        4. Exceptions must be approved by the US Sailing chair of the applicable championship and:
          • The national chair of the applicable championship committee, and
          • The chair of the applicable race officials committee (Judges, Race Management, Umpires).
        5. If the requirements for appointments cannot be met at least 60 days before the start of the event after allowing for exceptions, an alternate venue may be chosen.

C. National Championship Events:

        1. Require the appointment of a certified US Sailing National Race Officer as PRO, but may accept a certified US Sailing Regional Race Officer if a US Sailing National Race Officer acts as DRO.
        2. Require the appointment of a certified US Sailing National Judge as chief judge. Require that a majority of the protest committee be certified US Sailing judges (at any certification level).
        3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a certified US Sailing National Umpire for chief umpire. Require that a minimum of one half of the umpire team be US Sailing National Umpires.
        4. The only exception shall be a reduction in certification level. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the chair of the US Sailing Championship committee involved, together with:
          • The national chair of the US Sailing Championships Committee, and
          • The chair of the applicable race officials committee (Judges, Race Management, Umpires).
          • If the requirements for an appointment cannot be met at least 60 days before the start of the event after allowing for exceptions, an alternate venue may be chosen.
10.07 COACHING AND SUPPORT BOATS

A. General Policy

        1. At Championships or other events where coaching is offered or allowed, the Organizing Authority shall follow the US Sailing Coaching and Support Boat Policy 
        2. All US Sailing championships or qualifiers are given a level of Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 as described in the US Sailing Coaching and Support Boat Policy.

B. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions

        1. The Organizing Authority and Race Committee shall state in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions the Grade given to the event.

Amended:21-Oct-2019