The Down the Bay Race for the Virginia Cruising Cup is organized by Hampton Yacht Club and The Storm Trysail Club and is open to all yachts meeting the requirements listed below.  The race is a distance race from Annapolis to Hampton over a rated distance of 120 nautical miles.

1.0       Rules

1.1       The race will be governed by the 2009-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) including US Sailing Prescriptions, PHRF of the Chesapeake Rules, class one design rules if racing one design, The IRC Rule if racing IRC, this NOR and by the Sailing Instructions.  All yachts must meet PHRF of the Chesapeake 4P safety requirements.

1.2       RRS 51 and RRS 52 are waived for boats with moveable ballast reflected on their PHRF and/or IRC certificates.

2.0       Advertising

2.1       This is a category A event in accord with ISAF Regulation 20 although competitors may be required to carry advertising for event sponsors.

3.0       Eligibility and Entry

3.1       This event is open to monohull boats that have a valid 2009 PHRF certificate issued by PHRF of the Chesapeake, one design and IRC (Standard Certificate) classes with 5 boats or more.

3.2       Classes will be IRC, PHRF A, B, C, Non Spinnaker (Two Headsails) and any one design class that would like to compete with 5 boats or more.

3.3       Eligible boats may enter by completing the attached form and sending it with a check for the entry fee of $170 USSA members, $175 non-USSA members, made out to Hampton Yacht Club, and mailed to HYC,  4707 Victoria Boulevard, Hampton, VA 23669 by May 1, 2009.

3.4       An additional late fee of $50 will be charged for all entries received after May 1, 2009.  Entries will be accepted up
            until May 20, 2009.

4.0       Schedule

4.1       The check-in desk located at the Annapolis Yacht Club will be open from 1500 until 1800 on Thursday May 21^st.

4.2       The pre-race party will be held Thursday, May 21^st at the Annapolis Yacht Club from 1800 until   2000.

4.3       The first warning signal will be at 1030, May 22, 2009.

4.4       The post-race party will be at the Hampton Yacht Club on Saturday May 23^rd starting at 1800.

5.0       Sailing Instructions

5.1       Sailing instructions will be available on the Hampton Yacht Club web page  http://www.hamptonyc.com/downthebay on or before May 8, 2009 and also at check-in.

6.0       Course

6.1       The starting line will be between an orange flag on the race committee signal boat and an inflatable mark in the
            vicinity of Severn River R "2".

6.2       Finish between orange flag with committee on shore and Q R 1s “22”

6.3       The following marks will be left on the designated side:

            Boats must honor the USCG 500 yard restricted area around the Cove Pt LNG Pier.

            The above Lat/Longs are for course identification only.  Exact locations of marks are not guaranteed and should not be used for navigation.

7.0       Special Limitations

7.1       During the race contestants may not receive weather, current, or navigational information except from publicized sources available to all competitors.  Subscription, password protected or restricted access web pages as well as phone conversations that contain any of the above information are not allowed.

8.0       Penalties

8.1       Boats may take either the Two-Turns Penalty or the Scoring Penalty.  In addition, the Jury may at its discretion penalize a yacht by increasing her elapsed time by an amount the Jury deems appropriate.

9.0       Prizes

9.1       Class awards will be given for first, second and third in each class based on participation.  In addition the boat with the fastest corrected PHRF time will be awarded the Virginia Cruising Cup.  Boats competing in a one design or IRC division that would like to compete for the Virginia Cruising Cup must have a valid 2009 PHRF of the Chesapeake certificate.