Dear Sailors:
We have 185 entries for the race to date and more on the verge of entering. Thank you for joining us and putting in the careful work required to get ready to race offshore. If your friends are planning to race, encourage them to submit their entry in SailGate by Feb. 20 before fees increase for the final entry period ending April 5.
I’d like to bring your attention to a change we have made to the Newport Bermuda Race Safety Regulations (NBRSR), Section 4.3.1, to align one of our safety requirements with that of many other offshore races. This may reduce the number of crewmembers on your boat required to hold a World Sailing Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course Certificate.
As revised, the regulation states “At least 30% but not fewer than two members of the crew including the Person-In-Charge (PIC) and for multihulls the Reserve Person-in-Charge (RPIC)…” The new regulation includes the PIC within the 30%. Please review the NBRSRs on the Official Notice Board and contact Mark Lenci with any questions on this regulation.
| Crew size | # crew that must have training |
| 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 | 2 (including skipper/PIC) |
| 7, 8, 9 or 10 | 3 (including skipper/PIC) |
| 11 to 19 | 4 (including skipper/PIC) |
| 20 or more | 30% x total crew (including skipper/PIC) |
Multihull sailors, we have also made an amendment to the 2020 NBRSR for Multihulls, Section 2.5.3 and 3.33.2. These changes follow recent changes US Sailing made to the U.S. Safety Equipment Rules and relate to watertight compartments in trimarans and reefed mainsail luff length needed to meet the storm trysail requirement. Please review the NBRSRs on the Official Notice Board and contact James Phyfe with any questions.
If you haven’t done so yet, please build out your crew list in SailGate as fully as possible. Start this process early, and you’ll have fewer crewmembers to chase through the process come spring.
I’d also like to welcome Safe Harbor Marinas back as our Official Yacht Preparation Resource Sponsor and a new sponsor, Barton & Gray Mariners Club, as Official Captain’s Meeting Sponsor. Our sponsors contribute vital funds and in-kind contributions to keep this race going strong. When you have the chance, please thank them and consider doing business with them!
Fair winds!
Jay Gowell
Chairman
2020 Newport Bermuda Race
[email protected]
Chairman's postscript notes:
- Wind Scoring Matrix Update: Believing there’s always room for improvement, the organizing committee commissioned an analysis last year to review and propose revisions to the wind matrix used to score the Race. Jim Teeters led the project and in a recent article explains the recommendations, which should level out the playing field for racing in lighter winds “Wind Scoring Matrix Updated for 2020”.
- Safety Training Courses: If some of your crew still need to take “International Offshore Safety at Sea course with Hands-on Training” time is running short. The Cruising Club of America and other organizations scheduled multiple courses before the race, but they are filling up fast. Check out the rules and schedule of courses.
