Bulletin #1 – Notice of Race and Safety Requirements for the 2018 Newport Bermuda posted.

September 12, 2017 – The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (B.R.O.C.) has posted to the Official Notice Board at www.bermudarace.com the Notice of Race and Safety Requirements for Monohulls and Multihulls for the 51^strunning of the biennial Newport Bermuda Race.

“There are some exciting and thoughtful changes in both the Notice of Race and Safety Requirements”, notes Race Chairman Jonathan Brewin.  “Safety is a foremost concern of the B.R.O.C., the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of America and so the race is fully embracing boat AIS transmissions on at all times, plus all crew members are required to have personal AIS devices.”

In addition to these important safety changes there are some race division changes.  The highlights of which are:

• Race participation will be limited to 220 boats with a formal wait list established for those who miss the cutoff.
• The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division now allows movable ballast, including canting keels.
• The “Cruiser” division has been renamed the “Finisterre Division” to recognize the extraordinary competition taking place there and to honor Carleton Mitchell’s legendary Finisterre.  http://www.sailingworld.com/racing/past-end-land
• The Double-handed division now allows movable ballast, including canting keels.
• Minimum length for monohulls has been changed to LOA of 32.5 feet (LOA as defined by the ORR rating rule)
• For the first time ever Multihull’s will be welcomed to compete in the newly formed Multihull Division

More detailed information on these changes can be found in the FAQ section of the website located here: http://bermudarace.com/entry/faq/

As always all participants and prospective participants are encouraged to carefully review the documents and are reminded that the documents themselves are the only official source of information.

For the 2018 race all Official Notices will be posted at http://bermudarace.com/entry/official-notice-board/.

Questions can be sent to [email protected].  Media inquiries and questions to [email protected].  First time skippers and prospective skippers are encouraged to request an ambassador by contacting [email protected]