Dear Sailors:

We are all well-aware of the outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, COVID-19. The well-being of our sailors and staff is our highest priority. Unfortunately, we continue to see significant progression of this epidemic with an alarming increase in cases in New England, New York and across the country. There is a list of precautions recommended by the CDC to help mitigate the spread of this disease. Social distancing and the cancellation of non-essential gatherings have been recommended. We are advised that we may see a significant increase in cases in the coming days.

One of the impacts of this situation is that several “International Offshore Safety at Sea with hands-on training” courses have been cancelled. It is likely that some boats may not be able to comply with the published Safety at Sea course training requirements due to lack of available courses. Therefore, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee has modified the Safety at Sea training requirements of the 2020 Newport Bermuda Race Safety Requirements; the amended sections are shown below with new text underlined. This change accepts the US Sailing Online Offshore Safety at Sea course or the one-day classroom only US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea course for sailors who cannot attend a hands-on course. This modification is for the 2020 race only.

Another possibility is the potential cancellation of the hands-on portions of First Aid and CPR courses. This may impact some boats' ability to meet the CPR and First Aid training requirements. Our organizing committee has also modified the CPR and First Aid training requirements of the 2020 Newport Bermuda Race Safety Requirements. This change accepts online courses with no hands-on component to meet the CPR and First Aid training requirements.

These changes are only for the 2020 race. We encourage all racers who are only able to do the online courses to pursue completing the hands-on portion when that becomes possible in order to be prepared for future races.

Jay Gowell
Chairman, 2020 Bermuda Race Organizing Committee
[email protected]

2020 Newport Bermuda Race Safety Requirements, Amended

Amendment to 2020 NBRSR safety at sea training for monohulls:
4.3.1    Safety At Sea Seminar Attendance: At least 30% but not fewer than two members of the crew in addition to the Person-In-Charge (PIC) must hold a World Sailing Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course Certificate earned by attending (1) a two-day US Sailing approved “International Offshore Safety at Sea course with Hands-on Training” course (the first day may be online training), or (2) a World Sailing approved “Offshore Personal Survival Course”. A certificate will be honored for the purposes of this paragraph for the three Newport Bermuda Races that occur after the date that the certificate was issued. For the 2020 race only, if a crew cannot meet this requirement due to the “International Offshore Safety at Sea with hands-on training” course not being available, the requirement may be met by completing either (1) the US Sailing “Online Offshore Safety at Sea” course or (2) the one day in-person classroom only “Offshore Safety at Sea” course.

Amendment to 2020 NBRSR safety at sea training for multihulls:
4.3.1    Safety At Sea Seminar Attendance: At least 30% but not fewer than two members of the crew in addition to the Person-In-Charge (PIC) and for multi-hulls the Reserve Person-in-Charge (RPIC) must hold a World Sailing Approved Offshore Personal Survival Course Certificate earned by attending (1) a two-day US Sailing approved “International Offshore Safety at Sea course with Hands-on Training” course (the first day may be online training), or (2) a World Sailing approved “Offshore Personal Survival Course”. A certificate will be honored for the purposes of this paragraph for the three Newport Bermuda Races that occur after the date that the certificate was issued. For the 2020 race only, if a crew cannot meet this requirement due to the “International Offshore Safety at Sea with hands-on training” course not being available, the requirement may be met by completing either (1) the US Sailing “Online Offshore Safety at Sea” course or (2) the one day in-person classroom only “Offshore Safety at Sea” course.

Amendment to CPR and First Aid training requirement for monohulls and multihulls:
5.6    CPR and First Aid: Two crewmembers must have current CPR certificates completed within the past two years and valid First Aid certificates completed within the past five years.  For the 2020 race only, if a crew cannot meet this requirement due to hands-on training not being available the requirement may be met by completing online courses.  Acceptable online First Aid and CPR courses are offered by the National CPR Foundation and the American Health Care Academy. The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross offer “blended” courses that have an online course followed by a classroom course. If a sailor takes the online portion of the American Heart Association or American Red Cross course and cannot find an in-person course to finish the certification, the race will accept the certificate of completion only of the online portion of the course.