REGATTA DIRECTOR -- 9th May Racing Rules Seminar

In follow up to our earlier post, ACM issued the following notice today:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

AC Management is delighted to invite all Competitors to attend a Rules Seminar covering the 2005 Racing Rules of Sailing as adopted for the 32nd America's Cup. The Seminar will be conducted by two of our principal Umpires, Brad Dellenbaugh (USA) and John Standley (AUS), on Monday, 9 May 2005 at 18h00 in the former Jury Room of the Antigua Estacion Maritima, Muelle de la Estacion, Valencia.

Competitors may send as many representatives to the Seminar as they wish. However, each person must be identified by name, to Tamara Martyn in advance. This requirement is for security reasons in and around the Estacion.

I expect that the Seminar will last from 2-1/2 to 3 hours and topics will include:

A. The 2005 Racing Rule changes and their effect on Match Racing.

B. The America's Cup Umpire's Call Book and proposed changes:

• Current Calls
• Procedure for submitting questions and scenarios.

C. The Racing Rule changes as they will apply to AC Fleet Racing

D. Discussion of unifying the Racing Rules for America's Cup (Match & Fleet Racing).

E. The benefits of deleting RRS 17.1 and 18.4. If 17.1 is not deleted, a proposal to implement a system in which the Umpires signal when a leeward yacht must gybe (second half of leeward leg), and the leeward yacht must gybe at the first reasonable opportunity.

F. Any other appropriate subject for the Umpires and Race Committee.

In the interest of covering as much material as possible, questions from Competitors may be submitted, by Email, prior to the Seminar. Please send these to my attention at [email address deleted].

This Seminar has been scheduled to permit those who sailed in Elba to travel to Valencia, and also not to conflict with the Challenger Commission meetings or other sailing events in the days following.

Please distribute this invitation, as appropriate, to those within your Team and be sure to communicate the names of your team attendees to Tamara as promptly as possible. We look forward to your participation.

Your sincerely,

Wm H Dyer Jones
Regatta Director