SWAN MAXI CIRCUIT 2009

The 2009 SWAN MAXI CIRCUIT, organised by the Swan Racing Office, is a circuit for all Swan yachts over 60 feet long, to be sailed in Mediterranean waters at a series of individual events. The Organising Authority for each individual event will be as specified in the Notice of Race for each individual event.

1. EVENTS, VENUES AND DATES.

-         Hublot PalmaVela, Palma de Mallorca (Spain)                          15 – 19 April

-         Giraglia Rolex Cup (inshore races only), St Tropez (France)       13 – 20 June

-         Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Porto Cervo (Sardinia)                         06 – 12 September

-         Les Voiles de Saint Tropez (France)                                         27 September – 04 October

Further information on the events, venues and dates can be found in www.swanmaxiclass.com and will be sent via e-mail to the boats registered in the circuit.

2. RULES.

2.1 The 2009 Swan Maxi Circuit will be governed by:

a)     The rules as defined in the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS 2009 – 2012).

b)    The ISAF Sailor’s Classifications Code.

2.2 The official language of the Circuit shall be English.

2.3 The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for the individual events.

2.4 Any modification to this notice will be posted on the Official Notice Board at www.swanmaxiclass.com.

3. ADVERTISING.

3.1 Advertising category and limitations will be specified in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for each individual event.

4. ELIGIBILITY.

4.1 The 2009 Swan Maxi Circuit is open to all Swan yachts over 60 feet long that enter any of the individual events specified in paragraph1.

4.2 In order to qualify for the Swan Maxi Class, and compete for the Class trophy, a boat must participate in at least one of the official Circuit events and shall be helmed by their bone fide owners, except in an emergency when boats may be helmed by any crew member.

4.3 All competitors shall comply with the eligibility requirements of each individual event.

5. PROGRAMME AND SCHEDULE.

5.1 The programme and schedule for each event will be described in their respective Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.

6. INSPECTIONS AND MEASUREMENT.

6.1 Inspection and measurement for each event will be described in their respective Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.

7. SCORING AND RESULTS.

7.1 For the purpose of determining 2009 SWAN MAXI CIRCUIT scores, a boat’s score shall be the sum of her final overall finishing position (Swan Maxi entrants only) in each event with one discard, except that the results from the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup shall not be discarded. Boats shall be placed in the circuit series in order of their total score, lowest points first.

7.2 In the event of a tie between two or more boats, they shall be ranked in order of their overall result in last event of the series. Any remaining ties shall be broken by the next to last event and so on until the ties are broken.

8. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS.

8.1 The procedure for protests and requests for redress will be described in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for the respective events.

8.2 All protests and requests for redress that may affect individual event scores shall be determined by the protest committee appointed for that event.

8.3 Any request for redress regarding scoring in the 2009 Swan Maxi Circuit shall be decided by a protest committee appointed by the Swan Racing Office. These requests may be submitted by email to the Swan Racing Office but otherwise in accordance with RRS 62.2. The protest committee may determine the procedures for conducting the hearing and deciding the case. These procedures may include a hearing conducted by email. This changes RRS 63, 64 and 65.

9. TROPHIES AND PRIZES.

9.1 The Swan Maxi Circuit Perpetual Asprey Trophy for the overall winner of the Circuit will be presented at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez.

9.2 Additional trophies can be awarded.

9.3 Circuit event trophies will be described in each event’s Sailing Instructions.

10. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY.

10.1 Competitors participate in the 2009 Swan Maxi Circuit at their own risk. Attention is drawn to the Fundamental Rule 4: DECISION TO RACE, of Part 1 of the RRS, which states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or continue racing is hers alone”.

10.2 The Swan Racing Office will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with, prior to, during, or after the 2009 Swan Maxi Circuit.