1.06 APPROACH TO FINISH: All yachts are particularly requested to set listening watch on VHP 72 (or other channel if advised in Part 2) from 5 miles off. When visibility is good it should not be necessary to call, but at night or in poor visibility advise "Ocean One" of approach. At all times, be ready to assist with identification at the finish line and keep VHF watch until berthing.

1.07 SHIPPING:Yachts shall not hinder shipping. The attention of yachts is drawn to their obligations under the IRPCAS and (in the Solent) to the Notice to Mariners in the RORC Programme, page 57.

1.08 NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS: May be reproduced in Part 2 for convenience but cannot be guaranteed to be complete or exact. Reference is urged to original Notices published weekly through Admiralty Chart Agents, also Navigational Warnings for NAVAREA 1 (NE Atlantic including Channel and North Sea) broadcast by NAVTEX etc.

E. ALAN GREEN
DIRECTOR OF RACING AND
SPECIAL EVENTS

RORC MEMBERSHIP

The Royal Ocean Racing Club was founded in 1925 to encourage long distance yacht racing and the design, building and navigation of sailing vessels in which speed and seaworthiness are combined. A Clubhouse is provided for members in the West End of London with bar, dining room and bedrooms at a reasonable cost. The club magazine "Seahorse" is sent free to members monthly. Owners who are members qualify for reduced race entry fees, Membership enquiries are always welcome from proven ocean racing enthusiasts, men and women. There are two principal categories: Ordinary and Provisional (temporary limited membership pending fll qualification). Ordinary members under 25 years of age pay a small subscription (28) and no entry fee. Maximum fees are 148 per annum Ordinary UK resident. Overseas and Senior members pay less. A candidate must have completed one Fastnet Race or at least 500 miles racing offshore in RORC races. Other offshore racing experience can be considered, One of the qualifying races should be at least 150 miles in length and there must be at least one overnight race. The candidate must have a background of sailing experience and must be proposed and seconded by members of the Club who will each write a letter of recommendation. He or she must be known to a committee member, who will Sponsor the application, (lf the candidate does not know a committee member, a meeting can be arranged by the Club. Arrangements can be made in countries overseas.) A certificate of Competency must be signed by the owner or skipper of the yacht in a qualifying race - the Club sends this form direct. lf the candidate is the owner or ,the skipper, the Certificate of Competency is not required. At least one qualifying race must have been completed with the last five seasons.

Please ask at Race HQ for a membership pack or contact RORC London

ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB
20 St JAMES'S PLACE, LONDON. SW1A 1 NN TEL: +44 (0)1 71-493 2248 FAX+44 (0)1 71-493 5252
Compu Server 100705, 3075 Website: http://rorc.org

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
PART 2

16. FASTNET RACE

Saturday 9th August 1997
First start 1330
HW Portsmouth 1548 (4.4m)

all times bst
Incorporating the final race in the 1997 Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup

Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club with the Royal Yacht Squadron and
the Royal Western Yacht Club of England
in co-operation with Cowes Combined Clubs

This diagram is an aid only and not a Sailing Instruction

Please see Amendments nos. 1 and 2 to the RORC Programme 1997 sent to all competitors

2.01 Modifications to Part 1
RRS Part 2 will be replaced by Part B the Steering and Sailing Rules of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) between the hours of local sunset and sunrise. RORC Special Regulations - Multihulls (1997) apply in the Multihull Division.

Large multihulls (greater than 50 feet LOA) will race in one class without handicap Whitbread 60 class yachts will race in accordance with the rules set out in a separate paper entitled 'Whitbread 60 yachts Fastnet 97". Maxi yachts are defined for the purpose of their Start group as monohulls with LOA of 65' and above.

In appreciation of support from Champagne Mumm a Fastnet Race bow sticker will be sent to all entries (except those in the Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup who have their own). lt will be appreciated if the bow stickers are displayed.

The principal co-ordinating Station of HM Coastguard for this race is Falmouth Coastguard. Tel: +44 (0)1326 317575. Falmouth takes the place of Portland for this race (changes Sailing Instructions 1.05)

2.02 Race Office
Start: RORC Race Office, 82 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight. Tel: 01983 295144 or when available + 44 (0)831 770661 or+44 (0)831 415041 (gsm mobiles).

Finish: RORC/RWYC Fastnet Race Office, Queen Anne's Battery, Plymouth, Devon Tel: +44 (0)1752 662248, Fax: +44 (0)1752 662339. Open continuously (24hrs) from the Start of the race. INTERNET: information at http://fastnet.org will be updated during the race. Yachts are encouraged to send in reports. See Communications Instructions.

2.03 Shoreside Contact - Safety Enquiries
Owners are asked to ensure that the shoreside contact given on the race entry form will co-ordinate ad enquiries about safety made to race HQ in Plymouth or to HM Coastguard about their particular boat. This is intended to reduce the number of calls to race HQ and HMCG in an emergency.

2.04 Qualifications
Owners are reminded of the experience qualification ruies in this race. In the event that qualification of the entry was not completed in the manner planned it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that an acceptable alternative qualification was achieved, declared in writing and accepted by the race committee before the yacht attempts to race. r

2.05 Reporting Gate and Direction of Start
A reporting gate will be established near Spanker buoy. The gate is between a Committee Vessel showing a blue flag with a white seahorse & crown and white border over a yellow flag, and a large inflatable buoy marked "Champagne Mumm"

The gate will be available from 11:00 until the last Start or longer at the discretion of the race committee. Every yacht shall pass once through the gate whilst displaying her class flag and portable sail number on the port side (or bow number sticker) and receive visual acknowledgement before starting.

Direction of Start - flag will be flown from the "gate" committee vessel and the RYS Lodge s follows:

Green flag - Start to West

Red Flag - Start to East

Warning: Yachts which do not go through the reporting gate are liable to disqualification.

Starts A - E

Starts F - H

Start letter "F" (large multihulls) - the committee reserves the right to postpone this start without affecting any other Starts. In such acase the committee will fly "AP" over "F" and will give further instructions on VHF 72 These instructions may require this class to start to the East when details of the start line and the first part of the course will be described on VHF72 by "Ocean One".

Radio at start: competitors are strongly recommended to listen for the Race Committee "Ocean 1" on VHF channel.72 and should do so until clear of the Solent. Competitors are requested not to transmit except in emergency (see RORC General Conditions 6(b).

2.07 Starting Line
Normal start to west (green flag on Gate Boat and at RYS Lodge)
The start line is formed by bringing the Royal Yacht Squadron flagstaff into line with the white line on the orange diamond on the Castle.
Outer Limit: West Bramble buoy
Inner Limit: Skandia Life Cowes Week "Alpha" buoy (yellow spherical about 3 cables from the RYS flagstaff).

Vertical light beams are installed at the RYS to identify the starting line transit. The intensitv of the light beam increases as the transit is momentarilv obscured by the forward mast. The lights are navigational aids only and do not constitute the starting line, nor will a Start be postponed because of any failure of equipment.

Exceptional Start to east (red flag on Gate Boat and at RYS Lodge) In exceptional circumstances the race may be started to the east, when the starting line will be s above, except that the Outer Limit will be South Bramble buoy and the Inner Limit will be Skandia Life Cowes Week "Beta" buoy (orange spherical about 3.3 cables from the RYS flagstaff).

Special committee vessels: one of more special committee vessels, each displaying a large red flag, may be on Station at intervals along the starting line to help identify premature Starters.

2.08 Course and Distance (normal start to west - green flag on Gate Boat and at RYS Lodge)