The skipper has the full responsibility for the decision to participate.
See ”Safety” below.
The boat shall compete by using only the wind. It’s allowed to use an engine to charge batteries or to reverse off a ground (no advantage should be achieved).
The event is governed by:
a) recognized principles of sportsmanship and fair play
b) Swedish Law (note restricted areas on the chart).
c) COLREGS - International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
For clarity: it is not allowed to sail through the Soten channel (chart).
All decisions regarding the event (program, course, start procedure, classes, right to start, seaworthiness of boats, protests, disqualification, etc) is made by a committee consisting of at least 3 people from the organizers/advisors.
Please notice that we are not using racing rules. This means:
- No luffing
- No room for mark/land/anything
- No shouting and/or pushing your luck
- No protests
Just fair sailing where we take care of each other and give each other plenty of space to manouver.
We will divide the fleet, and start times, according to LOA.
Mini = Monohulls from 18.00 to 25.00 feet
Small = Monohulls from 25.01 to 30.00
Medium = Monohulls from 30.01 to 35.00
Large = Monohulls from 35.01 and upwards
Multi = Multihulls >18 feet
All skippers that finishes the race before 12:00 on Sunday (and are not disqualified) will be awarded a shirt.
The start will be located on Marstrand fjord, just north of Marstrand harbour, outside ”Skallens” lighthouse and will be marked with two orange flags. It will be a wide startingline with plenty of space. First start will be at 10:00:00 local (GPS) time and then 30 minutes between each class. The starts will be normal 5 minutes starts (signal at 5 - 4 - 1 minutes + start) and the classflagg will be the Marstrands Sailing association (MSS) flag for all classes. Countdown will be done on VHF channel 72.
Starts will be on the following GPS times:
10:00 Mini
10:30 Small
11:00 Medium
11:30 Large
12:00 Multi
Please do NOT be over the line early! If you happen to start early then do not turn around and re-start, just keep sailing for safety reasons and instead you will receive a serious time penalty.
The finish line will be located between the lighthouse ”Gråberget” located on Klöverön and a flag close to ”Strandverket” on the south side of Marstrand (read The course for more details).
Only boats suited for the course and expected conditions may take part. The organizers reserve the right to reject any boat which isn’t seaworthy or deemed unsafe.
As this is a solo race, only one person can be on board during the race. Skippers can get permission to bring an additional media person. The media person cannot help with sailing or help the skipper in any way.
Each participating boat shall be insured with a valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of 1 MEUR.
Boats can be required to fly pennant, or attach stickers, provided by the organizers.
Each participant is also expected to help other participants when they are mooring at the pontoon, and be generally helpful to each other.
If life is in danger, call 112 or use VHF channel 16.
To contact the Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (JRCC) non-emergency +46 10 4927700
The Coast Guard can be reached at +46 776 706000.
Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SRSS) is informed and have boats stationed at Käringön and Smögen.
We recommend all participants to set their VHF to channel 72 during the Challenge as it will be used as the event channel.
Sailing is by its nature unpredictable and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each skipper agrees and acknowledges that;
a) they are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
b) they are responsible for the safety of themselves, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
c) they accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omission;
d) their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
e) the organizers does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
The organizers, its sponsors, and other organizing clubs accept no responsibility or liability for loss of life or injury to members or others, or for the loss of, or damage to, any vessel or property
All participants must be contactable via either handheld or stationary VHF radio. Channel 72 will be used for the event.
All boats must have fixed navigation lights that comply with the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Boats of less than 7 meters in length shall have lights as required for boats of 7 meters or more in length.
The following safety equipment is mandatory:
- Life jacket
- Safety harness
- Fixed safety line/jackstay along the deck for attachment of the safety harness
- VHF radio – handheld (incl. batteries for a realistic estimated sailing time) or stationary. This should be on race channel throughout the race.
- Mobile phone in watertight case.
- 4 red handheld flares (within expiry date), or equivalent laser/LED-flare with spare batteries, or 2 red handheld flares and 2 red distress rockets (all within expiry date)
- Fire extinguisher
- Bucket or bailer
- First aid kit
- Powerful flashlight and / or head lamp
- Knife
- Suitable anchor with suitable chain/line-combination, ready for immediate use
The organizer doesn’t have a safetyboat following the fleet. All cases of emergency is referred to telephone 112 as detailed above
By signing the registration form, the skipper confirms that all of the above compulsory safety equipment is onboard.
Peter Gustafsson, J/111 Blur
Leif Jägerbrand, Figaro 3
Erik Nordborg, Figaro 2
Anders Nyberg, RM1350 Embla
Marcus Blomberg, Marstrand SS