Western Michigan Yachting Association Championship Regatta
August 1, 2, 3, 2025
Torch Lake Yacht Club, Michigan
NOTICE OF RACE
Printable PDF: 2025 WMYA NOR
The notation ‘[NP]’ in a rule of the sailing instructions (SIs) means that a boat may not protest another
boat for breaking that rule. This changes RRS 60.1(a).
1 RULES
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS)
1.2 The Class Rules of the C scow class, the E scow class, the MC scow class, the M15 class, the Butterfly
class, the Laser class and the Optimist Dinghy class will apply, except as any of these are changed by the
sailing instructions.
1.3 Rule changes will be listed below. All rule changes will be listed in the Sailing Instructions
2 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2 .1 Sailing instructions will be available in the WMYA program and at https://wmya.org/
3 COMMUNICATION
3 .1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at https://theclubspot.com/
3.2 An unofficial physical notice board will be located at Torch Lake Yacht Club.
3.3 On the water, the race committee will make courtesy broadcasts to competitors on VHF radio. The
channel will be stated in the SIs.
3.4 Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not
receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats. [NP]
4 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1 Participants that are members of a WMYA club must have paid all event fees before becoming official
competitors. Non-member skippers will be allowed to race by paying an additional $25.00 fee.
4.2 Boats may enter the event by registering online, following the link found at https://www.wmya.org
4.3 To be considered an entry in the event, a boat shall complete all registration requirements and pay all
fees.
5 FEES
5.1 Entry fee (BEFORE JULY 18) is $70 for Butterflies or Optimist Prams and $165 for all other fleets.
5.2 Entry fee (July 18 or after) is $90 for Butterflies or Optimist Prams and $220 for all other fleets.
5.3 Early on-line registration is strongly encouraged and the link may be found at https://www.wmya.org
6 ADVERTISING
6.1 Advertising will be restricted to category A.
7 SCHEDULE
7.1 Online registration begins June 1, 2025
7.2 Daily Schedule
Thursday 7/31/2025
Registration 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm – On site registration, sailing info, and meal ticket pick-up
Annual Meeting 7:00pm
Friday 8/1/2025
Registration 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Competitors Briefing – All Fleets 8:30 am
Racing Schedule – Posted times are for the warning signal.
10:00 a.m. – MC, M-15, Opti – Second race for all fleets immediately to follow. The warning signal for all
fleets may not be after 12:15pm
2:00 p.m. – E, C/Laser, Butterfly – Second race for all immediately to follow. The warning signal for all
fleets may not be after 4:15pm
Saturday 8/2/2025
10:00 a.m. – E, C/Laser, Butterfly – Second race for all immediately to follow. The warning signal for all
fleets may not be after 12:15pm
2:00 p.m. – MC, M-15, Opti – Second race for all fleets immediately to follow. The warning signal for all
fleets may not be after 4:15pm
Sunday 8/3/2025
10:00 a.m. – MC, M-15, Opti – Second race for all fleets immediately to follow. The warning signal for all
fleets may not be after 12:15pm
2:00 p.m. – E, C/Laser, Butterfly – Second race for all immediately to follow. The warning signal for all
fleets may not be after 4:15pm
8 EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
8.1 Boat Weight Compliance Forms must be signed by the owner prior to racing (part of registration).
Boats may be weighed at the discretion of the Race Committee.
9 COURSES
9.1 Courses will be sailed on the waters of Torch Lake, MI.
10 PENALTY SYSTEM
10.1 – After a race, a boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 or Rule 31 while racing may take a post-race
penalty for that incident.
10.2 – Post Race Penalties shall be:
a. 20% if taken before protest time limit. [Minimum 2 places] b. 30% if taken after protest time limit but before the beginning of a hearing involving the incident.
[Min. 3 places]
10.3 – Secured Positions – If the Race Committee deems it necessary in order to maintain the regatta
schedule, and at the sole discretion of the Race Committee, the Race Committee may “secure” the
position of any boat in the race and will score that boat in that position as if they have actually finished
the race in that position. This modifies Rule 35, A4, A5 and changes the definition of Finish.
11 SCORING
11.1 – The low point scoring system in Appendix A of the RRS will apply.
11.2 – There will be one throw out race allowed per fleet after that fleet has completed at least six races.
11.3 – 2 races must be completed for a class to constitute a regatta.
12 RISK STATEMENT
12.1 – RRS 3 states: ‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is
hers alone.’ By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a
potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas,
sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other
boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent
in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma,
hypothermia or other causes. The Torch Yacht Club, Race Committee, Protest Committee, sponsors,
volunteers, or any other affiliated organization or official accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage,
injury, death or inconvenience incurred, in conjunction with the regatta, however caused. By
participating in this event, each competitor, or in the case of minors, each competitor’s parent or
guardian, agrees to release the Regatta Organizers from any and all liability associated with such
competitor’s participation in this event to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13 PRIZES
13.1 – Prizes will be given as follows:
E Scow – 1st through 5th place 1 Master,
C Scow – 1st through 3rd place, 1 Master,
MC Scow – 1st through 8th place, 1 Junior, 1 Grand Master, 1 Master, 1 Women, 1 Mega Master, 1
Old Salt
Melges 15 – 1st through 3rd place, 1 Master,
Butterfly (Jr.) – 1st through 10th place, Skipper and Crew
Laser – 1st through 4th place, 1 Woman, 1 Junior
Optimist Pram – 1st through 5th place
13.2 – Participants must notify registration for inclusion in the Master, Grand Master, Mega Master, Old Salt,
Women, and Junior Divisions. Participants in these classes are eligible to compete for both regular and
perpetual trophies.
14 CLASS DIVISIONS/REQUIREMENTS
14.1 – Butterfly Division – There must be two [2] people on board each yacht, neither of whom have reached
age 17 prior to the first day of the regatta. Crews may be changed at any time during the regatta. No
Minimum weight restrictions. A USCG approved Life Jacket must be worn by each sailor completely
zipped or buckled. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
14.2 – Optimist Pram: There may be one [1] or two [2] people on board each yacht, neither of whom has
reached age 16 prior to the first day of the regatta. Crews may be changed at any time during the
regatta. A USCG approved Life Jacket must be worn by each sailor completely zipped or buckled. Failure
to comply will result in disqualification. Valid measurement certificates are not required.
14.3 – Laser Division: A USCG approved Life Jacket must be worn by each sailor completely zipped or buckled.
Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Participants may sail with either a Standard or Radial Rig
but will be scored as a single fleet. Rigs are not interchangeable and competitors must sail with the
same rig for the entire Regatta.
14.4 – MC Junior Division: Not yet 25 years of age on the first day of the regatta.
14.5 – MC Master Division: 50 years of age by the first day of the regatta.
14.6 – MC Grand Master Division: 60 years of age by the first day of the regatta
14.7 – MC Mega Master Division: 70 years of age by the first day of the regatta
14.8 – MC Old Salt Division: 80 years of age by the first day of the regatta
14.9 – Laser Junior Division: Not yet 17 years of age on the first day of the regatta
14.10 – C Master Division: 50 years of age by the first day of the regatta.
14.11 – E Master Division: 50 years of age by the first day of the regatta.
15 LAUNCHING, BOAT STORAGE AND PARKING
15.1 – On Thursday, July 31, cars will be allowed down in the parking lot to unload boats and gear.
15.2 – Starting Friday August 1, all cars will be parked across the street in the designated power cut area.
15.3 – There will be a land taxi circling up and down the driveway.
15.4 – No other vehicles will be allowed down the driveway except race committee and EMT.
16 HOUSING
16.1 – Limited housing will be available and will be provided on first come, first served basis. Please contact
Amy Keller, 614-519-4995 or akellerslp@gmail.com
16.2 – A block of rooms has been reserved at Shanty Creek
16.3 – RV parking – Malone field, 2678 S East Torch Lake Rd. (1/2 mile south of club on east side of road) No
water or electrical hook up.
For more information:
Revised – 4/5/2025 Steve Schiller – US Sailing CRO ID#218413Q