1 ORGANISING AUTHORITY

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
07020 Porto Cervo (SS) Sardinia Italy.
Telephone (+39) 0789902200 Fax (+39) 078991213 or 078991257.
Website http://www.yccs.it Email secretariat@yccs.it

2 ELIGIBILITY

The regatta is open to all Nautor's Swans. Please note that due to limitation of space, only the first 75 forms and fees received will be accepted.

3 RULES

ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 1997-2000
Nautor's Swan rating (N.S.R. 2000) System Rules and Regulations
Offshore Racing Council Special Regulations 2000 for Category 3 (no white flares are required - amends ORC Special Regulation 4.22, Jackstays not required - amends ORC Special Regulation 4.03)
This Notice of Race
The Sailing Instructions (available at registration)
Any subsequent changes made by the Race Committee or the International Jury.

In the event of a conflict between any of the above rules and/or regulations and the Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail.

This Series is classified as a Category A event in accordance with ISAF Rule 79 and ISAF Appendix G (Advertising).

The Organising Authority may require all boats to hoist, for the duration of the regatta, any sponsors' pennants that are offered, commencing immediately following registration until one hour after the finish of the last race. Whilst in port, boats are required to fly the event flag. The sponsors' pennants and the event flag will be provided by the Organising Authority.

4 RATING

All Swans entering the Swan Cup 2000 will be issued with a Nautor's Swan rating (NSR2000). NSR2000 has been developed specifically for Nautor's Swans as a complete rating and rules compliance system and has been used successfully for many Swan Regattas, since its inception in 1988.

The NSR2000 Rules and Regulations and an application form will be sent on receipt of the Entry Form and appropriate Entry Fee. A fee of GBP 65 payable to "Seahorse Rating" must be paid when the NSR2000 rating application form is submitted. The application form should be completed and returned to the NSR2000 Authority by 31st July 2000 to enable a rating to be calculated and an NSR2000 certificate to be issued prior to the Regatta. Applications received after this date may be subject to surcharge and rating certificates will be issued at the Regatta. A signed copy must be presented at the Regatta Office prior to racing.

Note
NSR2000 has some significant differences from other international rating rules. The intention is to allow much closer racing between the "professionals", the "club racer" and the "family crew", and yet simplify the whole process for the user. Some of the main advantages are:
The rule formulae are secret and, therefore ratings are much less open to abuse.
Rating is simply since measurement is not usually necessary. The rated data is based on Nautor standards, modified to reflect declared or measured variations. Previously issued NSR Certificates may be used as a basis of rating for the Swan Cup 2000.
The system takes into consideration accommodation, standard equipment and additional built-in equipment.
Hi-tech features, such as advanced sail cloth and rig control, are rated higher than basic cruiser-racer inventories and allowances are given for "cruising" features.
A rating allowance is given to yachts whose crew live on board (with personal gear and victuals) for the duration of the Regatta. This is to encourage the "family entry" which carries extra weight and personal belongings whilst racing.
The system is protected from abuse by a structured "friendly but firm" check measurement and rules compliance inspection throughout the Regatta.
An age allowance is applied automatically, based on the design year and the yacht's launch date.

5 SPECIAL RATING AND CONTROL COMMITTEE (SRCC)

The SRCC will rule on all matters of rating, accommodation, equipment and associated Rules and Regulations. The Committee's ruling shall be final. It will advise the Race Committee and International Jury on any related disputes and determine appropriate penalties for infringements.

The SRCC will consist of representatives from:
NSR Authority (RORC) Rating and NSR 2000 rules compliance
Nautor Accommodation, fit out and standard equipment
Y.C.C.S. Safety and special regulations

The SRCC may, at its discretion, co-opt additional technical advisers.

6 RATING CONTROL

The SRCC has the right to undertake random inspections and measurement checks, including weighing, on any competing yacht throughout the registration and regatta period. All yachts shall be available for inspection between 0800 and 1800 each day, or the race time limit plus 3 hours. In the event of a protest, access may be requested at any time.

A cross section of competing yachts will be checked soon after each race. Yachts may be boarded on their way to and from the race area when conditions allow. Sails may need to be transported ashore for measurement checks.

Any SRCC imposed amendments to rated data that result in an increase in a yacht's rating shall be backdated to the start of the Regatta and overall results recalculated. If a rating decreases then the new rating shall apply to subsequent races only.

Infringements of the NSR2000 Rules and Regulations may lead to the yacht receiving scoring penalties or disqualification. Decisions upon infringements of the NSR2000 shall be determined by the International Jury, based on the report of the SRCC and such decisions shall be final.

7 REGISTRATION

Registration formalities shall be completed at the YCCS Race Office by 1500 on August 27th , 2000, delivering the crew list with the names of each crew member.

Italian competitors shall be in compliance with the FIV (Italian Sailing Federation) Rules for regattas.

8 PROGRAMME

	Sunday, 27th August		Closing of Inspections and Final Registrations (1500 hours); Briefing
	Monday, 28th August		Island Race - Day Trophy
	Tuesday, 29th August		2 Windward - Leeward Races - Day Trophy
	Wednesday, 30th August		Long Island Race - Day Trophy
	Thursday, 31st August		Lay Day or resail
	Friday, 1st September		Triangle Race - Day Trophy - Class Trophy
	Saturday, 2nd September		Final Short Island Race; Prize Giving Swan Cup

The Organising Authority and/or the Race Committee reserves the right to modify the programme because of weather conditions or other reasons.

The Registration Office, Rating Office and the measurers will be available at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 25th August.

9 COURSES AND CHARTS

Courses for the week will be sailed around Porto Cervo, Sardinia and amongst the surrounding islands. (See Nautical charts n° 42 - 322 - 323 - 324 I.I.)

10 PENALTIES

The Scoring Penalty described by RRS 44.3 shall apply. A boat's penalty score shall be the score for the place worse than her actual finishing place nearest to 20% of the number of boats entered in her scoring list.

11 SCORING

The Low Point Scoring System of RRS Appendix A (A2.2) shall apply, with five races scheduled of which two shall be completed to constitute a series. Ties not resolved by the Appendix (A2.3) will be broken by the relative position of each boat in the last race sailed.

12 ELECTRONIC AIDS

All types of electronic aids, including radar, VOR, satellite, etc., are permitted. No external aids, outside assistance or information may be used during the races, excepting weather forecast information. Yachts shall be equipped with VHF with channel 16 and 72.

13 IDENTIFICATION

The sail number of the yacht need only be displayed on the mainsail, but yachts without sail number must display their hull numbers clearly on the lifelines, e.g. 43/090. These digits must be at least 40 cm. in height.

14 PROTESTS

Will be heard by an International Jury whose ruling shall be final.

15 PRIZES

Many excellent trophies and prizes are offered by NAUTOR, YCCS and the supporting organisations.

16 MOORINGS

The Entry Fee includes moorings from 1000 hrs Sunday 27th August to 0800 hrs Sunday 3rd September 2000, provided that the completed entry form and fee are received by the YCCS before 15th June 2000 and that the vessels using these moorings start at least 3 of the scheduled races.

Due to limitation of space, and for security reasons, mooring places at the Old Harbour will be guaranteed for the first 50 complete entries (forms and fees) received. Further entries will be assigned mooring places at Porto Cervo Marina. Only water, electricity and telephone will be charged extra directly by the Harbour Master's Office.

Should you wish to arrive earlier or stay longer, you can extend your bookings by contacting:
Porto Cervo Marina Management Office Direzione Marina
07020 Porto Cervo (SS), Sardinia Italy
Telephone (+39) 078991100 Fax (+39) 078991153

Such extended bookings will be chargeable at current marina rates. Early booking is recommended. Telephone bookings must be confirmed by fax or mail.

17 ENTRIES

The enclosed entry form shall be completed in full and sent with the appropriate fee to:
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
07020 Porto Cervo (SS), Sardinia Italy

Entries shall be received by YCCS not later than 15th June 2000. Entries will be limited to the first 75 forms and fees received.

The Organising Committee reserves the right to accept entries after 15th June 2000, on payment of an additional fee ($200).

18 ENTRY FEES

	Less than 45ft LOA		$575
	45ft to 55ft LOA inclusive		$775
	Over 55ft LOA		$975

The entry fee shall accompany the entry form and should be made payable to "Yacht Club Costa Smeralda" either by check or by bank transfer to:
Banca Commerciale Italiana Agency of Porto Cervo
07020 Porto Cervo (SS)
Account n° 409377/10/20
CAB 84900 ABI 02002

19 SECURITY

All participants in the Swan Cup 2000 will be issued with a pass (or wristband), which must be worn at all times. This pass will be necessary to use any regatta facility and will not be replaced if lost. A restricted area at the quayside will provide facilities only to those participants in possession of their pass.

20 MEDIA ACCREDITATION

Media and TV representatives wishing to cover the event are requested to contact the following for accreditation:

Italians:
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
07020 Porto Cervo (SS) Sardinia Italy
Telephone (+39) 0789902200 Fax (+39) 078991213

Northern Europe and rest of the World:
The Strategic Organisation Limited 3 Ivory House
Plantation Wharf York Road
LONDON SW11 3TN U.K.
Tel. +44(0)171 2288800 Fax +44(0)171 2288899
Email post@strategic-organisation.com

Mediterranean Countries:
ISM Italia Piazza Grandi 7
20129 Milano Italy
Telephone (+39) 02733403 Fax (+39) 02 /7382853
Email ismitalia@planet.it

21 INFORMATION

A YCCS Race Office and Nautor Information Desk will be situated at the quayside throughout the regatta week.

Prior to the event further details can be obtained from the organisers:
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
07020 Porto Cervo (SS) Sardinia Italy
Telephone (+39) 0789902200 Fax (+39) 078991213
Website http://www.yccs.it Email secretariat@yccs.it

For further information, please contact the Club Swan Racing Office at:
Fax (+39) 055244376
Website www.nautors-swan.com Email racing-office@nautors-swan.com

The final Social Programme and the scheduled of the Prize Givings will be distributed to all entries at a later stage.