SUMMARY OF US SAILING LADDER EVENTS

All ladder events that lead to US SAILING national championships are governed by the Conditions of Race issued by the championship committee for the specific event. At the MBSA level, the One Design Committee and event chairmen have the flexibility to alter those sections that would encourage more participation at the local level. However, the race management is conducted as closely as possible to the Conditions of Race. Each MBSA voting member organization may enter one crew in each event subject to the eligibility requirements. The winning skipper and crew advance from the MBSA level to the Area and then that winner advances to the finals. In alternating years in several events, the top two MBSA crews may qualify for the Area event. The junior women's single-handed events at each level are open, not subject to ladder qualifications. The MBSA winner, however, does not have to pay an entry fee for the Area event. Unlike the other US SAILING ladder events, the match racing event is an event. It is not necessary for the winning skipper to proceed to the Area level. Each spring the MBSA membership receives notice of the events, dates, types of boats and whom to contact for details. Questions about these ladder events should be directed to the MBSA vice president of one design.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMPETITORS

The crews are expected to participate in all races in any series in which they are entered. Any crew not fulfilling this obligation shall forfeit his rights to any trophy recognition and his place in the Area A competition. In the event that the winning crew is unable to compete in further eliminations, the runner-up crew shall be so designated to replace the winning crew in further races.

COACHES, SUPPORT BOATS AND PERSONNEL

Instructors, coaches and other support personnel shall not go afloat in the racing area from the day of the practice race through the end of the series inclusive, except in spectator boats provided or approved by the regatta organizing authority.
Contestants shall not receive advice, instruction or coaching during the race day. It is the intent of this rule to prohibit contact during the race day between contestants and any person who, in the opinion of the jury, is a coach, instructor or advisor.
The "race day" is defined as starting when each crew has been assigned its boat and equipment prior to the first race of that day and shall continue until the completion of the last race of that day, when boats have been put away and protests, if any, have been filed.
Violation of these regulations will subject a crew to disqualification.

ELIGIBILITY

All US SAILING Junior Events:

Participants may be boys or girls who have reached their thirteenth (I 3) but not nineteenth (I 9) birthdays during the calendar year in which they compete and they must be members of their club.

Women:
All members of the crew must be members of MBSA voting organizations, but not necessarily members of the same organization. The skipper and all members of the crew must have reached their 18th birthdays during the year in which the series is held, except for one crew member who must have reached her 15th birthday. This member may not act as helmswoman.

Men:
All members of the crew must be members of MBSA voting organizations, but not necessarily members of the same organization. The skipper, who must be male, and crew, who may be of either sex, must have reached their 18th birthdays on or before December 31 of the year in which they compete. Senior Single-handed: The helmsman/woman must have reached his/her sixteenth birthday during the year in which the series is conducted and have competed in only one association elimination.

Match Racing: Open to any member club.