There has been a lot of talk about the new National Handicap for Cruisers (NHC) and information and the initial Base Number list is now available on the RYA Website in the Racing Section.

To give everyone a chance to hear more about the new system we have been able to arrange for Bas Edmonds and Alan Wibroe, from the RYA Technical Department, to come to Northern Ireland and tell us more about how it works and how your Club can use it.

They will make their presentation at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Wednesday 17^th April at 7:30 pm.  The talk will last approximately one and a half hours and there will then be time for a question and answer session.

This FREE talk is open to everyone with an interest in Cruiser Handicap racing including Club Sailing Secretaries, Handicap Secretaries, Race Officers and Scorers and, of course, Owners and Crew.

More Information avout the NHC here.

If you do intend to come to the talk in BYC on 17th please email Mary.farrell@rya.org.uk or robin@robingray.co.uk

The seminar will be located at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Seafront Road, Cultra, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 0BB

Saturday 23rd March; 9.30am to 5pm

Sunday 24th March; 9.30 am to 4pm.

Fee £75, includes tea/coffee and light lunch on both days.

APPLICATION FORM (WORD 39KB)

Tutors

The tutors will be Chris Watts, International Judge and RYA Race Officials Education Officer; Bill O’Hara, International Judge and ISAF Rule 42 Adviser and Denis Todd, National Judge and RYA Regional Rules Adviser.

Content

Attendees will be expected to have a reasonable working knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing. The seminar will consist of two days tuition and participation in classroom based exercises and examinations. This will include tuition on; the interaction of the rules, appendices and prescriptions in the RRS; instruction on the establishment of a Protest Committee; correct procedures for the committee members; taking evidence; establishing facts; penalties; reopening and appeals procedures; sources of advice and reference documentation etc.

The seminar includes examinations for the Regional Judge qualification (appointment requires experience of at least 4 Protest Committees and a reference) and on conclusion of the course, the National Judge qualification ( see RYA website for other requirements for appointment).  Attendees are encouraged to undertake one or both of the examinations.

Details about the club /contacts/ local accommodation etc can be found at www.rniyc.org  or tel. 02890428041.