The regatta is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in conjunction with the International Class A Yacht Association (ICAYA) under the authority of the Offshore Racing Council (ORC) in agreement with the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV). The sponsor for the Series is Montres Rolex SA.

The 1997 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is valid for:
ILC Maxi World Championship
ICAYA Maxi Yacht Championship

1 ORGANISING AUTHORITY AND VENUE

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, 07020 Porto Cervo (SS), Sardinia, Italy.
Telephone +39 (789) 902200, telefax +39 (789) 91213 or 91257.

The YCCS Race Headquarters for the Series will be located in the Marina of Porto Cervo, East Port.

2 ELIGIBILITY

The regatta is open to:
ILC maxis
ICAYA yachts
Yachts of the One Hundred Division
Class A yachts with IMS rating certificate with a GPH below 580 and minimum LOA of 16 Mts.
Class A yachts with CHS rating certificate with a minimum LOA of 16 Mts.

Each yacht shall comply with her Class Rules and Regulations. A copy of the current IMS and/or CHS certificate shall be submitted with the entry form.

Final certificates shall be submitted to the YCCS Race Secretariat in duplicate prior to 12.00 hours on September 6th, 1997. Certificates shall be verified by the ICAYA Technical Assistant.

3 RULES

The Series will be conducted under the current editions of the following regulations:
International Sailing Federation Rules 1997/2000 (ISAF Rules)
ILC Rules (and as referenced, the IMS and IMS Regulations) for Maxi yachts
ICAYA Class Rules and Regulations for ICAYA Championship
IMS and CHS Rules and Regulations as appropriate
Offshore Racing Council Special Regulations for Category II
Offshore Racing Council Championship Rules for the Offshore Classes for the ILC Maxi World Championship
The Notice of Race
The Sailing Instructions
Any subsequent changes made by the Race Committee or the International Jury with the approval of the ICAYA Association

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

English shall be the official language.

4 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Sailing Instructions will be available at YCCS Race Office on September 7th, 1997 upon final registration.

5 EVENT CLASSIFICATION AND ADVERTISING

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

Category A Advertising is required to compete for the ICAYA Trophy.

A flag with the logo of the event may be given to each entered yacht by the Organising Authority. This flag is to be flown from 09.00 hours on September 8th to 1 hours after the finish of the last race and shall be flown on an antenna or the backstay of the yacht. Furthermore a sponsor battle flag may be provided to each yacht which is to be flown while mooring.

6 JURISDICTION

The Series will be sailed under the jurisdiction of the Race Committee and the International Jury.

7 INTERNATIONAL JURY

An International Jury will be appointed by ICAYA in accordance with ISAF Rule 70.4, 89 (c) and Appendix Q.

8 PROGRAMME

The programme will be as follows.

ILC MAXI
Sunday, 7th: Inspections & Registrations
Monday, 8th: W-L Race(s)
Tuesday, 9th: Coastal Race
Wednesday, 10th: Offshore Race
Thursday, 11th: Lay Day
Friday, 12th: W-L or Islands Race
Saturday, 13th: W-L or Islands Race
Sunday, 14th: Triangular Race / Prize Giving

CLASS A / ONE HUNDRED DIVISION
Monday, 8th: Inspection & Registrations
Tuesday, 9th: Coastal Race
Wednesday, 10th: Offshore Race
Thursday, 11th: Lay Day
Friday, 12th: Island Race
Saturday, 13th: Island Race
Sunday, 14th: Triangular Race / Prize Giving

Two races make take place on Monday, September the 8th.

The races on Monday 8th will be valid for the ILC Maxi World Championship only.

The Organising Authority reserves the right to change the above programme for weather conditions or other reasons.

9 RACING AREA AND CHARTS

The racing area will be in the group of islands of North Eastern Sardinia (See Nautical charts no. 42, 322, 323, 324 I.I.). Regatta(s) on the marks will take place in the vicinity of Porto Cervo Marina.

10 ENTRIES

Entries shall be received in writing, on the attached Entry Form, by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda not later than July 10th, 1997 accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee of US$ 800 per yacht. Each entry shall be accompanied by one copy of the current IMS and or CHS certificate.

Late entries may be accepted at discretion of the Organising Authority. Free moorings at the quay side are not assured for late entries.

The entry fee includes mooring fees from 12 hours on September 7th to 0800 hours on September, 15th 1997 and some invitations to social events. The cost of electricity, water consumption, telephone and mooring fee for additional periods must be paid directly to the Marina Office by the participants.

Final Entry Registration shall be completed at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's Race Office:
For ILC Maxis by Sunday, September 7th at 12.00 hours
For other yachts by Monday September 8th at 12.00 hours

The following is to be delivered upon final registration:
Entry form duly completed
Disclaimer form
Complete crew list with individual crew weight for each crew member. The Italian competitors must be in compliance with the FIV Rules (including medical visit stamp).

For the ILC Maxis all crew weights shall be verified using the scale provided by the YCCS.

11 RATINGS

ILC Maxis will race level.

IMS ratings will be applied for the Rolex Cup to all yachts having IMS certificate.

CHS ratings will be applied only for Class A yachts having CHS certificates.

Elapsed time will be utilised for One Hundred Division.

Special handicap system controlled by the ICAYA Technical Assistant may be utilised for the One Hundred Division and overall result.

12 SCORING AND PENALTIES

Scoring and penalties shall be in accordance with Paragraph 11 of the Championship Rules for Offshore Classes.

13 ELECTRONIC AIDS

All types of electronic equipments are permitted.

14 COMMUNICATIONS

All yachts shall be equipped with a Marine VHF transceivers operating on VHF channel 72.

15 INSPECTIONS

Yachts shall be at the disposal of the Measurement Inspection Committee from 09.00 hours on September 7th, 1997.

16 TROPHIES AND PRIZES

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will be presented to the overall winner of the Series in IMS handicap.

The Series is valid for the assignment of the ILC Maxi Yacht World Championship Trophy offered by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

ICAYA special trophy will be presented to the winner of the ICAYA Maxi Yacht Championship and the winner of the One Hundred Division.

Rolex Trophies will be presented to the winner of CHS Division and other groups.

Entries may be divided in various groups according to the number and type of yachts.

17 MOORINGS

To all the entries confirmed before 10th July 1997 will be offered free moorings at Porto Cervo, East Port, from 1200 on September 7th to 0800 on September 15th.

For bookings of mooring prior and after these dates and for tenders please apply directly to the Marina Management (Telephone +39 (789) 91100).

Moorings in the bay or at cost may be provided for late entries.

Containers may be stored free of charge close to yachts at Port East for the above period and may be stored at the YCCS Sports Centre for additional periods.

Please be aware that immediately before the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, The San Pellegrino Veteran Boat Rally will take place in Porto Cervo and moorings for big yachts should be timely booked.

18 PRESS OFFICE

Media representatives wishing to cover the event are requested to contact:
Mr. Chris Savage, Strategic Advertising Ltd., 1194 London Road, London SW16 4DN, England.
Telephone +44 (81) 6794433 or 6794434, telefax +44 (81) 6790396.

19 DISCLAIMER

The Organising Authority, Rolex SA, ICAYA, ORC and any other party involved in the organisation of the Championship’s regattas, accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss or claim, whether personal or material, incurred by or inflicted to participants before, during or after the regatta.

Participants compete entirely at their own risk and responsibility.

The attention of competitors is drawn to ISAF Fundamental Rule and to ORC Special Regulations.

20 SOCIAL EVENTS

On the night of Sunday, 7th September a dancing dinner for the Championship will take place at the Sopravento Discotheque.

Maxi yacht owners and spouses are invited by the YCCS. Owners are kindly requested to advice the YCCS's Race Office by July 10th with the Entry Form for further tickets for afterguards and guests. Cost of ticket US$ 70 each.