Shields Class Sailing Association

By-Laws Governing the National Regatta

1.1

Governance
The Regatta shall be managed by a National Championship Committee appointed by the Governing Board, including the President, the Measurer and one or more members of the host fleet. Eligibility of an entrant for the Regatta is to be ruled on by the Committee prior to the first race of the Regatta; thereafter, violations of these By-Laws are subject to protest.

1.2

Entrants

(a)

The term "Entrant" refers to the combination of entered boat, sails and skippers(s). All Entrants shall satisfy the entry requirements, including payment of the entry fee, established by the Committee. Any request for a waiver of any qualification requirement shall be made to the Governing Board at least seven days before the commencement of the Regatta.

(b)

Qualification requirements for each entered boat:

Must be a Registered yacht as defined by By-Law 2.0

Must be certified by a Fleet as conforming to the class specifications

Must have antifouling bottom paint and be wet-sailed

Must have competed in ten or more sanctioned races in the calendar year of the Regatta, as certified by a Fleet or Fleets (this can be waived for chartered boats)

Must carry only qualified sails

May be inspected as deemed appropriate by the Committee.

(c)

Qualification requirements for each entered skipper or co-skipper:

Must be an Active Member as defined in the Constitution Article IV(A)

Must have competed on the entered boat with the entered sails in ten or more sanctioned races in the calendar year of the Regatta, as certified by a Fleet or Fleets (waived for the most recent National Champion)

Any helmsman in the Regatta, and any "professional" participating in the Regatta (whether helmsman or crew), must meet the requirements of (c-2) above. (A "professional" is someone who is employed with the boating industry, is not a regular helmsman or crew of the entered boat, has superior qualifications to the helmsman or crew member he replaces, and may directly or indirectly benefit from the entered boat’s performance in the Regatta.) The objective of this provision, in conformity with the spirit of Article II of the Constitution, is to prevent the participation of "professionals" who participate in Shields sailing only for the Regatta.

(d)

Qualification requirements for entered sails:

Sails must have been acquired by the entrant in compliance with Section V Rule 1.0 - Basic Rules Governing Acquisition, measured by a Fleet Measurer and marked as prescribed. Each entrant must produce a Sail Inventory Card [or web site substitute if adopted by the Governing Board].

All entered sails must have been used in at least ten sanctioned Shields races in the calendar year of the Regatta on the entered boat or (in the case of a chartered boat) on the boat in which at least one skipper qualified for the Regatta. The words "in a calendar year of the Regatta" do not apply to the backup spinnaker and are waived for the most recent National Champion.

An Entrant may use only one mainsail, one jib, and one spinnaker ("primary spinnaker"), except as provided in this section (d-4) or as otherwise permitted by the Committee for good cause.

An Entrant may carry aboard while racing a second ("backup") spinnaker which may be used only if there is such serious damage to the primary spinnaker that further use might render it useless in the Regatta. On any day when the backup spinnaker is first used the Entrant must have damage to the primary spinnaker verified by the Committee on completion of the day’s racing.

(e)

Chartered boats:

The Committee and the host fleet shall make one boat per active fleet available to be chartered (without fee) and entered by a qualifying skipper designated by his active Fleet. Such boats will be assigned to skippers at random by means of a drawing. The entered skipper may use only the qualifying sails with which he qualified.

Subject to prior review and approval of the arrangement by the Class Executive Committee, a qualified skipper may borrow, charter or co-skipper a boat other that the boat on which he qualified for the Regatta. The Application to the Executive Committee shall specify the names and qualification data of the entered boat and each designated skipper, and specify what qualifying eligible sails they propose to use. Approval by the Executive Committee may be subject to whatever conditions it deems appropriate to preserve the Corinthian spirit of the event and avoid prejudice to other competitors.

Rules for the National Championship Regatta

2.1

Sailing Rules
Except as otherwise specified in this Section VI or in the Sailing Instructions, the rules of the United States Sailing Association shall govern.

2.2

Crew Numbers Interpretation (NOR Language)
The number of persons aboard a boat shall be not less than three. For crews of five or more a limit of 1000 lbs shall apply. There is no weight limit on crews of three or four persons. Each boat shall be required to carry, throughout all races, the same number of persons on board as at the start of the first race of the regatta. The Notice of Race and/or Sailing Instructions shall address the methods for enforcement of this rule.

2.3

Scoring
The United States Sailing Association’s Appendix A, Low Point System, shall be used.

2.4

Courses

(a)

The courses shall be Windward-Leeward or Windward-Leeward Triangle courses of the type shown in the United States Sailing Association’s Appendix L, Addendum A, or courses substantially similar thereto, and shall be published and illustrated in the Sailing Instructions.

(b)

The minimum length of the course sailed shall be six nautical miles. However, in the event that the completion of a race is threatened by the approach of the time limit, the Race Committee may, at its discretion, shorten the race, provided that the course sailed is judged a "fair" test and will be at least 4 nautical miles in length.

(c)

The time limit for each race shall be three hours, subject to such further limitation as may be established by the Committee.

2.5

Number of Races
There shall be not more than eight nor fewer than four races. Four races completed will constitute a Regatta. No more than three races per day can be scheduled.

2.6

Sailing Restrictions - Hiking
Extraordinary means of hiking are prohibited in the National Championship Regatta. (See Section III - Basic Rules, 5.3 Sailing Restrictions - Hiking)

2.7

Regatta Guidelines
The following guidelines for the Regatta are to be followed where practicable:

(a)

It should not be held in the territory of the same Fleet in two consecutive years.

(b)

It should be held on open water as free as possible from headlands, shoals and obstructions.

(c)

It should be held where an active Fleet can assist with arrangements.

(d)

It should be held either during the month of August or September.

(e)

It should be scheduled over three or four days. The number of races per day shall be determined by the National Championship Committee in coordination with the Race Committee.

Selection of Venue for the National Championship Regatta

3.1

The site of future National Championship Regatta shall be determined by a vote of all active Fleets based on proposals of those Fleets that wish to hold the event.

3.2

The responsibility for arranging and providing suitable facilities, prizes and entertainment rests with the Fleet holding the event.

3.3

A Fleet wishing to host the National Championship Regatta shall submit a "Request for Proposal" (RFP) to the National Governing Board no later than June 1, two years prior to the year of the requested Regatta. (See section on RFP which follows).

3.4

The National Governing Board shall submit all RFP documents to each active Fleet. Each active Fleet will have one (1) vote to express its choice of venue. This vote must be in writing and must be received by the National Governing Board by July 15, two years prior to the requested Regatta.

3.5

The National Governing Board shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote to express its choice should an equal number of votes be cast for more than one proposal.

3.6

The National Governing Board may reopen the RFP process even after an award has been made if, in its opinion, there is sufficient reason to do so.

3.7

The winning RFP shall be announced at the annual Shields National Meeting two years prior to the year of the requested Regatta.

Outline for Request for Proposal

The Organizing Committee of any local Fleet wishing to host a National Championship Regatta must provide a submission covering the following subjects:

Venue - The waters on which the series is to be held

Inclusion of the date proposed for the Regatta complying with class rules.

Sailing Conditions - A brief description of the usual sailing conditions found during the month proposed for the National Championship Regatta

Shore Facilities - A brief description of the following facilities:

(a)

Suitable boat launch and hauling-out facilities/equipment.

(b)

Suitable mast stepping and hauling-out facilities/equipment.

(c)

Sufficient and convenient docking and/or mooring facilities.

(d)

Launch boat transportation, if appropriate.

(e)

Trailer park and storage.

(f)

Yacht and sail measurement area.

(g)

Registration area

(h)

Signal mast.

(i)

Skippers’ meeting area.

(j)

Jury and protest rooms.

(k)

Official notice board.

Sponsoring Yacht Club - If appropriate, including information about the sponsoring Yacht Club, its interest, its involvement, its facilities and its support staff.

Race Committee and Race Committee Boat(s) - A description of the availability of a Race Committee boat and chase/marker boat(s). In addition, include a description of the Race Committee and its qualifications.

Loaner Boats - A roster of loaner boats, their numbers and owners, including a commentary of the condition of each. The insurance coverage of these boats should be carefully described.

Housing Accommodations - A brief description of available personal as well as commercial accommodations.

Provisioning Accommodations - A brief description of chandlers, sail lofts, riggers, boat yards, etc.

Financial Impact - A description of estimated participant entry fees and other costs (including fees for launching mooring and storing etc.), and any participant traveling incentives, if appropriate. In addition, local Fleet budgets for programs, activities and events such as meals, parties and other items like trophies.

Entertainment - A broad description of planned entertainment. In addition, any potential activities for non-racing companions is useful.

History - A record of the dates of prior National Championship Regattas held in this venue.

Championship Awards

5.1

Procedures

(a)

Log of Winners of Perpetual Trophies. The Regatta Committee shall prepare a form (See Section 6.0 Log of Winners of Perpetual Trophies) listing the recipients of all permanent trophies and forward it to the Shields Class Secretary. The Secretary shall provide that information to the Regatta Committee for the following year to assist them in retrieving the trophies for the National Regatta.

(b)

Documentation of Winners. The Class Secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance of the records of winners. These records may be kept on the Class web site.

(c)

Insurance. At the discretion of the Governing Board insurance may be purchased for any of the perpetual trophies.

(d)

Inscription of Winners. The inscription of the winner’s name on a trophy, where applicable, shall be paid for by the Association and managed by the National Championship Committee.

(e)

Shipment. The shipment of the perpetual trophies shall be paid by the Class Association and coordinated by the National Championship Committee.

(f)

Creation of New Awards. Any Fleet may propose the creation of a new award. Details of the award shall include the purpose and determination formula; description of the trophy; declaration to be read when the trophy is awarded; storage location of the trophy; and whether there shall be perpetual and/or keeper trophies. The Governing Board shall act on this proposal at least 90 days prior to the event and the trophy awarded only if approved according to the rules governing By-Laws.

(g)

Elimination of Existing Awards. The elimination or repurposing of an award shall be determined by the Governing Board.

5.2

Awards
To be presented annually at the Shields National Championship Regatta:

Shields National Championship Trophy

Sterling Silver Chippendale tray donated by Cornelius Shields and awarded each year to the winner of the Shields National Championship Regatta.

Cornelius Shields Memorial Prize

Shields half-model donated by the Western Long Island Sound Fleet No. 1 and the Larchmont Yacht Club in 1982 in memory of Cornelius Shields and awarded at the Shields National Championship Regatta to that skipper who achieves the greatest improvement in his standing from the previous Shields National Championship Regatta.

Shields Class National Championship Institutional Trophy

Pewter Revere bowl donated in 1984 by Christopher Withers, Captain, USN, ret., of the Narragansett Bay Fleet No. 9, and awarded annually for the best performance by an institutional crew in the Shields National Championship Regatta.

Senior Skipper Award (Moore Trophy)

Pewter tray donated in 1981 by James B. Moore, Jr., of the Manhasset Bay Fleet No. 2 and awarded for the best performance among the five oldest skippers in the Shields National Championship Regatta.

Junior Skipper Award

Pewter Chippendale tray donated in 1981 by James B. Moore, Jr., of the Manhasset Bay Fleet No. 2 and awarded for the best performance among the five youngest skippers in the Shields National Championship Regatta.

Take A Bow Trophy

Fully rigged bow section of a Shields Yacht mounted on a teak door. It was donate in 1985 by the Commodore and membership of Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, and later refurbished by Brian Ladouceur, Graham Quinn and the crew of Shields No. 46, of the Buzzards Bay Fleet No. 10. It is awarded each year to an individual or individuals selected by a special committee to reward and celebrate dubious achievement during the Shields National Championship Regatta.

James B. Moore, Jr. Memorial Prize

In recognition of James B. Moore, Jr.’s invaluable service to the Association as President, as Founder of Fleet No. 2 and in numerous other capacities, the Long Island Sound District, consisting of Fleets Nos. 1 (Western Long Island Sound), 2 (Manhasset Bay) and 5 (Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club), instituted in 1991 a prize to be awarded each year to the crew of the winning yacht to recognize their efforts in attaining that goal.

Golden Stern Award

Donated in 2006 by the Goodwin’s and Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co., is awarded to the last place finisher of the Shields Nationals Regatta (who actually competes). The award recognizes the effort it takes to race in a National Regatta and that last place is far superior to not participating at all. It is expected that in the year to come both the trophy and its recipients will be improved for the next Nationals. This stern section was a casualty of contact that came from a boat repaired by Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co. and is ably sailing again.

Gordon L. Benjamin Memorial Newcomer Award

It is to be awarded to the top finishing skipper sailing in his/her first Nationals. Gordon was a long time member of Fleet #9 and the 1976 Shields National Champion.

Kap-Dun Trophy

Kap-Dun Trophy - donated in 2008 by Fleet #21, Tred Avon Yacht Club, awarded to the winning fleet calculated by the fleet’s top three finishers with a minimum of three boats racing in order to qualify. The Kap-Dun Trophy is named after the historic first name of the Tred Avon Yacht Club. On June 17, 1931, a group of men met in Oxford, MD., and voted to establish the Kap-Dun Racing Association. By July 15, they voted to change the name to the Kap-Dun Yacht Club. According to a written history by Jerry Valliant, elected as president of the club in 1931, the name Kap-Dun was first used as the name of a club established in a small building just east of the ferry dock as a swimming and canoeing club. When the sea nettles (jellyfish) arrived, they quickly changed the focus to a club which would promote sailboat racing. Thus the Kap-Dun Yacht Club was born. The club later changed to Tred Avon Yacht Club, after the name of the river the club sits upon. The name Kap-Dun comes from an old English spelling of the word Cape (point) and Dun meaning Town. The club being located on a point, near the town of Oxford.

5.3

Keeper and Perpetual Trophies
The winners championship awards shall have their names engraved on the permanent trophies and shall receive an appropriate keeper trophy provided at the expense of the Regatta Committee. The storage location of the permanent trophies are as indicated in the table. The Governing Board may allow any of the trophies to be stored with the year’s winner, other temporary locations or at the venue for the National Championship Regatta.

Trophy	Storage Location	Keeper Trophy	Inscription on Permanent Trophy
Shields National Championship Trophy	???	Yes	Skipper name(s) and date
Cornelius Shields Memorial Prize	???	Yes	Skipper name(s) and date
Shields Class National Championship Institutional Trophy	???	Yes	Skipper name(s) and date
Senior Skipper Award (Moore Trophy)	???	Yes	Skipper name(s) and date
Junior Skipper Award	???	Yes	Skipper name(s) and date
Take A Bow Trophy	Award winner or his YC	Optional	Optional
James B. Moore, Jr. Memorial Prize	No permanent trophy	Yes	-
Golden Stern Award	Award winner or his YC	Optional	Optional
Gordon L. Benjamin Memorial Newcomer Award	???	Yes	???
Kap-Dun Trophy	Determined by winning Fleet	No	Fleet and Date

Log of Winners of Perpetual Trophies - National Championship Regatta

Fleet

Date

1. Shields National Championship Trophy

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

2. Cornelius Shields Memorial Prize

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

3. Shields Class National Championship Institutional Trophy

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

4. Senior Skipper Award (Moore Trophy)

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

5. Junior Skipper Award

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

6. Take A Bow Trophy

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

7. Golden Stern Award

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

8. Gordon L. Benjamin Memorial Newcomer Award

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

9. James B. Moore, Jr. Memorial Prize

Historically, this prize has consisted of keepers for each crew member. There is no need to record the recipients here except for informational purposes.

10. Kap-Dun Trophy

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Signature:

Sample Sailing Instructions - National Championship Regatta

See United States Association "The Racing Rules of Sailing" Appendix L - Sailing Instruction Guide.

Calculation for the Cornelius Shields Memorial Trophy

This Trophy is to be awarded to the skipper that shows the most improvement from one National Championship Regatta to the next.

The suggested method of calculating the score for awarding this trophy is as follows:

Step I

Identify the skippers that sailed in both regattas.

Step II

Convert the official low-point scores to high-point scores for each skipper for both years.
High-point_Score = (Entries + 1) x (Total_Races - Discards) - (Low-point_Score.)

Example: 1983	32
	+1
	33
	x (6-1)
	165
Withers’ Low-Point Score	-13
Withers’ High-Point Score	152

Step III

Determine the perfect score for both years. That is: what a boat’s score would have been if it had won all of the races.
Perfect_Score = (Entries) x (Total_Races - Discards)

Example: 1983	32
	x (6-1)
Perfect Score	160

Step IV

Calculate for each skipper and both years a percentage of the perfect score.
Percentage_of_Perfect = (High-point_Score) / (Perfect_Score)

Example: 1983	152/160	Withers’ High-Point Score divided by Perfect Score
Percentage_of_Perfect	95.0%

Step V

Determine the improvement in percentage of perfect for each skipper prior year to current year.
Improvement = (Current_Percentage_of_Perfect) - (Prior_Percentage_of_Perfect)

Example: 1983	95.0%	Withers’ 1983
	-71.7%	Withers’ 1982
Withers’ Improvement	23.3%

Step VI

Rank competitors by percentage of perfect improvement. Greatest improvement wins.

Note: Some judgement is required in determining the winner of this trophy. The WLIS Fleet believes that the percent-of-perfect score for the base-year should be determined by races finished. The trophy should not be awarded to a skipper whose low prior year’s score was because of DSQs, DNFs or DNSs.

If a skipper has four finishes and a DNF, calculate his percent-of-perfect base score on the four races finished.

Example: 1982 Scores
21 - Hadley	11-16-9-37-20 (38 was Drop Race)

To calculate adjusted base-year:
1) Drop 37-DNF, therefore adjusted low-point score = 56

2) Convert to high-point:	4 x (36 + 1)	148
	- Low Point	-56
	High Point Score	92
3) Perfect Score		36
	races	x 4
		144
4) Adjusted percent-of-perfect: 92 divided by 144 = 63.9%

If an entrant completes less than three races in the base-year series, he should not be considered eligible for the trophy.

All races including DSQ’S, DNF’S, and DNS’S should be included in calculating the current year’s percent-of-perfect scores.

This trophy does not have to be awarded each year if, in the opinion of the National Regatta Committee, a scoring quirk exists that makes the award illogical and inappropriate.

Calculations of the 1982 and 1983 National Regatta scores are attached.

An Excel spreadsheet that can be used for trophy calculations is available.

Past Shields Class National Champions

Year	Champion	Fleet	Host Fleet
2009	H.L. DeVore	W. Long Island Sound	Chicago, IL (Chicago Yacht Club)
2008	William Berry	Buzzards Bay	Oxford, Maryland (Tred Avon Yacht Club)
2007	Peter Denton Will Welles	Newport	Newport (Ida Lewis Yacht Club)
2006	William Berry	Buzzards Bay	Buzzards Bay/Marion (Beverly Yacht Club)
2005	Jonathan Pope	Buzzards Bay	W. Long Island Sound (Larchmont Yacht Club)
2004	Jonathan Pope	Buzzards Bay	Martha’s Vineyard (Edgartown Yacht Club)
2003	Robin Monk	Newport	Chicago (Chicago Yacht Club)
2002	Reed Baer John Burnham	Newport	Seawanhaka (Seawanhaka Corinthian YC)
2001	Jerome Jordon Anthony Kotoun	Newport	Newport (Ida Lewis Yacht Club)
2000	Joe Schulz-Heik Thierry de La Villehuchet	W. Long Island Sound	W. Long Island Sound (Larchmont Yacht Club)
1999	Joe Schulz-Heik Thierry de La Villehuchet	W. Long Island Sound	Buzzards Bay/Marion (Beverly Yacht Club)
1998	Joe Schulz-Heik Thierry de La Villehuchet	W. Long Island Sound	Chicago
1997	Joe Schulz-Heik Thierry de La Villehuchet	W. Long Island Sound	Narragansett Bay
1996	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	Marblehead
1995	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	Martha’s Vineyard
1994	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	W. Long Island Sound
1993	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	Dallas
1992	Wayne Kennedy Nick Burke	Marblehead	Buzzards Bay/Marion (Beverly Yacht Club)
1991	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	Narragansett Bay
1990	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	Manhasset Bay
1989	Ched Proctor John Hardy	Manhasset Bay	Chicago
1988	Victor M. Onet, Jr.	Seawanhaka	Seawanhaka
1987	Mike Deland	Buzzards Bay	Martha’s Vineyard
1986	Dave McClintock	Narragansett Bay	Buzzards Bay/Marion (Beverly Yacht Club)
1985	Earle Stubbs	Narragansett Bay	Northern Mass. Bay
1984	Mike Polkabla	Monterey Bay	Monterey Bay
1983	Chris Withers	Narragansett Bay	W. Long Island Sound
1982	Rick Tears	Dallas	Narragansett Bay
1981	Chris Withers	Narragansett Bay	Dallas
1980	Mike Deland	Buzzards Bay	Martha’s Vineyard
1979	Al Merll	Dallas	Buzzards Bay/Marion (Beverly Yacht Club)
1978	Richard Clark	Monterey Bay	W. Long Island Sound
1977	Frank Scully	Marblehead	Marblehead
1976	Gordon Benjamin Bonnie Shore	Narragansett Bay	Narragansett Bay
1975	Richard Clark	Monterey Bay	Monterey Bay
1974	Martin Plonus	Chicago	Chicago
1973	Arthur Knapp, Jr.	W. Long Island Sound	W. Long Island Sound
1972	Joseph O’Hora George Brazill	W. Long Island Sound	Narragansett Bay
1971	George Brazill Joseph O’Hora	W. Long Island Sound	W. Long Island Sound
1970	Lance McCabe	Southern California	W. Long Island Sound
1969	Patrick O’Neal	W. Long Island Sound	W. Long Island Sound
1968	Richard Sykes Jim Sykes	W. Long Island Sound	Seawanhaka
1967	Richard Sykes Jim Sykes	W. Long Island Sound	Seawanhaka
1966	David Smalley	W. Long Island Sound	W. Long Island Sound
1965	Patrick O’Neal	W. Long Island Sound	Greenwich

Version: February, 2010

SECTION VI

RULES GOVERNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA