Notice of Event

Global Solo Challenge 2023-24 Notice of Event

The Global Solo Challenge 2023-24 (GSC) is a single-handed, non-stop round the world yachting event.

History of amendments

Definitions

Interpretation

Headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation or meaning of the Notice of Event

Unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to one gender shall include a reference to the other genders

In the event of any translations being made this English text will always take precedence

1. Event rules

The Event will take place in accordance with the following:

1.1 The Regulations

1.2 The Notice of Event

1.3 The Sailing Instructions

1.4 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)

1.6 IMO rules for the prevention of pollution at sea

1.7 In the event of dispute or uncertainty regarding applicable rules the decisions of the Organiser will be final and binding

2. Advertising Sponsorships and Boat names

2.1 Event entrants will be required to carry Event and /or Event Sponsors and /or Event Partners branding provided by the Organiser including but not limited to the following:

2.2 Boat sponsorship is allowed and no supplement to the entry fee is applicable. The Organiser reserves the right to refuse disallow or disqualify an entry if any publicity promotion or sponsorship by or on behalf of a Boat or Skipper is deemed by the Organiser to be inappropriate or unethical

2.3 The Organiser reserves the right to refuse disallow or disqualify an entry if a name chosen for a Boat to use in the Event is deemed by the Organiser to be inappropriate or unethical in which case the entrant may choose an alternative boat name

3. Eligibility Registration and Fees

3.1 Eligibility

3.1.1 Skippers must be 18 years of age or older by their Event departure date

3.1.2 All Boats Skippers and Boat Owners must hold all licences and registration certificates required by their home country and national authorities. The Organiser reserves the right to require production of written proof of the same from the Skipper and / or Boat Owner

3.1.3 All Boats Skippers and Boat Owners must comply with all applicable laws and regulations of their home country and national authorities. The Organiser reserves the right to require production of written proof of the same from the Skipper and / or Boat Owner

3.1.4 Boats shall be:

Boats not meeting the above criteria may still apply and may be accepted at the sole discretion of the Organiser

3.1.5 Eligibility and compliance with the Rules and Regulations does not constitute any acceptance indication judgement assurance or representation whatsoever by the Organiser of the suitability capacity or fitness of any Boat or Skipper to undertake the Event

3.1.6 The Organiser reserves the right to refuse an entry or cancel a previously accepted entry at its sole discretion

3.1.7 A Boat must be covered by public liability insurance for participation in the Event to a minimum value of €3 million (Euros)

3.2 Registration

3.2.1 Applicants must visit the Application page of the Event Website to complete the initial application form and supply 2 photos of the Boat and the Skipper. Other documentation requirements are set out in Paragraph 5

3.2.2 The closing date for submitting an application is 30th June 2023. Applications after that date may be accepted at the sole discretion of the Organiser subject to payment of a late entry fee of €2500 (plus VAT where applicable) in addition to those detailed in Paragraph 3.3

3.3 Entry fees

3.3.1 An entry fee of €7500 (plus VAT where applicable) is payable according to the following instalment schedule:

€500 (plus VAT where applicable) on application to be listed on the Event Website as a “Full Entry.”
€500 (plus VAT where applicable) by 31 March 2022
€500 (plus VAT where applicable) by 30 June 2022
€500 (plus VAT where applicable) by 30 September 2022
€500 (plus VAT where applicable) by 31 December 2022
€2500 (plus VAT where applicable) by 31 March 2023
€2500 (plus VAT where applicable) by 30 June 2023

3.3.2 “Full Entry” applications received on or after 31 March 2022 must be accompanied by payment of all instalments due as per 3.3.1. as at the date of their entry

3.3.3 It is the sole responsibility of the Skipper to ensure that all instalments of entry fees are received on time by the Organiser. If any entry fee instalments are received late then the Event Organiser may regrettably exclude the relevant Skipper from the Event and treat their entry as having been withdrawn

3.3.4 If the Event Organiser decides it is necessary to limit the number of entries then priority will be give to Applicants based on the date of their initial Full Entry provided that entry fees have been paid in accordance with 3.3.1

3.3.5 Please contact the Organisers to check whether VAT is applicable to your specific situation. Fees are payable online through the Event Website Fees Payment Page

3.4 Entry Fees Refund

3.4.1 In case of cancellation of the Event by the Organiser before 31st December 2021 75% of all entry fees paid directly by entrants to the Organisers will be refunded

3.4.2 In the case of cancellation of the Event by the Organiser between 31st December 2021 and the planned Event departures 50% of all entry fees paid directly by entrants to the Organiser will be refunded

3.4.3 If a Skipper who has entered cannot participate in the event for any reason whatsoever he/she cannot not request a refund of fees but may nominate a replacement Skipper who must satisfy all requirements of the Rules Notice of Event and Regulations

3.4.4 If a Skipper withdraws from the Event no entry fees are refundable under any circumstances

3.4.5 If an entrant is not permitted to take part in the Event due to non-compliance with the Rules and / or Notice of Event and / or the Regulations no entry fees are refundable

3.4.6 If an entry is refused by the Organiser for reasons other than non-compliance with the Rules and / or Notice of Event and / or the Regulations then 100% of any entry fees paid directly by the entrant to the Organiser up to that point will be refunded

3.4.7 If the Event is postponed for any reason by more than 14 months relative to the published schedule Skippers and Boats can either remain as entrants or request a refund of 50% of all entry fees paid up to that point by the entrant directly to the Organisers

3.4.8 Entry fees shall only be refundable as expressly provided for above

3.5 What is included in the entry fees

3.5.1 Free berthing for the entered Boat for 7 nights at the departure port prior to the allocated departure for each group

3.5.2 Free berthing for the entered Boat for 2 nights at the finish port

3.5.3 Satellite tracking units, website tracking of the Event and airtime for the Event tracking units

3.5.4 Satellite airtime for any calls made by the Organiser to a Boat’s onboard satellite phone

3.5.5 Bow Event Vinyl

3.5.6 Bow Event Sponsor and / or Event Partner vinyl

3.5.7 Additional Event Event Sponsor and / or Event Partner hull vinyl

3.5.8 Mainsail Event Event Sponsors and /or Event Partner decals diameter of 1.5m positioned above 2nd reef

3.5.9 Event Event Sponsors and/ or Event Partner flags

3.5.10 Boom Event Event Sponsor and / or Event Partner vinyl

3.5.11 Event polo shirt

3.5.12 Pre Groups departures social aperitifs

3.5.13 Pre Own Group departure dinner for Skipper and two guests

3.5.14 Pre-Event Inspection

3.5.15 Post-Event Inspection if required by the Organisers

3.5.16 Monetary prizes (subject to a minimum of 10 entrants departing in the Event)

3.5.17 Trophies for 1st 2nd and 3rd place finishers

3.5.18 Additional items may be included and communicated at a later date

4. Modifications

4.1 Each Skipper must complete on entry in the Event a declaration of any Modifications made to the Boat as at that date

4.2 Each Skipper must complete a further declaration in respect of any Modification to the Boat to be made after entry. Such a declaration must be submitted to the Organiser before the Modification is made

5. Documentation

5.1 By 30th June 2023 each Skipper must supply to the Organiser the following documentation (which must where applicable be valid for the duration of the Event):

a) Epirb registration certificates

b) PLB registration certificates

c) AIS Beacon registration certificate

d) Completed emergency contacts form (to be supplied by the Organiser) to be used in case of an emergency during the Event

e) Completed information and contacts sheet (to be supplied by the Organiser) which will include data such as Satellite Phone Numbers email address used during the Event MMSI Call Sign Registered boat name Boat name during the Event

f) Copy of public liability insurance policy for the Skipper Boat and Boat Owner for their participation in the Event to a minimum value of €3 million (Euros)

g) Evidence of proficiency in medical care as per Regulation 6.04.1 undertaken within 18 months of the allocated departure in the Event

h) Personal Survival Training course certificate gained at a World Sailing / ISAF Approved centre and undertaken within 18 months of the allocated departure in the Event

i) Liferaft Service certificate indicating a “next service date” later than 31st March 2024

j) A declaration by the Skipper (to be supplied by the Organiser) that he / she is mentally and physically fit and capable to take part in the Event and that he / she has consulted with their doctor or other medical practitioner regarding their mental and physical fitness and capability to do so

k) An IRC Certificate or IRC Endorsed Certificate if required by the Organiser or if one is relied on by the Skipper for the purposes of seeking assignment to a particular group departure

l) If an IRC Certificate or an Endorsed IRC Certificate is required the Skipper must supply a list of all the sails along with their measurements which they intend to carry on board during the Event. Any amendment to this list must be communicated by the Skipper and approved by the Organiser prior to their allocated departure. No sails may exceed the measurements used in obtaining the IRC Certificate or the IRC Endorsed certificate save as provided for by Paragraph 16.2. A declaration of the measurement of the new/different sail by the sailmaker or a measurer authorised by the authority issuing the certificate may be required by the Organiser for sails which may affect the IRC Rating

m) A fully completed completed Waiver Release and Indemnity

n) Written evidence of a satisfactory structural inspection in accordance with Regulation 3.02.2 within 24 months before the allocated departure in the Event or after a grounding whichever is the later along with an independent and suitably qualified surveyor’s written confirmation that any required repairs/works have been carried out to a satisfactory standard

o) If required by the Organiser for the purpose of establishing a Boats compliance with the Regulations written evidence of a survey(s) of any Modifications. Such a survey(s) must have been carried out (at the expense of the Skipper) by an independent and suitably qualified surveyor

p) Written confirmation from a qualified marine electronics professional that the masthead antenna is not less than 38 cm in length and that co-axial feeder cable has not more than 40% power loss as per Regulations 3.25.2.b

q) If applicable written confirmation from a qualified marine electronics professional that the dedicated AIS antenna is not less than 38 cm in length and that co-axial feeder cable has not more than 40% power loss as per GSC Regulations 3.25.12.b

5.2 At the conclusion of the pre-departure Inspection the Skipper must supply to the Organiser the following documentation:

a) A regulation compliance checklist signed by the Skipper and accepted by the Organiser

b) A declaration (to be supplied by the Organiser) signed by the Skipper that there have been no additional Modifications to those previously declared under Paragraph 4.1 and 4.2

c) A declaration (to be supplied by the Organiser) signed by the Skipper that there have been no groundings since the last structural inspection required in 5.1 (n)

d) A time penalty acceptance form (to be supplied by the Organiser) signed by the Skipper if a time penalty has been assigned by the Organiser

5.3 Failure to supply the documentation as specified in Paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 may result in the disqualification of the Skipper and the Boat from the Event

6. Qualification passage

6.1 All Skippers must have sailed a minimum qualification passage of 2000 nautical miles single-handed and non-stop on the Boat entered in the Event by 30 June 2023 at the latest

6.2 The qualification passage route must be pre-approved by the Organiser

6.3 It is the sole responsibility of the Skipper to submit a proposed qualfication passage and obtain approval from the Organiser. It is strongly recommended that a Skipper allocates sufficient time to make different arrangements for an alternative qualification passage in the Event that the Organiser does not accept the proposed passage or the Skipper fails for any reason to complete a pre-approved passage

6.3 Skippers must provide satisfactory evidence to the Organiser of the completion of the qualification passage by 7 July 2023 at the latest. Failure to complete or provide satisfactory evidence of a pre-approved qualifier will result in disqualification from the Event

7. Departure groups Programme Time limit and Compliance with the Regulations

7.1 Departure groups

7.1.1 Boats will be assigned a group departure by the Organiser based on a boat’s RYA Base number and / or an IRC Rating or Endorsed IRC Rating and / or ORC rating and / or a rating applied by the Organiser

7.1.2 The Organiser reserves the right if it sees fit to take any Modifications made to the Boat into account when assigning a departure group

7.1.3 Depending on the number boats entered and their IRC ratings any of the following departures may take place (all 1300 GMT):

Departure DateIndicative IRC TCC
26 Aug 2023Indicative IRC up to 0.890
02 Sep 2023Indicative IRC between 0.891 and 0.930
09 Sep 2023Indicative IRC between 0.931 and 0.970
16 Sep 2023Indicative IRC between 0.971 and 1.010
23 Sep 2023Indicative IRC between 1.011 and 1.050
30 Sep 2023Indicative IRC between 1.051 and 1.090
07 Oct 2023Indicative IRC between 1.091 and 1.130
14 Oct 2023Indicative IRC between 1.131 and 1.170
21 Oct 2023Indicative IRC between 1.171 and 1.210
28 Oct 2023Indicative IRC between 1.211 and 1.250
04 Nov 2023Indicative IRC between 1.251 and 1.290
11 Nov 2023Indicative IRC between 1.291 and 1.330
18 Nov 2023Indicative IRC between 1.331 and 1.370
25 Nov 2023Indicative IRC between 1.371 and 1.410
02 Dec 2023Indicative IRC between 1.411 and 1.450
09 Dec 2023Indicative IRC between 1.451 and 1.490
16 Dec 2023Indicative IRC between 1.491 and 1.530
……

Additional groups or sub-groups may be defined at the sole discretion of the Organiser

7.1.4 After their group departures all boats will sail in real time without time correction save in respect of any time penalties imposed by the Organiser

7.1.5 If a Skipper disputes his / her Boat’s assigned group departure they may submit to the Organiser before 30 April 2023 an IRC Rating Certificate or an Endorsed IRC Certificate in support of any contention that their Boat should be assigned a different departure group. The Organiser will review the departure group assigned to the Boat in the light of any certificate produced but shall not be bound to reassign. The Organiser’s decision will be final

7.2 Programme

7.2.1 Each Skipper and Boat is required to arrive at the allocated pre-departure berth at least one week before their assigned departure

7.2.2 The Organiser reserves the right to change the above date/times due to weather considerations or extenuating circumstances

7.2.3 The departure and arrival port for the Event is Marina Coruña A Coruña Spain

7.3 Time Limit

7.3.1 The time limit for finishing the Event is 270 days from the first departure date and time

7.4 Compliance with the regulations

7.4.1 Boats must comply with the Regulations. Any non-compliance must be declared by the Skipper by 30th April 2023 or earlier. The Skipper may apply to the Organiser for dispensation from compliance and accept all responsibility and risk associated with any non-compliance. Whether to grant any dispensation shall be at the sole discretion of the Organiser. It is the sole responsibility of the Skipper to ensure they apply for dispensation from compliance and leave enough time to make alternative arrangements in case a dispensation is not granted. Any decision of the Organiser will be final

7.4.2 Any non-compliance that emerges during the Inspection must be explained by the Skipper who may apply to the Organiser for dispensation from compliance and accept all responsibility and risk associated with any non-compliance. Whether to grant any dispensation shall be at the sole discretion of the Organiser. Any decision of the Organiser will be final

7.4.3 Any dispensation granted may at the sole discretion of the Organiser attract a Time Penalty that must be accepted by the Skipper in order to take part in the Event

7.4.4 Unless dispensation is granted by the Organiser a Boat that fails to comply with the Regulations will be automatically disqualified from the Event

8. Sailing instructions

8.1 Sailing Instructions will be published on the Event Website by 23rd August 2023

9. Route

9.1 The route will be an around the world east-about circumnavigation

9.2 The departure and arrival port for the Event is Marina Coruña A Coruña Spain

9.3 Boats must leave “The Antarctic Region” and all known ice as defined by an “Ice Limit” to starboard and the three Great Capes to port

9.4 “The Antarctic Region” and the “Ice Limit” will be defined in the Sailing Instructions

10. Pre-Event Inspections

10.1 Each Skipper and Boat must be available for Inspection from 0800 to 2000 GMT for at least the 7 days before their allocated departure and until the inspection has been completed satisfactorily. The Organiser will allocate and communicate dates and times of Inspections

11. Post-Event Inspections

11.1 If required by the Organiser each Skipper and Boat must also be available for Inspection in A Corunna for at least 24 hours after crossing the finish line and until such inspection has been completed

12. Event Completion

12.1 To qualify as a finisher a Skipper must sail single-handed non-stop and without assistance at sea for the duration of the Event save as provided for in Paragraph 12.2

12.2 Pulling into port

12.2.1 A Boat may pull into a port or anchorage for:

12.2.3 Participants pulling into port or an anchorage must satisfy the Organiser that they are still in a position to round Cape Horn by no later than 31st March 2024 if they resume sailing. Non-compliance will result in disqualification from the Event

12.2.4 Save as providedd for at point 13, any type of assistance at sea including embarking provisions sails repair materials fuel or anything else en-route is not allowed

13. Medical Assistance

13.1 Skippers may receive any type of medical assistance at sea or by pulling into port both from other competitors or persons embarking the vessel. No time penalties will be imposed for bona fide medical assistance

14. Weather routing

14.1 External Weather Routing is permitted

15. Motoring

15.1 Making way under engine is not permitted except for emergency situations (for example collision avoidance, man overboard recovery, providing assistance at sea) or pulling into port.

15.2 All instances where a boat makes way under engine must be reported to the Event organiser who may apply a time penalty if it is deemed that the participant has gained an unfair advantage as a result of the circumstances.

15.3 Engine shafts will will not be sealed. Motoring is permitted to charge the boat’s batteries with the gear in neutral.

15.4 A maximum fuel allowance is specified in GSC Regulations 3.24.3 (c).

16. Sails and stacking

16.1 Any number of sails of any material are allowed to be carried on board for the Event except for boats required to have an IRC Certificate or an Endorsed Certificate for which 5.1 l) applies

16.2 For Boats that have an IRC certificate or an Endorsed IRC certificate any Code sail (a sail set forward of the foremost stay with half width measured as a spinnaker less than 75% of foot length) will be regarded as a downwind sail and not as a head sail even if it does not meet the downwind sail shape rules set by IRC

16.3 Stacking of sails and other equipment that is not required to be permanently secured is permitted

17. Time penalties

17.1 Any violation of or non compliance with the Rules may result in the application of a time penalty to be decided at the sole discretion of the Organiser

17.2 A boat pulling into port as per 12.2.1 must then observe a minimum 96 hours time penalty or longer as decided by the Organiser. The Organiser may direct that such a penalty is to be observed entirely in port or that a boat may resume sailing at a time chosen by the Skipper and that any remaining part of the time penalty is to be observed at sea. The Organisers may request that a time penalty to be observed at sea must be completed after Cape Horn

17.3 Any time penalty to be observed at sea must be completed at a time chosen by the Skipper within a time window determined by the Event Organisers. For the duration of such a time penalty a Boat must not make any advance towards the finish line. The Organisers may request that a time penalty to be observed at sea must be completed after Cape Horn

17.4 No time penalties are applicable if a Boat anchors to carry out reparairs find shelter from bad weather or other reason without receiving any kind of outside assistance

18. Rankings

18.1 Ranking at the end of the Event will be determined by finishing position on the water at the time of arrival

18.2 The Organiser will endeavour to notify a Skipper as soon as is reasonably possible of any time penalty to be applied

18.3 Any Time Penalty which could not or was not observed at sea shall be applied to a Boat’s finish time which may affect its ranking

19. Obligatory presence Interviews and Image rights

19.1 The Organiser reserves the right to request the presence of skippers and / or boats for reasonable promotional purposes. Reasonable notice will be given

19.2 All Skippers must make themselves available for a minimum of 2 interviews recorded online by no later than 1 August 2023 and must make themselves available for in-person interviews and photo-shoots during the week prior to their departure

19.3 The 1st 2nd and 3rd placed finishers must make themselves available for interviews for a minimum of 1 hour duration after docking at their podium finisher berth and must remain available for additional media engagements at A Coruñafor at least 48 hours after their arrival

19.4 All other arrivals must make themselves available for a minimum of 1 hour after arrival and docking at the end of the Event

19.5 Skippers give to the Organiser unreserved rights to use any photo or video taken by the Skipper and sent to the Organiser or taken by the Organiser for promotion of the Event

20. Tracking

20.1 Each Boat will be provided with two satellite trackers which must be carried on board during the Event. One unit will be activated prior to the assigned departure. The second unit will act as a spare and must be activated on request by the Organisers

20.2 A €1,500 deposit for both trackers must be lodged by the Skipper with the Organiser no later than 28 days before the assigned departure. The deposit will be repaid upon the safe return of the trackers after the Event

21. Charts and publications

21.1 In addition to electronic navigational materials or devices Boats must carry sufficient navigational charts lights lists and other publications in paper format which in the Skippers sole judgement and discretion may be required in the event of malfunction of electronic material or equipment

22. Protests

22.1 The Racing Rules of Sailing do not apply during Global Solo Challenge and no racing protest procedure will be in place

23. Prizes and prize giving

23.1 Subject to a minimum of 10 Boats departing in the Event the following prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers:

23.3 Additional monetary and non-monetary prizes may be added at the discretion of the Organiser

23.4 The prize-giving time and location will be announced on the Website before the beginning of the Event

24. Responsibilities of the Skipper

24.1 Skippers participate in the Event at their own risk and peril and on their own responsibility. It is the sole responsibility of each Skipper and Boat Owner where appropriate to decide whether or not to depart and to continue

24.2 No liability will attach to the Organiser in respect of any information it provides to a Skipper before or during the Event. It is for each Skipper to consider and evaluate such information

25. Amendments

25.1 The Organiser reserves the right to amend any and all Event instructions requirements and documentation including but without being limited to the Notice of Event Regulations Waiver Release and Indemnity

26. Ownership and rights

The Event its name logo website social media pages and all their content are the sole property of the Organiser. All rights title intellectual property Copyright contractual and other entitlements of and relating to the Event its name logo website social media pages and all their content vest in and are retained by the Organiser

27. Applicable law

The Event and any dispute controversy proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to the Event or its formation (including any non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law

28. Whole agreement

This Notice of Event (together with the documents referred to in it) constitutes the entire agreement between the Organiser and any Skipper or Boat Owner and supersedes and extinguishes any previous or subsequent discussions correspondence negotiations or understandings between them whether written or oral relating to the Event

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