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Regatta Rules |
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1968 UIM World Championship
Regatta Rules
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Management
All responsibility for the conduct of the regatta shall be with the referee and not with the local race committee, whose function it is to see that every other detail indirectly connected with the race such as housing and pit requirements, patrolling of the course, comforts for the participants, etc., is taken care of.
Course
For this regatta, a three-statute-mile course will be used. It must be laid in waters at least five feet deep, oval in shape, have two turns as nearly similar as possible with an escape route and a recommended minimum clearance of 600 feet at the entrance to each. The starting line shall be located in the approximate center of the course, which shall be marked off with 20 buoys (6 on each turn and straightaway) of specified sizes and colors constructed of material which shall not cause damage to boats accidentally striking them.
Boats
Each boat shall be a member of the unlimited class and duly registered with the American Power Boat Association It shall be between 25 and 40 feet from bow to transom in overall hull length. The minimum weight is 5,000 pounds In racing trim without fuel. Propulsion must be by means of a sub-merged or semi-submerged propeller or propellers. Steering is accomplished by one or more water rudders. Any kind of inboard mounted engine or engines (supercharged or unsupercharged) other than let may be used. To compete, the boat must pose a safety inspection prior to the race end before each heat
Qualifications
For this regatta all boats are required to qualify in order to compete. Each boat must run one lap of three miles at a minimum average speed of 100 miles an hour.
A driver, if he has never before driven in or qualified for unlimited competition or if be did not compete during any of the three preceding years, must pass an oral examination on unlimited class and general racing rules conducted by the referee; run two laps at an average speed of at least 100 miles an hour (using the 5-minute gun,1-minute Indicator and starting clock) under the observation of a drivers' qualification committee; possess an F. A. A. Class 2 physical certificate; and produce an affidavit signed by an unlimited owner stating that he has had at least three hours of experience or practice time driving an unlimited boat.
A boat and driver may qualify simultaneously at the option of the owner or his representative.
Race
A major unlimited class race other than for the Gold Cup or Harmsworth Trophy shall consist of three heats of 15 miles each (each heat consisting of five laps around the three-mile course) or sections thereof. In order for a winner to be determined and national high points awarded, all sections of the first two heats must be completed. In the event that they are not, the race must be declared "no contest."
In the first two heats, the 12 boats will be equally divided by lot into two sections: 1-A, 1-B; 2-A, 2-B. Should an individual owner enter more than one boat, said boats will be placed in separate sections. The six high-point boats will race in the final heat. If any of these are withdrawn or unable to start, the boat or boats with the next highest points will "move up."
If a boat "jumps the gun" by crossing the starting line with less than 30 seconds remaining until the start of a heat or section, it must run an extra lap to be scored.
No boat will be allowed to start or receive points in a heat or section if it is not on the course and running at the time the one-minute gun is fired.
A yellow flag displayed on the official barge designates the period between the five-minute gun and the one minute guns at the start of a heat or section. A yellow flag also is used to inform the drivers that there is a hazardous condition on the race course (such as a stopped boat) which should command their attention and caution.
Should a boat dislodge or destroy a buoy in competition it must run an extra lap to be scored. (When a buoy is dislodged or destroyed, it ceases to be a marker and may be disregarded by the drivers and course judges. Should any boat force another into a buoy which then becomes dislodged or destroyed, the forcing boat will be required to run on extra lap to be scored.)
Race Stoppage
The race must be stopped immediately if a driver enters the water or, it in the opinion of the referee, on occurrence or situation on the race course makes competition hazardous.
If at the time of the stoppage the leader has finished three laps the heat will be declared completed and the average lap speed of each boat running at the time of the stoppage (based on the number of completed laps) will be used in determining finished positions; except that if the final heat is halted, it must be re-run regardless of when stopped. The re-run will be complete if three laps are finished. If not, there will be another re-run. In no event shall the boat or boats responsible for the stoppage be awarded points in that some heat or section or be allowed to start in any re-run or subsequent re-runs.
Driver signals. When a driver is seen waving his hands above his head after his boat comes to a stop or is involved in an accident, he means that everything is under control and needs no immediate assistance. When he is seen waving a crash helmet or any other visible object, he signifies that his boar is sinking and needs help. When no signal whatsoever is received, it indicates that the driver is injured and requires immediate aid.
Clock
The starting clock must be of the blackout type; have a minimum diameter of 10 feet; be electrically operated from the one-minute gun with provision for manual operation, with lights or dropboards to visually inform the drivers of the passage of each minute during the five-minute warning period. The center of the clack must be at least 15 feet above the surface of the water and clearly visible. The official start of heat or section is the exact instant when the hand of the starting clock indicates that the final minute has elapsed. However, the official timing of all boats in the race does not begin until the bow of the first boat to make a legal start crosses the starting line.
Scoring
The race winner will be determined on total points accumulated. No boat shall receive points if it fails to finish within 20 minutes of the official start of a heat. The points:
400
300
225
169
127
95
In the event of a tie in points, the boat with the fastest overall average speed wins.
Flag Signals
Black flag — The course is closed. Yellow flag and yellow light — Period between the 5-minute gun and the 1-mii:ute gun at the start of a heat.
Green flag and green light — Period between the 1-minute gun and the starting gun. The green flag will be waved at the beginning of the final lap for each boat.
Checkered flag — Boat finished race; a gun also will be fired for the winner when it finishes each heat.
Red flag — Signifies postponement, drivers return to pits.
Red flag and red or orange smoke bombs — Indicates boats are to proceed with caution and return to pits.
Heat Times
Heat 1A 12 noon
Heat 1B 12:30 p. m.
Heat 2A 1:45 p. m.
Heat 2B 2:15 p. m.
Consolation 3:00 p. to.
Final heat 4:00 p. m.
(Reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 4, 1968)
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