August 29, 2008
Columbia’s 43rd Annual
Chicago to St. Joseph Race

Starting Area: SA4, about 2 N.M. east of Buckingham Fountain.
Class Breaks: GSI 7.3 - Race Table B
Starting Sequence:

Handicap Scoring Distance: 50.5 Nautical Miles.

Course: Approximately 073 Degrees True.
Alternate Starting: In some weather conditions, the start could be moved 1000-1500 yards southwest of SA4. In such case, the RC shall broadcast the changes on channel 78 before and during the starting sequence.
Finish Line: The finish line will be located southwest of the St. Joseph harbor entrance at approximately N 42º06.83 Latitude and W 86º30.17 Longitude. The RC boat will make a courtesy radio broadcast of its location. The RC may set a guard mark near the RC boat; yachts shall not pass between the guard mark and the RC boat.
Finishing: See GSI 17. When approximately one mile from finish, each yacht is asked to notify the RC on Channel 78. Each yacht must turn in a YACHT FINISH REPORT to the Columbia RC ONLY at St. Joseph YC no later than one hour after the final time limit, but not prior to 0830 hours on 8-30-2008.
Alternate Finishing: Whenever the RC boat is not on station at the finish line, boats shall follow the procedure outlined in the US Sailing prescription to RRS 34, as modified below to report their finish time. In such case the RC shall broadcast the change on Channel 78 starting after 2300 hours on 8-29-2008 at approximately 30 minute intervals thereafter. The last sentence of the US Sailing prescription to RRS 34 is modified to read, “If there is no longer an established finishing line, it shall be a line of Longitude bounded by two (2) lines of Latitude as listed below:
Longitude - W 86:30.17 Latitude - N 42º06.83 and N 42º06.93 As each yacht crosses the finish line they shall notify the RC, on Channel 78, of their finish time (GPS CDT time).
Time Limit: Shall be 1300 hours (CDT), 8-30-2008, plus the amount of any postponement to a class start. All marks to port. Life rafts are suggested. Sail Number Boards must be displayed on the STARBOARD side at the finish. Only yachts finishing by their section's start. Only yachts finishing by their section's time limit will be considered as finishing. All marks to port. Life rafts are suggested. Sail Number Boards must be displayed on the STARBOARD side at the finish.
Official Notice Board: located on the rail deck Columbia YC
Prizes: See NOR 10. In addition, Brag Flags will be awarded for 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each section. They will be presented at St. Joseph YC at 1900 CDT 8-30-2008, providing no protests affecting a section winner are pending. Race results will be posted at the St. Joseph YC.
ORR: Boats entering this race under LMPHRF or a one-design class may also, if desired, enter an ORR fleet scoring overlay by so indicating on the combined entry form, furnishing an ORR certificate, and paying additional $15 entry fee. Brag flags will be awarded at the yachting ball based on the total number of fleet entries. This changes NOR 10. ORR overlay shall be scored using the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) WW 50% WL 50% course configuration.
Social Activities: Rafting privileges extended to entered yachts at Columbia YC prior to race. Food, ice, and beverage services will be available. Please register with the dockmaster. Beach party at St. Joseph Beach on Saturday @ 2:00 P.M. Shuttle service, bar & pool open all day. See how you and your crew fair at Volleyball, Tug-O-War, Limbo, and other activities. Food service is provided at St. Joseph YC.

August 31, 2008
St. Joseph to Michigan City at MCYC

Starting Area: Off St. Joseph, Michigan
Class Breaks: GSI 7.3 - Race Table B
Starting Sequence: GSI 8.4 - Port to Port Sequence is changed pursuant to following table.

Notice Regarding Railroad Bridge: This bridge will be opened and closed for trains between 0800 and 0900 CDT. The fleet may be notified by radio as to when the bridge will open and close. However, the bridge will be open between 0900 and 1100 CDT to all fleet traffic. Please plan your departure accordingly, so that your vessel is not late for check-in and/or starting.
General Notice: Time reference CDT. Courtesy communications on VHF 78. Life rafts or EPIRBs are suggested.
Handicap Scoring Distance: Per Course Distance table below.
Course: 219°T

The RC will endeavor to provide a full day of racing by offering different length courses depending on the weather forecast with the goal to complete the race before the time limit.

RC Optional Starting Areas

RC Optional Finish Areas

There are three optional starting lines (SJMC-0, 1, & 2), and three optional finish lines (SJMC-3, 4 & 5). There will be no intermediate marks in the course.

If Starting Area SJMC-0 is not used, the entire starting sequence will be delayed by minimum of 30 minutes for the SJMC-1 Starting Area. The delay will be a minimum delay of 50 minutes for starting at SJMC-2.
The time limit will remain as 2000 hr (plus postponements to individual classes after the first class.)
If the Starting Area is moved, the Race Committee will fly the ‘L’ and ‘AP’ flags while transiting to the new area and will repeatedly announce the new Starting Area on VHF Channel 78 beginning no later than 9 AM and ending no earlier than 10 AM. This delay will not change the time limit.
One course may be called which will apply to all classes. Or, two courses may be called: a shorter course for classes earlier in the starting sequence and a longer course for classes later in the starting sequence. In this case, two different finishing locations will be called. However, all classes will start from the same area.
Prior to, or at the warning signal for each class, the Finish Area will be signaled by one of the following flags flying on the Race Committee Boat: GREEN = SJMC-5; RED = SJMC-4; YELLOW = SJMC-3. The Finish Area may be announced on VHF Channel 78.
Starting Line: Between a mark on the port side of the starting line and the orange flag on the RC boat. RC may set a guard mark. Yachts shall not pass between the guard mark and the RC boat. In the event of inclement weather, the start may be between the line flag on the end of the south pier head of the St. Joseph Harbor entrance and a stake boat, or drop mark, approximately 1000 ft. west.
Finish Line: Between a mark and the orange flag on the RC boat. The RC boat will be to starboard.
Finishing: See GSI 17. Sail Number Boards shall be displayed on the yacht's starboard side. Yacht Finish Reports are required and must be turned in within one hour of your finish at RC headquarters.
Alternate Finish Line: In the absence of a RC boat, yachts shall finish by passing their finish mark at SJMC-5, SJMC-4 or SJMC-3 to port as close as practicable per RRS 34 including the US SAILING prescription. Upon crossing this alternate finish line, yachts shall provide their finish time (using GPS time, when available) to the RC on VHF Channel 78. This is an addition to the US Sailing Prescription to RRS 34. In the event that an alternate finish line is to be used, the RC shall broadcast that information on the VHF Channel 78 beginning at 1200 hours on 8/31/08, or as soon as the RC leaves its finishing station, and repeating at approximately 30 minute intervals.
Time Limit: Only yachts finishing by 2000 hours on 8-31-2008, plus the amount of any postponement time applicable to a yacht’s class, will be considered as finishing. This changes RRS 35 and GSI 18.2.
Prizes: Per NOR 10.
ORR: Yachts entering this race under LMPHRF or a one-design class may also, if desired, enter an ORR fleet scoring overlay by so indicating on the combined entry form, furnishing an ORR certificate, and paying additional $15 entry fee. Brag flags will be awarded at the yachting ball based on the total number of fleet entries. This changes NOR 10. ORR overlay shall be scored using the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) WW 50% WL 50% course configuration.
Social Activities: Party in the Pavilion following the race. Menu dining will be offered in the Harbor Grill Restaurant (at the clubhouse) and on the deck. Buffet dinner will be served in the Pavilion. Monday breakfast begins at 0630 in the restaurant dining room. Food service will be available all day Sunday and Monday AM. Do not bring food and drink from yachts onto the restaurant deck or into the restaurant or Pavilion. Take out bag lunches for Monday’s race may be purchased by ordering from the restaurant (219-874-AHOY) before noon Saturday, 8/30/08. Ice and bottled water will also be available for purchase from the restaurant on Monday morning. Tri- state registered yachts can moor on the wall West and South of the yacht club at no charge. The bath house East of the Coast Guard station is available. All other bath houses are for MC Port Authority Slip holders and fee paying transients only. Slips in the basin can be arranged, for a fee, via MC Port Authority (219-872-1712).

Starting Area: Approx. 0.5 n.m. NW of Michigan City harbor entrance
Class Breaks: GSI 7.3 - Race Table B
Starting Sequence: GSI 8.4 - Port to Port Sequence.
Handicap Scoring Distance: 31.3 nautical miles.
Course: Approx. 286°T
General Notice: See GSI 13. All marks to Port. Time reference CDT.
Liferafts suggested.
Radio: Channel 78. See GSI 22.

Starting Line: Between a mark and the Orange flag on the RC boat approximately 0.5 n.m. northwest of the Michigan City Harbor entrance. If a guard mark is set near RC boat; yachts may not pass between the guard mark and RC boat.

Alternate Starting Line: In event of inclement weather, and alternate starting line may be set between two marks outside the Harbor entrance with the Signal boat behind the west breakwater. RC shall broadcast such changes on channel 78 before and during the starting sequence.

Finish Line: Boats shall cross the line between the orange mark at SA4(at approximate Latitude N 41º52.67 and Longitude W 87º35.24) and the orange flag on the RC boat. SA4 is to be left to port and sail number board shall be displayed on the starboard side. If a guard mark is set near the RC boat; yachts shall not pass between the guard mark and the RC boat.

Alternate Finish Line: Whenever a RC boat is not on station at the finish line, boats shall follow the procedure outlined in RRS 34, as modified below to report their finish time. The last sentence of RRS 34 to read, “If there is no longer an established finishing line, it shall be a line between Longitude - W 87º35.24 and Latitude - N 41º52.67 & N 41º52.57 . The finish time shall be the GPS time shown when the finish line is crossed. If no RC boat is on station, they shall notify the RC on Channel 78 within 15 minutes after finishing with 1) finish time, 2) boat name, 3) and sail number. If no response, all information requested on the Yacht Finish Report shall be sent by fax to LMSRF office (773-276-2343) or delivered to the LMSRF office no later than 1930 of the day following the finish of the race.

Time Limit: Only yachts finishing by 2000 hours on 9-1-08, plus the amount of any postponement time applicable to a yacht’s class, will be scored as finishing. This changes RRS 35. Official Bulletin Board: West outside wall at MCYC. Prizes: See NOR 10.
ORR: Boats entering this race under LMPHRF or a one-design class may also, if desired, enter an ORR fleet scoring overlay by so indicating on the combined entry form, furnishing an ORR certificate, and paying additional $15 entry fee. Brag flags will be awarded at the yachting ball based on the total number of fleet entries. This changes NOR 10. ORR overlay shall be scored using the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) WW 50% WL 50% course configuration.