The 19th China “Club Cup” Sailing Challenge Notice of Race
7–14 November 2025 Xiamen, China
“[NP]” means a rule that is not grounds for a boat to protest another boat. This changes RRS 60.1.
“[SP]” means a standard penalty that may be applied by the Race Committee without a hearing. This changes RRS A5. The penalty will be two points added to the boat’s best score of the day, depending on the circumstances.
1. Rules
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2025–2028.
1.2 Competitors shall comply with regulations regarding the use of boat equipment, which also apply when boats are afloat but not racing.
1.3 RRS 41 is amended by adding 41(e): assistance in returning a crewmember to the boat close to the point where they fell overboard.
1.4 National prescriptions of Member National Authorities will not apply.
1.5 The J/80 Class Rules (CR) will apply, except CR-C4.1 is deleted.
1.6 The Sailing Instructions (SI) of the 19th China Club Cup Sailing Challenge shall apply.
1.7 In case of conflict between the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail. This changes RRS63.5(c).
1.8 In case of dispute regarding rule translation, the English version shall prevail.
1.9 Each team shall bring their own lifejackets meeting ISO 12402-5 or higher standards, and a VHF marine radio.
2. Sailing Instructions
The Sailing Instructions will be available upon registration.
3. Communication
3.1 Official notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board at the venue. Online supportive notices will be published in the official WeChat group “19th China Club Cup Regatta Event Group”.
3.2 [DP] Except in an emergency, a boat shall neither make nor receive voice or data transmissions not available to all boats during racing.
4. Eligibility and Entry
4.1 Boats
4.1.1 The fleet racing will be sailed in J/80 one-design class.
4.1.2 Teams bringing their own J/80 must pass measurement checks before racing.
4.1.2.1 The first 30 successfully registered non-Xiamen boats will be provided round-trip transport by a designated carrier arranged by the Race Committee, with a subsidy of up to RMB 10,000 for shipping costs. Any excess cost shall be borne by the teams.
4.1.2.2 The Organizing Authority will arrange crane service for launching and hauling in Xiamen on 5–6 November and 10–11 November, with costs covered by the Organizing Authority. Crane fees for earlier arrivals or delayed departures shall be borne by the teams.
4.1.2.3 Assembly and disassembly of self-owned boats shall be the responsibility of the teams.
4.1.3 Boats for the match racing will be provided by the Organizing Authority.
4.2 Eligibility
4.2.1 Teams may represent their nation/region, city, yacht club, or be formed by boat owners with the approval of the Organizing Authority.
4.2.2 Competitors must be at least 18 years old. The maximum crew number (including the helm) is 8 persons, with a total crew weight limit of 420 kg.
4.2.3 A crew list shall be submitted no later than 18 October 2025. The list must include all crew onboard at the start of the first race. Thereafter, any crew change requires written approval from the Jury.
4.2.4 Each competitor must have personal insurance as required under NoR 20.
4.3 Entry
The entry form and helm résumé can be downloaded from the Chinese Yachting Association website (https://chinasailing.org.cn/match). By 18 October 2025, teams shall send the following documents to the designated Organizing Authority email (chenkunyu@xmtycyjt.com):
4.3.1 Entry form in Word format and a signed scanned copy (or photocopy).
4.3.2 Helm résumé.
4.3.3 Team profile: a written introduction within 400 words, group photo, VCR, and team logo (in AI or CDR format).
4.3.4 Copy of insurance policy meeting the requirements of NoR 20 and certificate of own boat (if applicable).
4.3.5 The Organizing Authority will reply by email within 5 working days after receiving the entry documents. Teams shall complete payment of entry fees as instructed in the confirmation email. Only then is the entry considered valid.
5. Fees
5.1 Entry Fee: RMB 5,000.
5.2 Charter Fee: RMB 10,000.
5.3 Charter Deposit: RMB 10,000. The Organizing Authority will provide 10 boats (J/80) for charter on a first-come, first-served basis.
5.4 Payment Account:
Account Name: Xiamen Sports Industry Group Huan Dong Cultural Tourism Operation Co., Ltd.
Bank: Bank of China Ltd., Xiamen Pilot Free Trade Zone Branch
Account Number: 415686195151
5.5 Except for official banquets arranged by the Organizing Authority, all accommodation and meals during the regatta shall be at the teams’ own expense.
6. Crew Limitations
Teams will be grouped according to whether they include current or former professional sailors, and whether the crew is all-female, as follows:
6.1 Competition Group: Teams with professional sailors.
6.2 Social Group: Teams without professional sailors.
6.3 Women’s Group: Teams consisting entirely of female sailors.
7. Advertising [DP] [NP]
7.1 Advertising on boats shall comply with the World Sailing Advertising Code. Any advertising that violates government regulations or conflicts with the interests of the event sponsors may be rejected by the Organizing Authority. For any questions, teams should consult the Organizing Authority in advance. At the time of entry, teams shall provide a list of all intended advertising items on the boat. Any changes to advertising shall be reported to the Organizing Authority.
7.2 All advertising rights within the venue belong to the Organizing Authority. Any team wishing to display advertising at the venue must submit a written request and obtain approval from the Organizing Authority.
7.3 Teams wishing to place advertising on the hull, sails, or mast of the chartered boats provided by the Organizing Authority must apply in writing and obtain approval before doing so. Such advertising must be removed by the teams after the event.
7.4 If a team deliberately damages or removes advertising provided by the Organizing Authority, the Organizing Authority reserves the right to protest.
8. Event Format
8.1 The regatta will consist of qualification races and match racing.
Race Format:
Qualification Series — Fleet Racing
Match Series — Match Racing
8.2 All groups will race together in the fleet racing that will be held over four days.
8.3 A total of eight teams will advance from the fleet racing to the match racing, consisting of the top five overall teams, plus the highest-ranked Social Group team and the highest-ranked Women’s Group team outside of the top five. The crews participating in the match racing must be the same as those who raced for that team in the fleet racing; any crew changes require a written application to the Jury and formal approval.
8.4 The match racing will be contested by eight teams, comprising the teams qualifying under SI 8.3 and the defending champion from the previous edition, which qualifies automatically.
8.5 The match racing will be conducted in a knockout format.
8.6 The winner of the knockout series will be awarded the title of Champion of the 19th China Club Cup Sailing Challenge.
8.7 The defending champion may participate in the fleet racing, be eligible for prizes, and will automatically qualify for the points cycle series.
9. Schedule
10. Equipment Inspection
10.1 Boats may be inspected on site at the request of the Technical Committee to verify compliance with the rules.
10.2 For the fleet racing, teams are allowed to use their own boats and equipment (including gennakers), but they must pass measurement checks before racing. Only boats that pass inspection may compete.
11. Venue
11.1 The venue for the qualification (fleet racing) series is Wuyuan Bay, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
11.2 The venue for the finals (match racing) is Tong’an Bay, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
11.3 Appendix 1 shows a diagram of the racing areas. It is only for reference and shall not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS61.1（a）.
12. Courses
12.1 The course diagram in Appendix 2 shows the courses, including the approximate angles between legs, the order of rounding marks, and the required side on which each mark is to be left.
13. Penalty System
13.1 RRS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by a One-Turn Penalty.
13.2 In accordance with RRS 70.3 or 70.3(a), the decisions of the Jury shall be final.
13.3 In the match racing, the decisions of the umpires shall be final.
13.4 Any damage to or loss of boat equipment, however minor, must be reported to the Organizing Authority.
13.5 Protest forms will be available at the Regatta Office. If damage occurs and a team believes another boat is responsible for it, a protest shall be submitted to the Protest Committee after racing that day. The Protest Committee will determine liability for damages; otherwise, the team will bear the responsibility itself.
13.6 On-water penalties may be applied, as detailed in the Sailing Instructions.
14. Scoring
14.1 A total of 11 races are scheduled. The series will be valid upon the completion of at least one race.
14.2 When fewer than 5 races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.
14.3 When 5 or more races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of all her race scores excluding her worst score.
14.4 For the Women’s Group and all teams with any female sailor, 0.5 points will be deducted from the total score after all fleet racing are completed.
15. Berthing [DP]
Competitors shall berth their boats in the designated docking area as directed by the Organizing Authority or Race Committee.
16. Haul-out Restrictions [DP]
Boats shall not be hauled out during the regatta except with prior written permission of the Race Committee and under the terms specified.
17. Diving Equipment and Plastic Pools [DP]
From the preparatory signal of the first race until the end of the last race of the regatta, the use of underwater breathing apparatus, plastic pools, or similar devices around keelboats is prohibited.
18. Media Equipment and Privacy
The Organizing Authority reserves the right to place cameras on boards for media purposes. Any boat that refuses to carry or use tracking devices or cameras provided by the Organizing Authority may have its entry rejected, its registration cancelled, or its eligibility to compete withdrawn.
19. Risk Statement
19.1 RRS 3 states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.” Each competitor taking part in this event agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, handling errors, poor seamanship of other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform, and fatigue, all of which may increase the risk of injury. Inherent risks of sailing include the potential for permanent, catastrophic injury or death caused by drowning, trauma, hypothermia, or other causes.
19.2 Each participant acknowledges and agrees that:
19.2.1 They accept that risks exist in racing, fully understand the dangers of participation, and assume full responsibility for their involvement, health, and safety during and after the event.
19.2.2 They understand and acknowledge that the event organizers (including all officials and volunteers) do not provide any guarantee regarding their health and safety.
19.2.3 They accept that participation may test the physical and mental limits of a person and involves the possibility of death, serious injury, and property loss. Risks include, but are not limited to, those caused by race conditions, facilities, temperature, weather, participants’ condition, equipment, vehicle traffic, dehydration, and the actions of other people (including but not limited to participants, volunteers, officials, and/or producers).
19.2.4 They waive, release, and discharge any and all liability, including but not limited to liability arising from negligence or fault of the released entities or persons, for death, disability, personal injury, property damage, property theft, or any other claims that may arise in the future, including travel to and from the event. The released parties include: the Organizing Authority and its affiliates, event organizers (including all officials and volunteers), sponsors, and all persons involved with the event, as well as their staff, volunteers, representatives, and agents.
19.2.5 The presence of RC (Race Committee), safety patrol boats, and other officials and volunteers does not relieve competitors of their own responsibilities. Assistance provided by these personnel is limited to what can be reasonably offered in the circumstances, particularly in severe weather conditions.
19.2.6 Whether or not the RC or TC (Technical Committee) conducts boat inspections does not reduce the responsibility and obligation of competitors to comply with RRS 78 and the Class Rules of the event.
20. Insurance
20.1 Each competitor shall hold personal accident insurance, including medical coverage, with a minimum insured amount of RMB 500,000, valid throughout the event period and within the event area. A copy of the policy, signed by the competitor, shall be submitted at registration.
20.2 Boats brought by teams themselves shall carry third-party liability insurance with coverage of not less than RMB 200,000, valid throughout the event period and within the event area.
21. Media Rights and Restrictions [NP][DP]
21.1 The Organizing Authority holds all media rights for this event and will exercise these rights at its discretion.
21.2 All members of participating teams unconditionally grant the Organizing Authority the perpetual right to publish and distribute, worldwide and through any media, their names, images, and biographical information, as well as photographs, videos, and audio recordings of the boats and crew taken before, during, and after the regatta.
21.3 [DP][NP] Team members may, before, during, and after the event, accept interviews or provide interview materials to media representatives approved by the Organizing Authority. Such content may include matters related to the event, the participating boats’ expected performance, and strategies, but shall not include any negative comments or materials that could cause damage, obstruction, or adverse impact to the Organizing Authority and its officials and staff, the Race Committee, the Jury, measurers, current or past sponsors, or any other related parties.
21.4 Violations of the above provisions, as determined by the Organizing Authority or the Race Committee, may result in penalties.
22. Prizes
22.1 Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams in the qualification series (fleet racing).
22.2 Separate trophies will be awarded for the Women’s Group and the Social Group: if there are 3 or fewer entries in a group, only the champion will be awarded; if there are 4 entries, trophies will be awarded to the champion and runner-up; if there are 5 or more entries, trophies will be awarded to the top three.
22.3 The Women’s Group champion will be awarded the “Swan Cup.”
22.4 Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams in the match racing (knockout series).
22.5 The champion of the match racing will be awarded the “Club Cup.”
22.6 Additional prizes may be announced by the Organizing Authority depending on the number of entries.
23. Further Information
For entry and regatta-related matters, please contact:
Entry Contact: Chen Kunyu
Phone / WeChat: +86-15606923617
Email: chenkunyu@xmtycyjt.com
Website: http://www.chinaclubcup.com/
WeChat Official Accounts: China Club Cup Sailing Challenge / Huan Dong Sailing
Address: No. 8–9 Guanzhou Road, Tong’an District, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
Postal Code: 361100
Organizing Authority of the China Club Cup Sailing Challenge
8 August 2025
Attachment1:Fleet Racing Area/Location
Wuyuan Bay Racing Area
Tongan Bay Racing Area
Attachment 2:Course Diagram：
Fleet Racing Courses：
L1: Start-1-1a-4S4P -Finish
L2: Start-1-1a-4S4P-1-4S4P -1-Finish
L3: Start-1-1a -4S4P-1-4S4P-1-4S4P -Finish
