Date:   March 27, 2003

 

To:      PWAB Membership and BPBA Committee.

 

PWAB Race Rules for 2003

 

GENERALLY, all rules will fall under the guidelines of the IJSBA 2003 rule package. It is assumed that no member of the association will participate in competition without being fully aware if the rules. It is the responsibility of the competitor to obtain the Race rules. Additions/modifications/exceptions to the IJSBA rules not outlined here, will be addressed by the Race Director or the PWAB committee.

 

ADDITIONS/MODIFICATIONS TO IJSBA FORMAT FOR USE IN BERMUDA

 

Classes:

 

Stock 0-1200 cc class. -Defining rules per IJSBA

Modified 0-1200 cc class. - ALL PWC that do not fall under the stock rules.

2003 **ADDITION: NO 2-stroke PWC having a displacement in excess of 1200cc will be allowed to compete with the following exception:

Yamaha GPR1300 will be allowed to compete as a stock boat [IJSBA rules] in the 0-1200cc modified class.

Exception: For Around the island race where 1st across the line regardless of class type format exists, the classes will retain their old format established for 2001. The 785 class will be renamed 800 class with the staggered start is as follows:

 

800 class                                1st

Stock 1200 class                    2-minute delay

Modified 1200 class                3-minute delay

 

Numbers;

 

Race Numbers must be at least 6” high and will be displayed per the following guidelines.

 

0-1200cc STOCK CLASS: Black on yellow background.

0-1200cc MODIFIED CLAS: Black on white background

800CC CLASS black on orange background

 

NOTE: The #1 plate is the only ‘earned’ number. The competitor in both Stock and Modified class who has succeeded in winning the high points Trophy, has earned the right to run the #1 plate. The previous year’s #1 plate holder must relinquish the right to run it should that person fail to defend the title.

The #1 plate must be displayed as: 1 in the stock class and 1M in the modified class to distinguish the two racers for scoring purposes. Note that in modified class the number and letter must be of equal size per. above guidelines.

 

Race Series:

PWAB has agreed with the Commodore of the BPBA to restructure the race series for 2003. The following will apply for this race season.

 

 

GENERAL COURSE RULES

 

Race time format, quantities, start methods and time lengths will be set by PWAB and submitted to the BPBA committee at the beginning of the season. Alternatively these details will be posted before race day and reviewed at the Drivers Meeting.

 

Course Layout:

 

Courses may be posted on www.pwab.org, emailed to racers and available at the bus on race day.

Once the course is set, time will be allotted for a designated lead boat to lead all competitors on a parade lap. They should indicate if they are still unclear on the course at this time.

 

RACE FORMAT:

 

Quantities

There will be no limit on quantities for endurance type races unless otherwise indicated. Closed course races will have a maximum of 14 boats on the line at one time. National Series buoy courses will have up to 14 boats start at once.

Classes will be run together until the racers exceed 14. At that time, the race format will be:

 

ONE class starts, when the race director indicates, the next class will push their boats to the starting line. Second class will start within minutes of the last boat finishing from the first class. This format will continue for all heats so that there is never a lull in the racing and no delays are caused. Requests for time to do repairs/adjustments will follow normal BPBA guidelines and will be subject to final decisions of the Race director.


 

Start methods

 

Closed Course Starts;

 

Typically, these will be standing starts but start procedure will be outlined at the drivers meeting.

Standing Starts will have all boats lined up on the shoreline with holders. Pump must be in the water when the starter raises the flag.

For the first heat, all competitors will choose a number from a bag to indicate their start position relative to the first turn buoy as indicated by the race director. #1 would be closest, #2 next out and so on. The second heat start positions will be the reverse of the first heat finish. [EG. If racer X finishes last in heat one, he starts in the first position for heat two]. The third heat will start with the finishing  positions of the second heat.

Racers will be divided to start on one of two course paths. After the start, racers will be able to choose which split they take during the race.

E.G. [competitor ‘A’ Chooses #5. there are 8 boats racing. ‘A’ will have the pole position on the outside split. ‘A’ finishes the first race in second place. ‘A’ would start heat 2 in 7th place which would be third out from the pole on the outside split. ‘A’ finishes the second race in first place. ‘A’ will start the third race n the pole position on the inside split.

 

Marathon/Endurance Starts;

 

These may use Running starts or LeMans type starts. This will be clarified at the drivers meeting.

Running starts will use a pace boat to bring the racers up to the start line. Once approaching the start in line with, but not passing the pace boat, Racers will be under the Starters orders and must watch for the flag to drop. When the flag drops, the racers may apply full throttle and enter the course.

LeMans starts will use holders. The racers line up a set distance from their craft with lanyard in hand. At the signal, they run to their boats, immediately start them and enter the racecourse.

 

 

Typical Race Time Lengths:

 

Marathon/Offshore lap race: a specified number of laps [usually an hour to do the whole race]

A white flag will be flown for last lap.

Note: a racer who runs at least half the race will be eligible for ½ points.  Circumnavigation Race and Around the Island race: The competitors will have to abandon the race if they do not cross the finish within a specified time. To be indicated at the drivers meeting.

Closed course: Standing start to two buoys will be used. Up to 10 minutes for first two heats, up to 15 minutes for the final heat.

A white flag will be flown for last lap.

TRI-PORT National Series: Either a standing start to two buoys or a running start will be used. To be announced at the drivers meeting. Up to 12 minutes for first two heats, up to 15 minutes for the final heat. A white flag will be flown for last lap.

 

 

POINTS

ALLOCATION 

Points earned in all races will be applied to the rider. Despite this, Riders must run the same number at all times to avoid confusion with scoring. Scoring formats for the various races along with penalties etc. are explained at the end of this document.

During a race season, a competitor will be allowed 3 race days only, to have substitute riders. Once the maximum number of three substituted race days is exceeded, all following races for that season where the original rider has been substituted will not be eligible for points scoring.

 

Closed course

Racers total score for all heats run is added. The lowest score wins. In the event of a tie, the person with the strongest final heat finish wins.

DNF/DNS in one heat gets that heat position by adding 0total entries plus 2

DNF/DNS in two heat s gets final position for the day by adding total entries plus 2

DNF/DNS in all three heats gets no points.

 

Drag race:

Final positions are reached by single and double eliminations. Points are awarded as above

 

Offshore/Marathon/Endurance races

In the event that a racer does not finish the whole race then:

For races involving laps, competitors must complete at least half the required laps to be awarded half points.

For races with only one lap such as the around the island course and the Circumnavigation course, a racer must cross the finish line in order to place and score. Placement and score is by class not overall. However, there is a special prize and recognition for first overall!

 

FORMAT

 

Closed course points table:

Position

Points

Position

Points

Position

Points

1

60

6

36

11

Continues to decrease by 2 from 10th place onward

2

53

7

33

12

3

48

8

30

13

4

43

9

27

14

5

39

10

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offshore/Endurance Points Table:

Position

Points

Position

Points

Position

Points

1

400

6

348

11

Decreases by 4 until 292 then decreases by 2 until 40 then decreases by 1

2

380

7

344

12

3

368

8

340

13

4

360

9

336

14

5

352

10

332

15