86th Annual Down River Race 2024

The Rock Hall Yacht Club will host the 86^th Annual Down River Race on Friday, June 14^th, 2024.

This is a point-to-point race, open to all dinghy, one-design, or day-sailing classes. The race will begin near the Chester River Yacht and Country Club (CRY&CC) dock, run down the Chester River for approximately 12 nm and finish near the floating dock at the Rock Hall Yacht Club (RHYC).

If fewer than 10 boats register by June 7^th, the RHYC reserves the right to cancel the race.

RULES:                     This regatta is governed by the US Sailing RRS and the respective class association rules, except as any of these rules are changed by the SIs or any appendices to the SIs.  The use of GPS devices is permitted for all classes in this regatta.

REGISTRATION:    All entrants are encouraged to pre-register and pay online by Thursday, June 13^th at 10:00pm EST. Register online at www.rockhallyachtclub.org or https://rockhallyachtclub.org/register/regatta/Oz1ThBehdl/class. Onsite registration will be available beginning at 9:30am at the CRY&CC dock pavilion.

FEES:                         $30.00 registration fee

                                 A $5.00 donation for the RHYC Sailing School Scholarship fund is appreciated on check-in.

SKIPPERS MTG:     Friday, June 14^th at 10:30am at the CRY&CC dock pavilion.

TIMING:                   Start at 1100 hours, between the CRY&CC dock and a club mark near Queen Anne’s Shore. All boats start together.

All boats should be prepped, rigged, and launched before the skippers meeting. A shoreline dingy rack limits launching space at the beach. Please have a small anchor available for short term mooring.

CLASSES:                 All dinghy, one-design, and day-sailing classes

SCORING:                Boats will be timed and scored using the current US Sailing Portsmouth Handicap ratings for the class. If your boat is not listed, the R/C will assign a rating based on similarity to listed classes. No handicaps specific to a class will be applied.

AWARDS:                

• Sonny Usilton Trophy: 1st to finish
• Collins Cup: 1st to finish on corrected time
• Strong-Austin Trophy: 1st RHYC boat to finish
• Chauvenet Award: 1st Windmill to finish
• Morris Paschall III Memorial Cup: 1^st sailor under 21 years old to finish on corrected time
• Awards will be available for pick up at the RHYC Pavilion on Sunday, June 16^th.

INFORMATION:     Those competitors wishing to drop boats on trailers off on Thursday evening are welcome to drop those boats at the CRY&CC waterfront. Those competitors that are current/active members of another yacht club and wish to tow boats over and use a slip for Thursday night are welcome; however, they must contact CRY&CC at 410-778-3818 in advance for reservations. A slip fee will apply.

The RHYC Log Canoe Lounge will be open for food and beverages all day on Saturday and until 6pm on Sunday for competitors and their families.

There is a port-a-pot and handwashing station at the RHYC Beach.

LODGING:              RHYC: There is plenty of land to camp and the bathhouses are open 24 hours. Tent camping is $17/night, and an additional $12/night for campers/RVs requiring electrical hookup (110 service only). Camping fees should be purchased online at the end of the registration process.

                               CRY&CC: There are no camping/RV facilities onsite.

Additional accommodations can be found in the local area and the towns of Rock Hall http://www.rockhallmd.com and Chestertown http://www.kentcounty.com.

DIRECTIONS:         To the Start can be found at www.crycc.org
                              To the Finish can be found at www.rockhallyachtclub.org

Questions can be directed to the RHYC at vicecommodore@RockHallYachtClub.org or call Todd Steffes at 610-306-0026.