BPI Busuanga Cup: Sailing Instructions
by BPI Regatta Secretariat 27 Dec 2024 20:07 PST
09-12 January 2025
Date of Issue: 12/27/24
The Regatta Organising Authority is the Philippine Inter Island Sailing Federation (PHINSAF) under the auspices of Philippine Sailing Association (PSA). The race is supported by Punta Fuego Yacht Club and Marina del Sol Resort and sponsored by BPI Private Wealth.
1. Rules
1.1 The Regatta will be governed by the ‘rules’ as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
1.2 The following will apply:
The WS Offshore Special Regulations Category 4 (w/o life-raft) plus VHF radio, the primary purpose of which is to monitor the Race Committee communications. Scrutineering will take place the day before the start in Punta Fuego.
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS), (Steering and Racing Rules) will apply between sunset and sunrise and will replace the rules of RRS Part 2.
The IRC Rules 2024
The Cruising Handicap System, as administered by the Organising Committee
The OMR rating system as Administered by the Organizing Committee for the Ocean Multihull Class
The Notice of Race
The Sailing Instructions
In the case of conflict between any of the above, succeeding items take preference
1.3 IRC boats may carry one more spinnaker than on their IRC Certificate without incurring an increase in penalty. This changes IRC Rule 21.6.1
1.4 IRC Rule 22.4.is amended such that there is no restriction on the number of crew that a boat may carry. There is no limit on crew weight.
1.5 Yellow Brick Tracker. All boats will be provided with a working Yellowbrick tracking unit which will be tested for correct installation and use before the start of the race. The unit must remain operational and switched on throughout the entire race. Boats which fail to comply shall be subject to a protest by the Race Committee, unless reasonable written and or photographic evidence is provided.
2. Notices to Competitors
2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the: Barracuda Restaurant, Punta Fuego Marina,
The dock at Marina Del Sol and on
The Busuanga Cup Skipper’s Viber Group.
2.2 Throughout the regatta information and reports will be available on: BPI Busuanga Cup Viber Group
Signature Yacht Race Series Website https://signatureyachtraceseries.com Signature Yacht Race Series Facebook
Signature Yacht Race Series Instagram
3. Changes to Sailing Instructions
3.1 Any change to the sailing instructions related to the Punta Fuego – Busuanga race will be posted before 0700 on Thursday 9 January on the Skipper’s Viber Group and the Punta Fuego Notice Board.
3.2 A written Skipper’s Briefing document will be circulated on the Skipper’s Viber Group and will be posted on the Punta Fuego Notice Board before Tuesday 7 January.
4. Schedule
Wednesday 8 January
0800 – 1700: Issue and testing of Yellow Brick Trackers
1830: Skipper’s Briefing at T&C Bar Punta Fuego Club House
Thursday 9 January
0755: Warning Signal
Friday 10 January
0100: Finish Line Opens at Black Island
1600: Finish Boat departs
(Boats finishing outside this time must inform the Race Officer of their finishing time by radio (VHF Ch 71) or mobile phone (0920 970 3074 or 0977
630 1569) or Skipper’s Viber Group and hand in the Declaration Form as soon as they can)
1830: BPI Private Wealth Welcome Dinner at Marina Del Sol Resort and Yacht Club Poolside and Beach Deck
Saturday 11 January
0955: Warning Signal for Island Races (Distance to start 6nm) One Island Race for Cruising Class and OMH Class
Two Island Races for IRC Class/Racer Cruiser Class
1800: BPI Private Wealth Dinner at Marina del Sol
Sunday 12 January
0955: Warning Signal for Island Races (Distance to start 6nm) One Island Race for Cruising Class and OMH Class
Two Island Races for IRC Class/Racer Cruiser Class
1800: BPI Private Wealth Awards Dinner/Party at Marina del Sol
5. Racing Areas
The racing area will be between Nasugbu in Batangas and Coron Bay in Busuanga, Palawan.
6. The Courses
Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race
6.1 The course is from the Punta Fuego Start to Black Island, Busuanga Start to Finish Black Island 144nm Overall Race Trophy
Finish at NE corner of Black Island between the Nanshin Maru Wreck Buoy at
N 12° 09.284 ’E 119° 49.173’ at the Starboard end and the Finishing Mark at the Port End
6.2 Results will be provided for the Golo Dash, a race from the Start at Punta Fuego to Golo Pass (31nm)
Finish North of the Pass at N 13° 41.00’ at the Port end and a Notional Mark at the Starboard end at 0.04nm on a bearing of 300°
Start to Golo Pass Golo Dash 31nm N 13° 41.00’
6.3 Any boat can decide to finish their race at any time after Golo Pass. Their finish time will be the time they passed through Golo Pass.
6.4 Boats finishing at Golo Pass shall record their time and enter the details of their retirement on the DECLARATION SHEET to behanded into the Race Office.
6.5 Island Courses
Island Courses are contained in Appendix A. However dependent upon the wind conditions and current pearl farm operations these courses may be changed and published as an amendment.
7. Marks
7.1 The Starting Mark will be a Red Triangular Buoy.
7.2 The Finishing Mark will be an Orange Triangular Buoy (White flashing Light)
7.3 There will be no mark at Golo Pass
8A. THE START – Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race
8A.1 The Starting Line will be between an Orange Flag on Lost in Asia at the Starboard End and the Starting Mark at the Port end, approximately 600m
southwest of Punta Fuego Marina.
8A.2 Boats are reminded that engines cannot be run in gear after 4 minutes before the start.
8A.3 The Class Flag for all boats will be a Yellow Flag
8B. THE START – Island Races
8B.1 The Starting Line will be between an Orange Flag displayed on the Starting Boat at the Starboard end and a red triangular buoy at the Port End.
8B.2 Class Flags will be:
IRC Racing Class Yellow
Cruiser Racer Class Light Blue Cruising Class Pink
Ocean Multihull Class Dark Blue
9A. THE FINISH – Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race
The finishing line at Black Island will be between the Nanshin Maru Wreck Mark at the Starboard End and the Finishing Mark at the Port End.
9B. THE FINISH – Island Races
The Finish Line will be between a Blue Flag displayed on the Finishing Boat and the nearby Orange finishing mark.
10. Time Limits
10.1 Punta Fuego to Busuanga - There is no time limit.
10.2 Island Races – The time limit is 1630.
10.3 Boats not finishing within the time limit or retiring after Golo Pass will receive the average of the points available to them.
11. Protests and Requests for Redress
11.1 Protests shall be lodged with the Race Office.
11.2 The protest time limit is 1730
11.3 Notices will be broadcast on VHF Channel 71 and on the Skipper’s Viber Group within 5 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held on the dock at Marina del Sol.
12A. Results – Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race
12A.1 The Golo Dash and the Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race will be scored as individual races. The low point scoring system will be used for each race except for the Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race a boat position will be multiplied by 1.5 for scoring purposes.
12A.2 Boats that retire before the Black Island finish will receive the average of the total points available to them if they had finished.
12B. Results – Island Course
12B.1 Results will be calculated using the classes handicap and the boats’ elapsed times.
12B.2 Boats that retire /do not finish will receive the average of the total points available to them if they had finished.
13. Radio and Cellphone Communication
13.1 Boats are required to communicate with the Race Officer as soon as they can on their approach to Black Island via VHF Channel 71, SMS, or Viber.
13.2 A boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This includes the use of mobile phones, but not the use of SMS to contact the Finishing Line which is permitted.
13.3 As a safety precaution all boats are expected to monitor VHF channel 71 while racing.
13.4 Because of the spread of the fleet, participating yachts must supply the Race Committee with a cell phone number, to enable safety communication messages to be sent and received. This number will be circulated to the fleet and should be available at all times. (Signal permitting. Globe has the best signal in the Busuanga area)
13.5 A safety boat (Lost in Asia) will accompany the fleet and can be contacted on 0920 970 3074 (Smart) and 0977 630 1569 (Globe)
14. Prizes
14.1 Prizes will be awarded at the Awards / Dinner Party at Marina del Sol which starts at 1800 on Sunday 12 January
14.2 The BPI Busuanga Cup Perpetual Trophy (Doni Altura Memorial Trophy) will be awarded to the overall winner of the IRC Racing Class combined offshore, Golo Dash and inshore races.
14.3 Trophies and Prizes will be given to the Overall First, Second, and Third Places in each class.
14.4 In the Series points will be awarded equal to the boat's finish position in each race including the Golo Dash
14.5 Ties will be resolved as per the Racing Rules of Sailing
14.6 Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of PHINSAF and BPI Private Wealth.
15. Disclaimer of Liability
Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage, personal injury, or death sustained in conjunction with or before, during, or after the regatta.