Caribbean 1500 Cup November 7, 2005 - Fun Race & Cruise from Hampton, VA to Tortola, BVI

Activities will begin this year with a cruise in company from Newport to Hampton for our New England sailors. Weather and positions will be shared underway.

The West Marine Caribbean 1500 will again be sailing to hospitable Village Cay Marina on Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. Following the start, planned for Monday, Nov 7th, participants will share positions twice daily during scheduled chat hours. Problems and solutions are discussed, as are privately arranged weather forecasts.The fleet will gather at the Bluewater Yachting Center in Hampton, VA, for several days of briefings and final preparations leading up to the start. All participants are invited and newer passage makers are encouraged to arrive two days early (November 2) for additional briefings and inspections.

          Required Briefings for Skippers:

• Inspection Briefing, Medical Topics, Communications Briefing (procedures, schedules, frequencies), Sailing Instructions, Navigation and Landfall review
  * Weather Briefing and Gulf Stream Analysis
  
  Additional Briefings for Skippers and Crew:
• Women's Roundtables, Offshore Fishing Techniques, Life Raft Demonstration and Distress Signal Workshop, Sail Repair Workshop, Diesel Engine Troubleshooting Workshop
• Evening Social Gatherings
  
  
  The West Marine Caribbean 1500 is both a rally and a cruise in company from the US to the British Virgin Islands. Some 750 boats have chosen to join the Caribbean 1500 in making their passage to the islands, and they find it a very special experience, as our many repeat participants attest. Once the fleet arrives at Tortola, nightly awards parties will bring participants together to swap experiences and exchange cruising plans. The passage typically takes 7-12 days.
  
  

  Benefits of Participation
  
  

  • Access to expert advisors on provisioning, equipment, sails, electronics, rigging and crew selection.
  • Access to volunteer crew registry.
  • Discounts on hotels, dockage, and equipment including life rafts.
  • Free safety inspections.
  • Briefings including skippers' meetings, weather update and Gulf Stream analysis, landfall approaches, customs and clearances, ladies' briefings, provisioning hints, local-knowledge tips and suggestions.
  • Each boat receives sailing instructions, safety and boat requirements list and radio broadcast schedules.
  • En-route communication services, including SSB radio schedule, daily weather forecasts, position sharing and pooling of participant expertise.
  • Awards will recognize successful completion of each passage, as well as fishing prowess, performance and contributions to the group in keeping with the values held by many sailors.
  • Make new friends, share common experiences, and further your knowledge of offshore passage making skills.
  • Nightly social functions for skippers and crews.
  • Event flag, crew caps, champagne upon arrival at Tortola, and send-off and awards parties.
    
    
    Eligibility
    The West Marine Caribbean 1500 is open to seaworthy yachts of any type or nationality. The lower size limit shall be 33 feet LOA. All boats must pass inspection and must be sailed by two or more sailors, with final determinations made by the Event Committee. There must be at least one experienced offshore sailor on board.
    
    About the Event
    
    Skippers may choose to enter the Cruising Class or the Rally Class. Boats sailing in the Cruising Class do so for the adventure of making a good and safe passage and will not be judged on performance or handicaps. They will not be required to maintain engine use logs. Their safe passage will be recognized in alphabetical order of boats completing the passage. Boats sailing in the Rally Class will be assigned PHRF handicaps and will report engine usage nightly. Unlike races, the rally permits the use of engines with running time added to the elapsed time as a motoring penalty The corrected time for each vessel will reflect her time allowance and engine usage. Skippers may at any time elect to change from the Rally Class to the Cruising Class. Stopping in Bermuda or taking on fuel after the start will indicate participation in the Cruising Class.
    
    
    
    

    Responsibility
    Responsibility for self-sufficiency, safety, handling emergencies and for any accident or mishap will rest with the skipper, owner and crew as specified in the Rules and Conditions for this event. No liability or other responsibility is accepted by the organizers or sponsors toward the entrants, nor toward third parties with whom the entrants may become involved.
    
    Volunteer Crew Registry
    Skippers seeking crews should contact us for a list of volunteers. Normally, it is the responsibility of the crewmember to provide transportation to and from the event, and the skipper's responsibility to furnish provisions for the time underway. Sailors wishing to volunteer as crew should complete and send to us the crew registration form.
    
    Awards
    All boats completing the event receive awards recognizing their accomplishment. In addition, a number of special awards recognize skills and contributions to the group in keeping with the values held by many sailors.
    
    Accommodations
    Bluewater Yachting Center
    Dockage reservations: Tel: 757 723-6774
    Mailing address:
    15 Marina Road, Hampton, VA 23669
    
    Village Cay Marina and Hotel
    Tel: 284 494-2771
    Mailing address: PO Box 145, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
    
    
    
    Thanks to West Marine for continuing its important sponsorship of these rallies. Our friends at West Marine help our participants in many ways.
    
     
    
    

    Entry Information
    
    

    An early bird entry fee of $850 per boat, plus $60 per person will apply to entries received before August 1, 2005. After August 1, the entry fee will be $950 per boat, plus $60 per person. Veteran Caribbean 1500 skippers will receive a $100 discount. Please make check payable to Cruising Rally Association.
    
    Refund policy: The entry fee less a $100 booking fee will be refunded on cancellations made on or before October 28th. There are no refunds for cancellations made after that date. A Registration and Information Package will be mailed on receipt of payment.
    Click here for Entry Form.
    
    

    Cruising Rally Association : 2930 Chesapeake Avenue : Hampton : VA 23661 : USA
    Tel and Fax +1 (757) 788-8872 : steve@carib1500.com