The Melges 24 Class in the U.S. is thrilled to see fourteen teams signed up and ready to go for the first Bacardi Winter Series event scheduled to take place this weekend in Miami, FL This event kicks off the three-part Bacardi Winter Series.

In light of COVID-19, Bacardi has issued the following information in the last few days:

To all competitors planning on sailing at the Bacardi Winter Series 1:

Dear Sailors,

The Organizing Authority is delighted to confirm that a unanimous decision has been taken to go ahead with the Bacardi Winter Series 1, and we are really looking forward to welcoming you to the starting line for our launch event of the Bacardi Invitational series of regattas.

It is our collective responsibility to be sure we come together for a safe Bacardi Winter Series 1 and we each have a duty of care to one another. The preventative measures we have taken and ask you to follow are vital in keeping everyone safe. Please be mindful and responsible.

Detailed below is the list of mandatory requirements we will need each sailor to submit digitally before the event. The Organizing Authority is taking every effort to keep the event safe, but we ask for your assistance to please help by making sure all these documents are submitted on time:

Everyone attending the event is required to take a Covid-19 test in the 72 hours period prior to onsite registration closing at 1900 hours (EST) on Friday 11 December 2020. You are required to please submit your negative test result by 1900 hours (EST) on Friday 11 December 2020 to info@bacardiinvitational.com. No exceptions will be made.

• Free testing centres in Miami can be found at: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/testing-locations.page

• You can search for Covid-19 testing facilities around the USA at: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html

A Covid-19 Waiver and an Event Liability Waiver must be signed and submitted to info@bacardiinvitational.com by ALL competitors and received in the 72 hours period prior to onsite registration closing at 1900 hours (EST) on Friday 11 December 2020. Both waivers are available under the documents section at: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=13061

Detailed below are the additional measures we have introduced to strengthen our Covid-19 protocols to deliver a safe event:

• SALM will temperature test all participants upon arrival at the event venue each morning.

• All social events are cancelled as well as skippers’ meetings, awards, dinners and the Bacardi bar. Please monitor the documents area on yachtscoring.com: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=1306 for the latest schedule and updates.

• A Skippers’ meeting will be held on zoom on Friday 11 December at 1830 hours. The link to access the zoom is at: https://bit.ly/2JMOQz8 and you will first be required to register. You can also find all links via the documents page on yachtscoring at: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=13061

• Please nominate one person from your team to pick up the registration packet from Shake a Leg Miami (SALM) during registration times on Friday 11 December from 1600-1900 hours or Saturday 12 December from 0800-0900 hours.

• We are offering contactless lunch bag pick-up from SALM on Saturday and Sunday. Please be mindful and quickly pick up your bag and go.

• To limit people at the docks we will have 3 separate starts. See the example below, which will give all fleets 3 races per day. You will find more detailed information in the Sailing Instructions which will be uploaded on yachtscoring.com. Please don’t arrive on venue too early. Once on venue, please proceed straight to your boat and plan on leaving the docks soon after:

Race 1 - 10am - Melges 24

Race 2 - 11am Melges 24, J/70

Race 3 - Noon Melges 24, J/70, VXone

Race 4 - 1pm J/70, VXone

Race 5 - 2pm VXone

• You will all still get to enjoy the post-race Bacardi wind down as we will distribute Bacardi make-at-home drink kits after racing every day. Kits will be available on a designated table location at SALM. Once you have picked up your kit, please leave the venue as quickly as possible.

• Please read and familiarize yourself with the Covid-19 rules for the event published at: https://yachtscoring.com/event_documents/13061/Bacardi%20Regattas%20Covid%20Rules.pdf The objective of these rules is to attempt to minimize the risk from Covid-19 as much as possible, bearing in mind that some risk will always remain.

• There will be extra security personnel on venue to support everyone in adhering to the Covid-19 rules.

• Awards will be shipped to you and we will contact you after the event to arrange delivery.

The safety of our sailors and event team as well as the community is our highest priority and we will continue to monitor developments and immediately inform you if there are any further changes.

The Covid-19 outbreak continues to evolve and should the situation become drastically worse over the next two weeks, the Organizing Authority reserves the right to still cancel the event. We sincerely hope we won’t have to take this decision.

The Organizing Authority really appreciates your support and please let’s work together to make this event a success.

In the meantime, if you have any queries please email: info@bacardiinvitational.com

Together we can deliver a safe event for all.

Thank you and see you soon.

The OA