U.S. Melges 24 Class Association

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2021 Bacardi Invitational Regatta Announces Melges 24 Fleet Entry Limit

JOY Marketing LLC

Dear Sailors,

With two months to go to the Bacardi Invitational Regatta, 10-13 March 2021, the event team is looking forward to welcoming you to Miami. As you would expect, arrangements will be a bit different this year as we adjust our actions and protocols to keep everyone safe in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Organizing Authority is taking every step to meet our responsibilities to deliver a safe and controlled event and our Covid-19 protocols and mitigation strategies are of course supplementary to the state and national rules which apply. However all participants should undertake their own health risk assessment and consider if travelling to and attending the event is appropriate.

The Organizing Authority feels that the preventative measures we have taken will keep everyone safe, with negative Covid-19 test results required from all, daily temperature checks, social distancing, mask wearing, staggered arrivals/departures and virtual briefings.

The Covid-19 rules in place for the Bacardi Invitational Regatta are published at the following link and we ask you to please familiarize yourself with the document:

COVID-19 RULES
The memorable Bacardi hospitality will continue each day, although for 2021 in an innovative takeaway format which you can enjoy at home after racing.

This first communication is to give everyone an overview of what to expect at the Bacardi Invitational Regatta. Moving forward we will be regularly updating only those registered to the event. Please don’t hesitate to email the event team if you have any queries on: info@bacardiinvitational.com

ENTRY AND REGISTRATION
Due to Covid-19 we are forced to introduce an entry limit of 25 boats in the Melges 24 fleet, so please get your entry in early. Eligible boats may enter by completing the required form at www.yachtscoring.com and paying the required fees by 7 February 2021. Entry is not finalized until the fees are received by the Organizing Authority. Should you decide not to attend, please cancel your entry with enough time to give other competitors the opportunity to register. Entry fees are non-refundable. However, if the OA has to cancel the event or if you provide proof of a positive covid-19 test (or if something should happen that prevents a sailor from attending that is out of his control) then entry fees will be refunded in full.

MANDATORY DOCUMENTATION
Detailed below is the list of mandatory documentation every sailor shall be required to submit digitally before the Bacardi Invitational Regatta:
• Everyone attending the event is required to take a Covid-19 test within 3 days prior to onsite registration closing at 1600 hours (EST) on Wednesday 10 March 2021. Please email your negative test results to info@bacardiinvitational.com and make sure we receive them within that window. Should you fail to submit these documents in time, you will not be allowed to race. No exceptions will be made.

Please note that both Antigen (Rapid – results back in 15-20 minutes) Test and PCR Tests SHALL BE accepted. Home Collection Kits SHALL NOT be accepted.

Suggested free testing facilities in Miami that offer Antigen (Rapid) Tests and PCR Tests can be found at:


For a list of testing facilities around the US click here:
https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html

A Covid-19 Waiver and an Event Liability Waiver must be signed digitally by all competitors and received in the 72 hours period prior to onsite registration closing at 1600 hours (EST) on Wednesday 10 March 2021. Both waivers must be signed digitally through DocuSign at:

  • Covid-19 Waiver - link will be published on yachtscoring and event website soon

  • Event Waiver - link will be published on yachtscoring and event website soon

  • Boat Insurance – boat insurance documentation must be submitted prior to onsite registration closing at 1600 hours (EST) on Wednesday 10 March 2021 to: info@bacardiinvitational.com

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

a) Please read and familiarize yourself with the Covid-19 rules for the event. 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:
https://yachtscoring.com/event_documents.cfm

b) Participants will be temperature tested upon arrival at the event venue each morning.

c) All social events are cancelled, as well as skippers’ meetings, awards, dinners and the Bacardi bar.

d) Virtual skippers’ meetings will be held via zoom and the login details will be sent to you and published on yachtscoring.com. You will first be required to register.

e) One person from each team will need to pick up the registration pack from Shake a Leg Miami (SALM) during registration from 1000-1800 hours on Wednesday 10 March 2021.

f) Lunch bags will be distributed daily from SALM before racing daily.

g) The Bacardi make-at-home cocktail kits will be distributed at SALM after racing every day.

h) Awards will be shipped to you and we will contact you after the event to arrange delivery. If you live outside the US other arrangements will need to be made.

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

j) From now on, all communications regarding this event will be shared only with the people registered for the event.

The Organizing Authority really appreciates your support and please let’s work together to make the Bacardi Invitational Regatta its usual success and safe for all.

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 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Together we can deliver a safe event for all.

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

Thank you and see you soon.

Sara Zanobini
On behalf of the Organizing Authority