ENHANCED GYA PHRF RATING SYSTEM
TO BE IMPLEMENTED FLEET WIDE BEGINNING JANUARY 2021

The PHRF Board of Area Handicappers voted unanimously at their September 22 board meeting, to implement the enhanced GYA PHRF Rating system based on the Offshore Racing Association’s (ORA) proprietary velocity prediction program (VPP). The enhanced GYA PHRF rating system based on ORA’s science will provide fairer, more competitive racing and be more manageable for current and future PHRF administrators.

GYA PHRF fleet members will receive (effective January 1, 2021) their new PHRF ratings for two course configurations (W/L and RLC) with two wind strengths (Light and Medium) for each course. Both spinnaker and non-spinnaker ratings will be provided. In addition, bench-mark ratings (BMR) will be provided for both Spinnaker and Non-spinnaker classes based on the average of their four ratings. The BMRs should be used to set class breaks but can be used for scoring races as Club/Race organizers gain experience with the four course/wind ratings provided. Existing scoring systems, such as the Regatta Network, can handle multiple ratings.

Initial certificates will be similar to current GYA PHRF certificates except with a rating block that will show the 10 different rating options based on ORA’s VPP program for year 2021. The new certificates will be valid for 3 years, to expire December 31, 2023. (Current PHRF certificates are for a 2-year period). The 2021 VPP baseline will be held constant for the 3-year period. All PHRF members will be required to renew for the 2024-2027 period and will be notified accordingly.

New boats and changes/modifications to existing boats will continue to submit applications as is currently done through the gya.org or gya-phrf.com web sites.

An excel spreadsheet will be available on the GYA.org and gya-phrf.com web sites so competitors can readily view the fleet’s rating information.

Current GYA PHRF certificates that expire December 31, 2020 will be renewed for 3 years at $60 (based on our current fee schedule of $40/2-year period).

Current GYA PHRF certificates that expire December 31, 2021 will now expire December 31, 2020 and will be renewed for 3 years at $40.

The ORA group has begun work on our existing 484+ PHRF certificates and will make a public announcement of our working relationship.

Tom Beery
Chairman, GYA PHRF Rating Committee

Oct 3-4, GYA 420 Championship – BWYC (venue change)
https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21239#_home

Oct 3-4, GYA Finn Championship – BucYC
https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21310

Oct 10-11, Wadewitz – FYC
https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21299#_home

Oct 17, Back to School Regatta – PontYC
https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21357

Oct 23-25, Hospitality Regatta – JYC
https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/21230#_home

Oct 23-25, LPRC – PontYC, NOYC, SYC, TYC
http://saillprc.org/wp/?page_id=25

Oct 31-Nov 1, GYA Fish Class/John G. Curren – BucYC
https://www.gya.org/documents/notices/2020/2020PensacolaGYAFishChampsNOR.pdf

Oct 30- Nov 1, J30 North American – NOYC
https://noyc.org/wordpress

FISH CLASS ASSOCIATION
September 22, 2020

***CHANGE OF VENUE***

I wish to invite your Club’s participation in the 21st Annual Gulf Yachting Association Fish Class Championship for the John G. Curren Trophy, to be held October 31st and Nov 1st 2020, at Buccaneer Yacht Club.  The GYA Fish Class Championship is sailed in borrowed boats and competing teams draw to determine the boats they will sail in each race, just as Fish were sailed in the original Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Series.

Enclosed please find the Notice of Regatta for this event for posting, in accordance with GYA Regulations for Sanctioned Events 4.3(a), as well as an Application to compete for your Club’s team.  Specific regulations for the GYA Fish Class Championship are contained in the GYA Regulations for Sanctioned Events 40.

Your Club’s completed Application must be sent to mark.caraher@gawest.com no later than October 15th, 2020 for eligibility in the Competing Clubs Selection.  Results of the Competing Clubs Selection will be e-mailed not later than October 19^th 2020 to all Clubs returning Applications.

Please note that a similar email package has been sent to your Club’s Fleet Captain and GYA Coordinator in accordance with GYA Regulations for Sanctioned Events 4.3(c).

Yours truly,

Mark Caraher
Regatta Chairman

The Gulfport Yacht Club Executive Committee made a decision to cancel the 2020 Galloway Regatta. It was a tough decision to make. But, one that was needed to keep our members, staff, & guest safe in these crazy circumstances.

We hope to see everyone next year for the 2021 Galloway Regatta.

—
……/)…/)……./)……,

Samson Vasquez

PCYC will postpone this year’s Knost to a later date TBD…Hopefully this delay will increase participation as well as to allow this COVID mess to iron itself out.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Regards,

Frank C. Allen III
Commodore

June 29, 2020

RE:  GYA Annual Meeting Summary

The Board of Directors of the GYA met on Sunday, June 28^th at the Fairhope Yacht Club for its Annual Meeting, 21 clubs were represented. During the meeting, several decisions were made in regard to the 2020 GYA Sailing season.

• A motion was passed that the scoring for 2020 Capdevielle Series is canceled. (scoring only)
• The Centennial Lipton Regatta & Gala has been postponed and will not be sailed in 2020.
• Southern Yacht Club will host the next sanctioned Lipton Regatta.
• The GYA Offshore Challenge Cup has been postponed, rescheduled dates to be announced at a later date.
• Gulfport Yacht Club is continuing with planning the Jr. Lipton Regatta.
• Pass Christian Yacht Club is continuing with planning the Knost Regatta.
• If you club is postponing or canceling an event, please send notice to scheduling chair and/or secretary as soon as possible for notification to clubs.
• The 2019 Capdevielle Series winners were named:  Third: Bay Waveland YC, Second: Buccaneer YC, First: Southern YC.

Please know that the executive committee is working hard to communicate up to date information as quickly as possible.   If you club is planning to cancel or postpone an event, please send notice to schedule@gya.org.   If we may be of further assistance please contact the GYA Secretary (secretary@gya.org).

Respectfully Submitted,

Commodore Jimmy Ruthven

All,

We are hereby cancelling the Meigs Regatta.

With the cases of Covid-19 on the rise in many states, including those from where many of our participants will be coming from, we do not feel that it is prudent to continue along the path of hosting the Regatta.

We currently have 10 registrations, and we will ensure they all get reimbursed their entry fees.

—

Sam & Jennifer Grant
2020 Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club

2020-06-18: Race to the Coast – Critical Updates

Hello Race to the Coast competitors!

There is a lot to cover so let’s get started…

COVID-19

There has been a flare-up of COVID on the Miss. Gulf Coast and, in particular, in the sailing community.  As of today, GYC, PCYC and BWYC have all instituted a members-only, no guests, “lockdown” policy.  This means that we will have NO ACCESS to any amenities at Gulfport YC.  We cannot moor at the visitors dock, use the boat hoist, nor the restroom facilities.  Essentially, non-members may not set foot on GYC’s property.

We have contacted the Gulfport Municipal Marina and were told they have plenty of available slips of all sizes.  The marina does not accept reservations, but we were assured that they can accommodate everyone.  Contact them via VHF upon arrival, open 24-hours a day.

The public boat launch is available for ramp-retrieval of trailerable boats.

WEATHER FORECAST

The forecast looks hot and dry, but with very little wind until the seabreeze fills in the afternoon.  To address this, we are looking at two options for postponing the start.  The first option is to postpone for appx. 4 hours and move the start appx. 13 nm down the course into The Rigolets, just beyond the Hwy 90 Bridge, near Double Bayou.  The second option is to postpone for appx. 6 hours and move the start appx. 19 nm to the outside of The Rigolets near Long Point in Lake Borgne.

The final decision on the start time and location will be announced tomorrow, along with the final scratch sheet and start time list.

RACE TRACKING

Once again, Kattack.com is providing online GPS tracking for the fleet.  Several of you have registered the cell phone app and a few have sent me their SPOT Shared Page URL.

Please review the Race Tracking Specification and register your tracking device ASAP.

Here is the Kattack race tracking link: http://kws.kattack.com/player?FeedID=1850

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The Sailing Instructions have been posted online, but will be amended with the course specs tomorrow.

Fair Winds,

Kett Cummins

Postponement of GYC Regattas

Due to the unfortunate recent spike in Coronavirus cases. The GYC Board of Directors passed a motion to postpone all GYC hosted regattas in June and limit club usage & dockage to GYC Members only, suspending GYA reciprocity privileges. GYC planned to host these regattas hoping the numbers would change in our favor.  But, they didn’t and we need to stay proactive.

This was not an easy decision to make. But, one that was needed to protect our Members, Racers, Guests, and Employees from getting and spreading the virus. With the increase of local cases and known cases in the sailing community it’s what we feel that was needed to be done.

GYC Hosted Regattas Postponed:

Two Against the Coast
Race For the Case

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Fairhope Yacht Club
101 Volanta Avenue
Fairhope, AL 36532

TO: Commodores of General and Affiliate Members
GYA Executive Committee
GYA Past Commodores
GYA Standing Committee and Council Chairmen
GYA Coordinator of each GYA General Member Club
GYA Associate Members

The Gulf Yachting Association Annual Meeting will be held on at 12:00 hours on June 28, 2020 at the Fairhope Yacht Club, 101 Volanta Avenue, Fairhope, Alabama, 36532. To ensure that a quorum is met, please respond to the GYA Secretary (secretary@gya.org) no later than Monday, June 22, 2020 if you or a proxy will be attending the meeting. GYA Standing Committee Chairs and Council Chairs should submit their written reports by Monday June 22nd to the GYA Secretary.

Sunday, June 28, 2020 1200 Board of Directors Meeting (casual attire)

By-laws Committee & Trophy Committee will present the below requested changes at the Board of Directors meeting. If you have any questions or comments, you may present during the meeting.

GYA Bylaws:
Section 11: TROPHY COMMITTEE Para B. as follows.

Add following paragraph:
The Committee shall also maintain an Electronic Trophy Book which contains specific information for each Perpetual Trophy given to the GYA. This information should provide the following at a minimum:
1. Complete Deeds of Gift which contain information about the donors, the reason for the trophy, and how the trophies are to be maintained and awarded.
2. Pictures and complete description of the trophies detailing all aspects of each trophy; and
3. A written, legible list of the names of the winning clubs and/or individuals, and where applicable the names of the skippers and crews who actually sailed the event races. The Host Club Event Chair shall provide this information in writing to the GYA Secretary and the Chair, GYA Trophy committee within 5 business days of the end of the event.
4. All costs associated with this requirement shall be paid by the GYA.

Section 15: Youth Committee
Current:
A. Composition. The Committee shall be composed of nine members consisting of a chair and two individuals residing in each of the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. For the purposes of this committee, the state of Arkansas shall be considered the same state as Mississippi and the state of Texas shall be considered the same state as Louisiana.
B. Terms. The term of office for the chair shall be one year or until a successor is appointed. The term of office for the remaining members shall be two years or until their successors are appointed and shall be staggered to provide for the expiration of four terms, no two from the same state, each year.

Proposed:
A. The Committee shall be composed of a Chair and one (1) representative from each GYA General and Affiliate member club.
B. The term of office for the chair shall be one year or until a successor is appointed. The term of office for the remaining members shall be two years or until their successors are appointed.

Purpose:
Expanded representation of GYA clubs.

Under Article VI – Meetings of the Board of Directors, add Section 4 as follows:
Section 4: Virtual Meetings. Notwithstanding anything contained in Article VI, Sections 1, 2 and 3, under extenuating circumstances (natural disaster, state of emergency, epidemic, pandemic, and/or where governmental agencies restrict personal interaction), a meeting of the Board of Directors may be conducted by one or more means of remote communication through which all of the Board members may participate with each other during the meeting, if the number of Board members participating in the meeting would be sufficient to constitute a quorum. Participation in a meeting by this means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

Purpose:
To permit, under extenuating circumstances, virtual meetings of the GYA Board of Directors.

GYA COMMODORES – GENERAL MEMBER CLUBS – As a member of the GYA Board of Directors, your club’s attendance is very important. If you are unable to personally attend the Board meeting, please send a WRITTEN NOTICE naming a representative for your club to the GYA Secretary-Treasurer at 1245 Kensington Drive, Biloxi, MS 39530 or email the document to secretary@gya.org.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Schmidt
GYA Secretary-Treasurer