Notice of Race
Hosted by: Royal Suva Yacht Club
Venue: National Sailing Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva
Dates: 23–24 August 2026
2026 Fiji Sailing National Championships
Notice of Race
[NP] denotes a rule that shall not be grounds for protests by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1 (a). [SP] denotes a rule for which a standard penalty may be applied by the Race Committee or Technical Committee without a hearing, or a discretionary penalty applied by the International Jury with a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1 and RRS A5.1.
1. RULES
1.1. The Regatta will be governed by:
1.2. The rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS)
1.3. The FYA prescriptions that will apply are stated in full in Appendix B of this notice of race.
1.4. The Equipment Rules of Sailing and current class rules of competing classes will apply except that class rules on class association membership and championships rules will not apply.
1.5. [NP][SP] All boats shall comply with the mandatory event Safety and Gear Checklist. Failure to comply may result in a standard or discretionary penalty without a hearing.
1.6. Decisions of the international jury will be final as provided in RRS 70.5
1.7. If there is a conflict between languages the English text will take precedence.
2. VENUE
2.1. The host club is the Royal Suva Yacht Club.
2.2. The regatta site and actual racing will be conducted at the National Sailing Centre, Laucala Bay (Suva Point).
3. ADVERTISING
3.1. The boats may display advertising of the event sponsor(s) as required by the Organizing Authority. Individual sponsorship conflicting with the event sponsor’s business category may not be allowed.
3.2. Boats may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the Organising Authority.
4. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1. The regatta is open to all boats of the following classes:
- Optimist (Open & Green fleets)
- ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7
- Windsurfer LT
- iQFOiL
- Hobie 16
4.2. A minimum of three (3) entries is required to constitute a class.
4.3. All class events will be contested as Open events.
4.4. Eligible sailors may enter by completing the form available at “CLICK HERE TO REGISTER” by 8th of August 2026. Participation in the regatta is $30 to all members of FYA affiliated clubs. Paid on entry at the Event (see Appendix C for the QR code).
4.5. Windsurfer LT Boards are available for a charter fee of $300 per day. A refundable damage deposit of $200.00 will also be payable on registration. Separate Charter Agreement to be completed prior to use of equipment.
4.6. A limited number of charter boats may be available. Contact the organizing Authority for further information.
4.7. During registration confirmation, competitors shall present the following:
4.7.1. Proof of current membership with an FYA Member National Authority. A list of competitor names on official club letterhead is sufficient for this requirement.
4.7.2. A signed Safety Checklist from the event Safety Officials.
4.7.3. For competitors under 18 years of age as of 17th August 2026, a completed Parental or Guardian Consent Form authorizing participation and confirming medical fitness to compete.
4.8. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY & INSURANCE
4.8.1. Disclaimer of Liability: The Organizing Authority accepts no liability for any loss, damage, injury, or death arising in connection with this event. Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk.
4.8.2. Insurance Requirements: Competitors shall ensure they have adequate third-party insurance or current insurance coverage for both equipment and
Regatta Liability.
4.8.3. Club Indemnity (Alternative): In the absence of an official individual insurance policy, the competitor’s home club must sign an agreement on the competitor’s behalf. By doing so, the club accepts full liability for their sailors and agrees to bear all costs for any damages incurred by them during the event.
4.9. Competitors may enter individually.
4.10. For the Optimist Class, competitors shall have been born in 2011 or later. There is no age restriction for all other participating classes.
5. ENTRY FEES
5.1. Participation in the regatta is $30 to all members of FYA affiliated clubs. Paid on entry at the Event.
5.2. Competitors must complete the online Registration Form by 8th of August 2026. Please confirm registration at the venue prior to regatta commencement.
6. SCHEDULE
6.1. Registration and Briefing
6.1.1. Registration and Briefing will be open at the National Sailing Centre, Laucala Bay at the following times:
- Saturday 22nd August 2026: 1600 hrs – 1700 hrs
- Sunday 23rd August 2026: 0700 hrs – 0800 hrs
6.1.2. A Competitors’ Briefing will be held on Sunday 23rd August 2026 at 0830hrs at the National Sailing Centre, Laucala Bay
6.2. Date and times of Racing
6.3 On the last scheduled day of racing, no warning signal will be made after 1500 hrs.
7. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
7.1. The Sailing Instructions and their appendices will be available to competitors upon confirmation of registration on 22nd August 2026 from 1600 hrs.
7.2. The documents will also be published electronically on the official WhatsApp Notice Board (see Appendix D for the QR code).
8. THE COURSES
8.1. The courses to be sailed will be windward/leeward or Triangular.
8.2. The location of the racing areas will be described in the Appendix A RACING AREA.
9. SCORING
9.1. Four (4) races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
9.2. No more than twelve (12) races will be completed.
9.3. Discards will be applied as follows:
9.3.1. When fewer than four (4) races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.
9.3.2. When from four (4) to seven (7) races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
9.3.3. When eight (8) or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores.
10. RADIO COMMUNICATION
Except in an emergency, a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile phones.
11. PRIZES
11.1. Prizes will be awarded to the top place finishers in each class as follows:
- Optimist Class: National Champion (Overall Winner)
- Optimist Open: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Male & Female categories)
- Optimist Green: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Male & Female categories)
- ILCA 4: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- ILCA 6: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- ILCA 7: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- Windsurfer LT: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- iQFOiL: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
- Hobie 16: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
11.2. The prize-giving ceremony will be held at the Royal Suva Yacht Club.
12. DECISION TO RACE
The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is the skippers alone. Consequently, accepting to participate in a race or to continue racing, the competitor disclaims the organizing authority of any liability for damage (material and/or personal injury).
13. FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact [email protected] or mobile +679 999 8724
Appendix A — Racing Area
The 2026 Fiji Sailing National Championship will be held at the Fiji National Sailing Centre at the end of Laucala Bay Road, Suva Point. This is adjacent to the lower campus of the University of the South Pacific in Suva.
Appendix B — Fiji Yachting Association Variation
The FYA variations applicable for this regatta are as follows:
B1. RRS 64.3 DECISIONS ON PROTESTS CONCERNING CLASS RULES
With regard to protest concerning class rules, the parties to the protest will be liable for all costs involved in checking with regional or international class associations regarding such rules. Prior to any hearing the jury may ask the parties to the protest to provide a deposit to cover any such costs that may arise. Any unused monies will be refunded to the parties at the conclusion of the protest.
B2. RRS 67 DAMAGES
Any question about redress or request of damages arising from an incident involving a boat bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing or International Regulation to Prevent Collision at Sea depends on the appropriate courts and will not be dealt by the jury.
B3. RRS 70. 5 APPEALS AND REQUESTS TO A NATIONAL AUTHORITY
In such circumstances, the written approval of the Fiji Yachting Association shall be received before publishing the notice of race and shall be posted on the official notice board during the event.
B4. RRS 86.3 CHANGES TO THE RACING RULES
An organizing authority wishing to change a rule listed in RRS 86.1 in order to develop or test new rules shall first submit the changes to the FYA, in order to obtain its written approval and shall report the results to FYA after the event. Such authorization shall be mentioned in the notice of race, in the sailing instructions, and shall be posted on the official notice board during the event.
B5. RRS 88 NATIONAL PRESCRIPTIONS
Variations prescribed by FYA shall be neither changed nor deleted in the notice of race and sailing instructions, except for events for which an international jury has been appointed. In such case, the prescriptions marked with an asterisk (*) shall be neither changed nor deleted in the notice of race and sailing instructions.
B6. RRS 91 PROTEST COMMITTEE
Protests shall be managed via arbitration between parties identified in the protest document, other interested parties (including, inter alia, the PRO), and any witnesses.
Appendix C — Registration & Entry
Scan the QR code below to access the official Registration and Entry Form for the following events:
- 22–23 August – World Sailing co-hosted National Race Officer Level 1 Course, Sailing Centre,
- Suva
- 23–24 August – 2026 Fiji National Championships, Sailing Centre, Suva (HOSTED BY RSYC)
Appendix D — Official Event WhatsApp Communication
