Thistle 8-Ball Regatta 2026

NOTICE OF RACE

8-Ball Regatta

Thistle Class Association

April 18 & 19, 2026

Indianapolis Sailing Club – Indianapolis, Indiana

ORGANIZING AUTHORITY:  This Thistle Class regatta is organized by TCA, Thistle Fleet 69, and the Indianapolis Sailing Club.  The management of this regatta is supervised by Thistle Fleet #69.

RULES:  The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of US Sailing (utilizing the 2025 revisions), current TCA rules, and by the 8-Ball Regatta Sailing Instructions. RRS Rule #26 will be changed, such that the warning signal will be given 3 minutes prior to the starting signal and the preparatory signal will be given 2 minutes prior to the starting signal. RRS Rule #33 will be changed to allow for minor mark adjustments without notification. RRS Rule #60.4(a)(2) is changed as follows: (2) if it alleges a breach of a rule of Part 2 or rule 31 and is from a boat that was not involved in, and did not see, the incident, or

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS:  The Sailing Instructions will be available at the registration table April 18, 2026 after 10:00AM.

COMMUNICATION. While racing, from the first warning signal until the end of the last race of the day, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats. On the water, the Race Committee may make courtesy broadcasts to competitors on VHF radio channel 68.

ELIGIBILITY and ENTRY:  This regatta is open only to Thistle Class sailboats that have been measured, certified, and registered as specified by the TCA.  Boats, sails, spars and other equipment must be available for measurement and inspection prior to the start of racing in this event.  Any boat failing to comply with these eligibility requirements shall be prohibited from sailing in the 8-Ball Regatta.  The helmsperson of each Thistle sailboat properly entered in this event must be in good standing with the TCA.  All crew members and helmspersons shall comply with World Sailing Sailor Classification Code. To be considered an entry for a race, boats must report to the Race Committee before they start their race.  Eligible boats may enter the 8-Ball Regatta by completing the regatta entry form and paying the required entry fee of $50; helmspersons who have not yet reached their 20^th birthday will pay a required fee of $20.

CREW LIMITATIONS: All crewmembers and helmspersons shall be amateur sailors.  Crewmembers are not required to be a member of any sailing organization.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:  All times posted are Eastern Daylight.

Registration:

Saturday, April 18, 2026            10:00AM to 11:30AM

Competitors’ Meeting:

Saturday, April 18, 2026             12:00PM

Races:  NOTE:  Starting times may be changed because of weather conditions.  Participants will be notified with official notices being posted on the Thistle Class bulletin board located inside the Indianapolis Sailing Club clubhouse and on a bulletin, board located at the Pavilion in the launch area.

Saturday, April 18, 2026            warning signal 12:57PM

(multiple races to be sailed back-to-back)                                                                                   Sunday, April 19, 2026             warning signal  9:57AM

(multiple races to be sailed back-to-back. No races starting after 11:30 AM.)

ADVANCE REGISTRATION & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Boats may register in advance by completing the attached registration form and sending it with the proper entry fee to:  Paul Dovey, 7601 E. 80^th Street, Indianapolis, IN  46256-1645, or email to: thistle537@gmail.com.

VENUE:  Racing will take place on Geist Reservoir, in navigable waters, from the area immediately to the left of the mouth of the ISC harbor, downstream (to the right and ahead), to the reservoir dam.

COURSES:  The racing courses used in this event will be the best competitive ones available for the geographic and weather conditions present during the event.

PENALTY SYSTEM. The Two Turns penalty, RRS# 44.1 shall apply.

SCORING:  The Low Point System as described in US Sailing Appendix A4 will be used. A5.1 will be amended, such that a boat that does not start a race will be awarded points equal to the number of boats entered in the event; a boat that does not sail the course of a race that it started or OCS will be awarded points equal to the total number of boats that started that particular race; a boat that is disqualified or retires after finishing will be awarded points equal to one more than the number of boats entered in the regatta.  At least 8 races are planned for the event. One race is required to be sailed to constitute this event as a regatta.

RISK STATEMENT. By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks, among which are strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue. Competitors participate in these races entirely at their own risk. See RRS #3, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the races.

INSURANCE. Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third- party liability insurance with a minimum cover of $1000 (US) per incident or equivalent.

DECISIONS OF THE JURY:  Decisions of the jury will be final in accordance with racing rule 70.5(b).

PRIZES:  Awards will be given to the helmsperson and crews placing first thru fifth in the regatta.

SAILING CLUB SECURITY: If the club entrance gate is closed when you arrive, please enter the following on the keypad:   #1418 (5 touches)

Additional social information:  Lunches, postrace snacks and beverages are included along with Sunday morning donuts, coffee and juice.  Dinner is available for $25 adults, $10 children.