Press Release
Contact: Lee Hoffman
302. 636.0153
Cell: 302 545-5981
Dbay100@aol.comNags Head, North Carolina, January 4, 2005 – Today the Outer Banks Catamaran Club®, Inc. and Tybee Island Sailing Association ® Inc. are announcing the dates for the Second Annual 2005 Atlantic 1000® – “The Ultimate Catamaran Challenge.” From May 8th through May 20th, high-performance catamarans will be screaming up the Eastern Seaboard pitting teams from all over the world against extreme conditions and each other in a race that will challenge the most physically and mentally competent sailors.
The Atlantic 1000® is an alliance of the Tybee 500® and Outer Banks 500® long distance catamaran races. This year’s Atlantic 1000® will be divided into 2 stages, the Tybee stage and the Outer Banks stage. Teams can enter either stage or the overall event. Awards will be given in each stage and for the overall event, giving teams multiple opportunities to earn awards and recognition.
The organizers are excited to start this year’s race in Hollywood, Florida where according to Chuck Bargeron, Head Race Director of the Atlantic 1000®, “The city of Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet for us.” “We expect a really great first day for the race that will entertain everyone and bring out a large crowd of people,” says Bargeron.
The teams will sail up the coast through a series of 12 race legs, encountering changing weather conditions, sandbars, crowded shipping lanes and finishing near the famous Graveyard of the Atlantic – Cape Hatteras.
“This event is without compare,” says Charles Thuman, Assistant Race Director of the Atlantic 1000®. “The teams compete with themselves, other teams and the elements to hopefully complete the grueling 1000 miles.” Wishing for high winds, beautiful days and addictive, adrenalin-pumping sailing, these teams pray for the best and expect the worst. This 1000-mile adventure tests boats, equipment and bodies and is considered the ultimate challenge for catamaran sailors.
“There is nothing like it anywhere –being at the mercy of the high winds, the higher waves and knowing that you’re the only two people for miles of open water – I just love it” says Jon Britt, Assistant Race Director of the Atlantic 1000®. “Teams come from all over the world, like Australia, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Germany, South America and Holland to compete in this race,” says Bargeron, “During the race you meet so many wonderful people from places you’ve only dreamed about. Much more than a race, the Atlantic 1000® is a fraternity of friends who live to sail fast.”
See
http://www.atlantic1000.com/ website for more information
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Outer Banks 500® and Atlantic 1000® are registered trademarks of the Outer Banks Catamaran Club Inc. based in Nags Head, North Carolina. Tybee 500® is a registered trademark of the Tybee Island Sailing Association, Inc. based in Savannah, Georgia. All rights reserved.
Notice of Race:
The Atlantic 1000
A 1000-mile race from Hollywood, FL to Kill Devil Hills, NC
May 8 – 20, 2005
Organized by the Atlantic 1000 Inc.
www.atlantic1000.com1. The race will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005–2008, except as may be changed by the Sailing Instructions of this race.
2. Class rules will apply with the exception of equipment prescriptions detailed in this notice and the Sailing Instructions.
3. Classes will consist of 2 person boats up to 20-feet that are production catamarans spinnaker rigged by the factory or class, except as changed by this Notice of Race. Classes shall include, but not be limited to:
Inter 20 - factory spinnaker
Nacra 6.0 - North American 6.0 spinnaker
F20 - Class spinnaker
NAF 18 - Class spinnaker
Open - Class spinnaker rigged, with a Texel rating of 102 or below as of January 1, 2005.
The race authority must approve all Open Class entries.
4. Classes shall consist of 5 or more boats, with a limit of 30 entries total for the race, unless amended by the Sailing Instructions. (Classes of less then 5 will sail in the Open Class)
5. Registration will begin January 1, 2005 online at:
www.atlantic1000.com. All entries must be received by April 30, 2005. The warning signal for the first race shall be at 9:55am, May 8, 2005.
6. Advertising will be unlimited; however, race sponsor decals may be applied to any surface of either or both hulls of any registered boat. Consult the organizing authority for final determination of the exact locations.
7. Advance registration will be available online, with an entry fee of $500 per stage prior to March 1st, 2005. After March 1st the entry fee per stage will be $600. Checks or money orders should be made payable to: Atlantic 1000. Registration forms will be available on the Atlantic 1000 website for printing, and must be signed by the boat’s owner prior to the race. All participants must agree to be bound by the latest edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing, and all other rules and instructions that govern the event. Mail entries to: Atlantic 1000, P.O. Box 1867, Tybee Island, Ga. 31328.
8. Entrants will be weighed prior to the start, safety equipment will be verified, and sails will be officially measured and marked by Race Officials. Factory hull numbers and rating certificates may be required for some classes. Proof of liability insurance will be required, with a copy submitted with your registration. Sailing instructions will be available online shortly after advanced registration.
9. Changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing and/or class rules will be outlined in the Sailing
Instructions, as per Rule 86.
10. Tybee Stage: Day 1 – Hollywood – Miami – Hollywood, FL, course to be announced Day 2 - Hollywood, FL to the vicinity of Jupiter, FL Day 3 - Jupiter, FL to the vicinity of Cocoa Beach, FL Day 4 - Cocoa Beach, FL to the vicinity of Daytona/Ormond Beach, FL Day 5 - Daytona/Ormond Beach, FL to the vicinity of Jacksonville/ Fernandina Beach, FL Day 6 - Jacksonville/ Fernandina Beach, FL to Tybee Island, GA
Outer Banks Stage:
Day 7 - Tybee Island, GA – Tybee Island, GA, course to be announced
Day 8 - Tybee Island, GA to the vicinity of Isle of Palms, SC
Day 9 - Isle of Palms, SC to the vicinity of Surfside Beach, SC
Day 10- Surfside Beach, SC to the vicinity of Wrightsville Beach, NC
Day 11- Wrightsville Beach, NC to the vicinity of Atlantic Beach, NC
Day 12 - Atlantic Beach, NC to the vicinity of Ocracoke Island, NC
Day 13 – Ocracoke Island, NC to the vicinity of Kill Devil Hills, NC
(Exact locations of starts and finishes will be detailed in the sailing instructions.)
11. All decisions of the race committee are final. The right of appeal will be denied as per Rule 70.4(a).
12. Races will be scored as detailed in the sailing instructions, and prizes will be awarded.
13. Each boat will be required to have a team manager, who is not a member of the racing team, who will provide the Race Committee with a cellular phone number or other means of immediate communication throughout the race. During the race weeks, all official communication between the sailing team and the Race Committee, including protests and general inquiries will be directed through the team manager. Questions relating to the Race Committee, not addressed in the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, or website may be addressed to the Principal Race Officer, Sean Ferrell, 305-446-5103 (voice mail will be answered within 24 hours) or [email]
[email protected].[/email]