1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth that America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) yacht racing will take place over the period 22-24 July 2016. The craft will be based in HM Naval Base Portsmouth for the period and racing will take place off Southsea. ACWS yachts are fast AC45F class foiling catamarans that are capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots. Six teams will compete in this series, and racing will be on a relatively short course, which will make for a spectacular event.
2. The purpose of this Local Notice to Mariners (LNTM) is to set out an overview of the arrangements for the racing and announce the changes in traffic management required to accommodate the event.
3. Given the speed of the craft involved, the arrangements for this event are extensive, and are primarily focussed on ensuring the safety of participants, spectators and other water users. The racing Area will be the same each day and is as depicted at paragraph 17.
Programme of events
4. The participating craft and teams will arrive in the Naval Base in mid-July for setting up and testing. On Thursday 21 July, the AC45F yachts will move to temporary moorings off Southsea Castle from 1200 to take part in media and youth engagement; a non-public event in the Race Village. Between 1500 and 1700, the boats will be engaged in media and charity sailing in the Solent, away from the Race Village.
5. Each morning from 22-24 July, a full Racing Area will be set up, marked by a series of temporary buoys. From 1100 on each day, the buoyed Racing Area will become an exclusion zone to all craft not involved in the delivery of the ACWS. The only exception to this will be large traffic that cannot safely use the Swashway and this will be under the full control of QHM Harbour Control on VHF Channel 11.
6. Friday 22 July is the main practice day, with racing craft participating in three short races in the period 1300-1500, with a gap in the middle to allow for the movement of large commercial vessels in to and out of the port. Arrangements will closely follow the format for the race days as described at paragraph 7, but precise timings will differ slightly to de-conflict with other harbour traffic movements.
7. Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July are the race days, with the racing being transmitted live on television. There will again be three races in the afternoon, from 1340 to 1500. There will be a gap of around 10 minutes between races, during which time the course restrictions will remain in force and any vessels transiting the course will be under the strict control of QHM. There will be no general access to the race area from approximately 1100 until after the end of racing and any follow on activities including major movements, which is likely to be around 1600. In the event of unsuitable wind conditions during the programmed race periods, there is the possibility for the Racing Area to be extended until later in the afteroon in which case the closure would extend to approximately 1730.
8. Activation and cessation of the exclusion zone will be broadcast by QHM Harbour Control on VHF Channel 11.
Traffic Restrictions and Temporary Moorings
9. To ensure safe control of the events, a number of adjustments to normal harbour management procedures will be required for the event period 22-24 July.
10. To limit the build of wash and to assist the maintenance of safety in the vicinity of the event, the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth 10 knot speed limit (QHM General Direction (GD) 4/13 – 10 knots to 0.5nm from the line of MLWS) is extended to an arc of 1nm based on Spit Sand (also known as Spit Bank) Fort, throughout the period that the Exclusion Zone is in force. Mariners are also to adhere to GD 3/13; the need to be mindful of the effect of wash on other craft, even at speeds below the speed limit.
11. From approximately 18 July, six moorings, which will be marked by inflatable orange marks, lit at each end and in the middle by flashing yellow (five seconds) lights, will be laid off Victory and Sheer Jetties in the Naval Base (50 48.2N 001 06.7W). These will be laid approximately 50 metres from the jetty, and are for mooring of AC45F yachts from 21-24 July, outside the periods of Racing. Overnight, the vessels will illuminate their rigging with up lighting. All vessels are to keep a minimum of 50 metres clear of the moorings, or any vessel secured to them. When they are occupied, QHM Harbour Control will order large vessels to pass other large vessels either to the north or south of this area.
12. From approximately 19 July, six further moorings, marked by Orange inflatable marks and lit by flashing yellow (five seconds) lights, will be positioned in vicinity of Southsea Castle (50 46.7N 001 05.3W), along the line of the shore within the 2 metre depth contour. A versa dock type landing arrangement extending from the shore, will also be in place. These will be used throughout the periods of racing when the AC45F yachts will remain outside the harbour during the core of the day. The versa dock and moorings are only to be used by authorised vessels.
13. All mariners are advised of the need to keep at least 50 metres clear of all warships, either underway, alongside or at anchor (GD 2/15). Exceptionally, this distance is extended to 100 metres for any warship anchored in the Man-of-War anchorage.
14. AC45F yachts and support craft will, with approval from Harbour Control, use the Main Channel when exiting or entering the harbour. The Small Boat Channel will remain open.
15. From 1030-1630 on 22-24 July, the water to the east of the buoyed shipping channel, depicted at para 18, will be out of bounds to all non-participating craft with the exception of Hovertravel hovercraft and other commercial operators based off Southsea beach. These operators are not to proceed to the southern side of the Swashway for this period.
16. Wightlink ferries and Hovertravel craft will continue to operate throughout.
Spectator viewing and race marshalling
17. The designated Racing Area is as shown below. Approximately 40 temporary marks will be laid before each race day to mark the boundary of the racing area, the course and turning points. The Racing Area is to be clear of all vessels other than competitor, marshal, race control, press, safety craft and marked team VIP boats. A line of clearly marked marshal craft will surround the course, and will shepherd all non-participants outside the area. QHM and Police craft will be on scene to assist and enforce the cleared area. Spectator craft are to avoid loitering in vicinity of the Swashway, both for safety reasons and to allow the passage of Isle of Wight traffic; the perimeter of the Racing Area will be marked with red buoys adjacent to the Swashway, and white buoys around the remainder of the area. Spectator boats may view the event from the areas indicated below, but are to avoid loitering in the main channel. Stake boats displaying large orange flags will be placed either side of the no loiter areas in the main channel and the Swashway.
18. Exceptionally, anchoring is permitted by vessels less than 20 metres in the area between the Man-of-War anchorages and the Racing Area, keeping ground tackle well clear of the Swashway. Vessels over 20 metres may apply to QHM by emailing [email protected] to anchor in the northern part of the Man-of-War anchorages. Elsewhere, existing restrictions on anchoring marked on chart BA2625 will remain in force.
19. For the safety of other vessels, QHM Portsmouth is maintaining very close control on the number of larger craft operating in the vicinity of the Racing Area. Mariners are reminded that vessels over 48 metres in length and any vessel over 20 metres in length carrying more than 12 passengers must employ a Pilot or hold a Pilotage Exemption Certificate. This includes when proceeding to or from designated anchorages. Availability of commercial pilots can be checked with Portsmouth International Port by emailing [email protected].
20. Team Origin, the race organisers have created a commentary system on FM Radio station 93.7 which will also be used on occasion to broadcast information to spectator craft. In addition, all spectator craft are to maintain a listening watch for instructions from QHM Harbour Control on VHF Channel 11.
21. Cancel this Local Notice to Mariners with effect from 28 July 2016.
Thursday 30 Jun 2016
S O Hopper
Queen's Harbour Master
Owners, Agents, Charterers, Marinas, Yacht Clubs and Recreational Sailing Organisations should ensure that the contents of this Notice are made known to the masters or persons in charge of their vessels or craft.
