Know your onions

Online entry now open for 2006 Onion Patch Series

The 2006 Onion Patch Series on-line entry system is now up and running.  With entries in the Bermuda Race Centennial expected to top 220 yachts, some 160 of these will be eligible for the Onion Patch if they enter the other events in the series. 
 
Those interested in this excellent series competition that includes mixed course racing in the Newport area, the ocean race and inshore racing in Bermuda should go to the Onion Patch Series web site at http://www.onionpatchseries.com/ for information then click on the ‘Sign-up Here’ Onion Patch Logo on the right. 

The 2006 Onion Patch series will be raced under the IRC rating rule and is open to IRC rated yachts entered in the St David’s Lighthouse Division, the Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse Division or the Demonstration Division of the 2006 Bermuda Race Centennial that are eligible to compete in the NYYC Annual Regatta and the RBYC Anniversary Regatta.  Entry in all three events is required.
 
The Notice of Series for the Onion Patch series is posted on http://www.onionpatchseries.com/.  The notice of Race for each event is hosted on each organizing authority’s web site: http://www.nyyc.org, http://www.bermudarace.com, http://www.rbyc.bm.  These are also the final races of the US-IRC Gulf Stream Series.
 
All yachts will race as individual entries in the series, but are encouraged to form three-boat teams to compete for the Onion Patch Trophy. The Henry B. du Pont Trophy is awarded to the best scoring individual yacht participating in the series. The first yacht on IRC corrected time in the Bermuda Race that is a competitor in the Onion Patch Series will be awarded the Catherine Hollis Memorial Trophy. Onion Patch prizes will be awarded at the Newport Bermuda Race Prize Giving Ceremony Saturday June 24th at 18:30 by invitation.
 
In 2006, all races of the NYYC Annual Regatta in Newport June 9-11th will once again be part of the series schedule.  Up to 10 races are planned for the three day event.  The Cruising Club of America/Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Newport Bermuda Race that starts June 16th is the ocean race for the series.  All races of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta are scheduled for June 23rd in Bermuda.
 
The Onion Patch racing in Bermuda will continue to use the new format introduced in 2004.  The RBYC plans one short Windward/Leeward race in the Great Sound and a longer “round the buoys” course planned with the start in the Great Sound, a course around multiple marks, with the finish in Hamilton Harbour near Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.  The club marina will provide an excellent spectator vantage point to view the finish of the series and will tie into the special celebrations planned for the Centennial Bermuda Race.
 
Yachts that cannot enter the entire series may enter the Bermuda Race or either of the other individual regattas held at NYYC or RBYC.