The 25th Annual Fools' Rules Regatta





The Twenty Fifth Annual Fool's Rules Regatta, sponsored by the Jamestown Yacht Club, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 17th, 2002 at 9:00 am on the Town Beach at East Ferry, Jamestown, R.I. The rain date will be the following day, August 18th.



Participants have two hours to construct their vessels with the cannon signaling the start of the first race being fired at 11:00 AM sharp.


This marvelous event is open to persons of all ages, sizes, sexes, and is free. Because only nautical and sometimes naughty language is used at this event, they encourage communications between crews and spectators to be best handled by an interpreter or perhaps, the police.


This year, in honor of the Silver Anniversary of this spectacle, they are urging participants to utilize the color SILVER in their design.


Here is an excerpt from the rule books for the event:

RULES FOR VESSELS


1) All vessels are to be entirely constructed on the beach. They may be prefabricated prior to the event, but must be completely disassembled before coming to the beach. All persons constructing the vessel must be the vessel's sailing crew. No bystanders assistance will be acceptable except in the operation of the launching and in vociferous encouragement. The crews are warned not to retaliate against other crews' or spectators' insults, but to attend to their work in a gentlemanly and ladylike manner. There will be no hurling of tools, materials, bottles or cans at any overly excited spectators who might have heavy bets on certain vessels. No manufactured items such as dinghies (inflatable or otherwise), surfboards, masts or sails may be used. Hull examples might be beer cans, auto bodies, bathtubs, trees, or an old wornout sofa. Sails could be made of old sheets, old rugs, burlap bags, or your grandma's petticoats. Bystanders must not steal materials from crews they have no bets on.


2) Vessels shall be propelled by nature's wind only. There shall be no mechanical means of propulsion. Because of the possibility of gales, hurricanes, and such during the competition, all vessels must be equipped with some sort of life saving device such as beach balls or water wings. There shall also be bailing equipment, for example, an eye dropper, chamber pot, beer mug, or ear syringe.


.SAILING RULES


Kicking, oaring, paddling, punting, ooching, sculling, pulling, pushing, or cheating will not be tolerated. No eye-catching beauties shall be used to distract and confuse competitors. There shall be no hurling of missiles at competing crews, nor shall harpoons or cannons be fired at other vessels or at rowdy or boisterous spectators on the shore. There shall be no deliberate ramming of other vessels. In the event of a collision or violation of standard sailing rules it is suggested that those involved fight it out amongst themselves or anyone else. No time allowance will be given for running aground, sinking, drifting off to Newport, Block Island or Providence or becoming disabled by inter or intra-crew fighting. The very high grade character of this event demands best behavior and tempers must be controlled. The protest committee's responsibility is to call local and state police and the National Guard on occasion when their assistance is required.


The Chief Fool reserves the right to change any and all of the above rules at any time.

Find out more about the Jamestown Yacht Club