Castaways Boat Worx Local Racing Rules
As amended April 11, 2023
General
The following local rules govern how Castaways Boat Worx conducts its racing program. These rules are intended to provide a structure (generally consistent with NAMBA racing rules) that is tailored to our club’s preferences. The desired outcome is a racing program that is fair, competitive, and fun for our members. These local rules may be altered by the Executive Board with input from those club members who actively race.
Pre-Race Procedures
1. All races are planned by the Race Coordinator, and then executed by the Race Director.
2. Members should sign up to race, through the Race Coordinator, not later than 6pm on the Thursday prior to race day. Late entries may be allowed at the discretion of the Race Coordinator and/or Race Director.
3. Participants must pay the race fee (currently $5 per member, regardless of the number of classes entered) prior to the first race of the day. This fee is non-refundable.
4. The Race Director and/or any club officer will ensure that each boat presented for a race conforms to the hull requirements for the class entered. Hulls not conforming to a particular class will not be allowed to run. Hulls not conforming can petition the board for a rule change.
5. The Race Director will develop the heat schedule based on the number of entries for each class. The maximum number of boats in any heat will be five. At their sole discretion, the Race Director may combine (e.g. combine P-Limited Mono and Cat) or split heats (due to more than five entries in a single class) to produce a fair and executable race program. Heats will be split using a random draw to fairly determine which drivers are assigned to each heat. If heats are split, at the end of the race day each of the resulting groups will be separately awarded points as outlined in paragraph 5.11 below.
6. All boats must be of a color that is easily seen by the drivers and pit crews, particularly if the boat is upside down on the course.
7. A participant must use the same boat in all heats for a particular class.
8. When they arrive at the race course, each participant must have enough batteries to run two complete races in the classes they signed up for.
Race Classes
1. NAMBA rules shall govern the configuration of boats in each class except as noted below.
2. Castaways Boat Worx allows batteries up to 15,000 mah for all classes.
3. Specific NAMBA Race Classes
a. P-Limited Mono – The maximum allowable hull length is 34”. 4S batteries max. Only a single motor from the following list is permitted:
Acquacraft 1800 & 2030 KV
Pro Marine 3656 2030KV
Triple SSS 3656 2030KV
Dynamite 3650 2000KV
Leopard 3660 2050 KV
b. P-Limited Cat –The maximum allowable hull length is 34”. 4S batteries max. Same motor restrictions as described above for P-Limited Mono. Single motor only.
c. P-Class Mono and Cats combined. Technical requirements are consistent with NAMBA rules. The maximum allowable hull length is 36”. 4S batteries max.
d. Q-Class Mono and Cats combined. Technical requirements are consistent with NAMBA rules. The maximum allowable hull length is 40”. 6S batteries max.
e. Offshore Class Mono and Cats combined. Technical requirements are consistent with NAMBA rules. The maximum allowable hull length is 40”. 6S batteries max.
4. Special Race Classes Specific to Castaways – We have eight classes specific to our membership. For those classes designated as “Spec” classes so no modifications are allowed.
a. Spec Hydro – Motors are limited to Aquacraft or Dynamite 2030kv, or Leopard 3660 2050kv. A Miss K + Shovelnose Hydroplane, wood or fiberglass up to 30” is required. All boats must have a replica engine similar to the engine made by classic hydros or a replica engine cowling with exhaust pipes. All boats are required to have a model driver. Use of an ultra-light hatch cover (made by Ken Ryker) is allowed as a replacement for the stock cover. Use of stock cover is also allowed. Only 4S batteries are allowed. Any prop up to X442 as max size and pitch is allowed.
b. Spec UL 19 – This class is specifically for the ProBoat UL 19. Except as noted below, the boats must be factory stock, including the motor and ESC. Only 4S batteries are allowed. Only factory replacement parts (identical to the original parts) are allowed. There are no restrictions on the propeller used. Upgraded cooling components are allowed. ALL other parts must remain factory stock.
c. Unlimited Outrigger – Max length 33″. Any motor, any battery, any ESC are allowed.
d. P Limited Outrigger – Max length 33″. Any Castaways approved P Limited motor (ref rule 3.a above). 4S batteries max. There are no further restrictions.
e. Unlimited – Any hull, any motor(s) any battery configuration. There are no restrictions in this class.
f. Qualifier – this class is to afford new racers the opportunity to gain experience. Only boats similar to P-Limited boats are allowed. No points or ribbons are awarded.
g. Impulse – ProBoat Impulse mono hull, max length 32”, 6s batteries max, stock motor and ESC. Any prop, upgraded turn fins and trim tabs are allowed.
h. Sonicwake – ProBoat Sonicwake hull V1 or V2, max length 36”, 6s batteries max, stock motor and any ESC. Self-righting feature allowed. Any prop, upgraded turn fins and trim tabs are also allowed.
Note – The references to max batteries above (e.g. 4S, 6S) describes the maximum total power allowed. Batteries may be run in series to attain the maximum power for the class – e.g. two 2S batteries connected in series to produce 4S power. Batteries may also be run in parallel as long as the output does not exceed the maximum allowable power for the class.
Hull measurement guidelines:
a. When a hull minimum or maximum length measurement is specified for any class, that hull will be measured by placing two vertical straight edges at the furthest points fore and aft of the bow and transom of the hull. The distance between those two vertical straight edges will be measured. Hardware will not be included in the measurement.
b. The hull will be placed between those two vertical edges and situated in the same horizontal position in which the hull would ride on the water. Any flanges, “shoebox” overhangs, or other parts of the hull that are part of the original manufacturing process will be included in the measurement.
c. A hull may be lengthened to comply, but material additions must become an integral part of the hull structure. If, for instance, material is added to the transom, the entire transom must be lengthened and the addition must be blended in to the rest of the hull.
5. Racing Rules Specific to Castaways Racing
5.1 All boats must be launched at least 30 seconds before the start command. Boats are allowed to sit in the infield area after being launched (if the driver chooses to do so) before leaving the infield and proceeding toward the start line. Once out of the infield, the boats must maintain forward motion.
5.2 All boats must round the offshore buoy (if installed on the course) on their way to the start line. All subsequent laps will follow the normal course layout.
5.2.1 If the offshore buoy is missed, the driver is penalized a lap and must continue forward around the course again, properly rounding the offshore buoy, before making a legal start. Drivers missing the offshore buoy are not allowed to simply “circle back” and go around the buoy.
5.3 Drivers should do their best to pick and hold a lane once they round the offshore buoy. Swerving outside your lane is not permitted.
5.4 For Castaways races, the NAMBA rule regarding buoy infractions (Section 17, part D, paragraph 3) shall be locally supplemented to allow the Race Director to waive the penalty cutting a buoy provided:
1. The action was obviously taken to avoid an eminent crash not of the driver’s making, and
2. The Race Director, or his assistant(s), witness the event, and
3. The driver gained no competitive advantage by cutting the buoy, and
4. The driver returns to the racing lanes as soon as possible, and
5. The driver immediately requests the penalty be waived
The Race Director’s decision to grant, or deny, this relief should be made as quickly as possible so accurate lap counts are maintained during the race. The Race Director’s ultimate decision is final.
5.5 At the completion of our normal four lap races, the participant must steer his/her boat into the center of the race course and keep it there until the Race Director declares the race is finished. Offshore class is the exception of this rule – participants in offshore must return to the dock as soon as they have completed the required number of laps.
5.6 Pit crews assist the participant by launching the boat, coaching the participant and recovering the boat after the Race Director declares a race is finished. The pit member will: 1) keep track of laps completed by raising their fingers showing the number of laps completed and audibly announce that lap count in a voice loud enough to be heard by the driver and Race Director, 2) inform the driver of any obstacles on the course, 3) announce if the driver has cut a buoy in a voice loud enough to be heard by the driver and Race Director, and 4) verify the driver’s finishing order with the Race Director before leaving the race line.
5.7 The only race classes that will be run for points are those classes that have been signed up for by the Thursday preceding race day, and then announced (generally via club email) by the Race Coordinator prior to race day. Other classes may be formed and ran on race day if time permits and they are approved by the Race Director, but these ad hoc races will not be awarded points or ribbons.
5.8 Should a boat show erratic, random, or other behavior indicating possible control problems, the Race Director will warn the driver. Should the behavior continue, the boat will be ordered off the course and given points for a “Did Not Finish”.
5.9 Boats should never be driven against the flow of traffic.
5.10 The Race Director shall have the final say in all matters concerning any race. There is to be no arguing, shouting, or demonstration of poor sportsmanship of any kind. Any conversation with the Race Director shall be in a normal speaking voice and tone, and conducted in a respectful manner. NO EXCEPTIONS
5.11 Boats will score and accumulate points in order of their finish positions according to the following table:
1st Place – 400 points
2nd Place – 300 points
3rd Place – 225 points
4th Place – 169 points
5th Place – 127 points
Did Not Finish (DNF) – 25 points
Did Not Start (DNS) – 0 points
5.11.1 A boat (the crashee) that fails to complete the heat due to the actions of another boat (the crasher) will receive 169 points. The offending (crasher) boat will receive 25 points, regardless of where they naturally finished the race.
5.11.2 Points are awarded to the driver of the boat.
5.12 Each calendar year, our racing program is divided into two “seasons” with champions declared for each class at the end of the season. To be eligible to win a Club Championship in a particular class, a driver must compete in at least four races during the season in that class. The Spring Season runs from 1 Jan through 30 Jun. The Fall Season Runs from 1 Jul through 31 Dec. In addition to the seasonal champions, the club will recognize The Driver of the Year at the end of each calendar year. This championship will be awarded to the driver that accumulates the most total points (all classes and both seasons combined) during the calendar year.