ONBOARD CARD 11 — Finish & Arrival
Phase: Crossing the line → docked and cleared in, Bermuda. Typical elapsed time: Race start +70–100 h.
DRAFT — confirm every race-specific value against the 2026 SIs / NOR before the start. This card scaffolds the standard finish-and-arrival sequence; the finish-line definition, time limit, race-committee channel, and clearance location are authoritative only from the SIs. Blanks =
____.
The race isn't over at the line — it's over when you're cleared in. A tired crew at 0300 still has reefs of hazards, a customs process, and a berthing job ahead. Brief this card before the final 50 nm.
TL;DR
- Finish: off St. David's Head / St. David's Lighthouse (confirm the exact line in the SIs). Your YB transponder records the finish — but still call Bermuda Radio.
- NE Bermuda is a reef field — North Rock, Kitchen Shoals, Mills Breaker. Hazards extend ~8–10 nm offshore. Do not cut the corner; sail the SI approach.
- Bermuda Radio (Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre) monitors VHF 16 — call on approach; they coordinate inbound traffic through the reefs.
- After the line: drop racing sails, engine on, motor to the clearance dock. Racing's over — prioritise control and crew.
- Everyone stays aboard until Customs/Immigration clears the boat. Passports + crew list + boat registration ready.
- Pre-clear Bermuda Immigration at Newport Race HQ (Jun 15–18) per the NOR to speed arrival — confirm hours.
FINISH LINE
- Finish line:
____(per SIs — typically between St. David's Lighthouse and a committee mark / transponder line). - Finishing at night is normal — lights on, VHF 16 up, call your sail number to Bermuda Radio / the race committee on
____(confirm RC channel in SIs). - Time limit:
____(per SIs). - Don't stop racing early: the line is the line. Sail through it, then secure.
APPROACH HAZARDS (read at 30 nm)
- North Rock, Kitchen Shoals, Mills Breaker, Sea Venture Shoal — reefs ring the N and NE of the island. Many a boat has lost a result (or a keel) cutting the final corner.
- Stay in deep water; make your turn for the finish/approach only on the SI waypoints + your plotter, not by eye at night.
- After finishing, the run to St. George's / Town Cut also threads marked channels — follow the buoyage, slow down.
AFTER YOU FINISH (sequence)
- Record + report — note finish time (your watch + the transponder); call Bermuda Radio on VHF 16 with sail number, POB, and intentions.
- Secure the boat — drop and bag racing sails; engine on (engine use is fine once finished — watch lines near the prop); rig fenders + dock lines.
- Proceed to clearance — Bermuda requires inbound clearance. Clearance point:
____(per SIs — historically St. George's, Ordnance Island / Customs dock). Bermuda Radio will direct you. - Clear in — all crew remain aboard until Customs & Immigration release the vessel. Have ready: passports (all crew), crew list, boat registration, EPIRB/safety docs.
- Berth — final berth per the race office (RBYC / Hamilton is race HQ; St. George's for arrival). Confirm assignment:
____.
WHO DOES WHAT
| Role | At the finish / arrival |
|---|---|
| Navigator | Confirms the finish line + approach waypoints; logs finish time; has the SI clearance instructions up |
| Skipper | Calls Bermuda Radio; owns the clear-in; holds the crew/boat docs |
| Bow / deck | Sail drop + flake; fenders + dock lines staged before the channel |
| All crew | Stay aboard until cleared; passports ready |
CONFIRM FROM SIs / NOR (fill before the start)
- Exact finish line + RC/finish VHF channel:
____ - Time limit:
____ - Clearance dock + procedure:
____ - Newport pre-clearance window + what to bring:
____ - Assigned berth / marina:
____
Cross-reference: Card 08 — Bermuda Approach (tactics for the final 200 nm); Communications Plan. PRE-RACE RESEARCH — confirm all race-specific values against the official 2026 SIs / NOR.