NOTICE OF RACE: October 12, 2024
SAIL • PADDLE • ROW • POWER
ALL ABOARD FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL ZONGO YACHTING CUP: OCTOBER 11 & 12, 2024
Join us for the Central Coast’s biggest & most fun offshore sailing race, bookended with 2 outrageous parties on both ends.
The Zongo Cup Launch Party will be at Tidelands Park in Morro Bay on Friday from 4:00 - 8:00. It is open to the public, so bring all your friends!
Classes: PHRF (So Cal.), Cruising, Multihull, and Stand Up Paddle (SUP). Also, all one design classes with 3 or more entries.
The Organizing Authority for the Zongo Yachting Cup will be: Morro Bay Yacht Club , 541 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442.
1 - RULES
This race will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), applicable rules for One Design and PHRF classes, the US Safety Equipment Requirements “Near Shore” for PHRF classes, and this Notice of Race.
2 - ELIGIBILITY
Open to all seaworthy craft. All vessels will race in their respective classes, and simultaneously in the Cruising Class. This is a 20 mile offshore race and all competitors should be seaworthy and capable.
3 - ENTRY & FEE
$50 per vessel, including fees. Register online here. Fees go toward trophies and to partially underwrite both parties (Tidelands Park in Morro Bay on Friday, and Point San Luis Lighthouse on Saturday).
4- CLASS RULES
PHRF SAILING – Monohull sailboats will use PHRF So. Cal ratings for their class. If you do not have a current PHRF certificate, you may use the number by manufacturer. Please contact the race PRO if you have difficulty determining your rating. No local ratings adjustments will be honored.
ONE DESIGN - For any class with 3 or more of the same make / model of boat, we will make and present a class trophy. Santa Cruz 27's should be particularly interested in this.
MULTIHULL – All multihulls will compete in the same class with no time corrections. Any boat type with at least 3 of the same boat will establish their own class with no time corrections.
STAND UP PADDLE - All SUP will compete in the same class with no time corrections. Depending on weather conditions, this class may have an adjusted start time and location, to be determined by the Race PRO no later than 8:00PM Friday, 8/10/18.
CRUISING CLASS – All vessels, regardless of class, will also compete in the cruising class. This includes powerboats, sailboats, and all human-powered craft. First to finish wins 1st Place; Everyone else finishing by 5:00PM ties for 2nd Place.
5 - SAILING INSTRUCTIONS & COURSE
• START at 11:00 (all classes) southbound between MB buoy and the light tower on the north jetty at the Morro Bay Harbor Entrance. If fog obscures the light, start on a line within 130’ and perpendicular to “MB” while on proper course.
• PASS R”16” (Pt. Buchon Buoy) to Port
• MAINTAIN DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 1 NM radius around Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Failure to comply will result in race disqualification and potential legal action.
• PASS G”1” to PORT (Westdahl Rock Buoy)
• FINISH between G”3” and end of PSL Breakwall Rock. Must finish by 5:00 PM or DNF.
• MUST TEXT Boat name & finish time to Race PRO by 5:00 to qualify.
*** PLEASE NOTE: If by 11:30AM it is deemed insufficient wind, the race will be postponed and a new start will be called at R "16". ***
6 - EVENT TIMELINE:
OCTOBER 11 FRIDAY:
OCTOBER 12 SATURDAY:
WHO IS THIS FOR:
This is a sailing race, but also a cruise and open to powerboats and capable skippers with human-powered craft (SUP, Outrigger canoe, etc.) Sailboat racing is scored using PHRF Southern California Ratings, and one-design classes are established for any vessel type having 3 or more entries.
The kickoff party on Friday at Tidelands Park is free and for anyone who likes fun, music, food, drink, dancing, boating, making friends. Zongo All-Stars will perform and is always a great time.
WHERE:
TROPHIES:
Local legend Ted Emrick of Emrick Studios in Baywood Park has a long-standing tradition of supplying gorgeous, custom glass trophies for the Zongo Cup. This year is no exception, and this year’s trophies will be something you will want to proudly display on your mantle for years to come! Trophies available:
7 - WATER LOGISTICS
MOORING IN MORRO BAY: Morro Bay Yacht Club will offer berthing on our dock and guest moorings at no charge for race participants on Friday evening, 10/11.
● MBYC has dock space and 6 guest moorings for visiting yachts. You may raft 3 boats deep at the dock. First come / first served. Info here.
● If MBYC dock /moorings are full, please use the anchorage area north of the mooring field.
MOORING / ANCHORING IN AVILA BEACH / PORT SAN LUIS
There are a couple of options for mooring in Avila. PLEASE NOTE: The Avila Pier is closed and the Port San Luis Harbor District warns that landing on the Avila Pier may result in citations being issued for trespassing. Services map here.
Link to Port San Luis Boating Services Page
Guest Moorings:
All guest moorings are available on a first come first serve basis. Moorings for vessels up to 35’ are located near shore and are the first two rows of moorings with white buoys directly east of the boat launch area. These near shore moorings are available April through October. Moorings for vessels up to 55’ are available year-round and are the outer most moorings/white buoys on the west side behind the break wall and moorings up to 85’ are outer most moorings/white buoys on the east side of the channel entrance. All daily rental moorings are $21.00 per day (14-day limit).
The Harbor Patrol may be contacted on VHF radio, channel 12 for assistance. Patrons are requested to prepay and fill out a vessel registration card with the water taxi host or at the main office. If unable to come to shore, please call (805) 595-5400 during normal business hours to make a credit card payment.
ANCHORING
April through October, vessels may anchor for seven days without charge between the Avila Pier and the Cal Poly Pier. After seven days the anchor fee is $12.00 per day for vessels less than 85 ft. Anchor fees are $24.00 per day from November 1 through March 31. It is not recommended to anchor during inclement weather. Anchoring within the mooring area is restricted. If in question about anchoring or mooring, please contact the Harbor Patrol for assistance on VHF Radio, Channel 12.
WATER TRANSPORTATION
● Morro Bay: We don’t have a water taxi or any dedicated water transport. Many of you will be able to tie up at the MBYC dock. Check with your fellow boaters & I’m sure we can get your crew to shore. MBYC has a Whaler in the water - many members can access it.
● Avila Beach: Stay tuned for information about our dedicated race support boat, available to get you to and from your boat and tio the party at the lighthouse & back.
The Port San Luis Water Taxi:
The Port San Luis water taxi provides free rides to and from boats moored in the harbor between the Cal Poly Pier and the Port San Luis breakwater, 7 days a week (weather permitting), with scheduled runs at:
7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm
Extended Seasonal Service - Beginning Memorial Day Weekend and continuing through Labor Day Weekend, an additional 6:00 p.m. Water Taxi run is available on Saturdays & Sundays by Reservation Only, made no later than 4:30 p.m.
For water taxi service, contact the Port San Luis Water Taxi Operator at (805) 305-4796 or VHF Radio channel 12. The District reserves the right to limit the number of rides per day.
8 - GROUND TRANSPORTATION
● You are responsible for arranging all ground transportation between Avila Beach and Morro Bay for yourself and crew.
QUESTIONS: RACE ORGANIZER PAUL IRVING: (805) 441-3344 / paul@bigbigslo.com
All sales are final.
All items are nonrefundable under any circumstances.
If this event allows ticket transfers, you can transfer tickets to someone else by going into your confirmation email > View & Manage Order > Edit Ticket Info / Transfer.
From there, you can change the name on the ticket & email it to the transferred person.
