NESSA

(Last revised February 26, 2025)

Section II: Procedural Rules
Article J: Sailing Rules
NESSA will follow the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), applicable to the year, unless modified by the ISSA Official Procedural Rules for Interscholastic Sailing Competition or by a specific NESSA sailing Instruction.

Article K: NESSA Regattas
Section 1. NESSA sponsors the following annual regattas:

a. Fall Funfest Invitational Regatta (The Wally Gleekman Trophy)
b.   NESSA Women’s Championship Regatta (The Rebecca Herreshoff Trophy)
c.   NESSA Single-handed Championship (The Nancy Healy Trophy)
d.   NESSA Double-handed Championship (The George O’Day Trophy)
e. NESSA Team Racing Championship (The Presidents Trophy)
f. NESSA Team Racing Tournament (Jim Terkelsen Trophy)
g. NESSA Great Oaks Invitational Regatta Qualifier
h. NESSA National Keelboat Invitational Qualifier

Section 2. Qualification. Schools shall be eligible for NESSA Championship regattas in the following way.

a. All NESSA Dues must be paid.
b. Schools may be active in either the Fall or Spring seasons, or both, and may use the same coaches in both seasons.

c. NESSA Single-handed Championship (Healy): Each NESSA member is entitled to one entry. Extra slots may be filled by resume to be submitted to the NESSA Vice-President. Decisions will be made by NESSA Officers.

d. NESSA Double-handed Championships (O’Day and Herreshoff): Schools, which are NESSA Members, are eligible. If more schools register than the number of available slots, qualifying regatta(s) may be sailed. Schools must sail at least three scheduled meets or regattas prior to the championship between two or more schools in the season that the championship is being held (fall or spring). Results of those meets must be presented at the championship. A meet is at least a best of three (3) team race with three more boats per school. A regatta is a fleet race with at least three races sailed in each division scheduled. For the purposes of qualification, the following meets count: A second meet with the same school provided it is a regular second meet planned for a different date then the first. Any regular scheduled NESSA event.

e. NESSA Team Racing Championship (President's Trophy) and NESSA Team Racing Tournament (Terkelsen): Qualifications for the Mark Trophy are by schedule and record review. Race schedules from eligible school are due to the NESSA Vice President by a date established by the NESSA Officers and published in the NOR. Such a date shall not be later than ten days prior to the regatta. Decisions, regarding qualification, will be made by the NESSA Officers.

Schools must sail at least eight (8) scheduled meets prior to the Championship. At least 15% of meets must be an inter-league meet. Leagues are defined on the NESSA website. Independent teams are considered in a league with their fellow independent schools as listed on the NESSA website. A team may sail an opponent two or more times and count the first two meets towards their qualifying record. The third and any subsequent meets will not count towards either team's qualifying record. Two meets against a single opponent must be sailed on different days, unless the first is cancelled due to weather or extreme circumstances

Section 3. Qualification. Schools shall be eligible for NESSA Invitational Regattas in the following way.

All NESSA dues must be paid
Each NESSA Member school is entitled to one entry on a first come, first served basis until the regatta is filled.
Non-NESSA teams (conglomerate teams or out of district school teams) are entitled to sign up when the registration opens for a NESSA Invitational Regatta. Entry in the said regatta will be granted to a Non-NESSA team after 10 days from when registration opens, only if space is available, at a first come first serve basis.

Article L- Penalty for Failure to Compete.
Section 1. A school, which fails to attend a NESSA Regatta or an ISSA Regatta for which it has registered, fails to register for an ISSA Regatta for which it has qualified, attends with less than a full team, or departs before the conclusion of the regatta without the consent of the Event Chair, shall be placed on probation for 2 years, effective from the date of the incident. If a school fails to meet the above criteria while on probation, the school shall not be permitted to schedule or compete in any NESSA regattas for the next year.

Section 2. This penalty shall not be imposed for a NESSA Regatta if the NESSA Vice-president or the Event Chair is notified at least 48 hours prior to the report time of the regatta.
This penalty shall not be imposed for an ISSA Regatta if the NESSA Vice-President and the Event Chair are notified at least 72 hours prior to the report time of the regatta.

Section 3. This penalty may be modified or set aside for compelling reason. Request for penalty modification shall be fully documented and sent to the NESSA President, who shall send the documentation, with a recommendation for action to the NESSA Executive Committee, who shall make the final ruling.

Article M - Trophy Winner Responsibilities
Section 1. A school that wins a NESSA regatta for which there is a permanent trophy may hold that trophy until the regatta is sailed next. The winning school is responsible for engraving costs of the trophy, the trophy’s safekeeping, and returning the trophy to the appropriate regatta when it is sailed next. Failure to return the trophy shall result in a DSQ for that school in the first race in each division for that regatta if the event is a fleet race. If the event is a team race, 1 loss will be added and 1 win will be subtracted from the school’s total.

Section 2. In the case where more than one school is to share the trophy, each school shall have roughly equal time with the trophy. The school that holds the trophy first shall be responsible for getting it engraved properly (at a shared cost with the other school(s). The school that holds the trophy last is responsible for returning it when the regatta is sailed next. Failure to return the trophy shall result in a DSQ for that school in the first race in each division for that regatta if the event is a fleet race. If the event is a team race, 1 loss will be added and 1 win will be subtracted from the school’s total.

Article N – ISSA Proxy votes

Section 1. For the purpose of the Annual Meeting of ISSA, the proxies of all members of NESSA shall be assigned to the NESSA President no more than one month prior to said meeting and shall expire after the final adjournment of said meeting.

Section 2. Any NESSA member may withdraw their proxy or a portion of their proxy by written or email notification to the NESSA President no later than 24 hours prior to the ISSA Annual Meeting.

Section 3. The NESSA President may assign the proxies of NESSA members to another ISSA Board member from NESSA by sending written notification to the NESSA e-mail list at least 72 hours prior to the ISSA Annual Meeting.

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NESSA Team Racing Championship Format (two-tier structure):
(Voted in place 11-23-13 at NESSA Annual Meeting)

1. Rankings: Schools are ranked first thru last using 50% computer rankings, and 50% executive committee rankings. Rankings are posted on the NESSA Standings site. Schools ranked one through eight (1-8) receive automatic bids into the NESSA Team Racing Championship (President's Trophy). Schools ranked ten through sixteen (9-16) receive automatic bids into the NESSA Silver division Team Racing Championship (Terk Trophy).

2. Formats for both Regatta: A double-round robin (and any sail-offs necessary) between the school that qualify followed by a double gold round comprising the top four. (# of possible races: 56 + 12= 68)

A. The top two teams at the President's Trophy would advance to represent NESSA at the ISSA Team Racing Championship (Baker Trophy).
B. The schools ranked third and fourth at the President's Trophy would advance to represent NESSA at the National Invitational Tournament (Founders Trophy)
C. The school that wins the Terk Trophy would advance to represent NESSA at the National Invitational Tournament (Founders Trophy).

3. Some Notes about the NESSA Team Racing Championship

* Both regattas are scheduled for two days (Saturday and Sunday) to ensure that racing will take place. If the format, and any sail-offs that are
    necessary, have been completed in one-day, then that regatta is over.
*. If one round robin is completed, then the regatta is a valid regatta and the results would stand, if no other round robin(s) could be completed
   over two days.
* Only a complete round robin can count. If a round robin is not completed, then results go back to the results posted after the last completed
   round robin, except results from an incomplete round-robin may be used to break a tie in accordance with ISSA PR 12.1.
* If it is not possible to complete the format in the time allotted over the weekend, then the highest seed(s) would be declared the winner(s)
   and move on to the next level.

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NESSA By-Laws NESSA District Committee Standing Rules

Draft Date 2/4/2021, Updated 3/4/2021, Updated 10/29/2021

Purpose
1. The NESSA District Committee (“District Committee”) is a permanent standing committee established by the Board of Directors of the New England Schools Sailing Association, Inc. (“NESSA”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Interscholastic Yacht Racing Association, Inc, doing business as the Interscholastic Sailing Association (“ISSA”).
2. The purpose of the NESSA District Committee, as set forth by the NESSA Bylaws, is to run the day-to-day operations of NESSA, including, but not limited to, setting schedules, establishing, amending, and enforcing District Supplemental Rules, and other activities deemed necessary by the District Committee. Rules governing the operations and activities of the District must be approved by the NESSA Board of Directors before being placed in effect.

NESSA Leagues and League Committees
1. NESSA is sub-divided into seven Leagues (Fairfield County Sailing League, CT League, RI League, Mass Bay League, Cape & Island League, Coastal Sailing Alliance, Northern League (VT, NH, ME)).
2. The District Committee may create a League Committee within each League to coordinate scheduling and operations within the League. The League Committees act as a standing subcommittee to the District Committee, and its decisions are subject to final approval by the District Committee. The League Committees are not authorized to change rules, obligate NESSA contractually, or manage funds.
3. Additional Leagues may be created by the NESSA Board of Directors.

Membership and Dues
1. The Member Schools of NESSA are the High Schools within the District who are members in good standing with ISSA and have paid all required ISSA and NESSA dues.
2. The District Committee shall set and communicate annual team dues for each school year.

NESSA District Committee Structure and Selection
1. The District Committee shall be elected by a vote of the District High Schools and shall consist of the District Director plus seven or more individuals with at least one representative from each established League.
1. A nominating committee appointed by the NESSA Corporate President will make nominations for the District Committee Members and District Director who will be elected by a simple majority vote of the membership present at the Annual District Meeting. This nominating committee will be comprised of one to three members who may be from the current board of directors, past officers/directors, or parents with extensive experience in high school sailing. The Nominating Committee will consider recommendations from the Leagues and District High Schools.
1. The District Committee and District Director will serve a one-year term.
1. The District Committee shall elect officers (other than the District Director) from within its membership. These officers shall include one League Representative for each established League. In addition to the elected District Committee members, the NESSA President may appoint additional individuals to the NESSA District Committee so that the Committee will be comprised of no less than five and no more than nine members in addition to the District Director. The term of all appointed committee members shall be one year.
1. The District Director is defined in ISSA rules and shall represent NESSA on the ISSA Board of Directors. The District Committee shall appoint one other individual to be the second NESSA representative on the ISSA Board of Directors. This individual may or may not be a current member of the District Committee. The term of this appointment shall be one year.
1. In the event a vacancy occurs for any position on the District Committee during any Term, the remaining elected District Committee Members may appoint a replacement to serve in that position for the remainder of the then current term.
1. A League Representative elected by the leagues to the District Committee shall act as chair of the League Committee for their respective League. In addition, the District Committee may appoint additional individuals to the League Committees so that they are comprised of three to five individuals. The term for League Committee members shall be one year.

Meetings
1. The District Committee shall meet regularly on a schedule set by the NESSA District Director. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep records of these meetings, which shall be made available to District High Schools and to the NESSA Board of Directors.
1. Each League Committee shall meet regularly on a schedule set by the League Representatives, who shall ensure that records of these meetings are kept and shared with the District Committee.
1. The NESSA Annual District Meeting shall be held during the school year, and the time and place shall be selected by the NESSA District Director and published on the NESSA website with a minimum of ten (10) days advance written notice. The NESSA District Director shall be responsible for the conduct of the meeting.
1. At the Annual District Meeting, the District Director shall make a report to the District High Schools on the business of NESSA and plans for the upcoming year.
1. Each District High School representative present at the Annual District Meeting shall have one vote. The person listed as the Primary Administrator in the hssailing.org website as of seven days before the annual meeting shall cast the vote for the District High School unless they have authorized a proxy to vote for the District High School by emailing a signed and dated proxy form to the NESSA President or their designee prior to the meeting. No proxy shall be effective beyond six months from the date it is signed. Each individual person may represent only one school.

Amendments
1. Amendments to these Standing Rules may be proposed by the NESSA District Committee but must be approved by the NESSA Board of Directors. Amendments to the District Supplemental Rules may be made by a majority vote of the District Committee but are subject to the approval of the District Board of Directors

Regatta Fees

2019 NESSA Spring Regatta Payments

2018 NESSA Spring Regatta Payments

2018 NESSA Fall Regatta Payments

2017 NESSA Spring Regatta Payments

History

Annual Meeting Minutes

Resources

Scoring Program

District Procedural Rules

NESSA By-Laws

About NESSA

ABOUT NESSA

New England Schools Sailing Association