1.    The Haven Series (called “The Series”) is an independent series of yacht races organised by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, the Waldringfield Sailing Club, the Walton & Frinton Yacht Club, the Orwell Yacht Club and the Haven Ports Yacht Club (called “the organising clubs”).

2.    The Series exists to provide racing between yachts sailing under both IRC and Haven Handicap. Both classes hold equal status.

3.    The Series is open to any single hull sailing yacht having a minimum waterline length of 17 feet and meeting the Series entry criteria, entered by a member of a sailing club situated between Lowestoft and Burnham and skippered by the same or another such member.

4.    The Series shall act by a committee comprising (a) two representatives from each of the organising clubs appointed in such manner as each club thinks fit and (b) such further members as the above representatives may think fit to co-opt from any yacht club whose members are eligible to compete in the Series. A co-opted member shall act for a period of one year only though he or she may be co-opted for further periods of one year without limit.

5.    The Committee may appoint such officers and such sub-committees as it thinks fit.

6.    The Committee shall have a Chairman who shall be chosen from the representatives of each organising club in rotation: he shall serve for one year ending normally in the autumn after the Prize Giving Dinner.

7.    Yachts competing under Haven Handicap shall be handicapped according to the speed potential of the yacht. A Sub Committee (called the “Handicapping Sub-Committee”) shall comprise at least one member from each of the organising clubs. Handicaps shall be fixed at the commencement of each season (or late entry of yacht) and will stand for that season, adjustments being made only in exceptional circumstances or change in yacht materially affecting a factor taken into account when fixing the yacht’s handicap. A yacht that has not previously been handicapped by the Handicapping Sub-Committee will receive a provisional handicap that will be reviewed during the season as the Handicapping Sub-Committee decides.

8.    This constitution shall only be changed by a majority of two-thirds at a meeting having at least one representative from each of the organising clubs and only representatives from the organising clubs shall vote.

9. 9.   In the event of the Series being discontinued, the surplus funds and assets shall be donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
   

January 2012