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Registration limited to 30 boats

INFORMATION & RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS

We are primarily interested in safety. Keeping this in mind, these are the rules for the event.

1. Submit your entry early. We ask that you have knowledge of the local waters in and around Matanzas Bay, the tides and currents.

2. Boats are decorated with lights and themes celebrating the holidays in reverence, beauty and the holiday spirit.

3. Entry is open to all motorized pleasure and commercial craft with no limits as to size. All vessels must be able to maintain a constant speed of 5 to 7 knots. 

4. A MANDATORY Skipper’s meeting will be held at the St. Augustine Yacht Club at 10:00A.M., December 9th, for last minute information, changes, and a final go or no-go by our weather/safety officer.

5. The parade begins East of the Fort near the dolphins, and just North of Davis Shores. Boats are to travel south on the Intracoastal to Matanzas Bay, circling in a counterclock- wise direction, keeping the Bay Front, Bridge of Lions, and Eastern shore to starboard. All vessels will make two laps led by the Grand Marshall’s vessel.

6. Display your Entry Number Card on the starboard side of your vessel. Be sure to have a light on the entry number. You may be asked from shore to shout your number. Please have a hailer aboard.

7. Skippers should not overload or crowd their boats and will exercise control over their passengers to avoid injuries. USCG required items (i.e. life jackets) are necessary.

8. Portable generators should be kept above deck to avoid noxious fumes. Electrical cir- cuits should be fused to prevent overloading. There will be NO OPEN FLAMES aboard vessels.

NO PYROTECHNICS allowed.

9. Judging will commence at 6:00 P.M. (1800 hrs.) from the Western seawall of the Bay Front. Boats will pass in front of the reviewing stand in a North to South direction, and will keep a safe distance of 100 feet between vessels at all times, while maintaining a speed of 5 knots. If a vessel slows and opens a large gap, please continue around them to maintain a 100 foot interval.

10. Please keep noise or sounds to a minimum—the parade is intended to be a visual experience.

11. Radio communications will be maintained through the parade on Marine VHF chan- nel 72. Please monitor this channel and keep radio traffic to a minimum.

12. Safety in boating is primary and we ask that all entrants display the courtesy inher- ent in good boating.

13. All skippers and their crews are invited to join the festivities of the Reception and Awards Presentation at the St. Augustine Yacht Club immediately following the parade.

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