LYRA BOTY Selection Process

1.  OBJECTIVE

Recognize and award a Lake Ontario “Boat-of-the-Year” (BOTY) Trophy to a yacht that demonstrates outstanding  performance in racing competition across a variety and quantity of regattas and locations on LYRA waters.

2.  BASIC SELECTION CRITERIA

  •  2.1  Evaluation shall be limited to performance within LYRA waters: the NY Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, eastern lake Erie and the upper St Lawrence River to Montreal. The intent is to encourage participation in local events and provide  more recognition for a broad overall local effort, rather than recognize those that are able to campaign outside our  LYRA waters region.
  • 2.2  Various regattas held on our waters shall be included, hosted by both U.S. & Canadian yacht clubs, not just events LYRA is directly affiliated with or sponsors. Hosting yacht clubs must be members of LYRA.
  •  2.3  Regattas shall be subjectively placed into 1 of 2  tiers based on consideration of the following characteristics:
  • a.Whether the event is an invitational, or open to any yacht. 
  • b.Extent of international participation.
  •  c.Extent of multiple club representation. 
  • d.Level of competition, including consideration of the number of boats racing.
  • 2.4  In order to qualify; a single yacht must sail in a minimum number of events from each tier (see Section 3.4 for Tier/ Event listing) during April 1 – October 1 in a given year. The yacht may have raced during the year under one or more  handicapping/measurement systems, level, and/or one-design. 
  • 2.5  A mathematical formula will not be used to determine the winner. The selection shall be made by the LYRA  Executive Committee, based on a qualitative examination of race results. See Section 5 for specifics of the  selection process.
  • 2.6The LYRA Executive Committee will review the LYRA Regatta results and Lake Ontario Boat-of-the-Year qualifying events to identify those boats eligible for the award.  Delegates from LYRA Member clubs are also encouraged to submit candidates from their clubs they feel merit consideration for the award.
  • 2.7  In order to be eligible to win the award, the yacht’s owner/skipper and the helmsperson (if a different person) must  be a member of a yacht club that is a member of LYRA. The helmsperson must have helmed the yacht at the start and on the upwind legs in at least 75% of the qualifying events. The helmsperson and the owner/skipper must engage in competitive sailing solely as a pastime and not benefit from an activity that contributes to the performance of racing  boats, nor be a person who is compensated financially for their sailing skill or sailing reputation (other than reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses for meals, travel and accommodation); in other words, they must be ”non-professionals”.

3.  TIER STRUCTURE & EVENTS

  •  3.1 TIER I:  Open Event.
  • High % of international entrants.
  • More than 4 yacht clubs represented.
  • High level of Competition
  • TIER II:Meets at least two of the four characteristics of Tier I.
  •  3.2 In order to qualify for the LYRA BOTY Award, a yacht must race in a MINIMUM of 7 TIER I and II events, which must include the LYRA Regatta Day Race Series and at least 3 TIER I events.
Click Here for Listing of the events that have been approved for the upcoming year.

4. ADDITION/DELETION OF EVENTS TO TIER STRUCTURE

  • 4.1  These Rules, including the official list of events and tiers, minimum number of events in each tier to qualify, etc., may be updated annually, but by no later than April 15th  for that sailing season. 
  • 4.2  To add or delete an event from the list, a delegate from the host club of that event must submit a request in writing  to the LYRA Secretary or Awards Chairperson with an explanation of how the event generally matches the tier  level criteria (I or II, section 3.1). The request must be received by LYRA before February 15th in order for that  event to be considered and approved for addition/deletion that year. The official BOTY Rules will be published annually in the LYRA Regatta Sailing Instructions and throughout the year on the LYRA website.

5. SELECTION PROCESS  

5.1   The LYRA Executive Committee will review race results from all Tier I and Tier II events sailed on LYRA waters during the period between April 1 and September 1 of the Calendar Year.  They will identify those yachts that meet the minimum qualifications for the Boat of the Year award.  Delegates from LYRA Member Clubs are also encouraged to submit candidates they feel merit consideration for the award.

5.2   The LYRA Executive Committee will examine the performance of all qualified yachts and compare the following:

a.    Overall Consistency of Performance

b.    The number of boats competed against and the number beaten

c.     Tier I events shall be given more significance than Tier II events

d.    Variety of Event Locations

e.    Performance in both division and overall, where applicable

5.3   Non-flying sails events do not count toward LYRA Boat of the Year.

5.4   The LYRA Executive Committee shall reach a final decision by no later than November 1st.  The decision reached shall be final and not subject to protest or redress.

5.5  The names of the eligible candidates and the winning yacht and skipper will be announced no later than the LYRA Annual General Meeting.

5.6 The LYRA Boat of the Year perpetual trophy will be presented to the winner, along with a keeper trophy and award  flag, at the winning skipper’s home club awards banquet/party that Fall (if possible), or at the LYRA Annual General  Meeting. In addition, the winning skipper and crew will be recognized at the LYRA Regatta the following year during  the Day Race Series awards presentation. The winner is responsible for the perpetual trophy’s safe keeping and shall  return it (cleaned and polished) to LYRA at or before the annual Regatta. It will also be on display throughout the Regatta and during the Day Race Series awards presentation.
Growing List of LYRA Sponsors:
The Rigging Shoppe
Katlynn Marine
RCR Yachts
Nat's Marine Supplies
Haarstick Sailmakers
National Yacht Club
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