Drop outs from the entry list, use of the reserve list and payment of the entry fee

The Organising Authority and IOMICA are giving the following clarification/ruling on how drop outs will be dealt with:

1. The IOMICA Class Championship Rules state in Stage 4 (clause 8.9.1) that “If places become available immediately prior to the start of an event, the Organising Authority may make up the numbers to the entry limit, by informing the reserves and then continuing the allocation of places from the List.”

At the time of writing, it is clearly not immediately prior to the start of the event and so some additional clarification/ruling is required for places becoming available months or weeks before the event.  

2. Substitute replacements will be allowable up to a cutoff date of February 16^th 2018 but ONLY if the NCA of the competitor dropping out has someone already entered on the reserve list. This means that for this event if a competitor in the current 76 from USA, JPN, ITA, SUI, GBR, FRA, CRO drops out, those NCA's could substitute that competitor with their next highest competitor from the reserve list provided that this is BEFORE the cutoff date of February 16^th 2018. If a competitor drops out before the cutoff date of February 16^th 2018 whose NCA does not have another competitor from their NCA on the reserve list then the place will be filled by the reserve list taking it in order as created in the allocation of places.
3. After the cutoff date of February 16^th 2018 any drop outs will simply be filled by the reserve list taking it in order as created in the allocation of places.
4. Any competitor gaining a place from the reserve list due to a drop out shall pay their entry fee within 7 days or before the start of the event, whichever is sooner.

The above has been decided upon to ensure that, due to the high demand for places, everyone who sails in the event was entered by the initial closing date and that it is fair for those waiting on the published reserve list. Although this will mean using the reserve list when it is not "immediately prior to the event" it will give those on the reserve list an opportunity to book travel and accommodation if places become available during the months or weeks before the event. Otherwise, what is the point of a reserve list containing competitors who live thousands of miles away if you are only going to tell them they have a place a few days before the event!