This booklet gives some guidelines and advice for participants of the 2014 Mount Gay Rum Neptune Regatta.! ! It is required reading, especially for individuals that have not participated in previous Neptune Regattas.!
Naturally most people will know what to take, but this list is made up of what we feel is essentials:
Suntan Lotion 30+ Electrolytes (Powder Sachets) Spare Sun Glasses Spare Footwear (ideally for wading between coral & urchins) Bed Roll (Yoga Mat Works) Lightweight Sleeping Bag Dry Bag Hat (wide brimmed) Head Torch (with red light option*) Waterproof (Poncho works) Anti-Bug Spray Simple First Aid Kit Environmentally Friendly Soap/Clothes Wash Bag for rubbish Some Indonesian Rupiah (to spend in the village) Sense of humour & adventure
• We suggest the red light not so much to save night vision (which to most that sail is sacrosanct) more that bugs are not attracted to the red light. White light attracts all sorts of ‘friends’ of a multitude of sizes…
Accommoda'on at Nongsa Point Marina Resort, If you are not sleeping on-‐board while at Nongsa, then we suggest that you book your rooms now. Once Nongsa Marina sells out, then we suggest staying at Turi Beach Resort which is literally around the corner. The beach walk path has been rebuilt so it’s easy access. Please make sure that you get your dates right on which nights you’re staying and make sure that you have a copy of the reservaDon confirmaDon as proof. There are more people than rooms (which are close to the Marina) so this is to avoid any ‘computer errors’ when you turn up and expect a room available. Green Books (Sailing Permit for the Riau’s) The process and required documentaDon are on the RegaLa Website/NOR. You should communicate with Maria at Golden Image (SEE NOR) and explain that you’re with the Neptune RegaLa. If you are not in Singapore then email us directly and we will endeavour to assist for you with Maria. (Please don’t use us unless necessary, as we are quite busy organising a rega7a that takes place in the middle of nowhere) Green books do take a while to process, so you need to start asap if you haven’t already. Fuel, For diesel we have contact details for a bunker barge in the Singapore Straits which is reasonably priced, clean diesel. We use them for the Cruising Club and therefore can recommend. If you wish, purchase at Nongsa, we are sDll working on cost but it’ll be cheaper than Singapore by a liLle and the fuel generally clean but make sure if it’s been raining heavily, to have them check for water. Petrol can be purchased at Nongsa but it needs to be trucked in, so advise in Nongsa Point Marina in advance (Contact info in NOR) Personal Kit, On the previous page is a list of what we believe are the essenDals. Most people prepare well but there are always a few that don’t. Trust us when we say that having these items make for a really enjoyable, stress free island stay. Not having some of these items can really make for a miserable Dme, especially when everyone else does. Other info (likes visa requirements, NOR etc) you can get off the Neptune website: www.neptune-‐regaLa.com
This year we are very (very, very) happy to have Lime House, a wonderful Caribbean Bar and Restaurant in Singapore, join the team on Neptune Island to take care of the F&B of regatta participants. Executive Chef, Hasan DeFour, and his team will be running the BBQ’s and preparing a selection of Caribbean Island delights. We will endeavour to have a selection of food to please all palates but please be aware that Neptune Island has limited resources… well actually none, just what we take. So please let us know in advance if there are any particular ‘reasonable’ requirements regarding or allergies we need to be aware of.
The IRC Class will enjoy two of the longest and most challenging passage races in the region. The rest of the fleet will be sleeping on their vessels for at least 2 nights (some may choose to stay aboard at Neptune Island) Outside of the Sailing Instruc'ons and the relevant Cat 3 safety regula'ons, these are some pointers, along with informa'on on what you can expect: On-‐Board Recognising that IRC Vessels will minimise weight for racing, we strongly suggest that certain provisions are taken/kept on-‐board, should the wind drop. Last year we enjoyed a constant 15+ NE breeze for the passages… we all know that isn’t always the case. The rest of the fleet will undoubtedly be fully provisioned with copious amounts of fine foods and aperiDfs but all the same, we advise the following: • 2 litres of water per person per passage • 24 hours supply of food per passage • Suitable waterproofs • Mask and fins (fins as some areas have strong currents) • Electrolytes (powder sachets found in most pharmacies) We (Neptune Organisers) will have all the necessary kit for search and rescue etc. A team of BriDsh Royal Marine Commandos, who are also trained field medics, will be available should the need arise. Please keep your radios on at all Dmes, even at anchor. (a useful >p is to use an earpiece for the radio for whoever is on watch… and have the radio on loud volume should they nod off J ) Channel numbers are 72 (Race Officials) & 16 (Emergency). Should the need arise for radio communicaDons whilst managing an incident, please have one person designated to represent the vessel and if possible, on constant standby to receive procedural instrucDons without distracDon. This should not be the vessel’s Skipper. If this is your first Neptune and you’d like more advice or past parDcipant input, please use our social media page to post your views or comments and see what others advise: hUps://www.facebook.com/Neptune.RegaUa
We will have a rib that we use for tendering on and off Neptune Island, camera crew transport and racing/fleet assistance.
We advise that if you have your own tender to bring it along to allow for more freedom. Neptune Tendering will be a timed service and will not be available 24 hours aside for emergencies.
Neptune Island Neptune Island’s local name is Pulau Sikeling. The island is uninhabited and completely natural. Our job is to keep it that way. The local village is on a nearby island, Pulau Blanding. There is a populaDon of around 1,400. We employ many of the villagers to assist in making the regaLa happen. They are a very warm, friendly people and the naDve language is Bahasa Melayu. On the lay day, we are invited to visit Pulau Blanding, hosted by the villagers with a tradiDonal feast, dancing and a game of football. (Team Neptune will be picked on the day and I suspect we will get thrashed.) You’re here for 4 nights. It is stunningly beauDful and we are as prepared as we can be to accommodate you during your stay. We provide: Accommoda'on & Facili'es: • Large Canvas Tents with fiLed ground sheets, that can comfortably fit 6 people with kit. There will be at least 2 tents per boat, possibly more if cruisers etc wish to sleep aboard. • Fresh water wash faciliDes (and kit wash) • Field Latrines • NEPTUNE BAR • Security Note, We do have a limited amount of camp beds but we’re not officially supplying them as they suit some but not all. Please take your own camp bed or bedroll (the tents are on a sand base) the fold up beds are beLer as they are off the ground. (see list of suggested kit on page 1) Food & Water: • Free BoLled water will be available at all Dmes. This should only be used for drinking as we will supply for a consumpDon of 2 litres per person per day and therefore be limited beyond that. The fresh river water barrelled in from Pulau Buaya is readily available for cleaning etc. • There is a temporary covered food area with BBQ’s, boiling water and a selecDon of Dnned produce, fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. Most provided meals will be BBQ fare (Burgers, sausages, bacon sandwiches etc) there will be vegetable soup always on the fire with tea and coffee. Please be advised to bring your own food if this doesn’t appeal. • Ice will be readily available to purchase from the village but it is only for cooling and not advised to be used as drinking ice.
We try to avoid having rules as almost everyone that participates in the Neptune has the same respect for the stunning natural beauty of the sailing waters and Neptune Island. However, cigarette butts were an issue last year, so we’ve created a large designated smoking area, the bar area. The rest of the island will be smoke free. We hope that you’ll understand and support us on this. Once dark, we may cordon off parts of the island (e.g. Jetty at low tide) for safety reasons. A&E is a while away and our onsite medics, although competent, do not offer a comforting bedside manner.
Many tons of equipment and provisions are being setup on Neptune Island. One of the ways that we engage the local communiDes is by employing them to build temporary faciliDes uDlising recycled local lumber and foliage. On the north side of the island are the accommodaDon and washing faciliDes. On the south side (facing the fleet) is where the bar is set up. This will be parDally covered with seaDng and a fully stocked, Dcketed bar. The south beach is also where the BBQ faciliDes and covered food area will be. Separate, but not disassociated, will be the Mount Gay Rum Beach Hut. This will be open for ‘Neptune Cocktails’, complimentary rum beverages at sundown each day. There will be a non alcoholic opDon as well but I’m not enDrely sure why. Unless a good reason for absenteeism at sundown on the beach is provided (late finish, no tender available etc.) you’ll miss out… but the bar will always be open Whereas Neptune ParDcipants will enjoy a certain amount of complimentary daily beverages, Neptune Bar is not a free bar. It is a Dcket/voucher transacDon bar. Books of Dckets will be on sale at Nongsa prior to sejng off to the equator (and available onsite but much beLer to pre-‐purchased.) The Bar will be fully stocked and beverages will be served chilled. The same as last year, the anchorage will be in the lee of Neptune Island (just south of the JeLy) weather permijng, not in the Buaya Bay area. This means that transport to and from vessels is reduced considerably and vessels can be clearly seen from the beach and bar area. We keep an eye on anchored vessels for drag & swing etc. but as always, skippers are responsible for their vessel at all Dmes, on or off her. For those without tenders (or even those with, wishing to have a rum or 2) we will be running an Island to vessel tender service. Please be aware that we will put up Dmes of tendering as this is not a 24 hour service. Tender Dmes will vary to suit racing and fleet needs. More informaDon on tenders, Ddes and island access Dmes will be shared in the skippers briefing and posted prior to racing. SMOKING: Neptune Island will have a designated smoking area (around the bar). Smoking is no longer permiLed anywhere else outside the designated area due to fire hazard and to reduce the impact to the island of cigareLe ends. There will be a fining system for anyone at anyDme smoking outside of the designated area. Any money generated from fines will go to the community aid fund. Details at skippers briefing.
To cross the equator, under sail, and pay homage to King Neptune is a tradition that seafarers have abided by for hundreds of years.
Neptune driving a chariot of hippocamps, Roman mosaic C3rd A.D., Sousse Museum, Tunis
Some people take part in the Neptune RegaLa for the racing and challenges. Some people take part for the adventure and exploraDon. Most for the beauDful waters and surrounding scenery. But absolutely everybody takes part to cross the equator and join a very select few that have the right to state that they have sailed across the equator, have been ceremonially inducted into Neptune’s Court and are therefore Trusty Shellbacks. Crossing the equator to enter into the court of King Neptune is a tradiDon that dates back hundreds of years. Just by entering ‘King Neptune’ or ‘Equator’ into You Tube you will come across dozens of videos capturing people paying homage along with Pathe Newsreel’s of presidents and royalty all being judged by King Neptune & Davy Jones as Polliwogs and then ritually bapDsed as Neptune’s new court members; Trusty Shellbacks. Neptune RegaLa parDcipants vary in their interpretaDon of the age old ritual. Some prepare ghastly concocDons and dress in full regalia depicDng retches of the deep. Others pop a champagne boLle and raise a toast to Neptunus Rex. However celebrated, the act of crossing the equator as one fleet, in the world’s only regaLa that traverses ‘The Line’, brings together a camaraderie and unity in being a member of a very select few. More people have summited Everest than have presently raced to the equator! Which is why from a racing perspecDve, winning ‘The Garmin Race to Zero’ is a preLy big deal. (Some cool Garmin Kit to win too.) We encourage parDcipants to plan in advance their respecDve rituals and dress up accordingly. The best pictures of Pollywog to Shellback will win prizes and the most fun boat will win the ‘Spirit of Neptune Trophy’ sponsored by Leica very nice prize…
IF you have any quesDons, please do not hesitate to drop us an email: info@neptune-‐regaLa.com
© 2014 All rights reserved. Neptune RegaLa Pte Ltd (a member of the Neptune Sailing Group) www.neptune-‐regaLa,com with thanks to Guy Nowell Photography & past parDcipants for images. HosDng Marina: Nongsa Point Marina Resort Prime Sponsor: Mount Gay Rum Email: info@neptune-‐regaLa.com