Glossary

ADVISOR: A Faculty Member or Coach who serves as the official link between the team and the school.

AFTERGUARD: Former Collegiate sailors and friends of college sailing.

ALL-DISTRICT SAILOR AWARDS: These Awards are given to Outstanding MCSA Sailors selected by a Committee of former MCSA Sailors based on the results of each year's competition.

ALL AMERICA SAILING TEAM: The Intercollegiate Sailing Association select a three teams of sailors each year: All America Sailors, Women's All America Sailors and All America Crews.

ALTERNATE PENALTY: A penalty taken in place of withdrawing or being disqualified from a race in which a rule has been violated, usually 720 degree turns, or a percentage penalty.

ALTERNATES: A team which substitutes for another team previously scheduled for a regatta.

AMATEURISM: The rules governing the eligibility of sailors in collegiate sailing which can be found in the ICSA Procedural Rules.

ANNUAL MIDWINTER MEETING: A Meeting of the Association which occurs in early February at which membership changes are approved, the yearly schedule is finalized, and Officers are elected.

ANNUAL REPORT: A requirement for MCSA Membership. The report must be sent when requested to the Graduate Secretary each year and lists the basic contact and other information about each member school

APPEAL: A process by which the results of a Racing Rules decision can be reviewed.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP: A process by which a school can become a member of the MCSA. The Vice Commodore is the Membership Chairman.

AREA ELIMINATIONS: The member schools of the MCSA are divided into two Areas: East and West. Regattas in each of those Areas to select teams which will compete in higher level events.

AWARDS: Honors which are bestowed by the MCSA for outstanding achievements.

BERTH: A place in a regatta for a team. Many regattas have a limited number of berths.

BEST REGATTA AWARD: The teams participating in each MCSA regatta evaluate the event on the basis of several categories. The event receiving the highest ratings is awarded the Woodward Plaque for the year.

BLACK BOOK: "The Essentials for Successful Club Operation". A compilation of various publications which each member school is required to maintain. These can be found on the MCSA Website

BOAT DAMAGE: The policy for the MCSA self-insurance for damage occurring during a regatta can be found in the Policy Handbook.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS: A group of former MCSA Graduate Officers and other individuals who serve as advisors to the MCSA Executive Board.

BORROWED CREWS: A registered contestant competing in an emergency situation for another team only as a crew is permitted. See the Procedural Rules for restrictions.

BORROWED SKIPPERS: The Procedural Rules prohibit any individual from competing as a skipper for another school.

BREAKDOWN: The Procedural Rules permit the awarding of changing the score of a boat which has an equipment failure during a race. See the Procedural Rules for more information.

BY-LAWS: The basic rules and regulations on which the MCSA is based. Changes to the By-Laws can only be made by a ¾ vote of the Regular Member Schools.

CAPSIZE: When a boat is not upright.

CHAMPIONSHIP: One of seven events sanctioned by the MCSA to determine the best team in the Association for a given season of year. Championships are limited to Regular and Provisional MCSA Member Schools

CIB: Current Information Bulletin – A listing of the information about each MCSA Member School, MCSA Officers, MCSA Representative to ICSA Committees and ICSA Officers.

CLINICS: A presentation of techniques to improve a participants sailing skills usually involving an on the water component where skills are practiced.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONDITIONS: The basic rules and regulations under which a championship regatta is to be organized and conducted.

COMMODORE'S INSTALLATION: The passing of the Commodore's Plaque from the outgoing Commodore to the incoming Commodore at the Annual Midwinter Meeting

DEHYRATION: Loss of body water, a problem that can be present in the sport of sailing

DINGHY: A small sailing boat. Under the Racing Rules dinghies are less than 6 meters in length.

DIRECTORY ADMINISTRATOR: The individual approved by a school to approve each individual's On-Line registration for the school.

DISQUALIFICATION: The scoring of a boat equal to the number of teams in an event plus one when there has been a violation of the Racing Rules.

DITTY BAG: A small bag taken onboard a boat for the purpose of affecting repairs usually containing a screwdriver, pliers and tape.

DOUBLE ROTATION: The sailing of twice the number of races needed to permit each team to sail each other team once in each division.

DRYSUIT: An waterproof outer garment with watertight seals at the neck, wrists and ankles or feet.

ELIGIBILITY: The ability to meet all the rules to be able to compete in an event, as presented in the Procedural Rules.

ELIMINATION: Regattas which are held for the purpose of selecting teams which will compete in higher level events.

ENTRY FEES: A fee paid to enter an event. Entry fees are not permitted for MCSA Events.

EXECUTIVE BOARD: The governing body of the MCSA. The Executive Board consists of nine elected representatives, six undergraduates and three graduates.

FINANCIAL AID: Assistance given to a student, either in the form of money, or anything which could be converted to money. The Procedural Rules prohibit financial assistance based on sailing ability.

FROSTBITE: The freezing of body cells, a problem which can be present in the sport of collegiate sailing.

FULL TIME STUDENT: A student that a school determines meets its requirements for that category, See the Procedural Rules and the ICSA Eligibility Case Book & Guide for more information.

GENERAL RECALL: All boats are recalled to restart a race.

HAIL: A loud verbal communication directed at a boat or individual.

HALL OF FAME: A place to recognize the accomplishment of individuals or groups. The ICSA Hall of Fame is at the US Naval Academy.

HEARING: A process whereby unresolved differences in rules interpretations can be resolved after a race has been completed.

HYPOTHERMIA: The abnormal lowering of body temperature, a problem which can be present in the sport of college sailing.

ICSA: Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association of North America. This body is the national authority for collegiate sailing.

ICSA CHAMPIONSHIPS: The North American Championships for collegiate sailing. The MCSA qualifies teams for these events from the similar MCSA Championship.

ICSA COMMITTEES: The ICSA has several standing Committees and the MCSA is represented on each of them. See the List in the Current Information Bulletin for more information.

ICSA INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORY: The ICSA publishes in paper form listing similar to the Current Information Bulletin. The same information is also available on the ICSA Website.

INDIVIDUAL RECALL: Boats on the Course Side of the Starting line are recalled to the prestart side of the line at the start.

INSURANCE: The MCSA maintains a regatta liability policy which insures the MCSA Executive Board and any regatta Officials. The MCSA is self insured relative to boat damage. See Boat Damage above.

INTERESTED PARTY: An individual or group which stands to gain or lose in relation to a hearing. The Racing Rules indicate that interested party may appear as a witness, but shall not take part otherwise.

INTERSECTIONAL: A regatta between two or more ICSA Districts

INTERSECTIONAL TAX: A fee paid to the ICSA for each team attending an out of district intersectional regatta. The fee is billed one season late.

INVITE: A berth for an intersectional event which is not assigned to a specific District. Interest in Invites should be directed to the MCSA Intersectional Coordinator.

JIB: The foremost sail on a sloop rigged boat.

JUDGE: An Individual who sits as a member of a committee to resolve rules questions which occur during racing and to give advice as to the conduct of a regatta.

KINETICS: Actions taken by a sailor which are in excess of those needed to compete using only the wind and water to increase, decrease or maintain a boats speed.

LEEWARD: The side opposite from which the wind is blowing.

LIFE JACKETS: A device used to increase an individual's flotation, and to keep their head out of the water.

MAINSAIL: The aft most sail on a sloop rigged boat.

MARK: A buoy which begins or ends either a leg of the racecourse or a starting or finishing line.

MARK TIMME ANGSTEN REGATTA: The MCSA Fall Championship regatta held in Chicago every Thanksgiving.

MEMBERSHIP ADVANCEMENT: An increase in a school's Membership status with the MCSA. To initiate the advancement the school must make a written request to the Graduate Secretary at least 30 days prior to the Annual Midwinter Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP STATUS: A school maybe either an Associate, Provisional or Regular Member. Each status has certain privileges associated with it. See the MCSA By-Laws for more information.

MIDWINTERS: The Annual Midwinter Meeting of the MCSA

MID-YEAR UPDATE: An up-date to the Annual Report. The report must be sent when requested to the Graduate Secretary each summer and lists changes to the basic contact and other information about each member school

NO-SHOW: When a school fails to attend a regatta beyond the withdrawal deadline, fails to bring the minimum number of competitors, leaves early, or shows up late.

NOTICE OF RACE: This document conveys the basic information that a school needs to attend a regatta for which are scheduled. It is to be send to the MCSA Race Chairman for posting.

NEWSLETTER: See "The Tell Tale"

OCS: On the Course Side -- of the starting line.

OFFICERS: The elected Officials of the MCSA

OOCHING: A kinetic for and aft motion which uses body weight to attempt to propel a boat.

PERMANENT ADDRESS: A Member School's business address. The address should be a post office box, campus building, or Faculty Advisor's school address.

PERMANENT EMAIL ADDRESS: A Member School's email address. This should be linked from the Member Schools website

PERPETUAL TROPHY: A trophy which is to be retained over a period of years and engraved with the name of the team winning it each year. All Perpetual trophies must be approved by the MCSA.

PFD: Personal Floatation Device. See Life Jacket

PLANING: The process whereby a boat rides up on its bow wave and accelerates.

POLICY HANDBOOK: The document which compiles the Policies which have been approved by the MCSA Executive Board.

PROCEDURAL RULES: A set of unifying Rules (PR) adopted by the ICSA to be used for all collegiate regattas.

PROMOTIONAL REGATTA: A regatta which is new or novel for collegiate sailors.

PROTEST: A process for requesting a hearing on a racing rules violation for which an alternate penalty was not accepted.

RACE COMMITTEE: The Committee which is charged with running the races of a regatta.

RACING RULES: The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) as published by US SAIING, including the US SAILING prescriptions.

RACE COMMITTEE BOAT: The boat from which the races are started, sometimes called the Signal Boat.

RECORD OF PARTICIPATION FORMS: The form on which the names of the individuals competing and the races sailed by each must be entered before the end of the regatta along with a Team Captain's signature

REGATTA: A sailing competition between two or more schools.

REGATTA HOST: The school providing the venue, Race Committee, and the boats for a college regatta.

REGATTA HOST PACKET: The materials needed for the host school to properly score, record and distribute a report of their event.

REGATTA CHAIRMAN: The individual designated by the host school to coordinate regatta plans and to make final decisions regarding a collegiate event unless otherwise directed by the Rules or Conditions

REGATTA REPORTS: The written report of each Collegiate Regatta including the computer file, the completed RP Forms, any written protests. The Reports need to be forwarded by mail to the Graduate Secretary immediately following the event.

REGISTRATION: The process of completing Individual Directory on-line process on the ICSA Website, and having the Directory Administrator approve the registration.

R-P FORM: Short for: Record of Participation Form

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Certain equipment is required for hosting a regatta. See "Hosting a Collegiate Regatta and Maintaining your Sanity" for details.

RESCUE BOATS: Power boats used to rescue competitors on the water. See ICSA Safety Manual for details.

ROLL TACK: The process of rolling the boat through a tack so as to prevent the loss of speed when going from one tack to another.

SAFETY: The most important thing in college sailing. See the ICSA Safety Manual for details.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Instructions to the competitors in a regatta. The MCSA uses a standard set of Sailing Instructions for each type of event which can be found on the website.

SAILOFF: A race normally sailed after the event has been concluded when it is necessary to break a tie score.

SAILOR'S FEE: A fee charged for each team entered in an event. The money from the Sailor's fee must be used to provide food to the competing teams.

SANCTIONED REGATTAS: Regattas scheduled by the MCSA.

SCHEDULING MEETING: The meeting where the yearly schedule of MCSA sanctioned events is finalized.

SCORING: The process of changing finish positions in each race into points. In the MCSA scoring is done at the site using a computer with a printer.

SEASON STATISTICS: Statistics are kept for each team and each individual to assist in the determination of the All District Awards.

SECOND SQUADS: If a regatta is not full, a school may sail a second team. If a second team is entered, it is bound by the same rules as any other team.

SINGLEHANDED: An event which is sailed using boats sailed only by one competitor. For these events multiple entries are permitted, but substitutes are not.

SKIPPER STATISTICS: See Season Statistics

SPEC SAILS: Sails that meet MCSA Specifications for the class of boat being used.

SPINNAKER: A sail flown in front of the head stay and supported on one corner by a pole on a sloop-rigged boat.

SPONSORSHIP: The acceptance of money or product for the promise to display advertising either on the boats, sails or at the site or in publications. The ICSA has developed rules related to this area which can be found in the ICSA Policy Handbook.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: The MCSA gives a sportsmanship award annually to the individual who is nominated by the member schools and selected by the Executive Board.

STANDARD FORMAT: MCSA Fleet racing regattas are sailed as a round-robin where each team sails each boat twice in succession alternating between A and B Divisions.

SUNDAY TIME LIMIT: The time limit for Sunday racing in the MCSA has been established as: No race shall start after 1:00 p.m. local time. For championships and intersectionals the time limit is extended to 3:00 p.m.

SURFING: The same as planing, except in water which has large waves.

TEAM: A group of individuals who represent the same school competing in a regatta.

TEAM RACING: In college sailing this type of racing is sailed using three boats for each team. The goal of the competition is to finish the boats on your team in a winning combination. The team winning the greatest number of matches is the champion.

TEAM STATISTICS: See Season Statistics

THE TELL TALE: The Official Newsletter of the MCSA

TIE BREAKING: A process of determining which team is the winner when two or more teams have the same score. See the Procedural Rules for the methods which should be used.

TIME LIMIT: An amount of time required for the first boat to finish a race. The MCSA does not have time limits for any of its races exept for the Sloop Championship. See the Policy Handbook for details

TRADITIONS: The MCSA has many traditions; most of these are embodied in its policies.

TRAILED BOATS: When there are not enough boats to accommodate all the berths that have been scheduled, boats are trailed to the venue. See the Policy Handbook for trailering policies.

TWO DISTRICT REGATTA: An intersectional limited to teams from adjacent districts. These intersectionals are exempt from the ICSA Intersectional Fee.

WEBSITE: The electronic means by which the MCSA makes it publications, notices and results available to Member Schools, The Afterguard and Visitors. It also serves as a source for communication to exchange ideas and provide working forms.

WETSUIT: A foam rubber suit which is worn over the body which provides cold weather protection.

WINDWARD: The direction from which the wind is coming, or was coming.

WITHDRAWAL: The acceptance of a score equal to a disqualification during or after a race but before a hearing.

YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION: One of the areas into which US SAILING is organized. All MCSA Member schools are urged to join their local YRA.