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The Open will be held over 5 days from Monday 19th  to Friday 23th of January, 2009.

Ther will be a divers / captain’s meeting for all participants  on Sunday 18th at 6 pm.

General diving rules refer to :

    Chum/ burley can be used by the divers.

    Flasher are permitted.

    Powerheads are forbidden.

An individual fishing licence is mandatory. The licence will be provided by the organizer.

The fishing area will cover the offshore waters from Nosara to Cabo Blanco ( Nicoya Province ) . The offshore boundary is about 40 miles off the coast.

The boats will be leaving Samara Beach no sooner than 7:30am every morning and will be back at 3:30pm.

A lottery will be held to allocate each diver team to a boat on a daily basis.

All the participants must report back to the weigh in station at Samara Beach by 4:30pm.

The open will solely aim at pelagic fish generally found in the « blue water » and at less than 70 feet depth.

       Eligible fish will be :

-Dolphinfish ( Dorado )/ Coryphena hippurus.

-Wahoo ( Guaho )/ Achantocybium solanderi.

-Yellowfin tuna ( Atun aleta amarillo )/ Thunnus albacores.

-Bigeye tuna ( Atun oro grande )/ Thunnus obesus.

-Skipjack tuna ( Barrilette )/ Katsuwonus pelamis.

-Siera mackerel ( Cero )/ Scomberomus sierra.

-Spanish mackerel ( Sierra espanol )/ Scomberomus maculatus.

Fish taken during the Open become the property of the captains. On the last day fish may be used by the participants to dispose of as they wish ( take the fish for home freezing ).

All Scoring is on an individual basis.

A maximum of 7 fish per competitor is allowed to be recorded over the duration of the Open and a maximum of 2 fish per species.

No upgrading : once a participant has recorded 2 fish of a species, he cannot record a fish of that species.

All eligible fish must be weighet and mesured each day at the certified scales wich will be at the headquarters.

Divers who do not make weigh in time at 4:30 pm. that particular day will no count for that particular day nor the following day.

Each fish count 1 point per pound.

There is not any min/ max  weight or length.

Scores will be tabulated at hte rate of 1 point per pound ( lbs ), or percentage of, to hte closest .01lb.

In the event of a tied place, the participant with the largest fish recorded breaks the tied place.

The organizer ask for all participants understanding and cooperation by promoting a correct and conservative attitude.

All participants must be insured by a recognized Insurance Policy for death and injury due to the obvious hazards involved in the sport of freediving and spearfishing.

The organizer recommend DAN insurance :

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/index.asp

The participant will exempt and relieve the Open organizer Philippe Virgili, spearfishingmotion.com, the sponsors, the assistants, the charter boat services and crew, agents or representatives from liability for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death caused by negligence or for any other reason.

By signing the application and the liability waiver, the participant will confirm that they have read and understood the rules of the Open and will asume the risk of personal injury, property damage or wronful death upon themselves.

6- TAGGING COMPETITION:

A tagging competition will be organized during the Open. More details will be given to the registered diversin the next Open News letter.

First place : $3,000 U.S. ( A trophy is dedicated to the annual Open champion ).

The Open champion will get a 2nd Annual CTYBWI 2009 free entry: see the sponsors section.

Second place : $1,500 U.S.

Third Place : $500 U.S.

Greatest fish : $500 U.S.

Freediving/ spearfishing equipment will be distributed to the other competitors by sponsors.

Tagging prize: a $1,000 U.S. Daryl Wong gun engraved: " 1st. Costa Rica BWHO 2009 '' will be given to the winner.

An award banquet will be held for all participants, boat captains and officials at the headquarter on the night of the 23th of January, 2009 ( dress is informal ).

A video will be edited by the organizer and one copy given to each participant. The video will be protected by copyright and only copies used for family/ private purposes of the participant are authorized. Any collective usage, reproduction and/or distribution conducted without prior authorization from the organizer is prohibited.

Total cost is $1,950 U.S. per participant.

               The cost includes:

  -5  days sportfishing boat rental ( 8 hours per day )

  - Welcome reception and  divers/ captains meeting.

  -6 nights full board : lodging is located very close to the beach / dock/ headquarter. Each diver is provided with an air-conditioned double  occupancy bedroom/ bathroom in an hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch on the boat and dinner at a restaurant.

  -One T-shirt, cap, edited video of the Open.

  -Award banquet.

  -Prizes…

All applicants must submit:

-an application form.

-a liability disclaimer.

Prior to being accepted for participation to the Open.

This can be download from the website and filled out.

The application/ liability disclaimer must be received from applicant  prior to November1st 2008.

Once accepted (confirmation will be sent by mail ), the applicant has to send a $950 U.S. check or money order to

Virgili cp. Inc :

Philippe Virgili cp inc.
102 Av. des Ormes
Edmundston N.B.
E3V 4J9 Canada

The balance of $1,000 U.S. must be received prior to the 1st December, 2008.

In the event of the entire cancellation of the Open by the organizer, all fees received for entries will be refund to the applicants.

Cancellations must be done by applicants  by mail.

         Cancellation fees:

After the 1st November, 2008: No refund. All fees are non refundable, not negotiable and not transferable.

Prior to the 1st November 2008 : 80% refundable.

Protests may be registered by any contestant, official or event organizer.

Protests must be registered in writting to the event organization within 2 hours of the end of each day’s fishing. It must be dated and carry the name and signature of the person protesting.

A jury will be composed of one of the 2 guest divers, 2 participants, the event organizer, one captain. Any contestant who is the subject of protest or presents protest must be excluded from the jury in that case.

In the case of exceptional circumstances for wich no provision has been made in the Rules, the jury may, on protest from the participant concerned, use it’s discretion to lift a disqualification and impose a different penalty.

With a view to better protecting   the Open 2009 personal data, organizer informs you of the practices used on the site for handling data which is gathered and processed.

We use information regarding participants, exclusively to communicate with them regarding registering and to respond to their request for support or information.

The organizer do not use, nor share any private identifiable participant information which is provided on-line.

The organizer will not, without your authorization, sell or lease any information which is provided on line and personally identifiable regarding yourself or your firm, to any third party.

With a view to maximizing the protection of information, the Open 2009 website uses reliable technology in the field of security in order to prevent such data from being used in a wrongful manner or from being modified by unauthorized third parties.

For any further questions regarding the 1st Costa Rica Blue water Hunting rules, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

           info@spearfishingmotion.com