DOWNS SAILING CLUB
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
CLUB RACING (Revised 30/05/2005)
1.0 RULES
Racing shall take place under the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2005 - 2008, the prescriptions of the RYA, these Sailing Instructions and the appropriate Class Rules. All Club races and events are designated Category C (ISAF Regulation 20).
2.0 CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
2.1 Safety
The safety of a boat and her entire management, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/ competitor racing the boat who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise during the course of the race. Neither the establishment of these sailing instructions nor the inspection of the boat under these conditions in any way limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/competitor for his crew, his boat and the management thereof. The race organisers shall not be responsible for any loss damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused by the owner / competitor, his skipper or crew, as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover, every owner / competitor warrants the suitability of his boat for the race or races.
Boats shall not proceed on to the water in order to race until rescue facilities are available and shall return to shore before those facilities are withdrawn. Competitors shall obey the instructions of rescue boat crews and abandon boats if necessary.
2.2 Eligibility to Win Trophies
Only fully paid up members of Downs Sailing Club are eligible to win Trophies for Club Racing events.
2.3 Measurement or Rating Certificate
Competing boats shall comply with their current class rules and documentary evidence of compliance may be required to be presented to the Sailing Committee prior to presentation of prizes for any Club Racing event or series of races.
2.4 Distinguishing Numbers
Boats shall display class boat number on their sail. Changes to sail numbers are at the discretion of the Race Officer.
2.5 Personal Buoyancy
Adequate personal buoyancy shall be worn at all times when afloat. Neither a wet suit nor a dry suit constitutes adequate personal buoyancy. This changes RRS rule 40.
2.6 Safety Log / Entry Form
Competitors must indicate their intention to race by entering the required details on the Safety Log / Entry Form provided adjacent to the course board. Any boat which fails to complete the Safety Log / Entry Form will be penalised by a requirement to pay a (minimum) £1.00 fine to the RNLI and be scored one place greater that their actual finishing position provided that the OOD records them as a starter.
Note: Any boat that fails to "sign on" and is subsequently not recognised, as a starter by the OOD will not be entitled to redress.
2.7 Signing Off / Declaration
Signing off / Declaration is not required.
When boats cross the finish line at the end of each race they are assumed to have completed the race within the Racing Rules of Sailing and should then proceed ashore before rescue facilities are withdrawn. Boats retiring for any reason should inform the race officer as soon as possible.
3.0 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board, which is positioned, adjacent to the entrance to the Gents changing room. Additional race information may also be written on the course blackboard.
4.0 CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Changes in sailing instructions will be posted on the Official Notice board at least 30 minutes prior to the advertised start time of the race or races concerned and will be indicated by displaying international code flag “L” from the Club Flagpole. Any major revision of these Club Sailing instructions or changes to the sailing fixtures contained in DSC Programme of Events document will be posted on the Official Notice Board in good time but at least one week prior to the date of the race or event in question.
5.0 CLASS SIGNALS / FLAGS
In general coloured lights will be used instead of code flags for the majority of visual signals.
|
Class |
Light signal |
Flag |
|
Pursuit Races |
Number box |
N/A |
|
General handicap class |
Red |
E |
|
Fast handicap class |
Red |
E |
|
Slow handicap class |
Yellow |
O |
Details of the classes sailing in each series are given in the DSC Programme of Events booklet.
6.0 THE COURSE
Courses will be displayed on the Course Board. Diagrams indicate the number and description of marks together with the order of rounding. Distances and angles between marks are approximate only.
7.0 THE START
7.1 Start Times
Start times are as published in DSC Programme of Events booklet. Amendments to start times will be posted on the Official Notice Board at least one week prior to the date of the event in question.
7.2 Start Line
The Start Line is defined as the extension of an imaginary line drawn through the Club Flagpole and a moveable transit pole situated on the beach, the outer limit of the line being defined by a marker buoy or "Distance Mark". The Distance Mark may not necessarily coincide with the line.
7.3 Starting Procedure (Pursuit Races)
Races will be started using the Electronic Countdown Display Board together with sound signals, each yacht starting at the display of its allotted number. The Electronic Countdown Display Board will be the only visual signal used for starting Pursuit races. Sound signals will be made at 10, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 minutes etc. whilst boats are starting. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the failure of a sound signal shall be disregarded. To assist the race officers, competitors are requested to avoid crossing the start line in either direction prior to their allocated start time.
7.4 Starting Procedure (Handicap Races)
Handicap races will be started by using RRS rule 26 with the following changes:
a) The Preparatory signal will be either a White light or flag “P”.
b) When more than one class is scheduled to start, the warning signal for the second class will be made 4 minutes after the warning signal for the first class.
8.0 INDIVIDUAL RECALL
8.1 Pursuit Races
Recall signals will not be made for Pursuit races. Any boat which starts before its allocated start time and which does not return to re-start correctly will be deemed to finish one lap behind its actual finishing position on the water. This changes RRS 29.1
8.2 Handicap Races
Premature starters will be warned by the Class light “flashing” or by displaying flag "X", accompanied by a sound signal. Boats which fail to return to re-cross the start line will be docked one lap when calculating he results. This replaces RRS 29.1.
A General Recall will be warned by the White light “flashing” or by displaying Code Flag 1st Substitute, accompanied by two sound signals. This changes the race signals part of RRS 29.2
(Note: If there is a General Recall for the first class of a two class start sequence, then the 2nd class waits and does not start until the first class has started correctly).
10.0 ABANDONMENT
If it is decided to abandon the race, either flag "N", "N over H" or "N over A" will be flown and three sound signals will be made. If flags "N over H" or "N over A" are displayed all boats must proceed ashore immediately and report to the Race Officer.
11.0 THE FINISH
11.1 Finish Line
The finishing line is defined as an imaginary line drawn between the Club Flagpole and the Distance Mark.
11.2 Shortening Course
Shortening course will be signalled by a White light or by displaying code flag “S” and accompanied by two sound signals. Boats will finish when they next cross the lapping/finish line. When there are separate races for Fast/Slow or Asymmetic/Others classes it will be the usual practice that both classes will finish when the shorten course signal is displayed. However if the White light/flag “S” is displayed together with a Class light or flag, then it will signify that only that particular class is finishing and the other class should continue racing until its Class light or flag is displayed. This changes RRS Race Signals.
11.3 Finishing Procedure (General Handicap races)
Rolling finishes will be used.
The Finishing Procedure will be as per the Shortening Course procedure (SI 11.2).
The Race Officer will commence the finishing procedure after the approximate advertised race duration. The Race Officer will aim to arrange where possible that boats of the same class complete equal numbers of laps and that the whole fleet finishes within the shortest possible time span.
11.4 Finishing Procedure (Pursuit Races)
When the advertised race duration has been reached the finishing procedure will be as per the Shortening Course procedure (SI 11.2).
12.0 RACE DURATION
General Handicap Races – Approximately 60 minutes.
Pursuit Races – 75 minutes.
Other races – As advertised.
13.0 TIME LIMITS
The time limit will be the nominal race duration plus 30 minutes. If one boat finishes within the time limit then all other boats finishing within 45 minutes after this boat’s finishing time, will be scored. If no boats finish within the time limit the race will be abandoned. This changes RRS 35.
All Pursuit races will be completed 45 minutes after the advertised race duration. When a significant number of boats have not received a finishing position, the result of the race will be referred to the Sailing Committee for a decision on its validity.
14.0 ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES
Touching a mark – As per RRS 31.2 (One turn including one tack and one gybe.
All other infringements – As per RRS 44.1 and 44.2 (Two turns including two tacks and two gybes).
15.0 SCORING
All series will be Scored as provided in Appendix A of the RRS using the Low Point System.
Non-finishing points will be awarded as per RRS A9.
Each competitor who performs an OOD / Rescue Boat / Canteen duty during the main club series races and also enters their name(s) on the Race Results Sheet shall be awarded average points. Average points will not be awarded for more that one duty per series. The average shall be calculated from that competitor's best (n-1) results at the end of the series, where n = number of races to count in that series.
In addition, any helm who is a sailing member at DSC and who is away competing in a National or Open event for his/her class of boat, shall be entitled to claim average points for the race missed at DSC on that particular day. Average points may be claimed for a maximum of one DSC race per boat per series, for such an away event. The average shall be calculated from that competitor's best (n-1) results at the end of the series, where n = number of races to count in that series. Claims must be submitted to the Sailing Secretary giving details of the date and event attended.
A discard ratio of 35% of sailed races or nearest lower whole number will be used for each Points Series.
Ties will be broken as per RRS A8.
Points are awarded to the helmsman sailing a single class of boat. Changes to the helmsman or class of boat within each Points Series are at the discretion of the Sailing Committee.
16.0 BOAT HANDICAP NUMBERS
Handicap Numbers will be based on those allocated by the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick scheme, but modified by the Sailing Committee as necessary to suit local conditions. Handicap numbers are published on the Official Notice Board.
17.0 PERSONAL HANDICAP NUMBERS
Personal Handicap Numbers will be reviewed by the Sailing Committee using a mathematical system at suitable intervals and adjusted where necessary, the aim being to encourage a variety of race winners.
Competitors without a PHC number should approach the Sailing Committee who will allocate a temporary number. PHC numbers are published on the Official Notice Board.
18.0 PROTESTS
The intention to lodge a protest must be notified to the Race Officer verbally within 15 minutes of the protestor’s finishing signal. Protest forms are available from the Race Box.
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