Sailing Instructions

Seasalter Sailing Club - Sailing Instructions 2017-2021

1.     RULES:

1. Racing will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2017-2021

2. The following prescriptions of the RYA will not apply Rule 40.

   The following prescriptions of the RYA, (the national authority) 5, 50.4, 67, 70.5, 78, 80, 86.3, 88.2

          Appendices F & G shall apply

3. Not Used

4. Racing rules that are changed (with the relevant SI's in brackets) are:27.3/Race Signals (4.5)63.1 (8.3, 22.5)   26 (11.1)  A4 (11.4)   44.1/44.2 (14.1)   35/A4.1(15.2)   61.3/62.2 (16.2)   60.1(a) (16.7)   27.1/40/63.1 (21.1)

5. The rules of the accepted class(es) will not apply.

6. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS:

   1. Notices to competitors will be posted on the club notice board normally located in the briefing area.

      3      CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS:

   2. Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the club notice board in the briefing area not less than 30 minutes before the start time of the first race affected by the change(s). Any change to the schedule of races will be posted not later than 2 hours after the end of racing on the day before it will take effect.

7. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE AND AFLOAT:

   1. Signals made ashore will be displayed from the race tower using the signal light boards, flags or the flag boards or a combination of any of these.

   2.  When Flag AP is displayed ashore for committee boat starts this means 'One minute' is replaced with not less than 5 minutes for race signal AP on the committee boat. This instruction only applies for committee boat starts.

   3.  Flag B may be hoisted with one sound signal and this means, "Protest time has begun".

              When lowered halfway, it means "There are less than 30 minutes remaining before protest time ends".

       When lowered it means "Protest time has ended". When used this signal will be made ashore.

   4. Sound signals are usually made by the electric Klaxon ashore and by air horn for committee boat starts. An air horn may replace the Klaxon.

   5. In addition to signals made on the committee boat and ashore when race(s) are postponed or abandoned and it is decided to display signals to this effect on patrol boats then these boats will display H only for both reasons. This changes rule 27.3 and the Race Signals.

   6. An orange flashing emergency beacon may be displayed from the race tower balcony with three sound signals to signal all boats to immediately make their way ashore, at the nearest safe landing site, unless they are rendering assistance to others in distress. When safely ashore competitors should assist other boats ashore as rapidly as possible and then sign in as having come ashore as soon as practicable.

8. PROGRAMME OF RACES:

   1. The programme of club only races is given in the relevant annual programme.

   2. For open and national events these will be given in brief in the annual programme and further details will be given in the Notice of Race for each event.

      6     CLASS FLAGS:

   3. For club and multi class open events the class (warning signal) when used will be Flag "D".

   4. For single class open events the appropriate flag for the class will be used when appropriate.

      7      RACING AREA:

      7.1 The racing area may be posted on the course chart (which is normally in the briefing area) and/or as part of the Notice of Race.

1. THE COURSE:

   1. The course board will normally be used to show the course(s). The course(s) will show the number, sequence and direction of each lap, the number of legs to complete each lap, the order in which marks are to be passed and the side on which each mark is to be left. The appropriate length of the course and windward leg may also be given on the board.

   2. No later than the warning signal the approximate compass bearing of the first leg may be given on the course board, or may be displayed by the committee boat.

   3. Any boat which does not go through the start line for each appropriate round will be disqualified without a hearing. This changes rule 63.1.

   4. Shortening the course – Flag S shall be used for the fast handicap fleet and Flag U for the slow handicap fleet unless otherwise changed on the course board prior to the race briefing.

2. < >

   Marks including starting and finishing marks will be as described on the course board.

• AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS: "

  1. The following area(s) are deemed an obstruction:

• The Sand/Shingle Bank immediately offshore from the chalets on the beach side of the road to the East of the clubhouse and the concrete outfall to the west of the same chalets.

• The groynes along the shoreline that become partially or fully submerged during sailing hours.

  10.2      Reference to Admiralty or other recognised suppliers' charts and other sources of information together with visual inspection should indicate those items that may be an obstruction.

• THE START:

  1. Races will be started as follows. This changes rule 26. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the failure of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

1. Flag boards indicate Answering Pennant, A,H,N,S,U,X and First Substitute in place of or in addition to flags.

2. When signal flags are used succeeding classes will be started at five-minute intervals by displaying the warning signal with the starting signal for the preceding class. If the same Class flag is used for succeeding classes it will remain

          displayed at the start (s).

3. When the lights signalling option is used, this will be shown on the course board and the slow fleet may be started at -1 minute if determined by the race officer at the briefing.

   1. The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the committee boat at the starboard end

      and the port end starting mark. When a buoy is laid near to the committee boat approximately on the starting line, it is a starting limit mark that shall be left on the same side as the nearby committee boat.

               OR

      The starting line is between the orange clubhouse staff and the fixed pole located roughly 200 metres from the staff or a buoy marking the direction and the end of an alternative line. The fixed pole line may be extended at the discretion of the race committee by a temporary buoy. This temporary buoy will limit only the length of the line.

   2. The selected start line under 11.2 will be shown on the course chart.

   3. Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.

11.5      Any boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored 'Did Not Start'. This time limit is in     addition to rule A4.

12    CHANGE OF POSITION OF THE NEXT MARK:

1. To change the position of the next mark, the race committee will move the original mark (or finishing line) to a new position. The change will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the mark may not yet be in the new position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the moved mark may be relocated without further signalling to maintain the course configuration.

   OR

   To change the position of the next mark, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and   remove the original mark as soon as practicable. The change will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not yet be in position. Any following mark may be relocated without further signalling to maintain the course configuration. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

   13    THE FINISH:

   13.1   The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the finishing mark at the starboard     end and the port-end finishing mark.

              OR

     The finishing line will be between the orange clubhouse staff and the fixed pole or an alternative mark shown on the      course board.

2. The selected finishing line will be shown on the course board.

   14    PENALTY SYSTEM:

3. The Two Turns Penalty is reduced to a One Turn Penalty. This changes rules 44.1 and 44.2.

4. A boat that has taken a penalty under rule 44.1 or 44.2 or retired under rule 44.1(b) shall confirm this on the declaration form within the protest time.

5. As provided in rule 67, the protest committee may, without a hearing, penalise a boat that has broken rule 42.

   15    TIME LIMITS: (see also 11.4 above)

6. Time limits for the race and Mark 1 will be designated on the course chart. If no boat has passed Mark 1 within the Mark 1 time limit the race will be abandoned.

7. Boats failing to finish within the time limit designated on the course chart after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored by use of average lap times. This changes rules 35 and A4.1.

   16    PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS:

8. Protest forms are available at the race office. Protests shall be delivered there within the protest time limit. All notices to be posted on the notice board, referred to in the following paragraphs, shall be posted on the ‘sailing events’ notice board in the briefing area.

9. For each class, the protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day. The same protest time limit applies to protests by the race committee and protest committee and to requests for redress. This changes rule 61.3 and 62.2.

10. Notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held in the race office beginning at the time designated on the notice board.

11. Notices of protests by the race committee or protest committee will be posted on the notice board to inform boats under rule 61.1(b)

12. A list of boats that, under instruction 14.3 have been penalized for breaking rule 42 or have been disqualified by the protest committee will be posted on the notice board before the expiry of the protest time limit.

13. For the purpose of rule 64.3(b) the authority responsible is the measurer appointed by the organising authority.

14. Breaches of instructions 11.3, 14 and 21 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a) Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides.

    16.8   On the last day of the regatta a request for reopening a hearing shall be delivered:

    a.   within the protest time limit if the party requesting reopening was informed of the decision the previous day.

15. < >that day.

    This changes rule 66.

     

    17    SCORING:

    1. The number of races to count and discards (if used) will be either posted on the club notice board or in the Notice of Race.

    2. Results will be posted on the club notice board and the club website as soon as practicable.

       18    ENTRIES:

    3. Each sailing season every owner/competitor who is also a club Member shall complete an entry form which shall apply for club racing for that current season.

    4. For racing other than club only racing an appropriate entry form must be completed by every owner/competitor.

16. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY:

    Competitors participate in the racing and the event entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organising authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after any race or regatta.

17. RISK STATEMENT

    Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By submitting an entry form to race the competitor and crew confirm their acceptance of the following statement.

    By taking part in sailing from Seasalter Sailing Club each person sailing agrees and acknowledges that:

    (i) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in sailing;

    (ii) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;

    (iii) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;

    (iv) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail and they are fit to participate;

    (v) The provision of a race management team, patrol boat(s) and other officials and volunteers by or on behalf of the Seasalter Sailing Club does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;

    (vi) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;

    (vii) They are responsible for ensuring that their boat is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and familiar to the crew;

18. PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES:

    1. Life jackets or other adequate personal flotation devices shall be worn by the owner/person in charge and crew and is compulsory at all times except briefly where necessary while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Failure to comply with this instruction will entail disqualification without a hearing. This is a change to rules 1.2, 27.1, 40 and 63.1.

19. SAFETY REGULATIONS:

    1. < >efore going afloat the boat must enter its number, helm and crew on the declaration form in the briefing area.

       On return and within 30 minutes of the race finishing the boat shall sign the declaration to the effect that it has completed the race or retired and has been bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing and all other rules together with these Sailing Instructions,

    2. When the time lapse between the finish of one race and the start of the next is insufficient for the boat to return to shore then the boat must complete the requirement under 22.1 before going afloat for all races in which the boat intends to participate and to complete 22.2 within 30 minutes of the last race finishing in which it competes.

    3. A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

       1. Failure to comply with 22.1, 22.2 or 22.3 entails disqualification without hearing. This is a change to rule 63.1  

       2. 20.   Each participating boat, racing or not, shall hold valid and current third-party insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000.

Sunday 1^st January 2012