Sailing > Sailing Instructions
General Notice of Race 2008
Organising Authority - Mount's Bay Sailing Club, Godolphin Steps, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 0EN.
The Sailing Instructions are in accordance with the current ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the prescriptions of the RYA, any variations detailed in the Club's Yearbook and any subsequently issued Sailing Instructions.
Courses - as detailed in the Club's yearbook plus any other courses and variants displayed on official Club Notice Boards.
Radio Communications - VHF Channel M2 unless otherwise notified.
The programme of race dates, times and series is detailed in the Club's yearbook plus any other Notices of Race duly displayed.
Prize Givings:
Club Series - November 2008
Regattas, Open Meetings and pecial events - immediately following the event.
RYA Racing Charter
Mount's Bay Sailing Club implements the RYA Racing Charter which requires both competitors to sail, and organisers to provide, racing in compliance with the Charter, which can be found at the front ofthe RYA rule book (Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008) or at www.rya.org.uk/racing/charter .
Sailing Instructions (Revised for 2008)
1.0. RULES.
Racing will take place under the current ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing
(RRS), the prescriptions of the RYA, these sailing instructions and
the appropriate class rules. In the event of a conflict between the
documents, these Sailing Instructions shall prevail.
1.1. It shall be the sole responsibility of each yacht to decide
whether or not to start or to continue to race.
2.0. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY.
2.1. The race organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage,
death or personal injury, however caused, to 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 yacht for the race or races.
2.2. Insurance.
All boats must be insured against third party liability to
£2,000,000 and have a valid certificate. Helmspersons should
also be members of their Class Association.
3.0. SAFETY.
Adequate personal buoyancy for crew members must be worn in the yacht
at all times. Wetsuits do not constitute adequate personal buoyancy.
Inflatable type buoyancy aids will not be considered adequate unless
fully inflated. It is the intention of the Committee that this rule
will be implemented at all times. Anyone not in compliance with this
instruction will be disqualified without a hearing.
3.1. Tow rope.
It is recommended that all boats carry a tow rope of no less than
10m length and 6mm diameter, at all times whilst afloat.
3.2. Rescue.
Competitors are reminded that the first consideration of safety boats
is the safety of competitors.
3.3. Safety boats.
Are provided on race days for competitors taking part in club racing.
In the normal sequence of events, they will not be available to other
boats outside the race area, nor will they be available once club
racing has finished.
4.0. COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMPETITORS.
On sailing days flag "R" will be flown from the Clubhouse
at least one hour before sailing is due to start. One hour before the
race is due to begin, a decision will be made as to whether conditions
are suitable and if it is decided that the weather is unsatisfactory,
flag "R" will be lowered. If the weather suddenly deteriorates
flag "R" may be lowered within the hour before racing. The
Officer of the Day may make cancellation or postponement signals from
either the Pier Head or the Committee Boat.
4.1 Class Signals.
| Class | Flag |
|---|---|
| Osprey | Naval No. 0 |
| Handicap | "H" |
| Laser | "Laser" |
| Mirror | Numeral 6 |
4.2. Mates Races. When flag "M" is
flown the Osprey and Mirror classes shall sail with the regular crew
as helm and regular helm as crew.
4.3. Changes in Sailing Instructions. Any Changes
in Sailing Instructions will be signalled by flag "L" flown
at the Dinghy Pen, and instructions posted on the notice board near
the Race Office in the dinghy pen a minimum of 30 minutes before the
starting time.
4.4. Boat StartThe systems contained in 4.3 will
also be used to notify competitors of a Boat Start. A Boat Start
board will be displayed by the gate.
5.0. COURSE INSTRUCTIONS (Revised for 2008)
Race Signals: All race signals (start sequence, number of rounds,
couses, etc.) will be displayed either from the Pier Head or from the
Committee Boat displaying an ORANGE flag.
5.1. Unless stated in a Change to Sailing Instructions, the course
will be one of the following:
| Flag | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | Triangle | Numeral 1 |
| Course 2 | Triangle / Sausage | Numeral 2 |
| Course 3 | Four-sided | Numeral 3 |
| Course 4 | Windward / Leward | Numeral 4 |
| Course 5 | Special | Numeral 5 |
Red (port) or green (starboard) flags indicate on which side the marks shall be left (starting and finishing marks excepted). Normally Mirrors and some other nominated classes may sail the shorter course (yellow marks). When flag "F" is flown all classes will sail one course.
5.2. Marks of the Course
In the normal course of events, the Start Mark and Long Course marks
will be inflatable 5 ft orange cylindrical marks, Short Course
marks will be yellow 3 ft 'dumpy' marks and the Turning Mark will
be an orange 3 ft 'dumpy' mark. If a single course for all fleets
is used, Marks may be either the orange cylindrical or yellow dumpy
marks. Course 3 (Four-Sided) shall incorporate orange cylindrical
marks (A & B), a yellow dumpy mark (C) and the Turning Mark.
For all races, the Turning Mark is to be disregarded on the first leg. It is a mark of the course on the final leg.
Whilst every effort will be made to use the facilities and equipment as described in this instruction the OOD reserves the right to revise the use of this equipment to meet the demands of equipment failure or non availability and the overall safety of Club Racing.
5.3. Courses - see
accompanying
indicative diagrams. Mark A will represent the first mark to be
rounded irrespective of whether course is laid to Port or Starboard
hand.
Course 1. A triangular course.
Course 2. A former course comprising alternate
triangle and windward / leward (sausage) laps. This course will only
be used where there is an upwind start, and will therefore mean that
there will not be a windward leg to the finish.
Course 3. A four-sided course intended to incorporate
upwind and square running legs on opposite sides of the course.
Reaching legs shall link the upwind and running legs, and may be broad
or shy.
Course 4. A simple windward / leeward course intended
to comprise a beat and running leg.
Course 5. Flag "L" will be flown from the
Race Office in the dinghy pen and details of the course will be
displayed on the notice board.
5.4. Number of Rounds. The number of rounds to be sailed will be indicated by numbers on a board displayed on either the pier head or the committee boat. For "all in" handicap races all boats will finish by crossing the finish line after the leading boat has finished.
5.5. Handicap Fleet. When the lead boat finishes the OOD will display a square orange board on the MRO (no sound signal). Once this board is displayed all remaining boats in the fleet will finish. If the OOD wants to shorten course for this fleet only, he may display the orange board at any time during the progress of the race. Once this board is displayed all Handicap Fleet boats must finish at the end of their then current lap. The usual average lap time calculations will prevail. This system may also be used for Committee Boat Starts and Finishes.
5.6. Moving a Mark. The Race Committee may decide that a mark should be moved after the start to maintain a good course. All competitors should be aware of this possibility. There may not be any notification of mark movement. This amends RRS 33.
6.0 STARTS.
The start time indicated in the Year Book is the start time of the
first class. The Warning Signal will be 6 minutes before the
advertised start time. The Preparatory Signal will be 3 minutes
before the advertised start time. Ospreys will normally start first,
followed at 3 minute intervals by the Laser, Handicap and Mirror
classes. This amends RRS 26.
Class Starts may be combined and the order of start may be changed at the discretion of the Officer of the Day. Class flags will be grouped accordingly.
Time Limit No boat may start later then 3 minutes after its class or allocated start time.
6.1. Starting Lines. These will be set from one of the following:-
The Pier Head. This will be from the Flag Pole flying flag "P" on the Mount Pier and a line buoy. For a Westerly course, cross the start line from East to West. For an Easterly course from West to East.
A Committee Boat. A Start Line may be set "At Sea" from a Line Buoy and a flagpole on the Committee Boat. The first Mark will be to Windward of the Committee Boat. See Appendix for Boat Start and Finish.
6.2. Individual Recalls. As per RRS 29.1 with Quot;four minutes" to be replaced by "one minute". The sail Number or Numbers will be hailed where possible.
6.3. General Recalls. As soon as possible after a general recall a new preparatory signal (including the class signal) will be made (as RRS 29.2). Any class recalled will restart as a continuation of the starting sequence and three minutes after the last normal class start. This amends RRS 29.2.
7.0 FINISHING.
7.1. The Finishing Line. These will be set from
one of the following:-
Pier HeadThis will be between the small flagpole on
the end of the Mount pier and the Line Buoy. Boats must cross the line
in the opposite direction to the start.
Committee BoatThe finish line will be between the
flagpole on the committee boat and the Turning Mark (to be left to the
same hand as for previous rounds). See Appendix for Boat Start and
Finish.
If a shortened course is indicated, boats may be finished between a Mark of the course and a Finishing Boat.
7.2. Time Limit. A time limit of 30 minutes after the first boat in each class finishes may be enforced. At the discretion of the Race Committee, when a race is becoming prolonged, Flag "L" (over the respective Class Flag(s)) will be flown, accompanied by two sound signals, this will indicate that the positions of all boats racing will be taken as their finishing positions. Boats will be notified by the Safety Boats and must return ashore, or to the starting area for any further race, immediately.
8.0. PROTESTS.
These will be made in accordance with RRS Part 5. Section A.
8.1. Protests should be submitted in accordance with RRS 61.2, and delivered to a Rules Advisor, Club Officer, Class Captain or Committee member within two hours of racing finishing. This amends RRS 61.3.
Arbitration hearings in accordance with the principles of the RYA Racing Charter may be requested. If the protestor and protestee agree, a penalty score of 20% of the series entry number (subject to a minimum of 2 points) may be added to the score of the infringing boat.
8.3. Full protests will normally be heard on Wednesdays following the race, but those occurring on Tuesday evenings may be postponed to the following week.
9.0. DECLARATIONS.
Will be required for all races with competitors signing on with an
intention to race before racing. Competitors shall also sign off upon
return to shore. A time limit for signing off shall be the dropping of
the R flag from the Clubhouse mast, Where 2 races are sailed competitors
shall be required to complete a sign-off declaration for each race,
howeverthese may be completed after completion of the second race.
If a competitor fails to sign-on or sign-off in person, they shall be disqualified from the corresponding race or races without a hearing.
10.0. SCORING SYSTEMS.
The scoring system will be as recommended in RRS Appendix A. (low point
system). A competitor that has signed on as intending to race, but not
formally started the race as prescribed shall be eligible for a 'came
to the starting area' score.
10.1. The number of races to count will be two thirds of the completed races, fractions being raised to the nearest whole number. Ties will be broken in accordance with RRS Appendix A8.
10.2. Club Members who who travel to official class Travellers Series, Open Meetings, Area or National Championships, who undertake an official duty in the course of providing club racing, or who otherwise represent the Club, can be awarded a points position for a single race in each series based on their average points score for races in which they have finished for that series. The race for which they are claiming average points must coincide with the official published date(s) of the outside event or duty and members must notify the Sailing Committee at the earliest reasonable opportunity after the event taking place. At the absolute discretion of the Sailing Committee other circumstances may be considered on their own merits but will not act to create precedent.
10.3. The minimum number of starters to count for points in any race will be two.
10.4. Where a member acquires an alternative boat within a class, they may apply in writing to the Sailing Committee to transfer results to the new boat.