Club Sailing Instructions

Races will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 1997-2000 (RRS) as issued by the International Sailing Federation. The prescriptions of the RYA and the rules of the classes racing except as any of these are changed by these instructions.

ENTRIES: To enter any race the helmsman must be a member of the club, except for open events when competitors are considered to be Honorary Members. To enter club races competitors must make their intentions clear to the O.O.D. Cadet crews are expected to make their intentions to sail clear to the O.O.D. in the dinghy park. They must not go afloat until one of the club rescue boats is in the vicinity of the hard. In the event of a cadet crew wishing to retire from a race, the O.O.D. must be informed who will either direct the boat to sail in or tie alongside the committee boat.

INSURANCE AND SAFETY: The safety of a boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person in charge (or parent / guardian in the case of cadet members) who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise in the course of the event/race. Neither these sailing instructions nor any inspection of the boat limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/person in charge/parent/guardian for the crew, the boat and her management. T.S.C shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to any member or other person as a result of their taking part in any club event.

BUOYANCY: Effective personal buoyancy shall be worn by all dinghy helms and their crews when afloat. Wet suits or dry suits do not constitute adequate buoyancy. All dinghies sailed in club events shall have adequate fitted buoyancy as required by the class rules. It is the responsibility of the helm or parent in the case of cadet helms to check that this buoyancy is adequate and in good condition before going afloat.

DINGHY COURSES, START AND FINISH LINES, STARTING SIGNALS and TIME LIMIT: Dinghy courses will be displayed on the day at the club or on the Committee boat before the start. The start line/finish line will be between the committee boat and the designated buoy or mark on the shore. Starting signals for dinghy races will be at 3 minute intervals. In the event of the course being changed before the start flag C with 2 sound signals will be made, the new course will be displayed on the committee boat.
The course may be shortened and the race finished between the committee boat flying flag S and any adjacent buoy/shore mark. TIME LIMIT: This is entirely at the discretion of the O.O.D. who may award finishing places in non-handicap races to those boats that have not completed the course. The abandonment of racing will be indicated by flag N.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT: All cruisers should carry the safety equipment R.Y.A and the B.J.R.C.

FLAG SIGNALS
DINGHY HANDICAP	Pennant
CRUISER HANDICAP	2 Pennant
MIRROR	M Pennant
LASER/OK	Pennant
CADET HANDICAP	Y Pennant
PREPARATORY (3 mins)	P Pennant
POSTPONMENT (15 mins)	Answering Pennant
ABANDONED	N. Pennant
CHANGED COURSE	C Pennant
SHORTENED COURSE	SPennant

In the event of the sound signals failing the starting sequence will be indicated by the visual signals alone.

RECALLS: The class signal will remain flying and 1 sound signal made if any part of a competitors yacht is over the starting line when the starting signal is made. The flag will remain flying until all yachts have returned to the pre-start side of the line. The O.O.D. may indicate when individual yachts are clear to restart by calling their numbers. A GENERAL RECALL will be indicated by 2 additional sound signals and the 1st substitute flown. Any other classes racing will continue to start on schedule, the starting signal of the last scheduled class will be the preparatory signal for the recalled class.

CRUISER COURSES: Cruiser courses will normally be displayed on the club notice board from the Wednesday prior to the event. Six minute and three minute signals will be used to start the races.

FINISH OF CRUISER RACES: In the event of their being no committee boat to finish races competitors should record their own finish times and communicate them to the Race Officer within 24 hours.

HANDICAPS: These will be based on the PORTSMOUTH YARDSSTICK system. Adjustments may be made at any time by the club committee.

PROTESTS: Protests must be submitted in writing to the O.O.D. in accordance with the R.Y.A. procedure, together with a 0.50p fee, within 1 hour of coming ashore. The O.O.D. will convene a Protest Committee who will settle the protest and communicate their findings to the Sailing Secretary. The parties involved must make themselves available as directed by the O.O.D.

CADET EVENTS: To be eligible for Cadet events competitors must be 18 or under. While the committee normally expects both helm and crew to be cadets, in the event of lack of experience or difficult conditions an adult may sail as crew with the agreement of the O.O.D.

POINTS: For a series of races points will be awarded as follows: 1st 3/4 point, 2nd 2 points, 3rd 3 points etc. D.N.S. series starters plus 2 points. D.N.F. series starters plus 1 point. In a series consisting of N races the number to count will be calculated as follows: For N even N/2 plus 1, and for N odd N/2 plus 1/2.

PENALTIES: Rules 31.2 (360 turn for touching a mark) and 44.1(720 turn for other rule infringements not resulting in damage) will apply.

 

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