Sailing Instructions
Sailing Instructions for PY&SC Club Races
1 Sailing Rules
1.1 Racing will be governed by the rules as defined in the current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the RYA Prescriptions and the relevant Class Rules.
2 Eligibility
2.1 Only competitors who are either full single, family, junior, student or life members are eligible for Club series and trophies. Visitors and Associate Members shall not be allocated points in respect of any Club race in which they take part.
2.2 In boats with two or more crew only one person may be classed as a competitor for the purpose of claiming a series score for the boat. That competitor must remain as either helm or crew for the duration of a series. The nominated competitor must be disclosed on the race entry sheet - see SI 6.1.
2.3 A Competitor shall accumulate points separately for each different class of boat or variant of rig sailed in a series.
2.4 If a competitor changes to another boat or rig of the same class during a series they may make written application to the Sailing Sub- Committee for their series score to be based on an aggregate of the scores achieved in each boat.
3 Classification/Divisions
3.1 The fleet is divided into 3 Divisions as follows:-
Boats with a PN below 1000 Division 1
Boats with a PN between 1000 and 1050 may choose to sail in Division 1 or 2.
Boats with a PN between 1051 and 1074 Division 2
Boats with a PN between 1075 and 1200 may choose to sail in Division 2 or 3
Boats with a PN greater than 1200 Division 3
3.2 Competitors who have the option to choose Divisions must sign on in the division in which they intend to start each race. Choice of Division shall be binding for a complete series. The Sailing Sub-Committee reserves the right to review choices of Division.
4 Notices to Competitors
4.1 The type of race, first start time and the predicted height and time of the tide is given in this Sailing Programme.
4.2 Notices to competitors shall be displayed on the boat house doors. Signals made ashore shall be displayed from the race hut signal stand on the club house balcony.
4.3 Amendments and Additional Instructions may be made by the Sailing Sub-Committee. These shall be drawn to the attention of competitors by a notice posted adjacent to the Race Entry/Declaration Sheet.
5 Changes to Sailing Instructions
5.1 Any change to these sailing instructions shall be posted not less than 30 minutes before the warning signal. Any change to the schedule of races shall be posted no later than 30 minutes after the finish of the last boat in the preceding race.
6 Entries
6.1 Competitors shall enter each race by completing the race entry sheet before the preparatory signal. In order to rank as a starter a boat must be on the water by the preparatory signal for its division.
6.2 On Double Race Days, the OOD may indicate that races are to be sailed “back-to-back”, in which case a single race entry sheet with the appropriate number of declaration columns shall suffice.
7 Course
7.1 The course details will be displayed on the boat house doors.
7.2 Courses for Division 3, Slow Handicap, and any Junior and Learners’ races shall always be set south of the main shipping channel within the confines of Woodhill Bay.
8 Starting
8.1 Races will be started under RRS Rule 26. The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class. Division 2 races will start 5 minutes after the Division 1 start in Class Races. Division 3 races will start 10 minutes after Division 2 in Class Races and 10 minutes after the start of Divisions 1 and 2 in General Handicap Races and
8.2 Boats waiting to start must keep clear of boats that have started and boats whose start is imminent.
8.3 The Clubhouse start line shall be between the Race Hut Pole and a specified mark.
8.4 Committee Boat start line shall be between the flag mast on the committee boat and specified mark of the course.
8.5 The following Flags will be used:
General Handicap Races:
Divisions 1 and 2: Code Flag A
Division 3 Numeral 3
Class Races:
Division 1 Numeral 1
Division 2 Numeral 2
Division 3 Numeral 3
Style Races:
Asymmetric Numeral 1
Symmetric / no spinnaker classes Numeral 2
Single handed Numeral 3
Junior Races Numeral 4
All other races Code Flag A
8.6 Any Division subject to a general recall shall restart at the end of the sequence of starts.
8.7.1 Each class of boat will be allocated a Start Number calculated by dividing the published Portsmouth Number (or Club Number) by 10, and rounding the resultant figure to the nearest whole number (0.5 will be rounded up)
8.7.2 The race will be started under RRS Rule 26, except that no boat shall start before its Start Number is displayed on the board next to the Race Hut. The Start Number for each class of boat will be advised at registration. At the start, Start Number 140 will be displayed. The Start Number will reduce by one at one minute intervals until all classes have started, and at regular intervals thereafter. This alters RRS 26. There will be no recalls. This alters RRS 29.
8.7.3 The race will finish 140 minutes after the start. The number 00 will be displayed next to the Race Hut, accompanied by a sound signal. Sound and visual signals may also be given from race committee vessels in the sailing area.
8.7.4 After the finishing signal each boat must continue to sail a proper course and maintain its position in relation to the boats immediately fore and aft at the finishing signal until its position is recorded and it is signaled to return to shore by a race committee vessel. The finishing position of each boat will be its position at the finishing signal.
8.7.5 Should conditions not be suitable for a full length (140 minutes) pursuit race, the OOD may run a “half-pursuit” race, in which Start Numbers reduce by one at 30 second intervals, and the finish shall be 70 minutes after the start.
8.8.1 Starts shall be at 10 minute intervals, or such interval as defined by the Sailing Subcommittee and notified on the Boat House doors. The number of starts will be displayed on the Boat House doors. A boat may only start once.
8.8.2 The second and subsequent starts shall be accompanied by a single sound signal. Code flag A will be raised 1 minute before each start, and lowered at each start. This alters RRS 26.
8.8.3 For the second and subsequent starts there will be no recalls. A boat on the course side of the starting line in the minute preceding a start shall be deemed to have started at the previous start. This alters RRS 29.
8.9 Average Lap Races
8.9.1 Starting arrangements will be those for All Other Races, with a single start for all three Divisions.
8.9.2 Finishing positions will be calculated by using corrected average lap times
9 Finishing
9.1 The Clubhouse Finish Line shall be between the Race Hut Pole and a specified mark of the course.
9.2 A Committee Boat Finish Line shall be between the flag mast on the committee boat and a specified mark of the course.
10 Time Limit, Postponement and Abandonment
10.1 For days when one race is scheduled, the time limit will be three hours. This does not apply to long distance races.
10.2 For days when two or more races are scheduled, the time limit will be two hours for each race.
10.3 Boats failing to finish within one hour after the first boat completes the course, or within the time limit, whichever is later, will be scored Did Not Finish. This changes RRS 35 and A4.
11 Declarations and Protests
11.1 Competitors must sign the declaration within thirty minutes of the finish of the last boat. Failure to do so shall result in the competitor being disqualified. Where races are sailed “back-to-back”, declarations shall be signed after the last race of the day.
11.2 Protests shall be lodged in writing with the OOD within one hour of the finish of the last boat.
11.3 Breaches of Instructions 6.1, 11.1 or 12.1 shall not be grounds for protest by a competitor.
12 Safety Rules and Insurance
12.1 Each competitor shall wear adequate personal buoyancy while afloat. A wet suit does not alone constitute adequate personal buoyancy. Flag Y will not be displayed. This alters RRS 40.1.
12.2 All boats must keep clear of commercial shipping; and in particular no boat shall pass between any commercial ship and any escorting vessel. All boats shall comply with any instructions to keep clear given from such a vessel. A boat in breach of rule 12.2 in its entirety shall be subject to disqualification without a hearing. Complying with instructions from an escorting safety boat shall not be grounds for redress. This alters RRS 62.1 and 63.1.
12.3 If necessary in order to move out of the way of shipping, competitors may use self propulsion or external propulsion without penalty of disqualification. However, if such propulsion results in a significant advantage in the race, the competitor shall inform the OOD when signing the declaration so that a suitable time correction can be applied. This exception is covered by RRS 42,3 (h).
12.4 All boats shall have adequate Third Party Insurance as defined in Club Rule 13/11.
13 Scoring
13.1 The results of all handicap races will be calculated using the Portsmouth Number for each class recommended by the RYA under the Portsmouth Yardstick scheme except where modified by the Club under Club Rule 11/1.
13.2 Events will be scored generally in accordance with RRS Appendix A as follows:
13.2.1 The Low-Points System will be used in accordance with RRS A4.1.
13.2.2 All series shall be scored generally in accordance with RRS A9: non finishing boats shall be scored points equal to the number of starters in that race plus one, and boats that do not start shall be scored the points equal to the number of boats in the series plus one. However disqualified boats shall score points equal to the number of starters in that race plus five. This alters RRS A9.
13.2.3 The series score for each boat shall be the total of her race scores excluding her worst scores. The number of scores to be excluded shall be half the number of completed races minus one. In the event of an odd number of races the half is rounded up. This alters RRS A2.
13.2.4 A Competitor carrying out OOD, OOD Mentoring, Safety Boat, Buddy, Galley Duty or acting as an Instructor to the Club’s cadets whilst a race is taking place may claim the average points scored for the other races they have sailed in the series. Average points cannot be claimed for more than two races in a series and cannot exceed the number races actually the competitor sailed in that series. Average points will only be awarded in series of five or more races. This alters RRS A9.
14 Prizes
14.1 For all events, prizes will be awarded to half the number of boats entering, rounded up to a maximum of 2nd place.