RICKMANSWORTH SAILING CLUB SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 2010
1 Rules
Racing will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009 - 2012.
2 Conditions of Entry
2.1 The safety of a boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person in charge who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise in the course of the race. Neither these sailing instructions nor any inspection of the boat limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/person in charge for the crew, the boat and her management. The race organisers shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/person in charge or crew as a result of their taking part in a race or races. Moreover, every owner/person in charge warrants the suitability of the boat for the race or races.
2.2 All boats shall be insured against a third party claim, for a minimum figure of £2,000,000 at all times when on the Club premises.
2.3 Competitors must be members of the Club with sailing rights, as defined in the club rules, in order to score points.
2.4 Under exceptional circumstances the race committee may permit a boat to use sails carrying a distinguishing number other than that required by rule 77. The person in charge should ensure that the correct number for the boat appears on the race result sheet.
3 Safety
A personal flotation device shall be worn by all competitors between 1 November and 31 March, and at all times by Junior Members, without the flying of flag Y. This changes rule 40. Failure to comply shall result in disqualification without protest, which changes rule 63.
4 Notices to Competitors
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board, which is above the second slipway away from the Clubhouse, to the South.
5 Changes in Sailing Instructions
These sailing instructions may be changed up to 10 minutes before the warning signal.
6 Signals Made Ashore
Signals made ashore will be displayed on the halyards on the starting bridge.
7 Schedule of Races
Races are scheduled as shown on the Club’s web site.
8 Class (Warning) Flags
Average Lap Races Flag Q Yellow rectangle
9 Course and Marks
9.1 The course can be made up using any of the Club buoys, which are normally pink/red with a letter on, together with additional ones laid by the race committee. The course will be shown on the official notice board, and extra marks described thereon. The inner distance mark is normally a white mark carrying a pole, the outer distance mark is normally a pink/red can with no letter. All marks are rounding marks unless otherwise stated.
9.2 For all races, boats must pass through the finish line as defined in SI.14 at the end of each lap, the inner and outer distant marks will rank as passing marks. Any boat failing to do so will have the number of laps recorded for them reduced by one for each time they fail to pass through the finish line.
9.3 No boat shall pass between the red and white pole off the Clubhouse shore, the storage shed to the North of the club house, and the first pontoon to the south of the club house. This area ranks as an obstruction and any boat entering it will be scored as DNF without protest, which changes rule 63 and Appendix A.
10 Number of Rounds - Race Duration
10.1 Average Laps Races
The first lap is completed, when after rounding all the marks, a boat first crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark. After the race has started, typically between 30 / 45 minutes for summer series races, flag S will be hoisted accompanied by 2 sound signals. All boats will finish when they next cross the line in the direction of the course from the last mark, having rounded all the marks in the correct order. Failure to shorten between the times stated will not be grounds for redress which changes rule 62.
10.2 All Other races
For all other races, the number of laps will be shown on the course board. If the shorten course signal is made from the shore line, the leading boat finishes when it next crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark, after having rounded all the marks in the correct order. All boats then finish in the same manner after the leading boat.
11 The Start
11.1 The starting sequence will be in accordance with rule 26.1, a sound signal of several blasts on the horn may be made approximately 5 minutes before the start sequence commences.
11.2 No boat shall start later than 15 minutes after the starting signal.
12 Starting Line
One of following starting lines will be used, normally the line will be as stated in 12.1. The same line may not always be used as the finishing line.
12.1 The extension of a line from the mast above the starting box, through a white mark with a pole with an outer distant mark as the limit at the other end, which will usually be a pink/red buoy.
12.2 A line between the mast on the committee boat, and a white mark with a pole at the other end.
12.3 A line between a white mark with a pole at one end and the outer distance mark at the other end, which will usually be a pink/red buoy.
13 Changing the position of the next mark
When, after the race has started and there is a substantial wind shift, and provided that no boat is on that leg of the course, the race officer may move one or more of the marks. Rule 33 is changed in that no visual or sound signals will be made. For Average Lap races a mark will only be moved before it becomes the next mark for the leading boat for the first time.
14 Finishing Line
14.1 Unless otherwise stated on the course board before a race, the following will be the standard finishing line: A line between a white mark with a pole at one end and the outer distance mark at the other end, which will usually be a pink/red buoy.
14.2 For Average Lap races the marks used to define the finish line will normally be those used for the start line, normally the marks will not be moved after the start.
15 Time Limit
Rule 35 is changed as follows:
15.1 When the leading boat fails to complete the first lap within 30 minutes, the race may be abandoned and may be resailed at the first opportunity. The time of such resailed race will be stated on the official notice board as soon as possible after the abandonment of the race in question. Signals will be in accordance with rule 32 (N over H) No postal notification will be made.
15.2 Any boat that fails to complete the course within 30 minutes of the leading boat will be scored as DNF which changes Appendix A.
16 Protests
16.1 Protests should be submitted within 30 minutes after the time of the last boat to finish in that race. Parties to a protest shall not leave the Club until they have been advised of the time and place when the protest will be heard. This will usually be as soon as convenient after racing. The Protestor shall be responsible for ensuring that the Protestee is aware that a protest has been lodged.
17 Declarations
Declarations will be required, and the race sheet shall be signed within 45 minutes of the last boat to finish in the last race of the day. The race sheet will be found in the Clubhouse to the right of the door leading to the ladies cloakroom.
18 Scoring System
18.1 The Low Point scoring system of Appendix A will apply.
18.2 A boat that did not Start, did not Finish, retired after finishing the race or was disqualified shall score points equal to the number of boats that entered the race which changes Appendix A.
18.2 Boats that do not go to the starting area will be scored points for DNC that will be determined by the Hon. Sailing Secretary at the start of each series. This number may be changed and the results recalculated.
18.3 The Duty Officer and Race Officer may request to be awarded average points if they are unable to compete in a race when on duty. When calculating average points these will exclude discarded races in that series. Appendix A is thereby changed.
18.4 The number of races to count for trophies and discards to be applied will be as stated on the
Club’s website.