FIREFLY OPEN MEETING
Saturday 13th May 2023
(The event)
Notice of Race
1.0 RULES
1.1 The event will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, the National Firefly Class
Rules, the Sailing instructions (SI's) and this Notice of Race. In the case of conflict, the SI's will prevail
1.2 Racing rules will be changed as follows:
i. Rule 33 - Marks may be moved by the race committee at any time, with no notification to competitors.
The changes will appear in full in the sailing instructions.
ii. Rule 40 - is changed in that a PFD shall always be worn by anyone afloat , without flag Y being displayed.
1.3 The sailing instructions may also change other racing rules.
2.1 The Organising Authority may require competing boats to carry event sponsor advertising on the hull.
3.0 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
3.1 The event is open to boats of the Firefly class.
3.2 Boats shall be sailed by two persons.
3.3 Eligible boats may enter either:
i. by completing the online entry form – preferred method
ii. by completing the entry form and submitting, together with the required fee, to the event organisers,
before or during the registration period.
3.4 An entry is not complete until:
i. Entry fees have been paid in full.
ii. A crew list, medical and declaration form, available at registration, has been signed by each member of
the crew.
iii. A parental (or guardian) consent form and declaration has been submitted for any competitor aged
under 18.
4.1 The required entry fee is £15 per boat, reduced to £10 for boats with both sailors under the age of 18 or in full
time education.
5.0
COMPETITION FORMAT
5.1 The event will consist of three races with one discard if three races are sailed.
5.2 The event will form part of the M25 Competition.
6.0
SCHEDULE
6.1 Registration will take place from 0930 until 1015.
6.2 The briefing will take place at 1020.
6.3 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race will be at 1055 hours.
6.4 Subsequent race times will be announced on the day.
7.0
MEASUREMENT
7.1 Each boat may be asked to produce a valid measurement certificate.
7.2 Boats may be permitted, at the sole discretion of the race committee, to race without a measurement
certificate. If a measurement certificate is not produced, the boat may be excluded from receiving prizes.
8.0
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
8.1 The sailing instructions will be available at the event registration or may be found on the RSC web site.
9.0
VENUE & COURSES
9.1 The event office will be identified by a notice.
9.2 Racing will take place on Troy Lake.
9.3 Courses will be a combination of laid, as described in the sailing instructions.
10.0
PENALTY SYSTEM
10.1 Rule 44.3 (scoring penalty) does not apply.
11.0
SCORING
11.1 The low points scoring system, as described in Appendix A of the RRS shall apply.
11.2 One race is required to be completed to constitute a series.
11.3 When fewer than three races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores.
11.4 When three or more races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores
excluding her worst score.
12.0
SUPPORT BOATS
12.1 Support boats shall not be permitted without the permission of the race committee.
13.0
BERTHING
13.1 Boats shall be kept in their assigned places while they are in the boat park.
14.0
PRIZES
14.1 Prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the race committee.
15.0
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
15.1 Competitors participate in the event entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing
authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury, or death sustained in conjunction
with or prior to, during, or after the event.
16.0
INSURANCE
16.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of
£3,000, 000 (three million pounds) per incident or the equivalent.
17.0 COVID
17.1 By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges
that they are responsible for complying with any regulations in force from time to time in respect of COVID-19
and for complying with Rickmansworth Sailing Club's COVID-19 procedures. Competitors and support
persons shall comply with any reasonable request from an event official. Failure to comply may be
misconduct. Reasonable actions by event officials to implement COVID-19 guidance, protocols, or legislation,
even if they later prove to have been unnecessary, are not improper actions or omissions. A breach of this rule
shall not be grounds for protest by another boat. This amends rule 60.1(a).
18.0 ENTRIES
