Round Texel2018
JUNE 16, 2018
For all Texel Rated beach catamarans
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
The 41stRound Texel, the World’s Biggest Catamaran Race, will be sailed around Texel (the Netherlands) on Saturday June 16, 2018.
A contingency date is scheduled for Sunday June 17 2018.
The Organizing Authority (OA) is the Ronde om Texel Foundation, in conjunction with the Kustzeilvereniging Westerslag (KZVW), under the auspices of the Royal NetherlandYachting Union.
[DP]denotes a rule for which the penalty is at the discretion of the Protest Committee.
[NP]denotes that a breach of this rule will not be grounds for a protest by a boat.
[SP]denotes a rule for which a standard penalty may be applied by the race committee without a hearing.
1RULES
1.1 The Texel Dutch Open Championship will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
1.2The Rules for Championships Sailing, Windsurfing and Kite boarding will apply.
1.3The Texel Rating Rules will apply.
1.4Decisions of the International Jury will be final as provided in RRS 70.5.
1.5The following sailing instructions contain changes to the Racing Rules:
SI 5.2; 5.3; 7.2; 10; 11.1; 13; 14; 16.1; 16.4;16.7; 16.8;16.12; 16.13; 18.1; 18.9; 20.1; 21.3; 24.1
1.6If there is a conflict between languages the original text will take precedence.
1.7Every person on board who has his domicile in the Netherlands shall have the appropriate license.
2ENTRY AND STARTING PERMIT
2.1Competitorsare only allowedto participate in the Round Texel race if they havereceived a starting permit from the registration office.
2.2Competitors have to sign the starting permit and are responsible for the correct data on the starting permit.
2.3Changes in the entry form and starting permit can only be made until Friday June15,2018 at 20:00 at the RegattaOffice, upon which a new starting permit will be issued.
3NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
3.1Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board, next to the Regatta Office on the beach at Paal 17.
4CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
4.1Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board before FridayJune 15,2018 at 21:00.
5SIGNALS MADE ASHORE [DP][NP][SP]
5.1Signals ashore will be displayed at the flagpoles next to the Regatta Office.
5.2To alert boats that they must not go afloat until further notice, flag AP will be displayed over flag B with two sounds. To alert boats that they are allowed to go afloat, flag AP over flag B will be removed with one sound. When AP over flag B is hoisted and a boat is afloat that boat will be disqualified without a hearing by the race committee and will be refused at the next edition of this event. This changes RRS 63.1. [DP][SP]
5.3Flag Y will not be displayed;RRS 40.1 applies always while afloat. This changes RRSPart 4 preamble and RRS 40.1. [DP][SP]
6SCHEDULE OF RACE
6.1The skippers briefing will be held on Saturday June16 at 08:30on the beach in front of the Regatta Office.The start of the Round Texel race will be between09:30 and 11:30.
6.2For in case the race cannot be sailed on Saturday June 16 2018, a contingency date has been scheduled for Sunday June 17. The start on the contingency date will be between 10:00 and 12:15.
7RACING AREA AND THE COURSE [DP][NP][SP]
7.1Attachment A shows an indication of the course to be sailed around Texel on Saturday June 16. The distance from the beach to the starboard end of the starting line is approximately 200 meters.The course is clockwise around the island Texel and has a length of approximately 65 NM.
7.2Boats that do not sail the course as described, will be disqualified without a hearing by the race committee (this changes RRS 63.1). [DP][SP]
7.3Leg 1
Leg 1 of the course: from the starting line toGate 1 near the lighthouse.
Boats shall not sail more than approximately 1 NM off the coast for safety reasons.
Boats shall watch for a 600-meter long breakwater off Paal 31, near the lighthouse. Two inflatable colored cylindrical buoys will be placed at the sea end of the breakwater, forming a gate of approximately 200 meters wide. A race committee boat will be positioned close to the buoy at the port end of the gate.Boats shall pass through this gate in northeasterly direction.
Leg 2
Leg 2 of the course: from Gate 1 to Gate 2.
The compass course to the next mark (gate) is approximately 140°.
A sandbank called “Hengst”, northeast of this course is a protected area and is not specifically marked. This area shall be kept clear (see also SI 9).
Approximately 1 NM after the lighthouse a gate will be positioned, quite close to the shoreline.Two inflatable colored cylindrical buoys will be placed in the channel perpendicular to the course, forming Gate 2, approximately 200 meters wide. Boats shall pass through this gate in a southeasterly direction.
Leg 3
Leg 3 of the course: from Gate 2 to the RC vessel near the VC-buoy.
The general compass bearing from Gate 2 to the RC vessel anchorednear the VC-buoy is approximately 124°, however the leg cannot be sailed in one straight line. Initially the compass bearing isapproximately 120°, the ‘second part’ approximately 135° towards the RC vessel.
The “Vlakte van Kerken”, located southwest of this course, is protected area and is marked withgreen navigation buoys.The entire line formed by the southerly markof Gate 2, these buoys Rg3 through Wwl11, the VC-buoy and the RC vessel shall be left to starboard (see also SI 9). Boats crossing the line will be noticed by the RC and will be disqualified without a hearing.
The Race Committee boat,carrying a green flag and stationed a couple hundred meters E/SE of the actual VC-buoy, is the mark to round. This mark shall be left to starboard.
Leg 4
Leg 4 of the course: from the RC vessel near the VC-buoy to Gate 3 near Oudeschild.
A line of red navigation buoys will approximately mark the direction to the “IJzeren Kaap” (a steel construction on the dike before Oudeschild). The entire line formed by the RC vessel near the VC-buoy, these buoys Wvk10 through Vc4 and the IJzeren Kaap shall be left to starboard (see also SI 9).Boats crossing the line,noticed by the RC, will be recorded and disqualified without a hearing.
The general compass bearing towards the “IJzeren Kaap” is approximately 216°. The compass bearing directlyfrom the RC vessel near the VC-buoy towards Gate 3 is approximately 210°.
Gate 3 will be located offOudeschild, where aRace Committee boat, carrying a green flag,will be anchored approximately 300 meters off the harbor entrance. Acolored cylindrical buoy will be attached to the RC boat. Another large colored cylindrical buoy will be placed approximately 100 meters off the harbor entrance. The two colored cylindrical buoys will form a gate of approximately 200 meters wide. All boats shall pass through this gate in a southwesterly direction.
Leg 5
Leg 5 of the course: from Gate 3 to Gate 4 at the southern point of Texel.
After passing through Gate 3, boats continuea southwesterly course towards the southern tip of the island.
Boats areadvised to keep red navigation buoys T10 and T8 to starboard, avoiding shallow hidden rockslocated close to the coastline, which are also marked with cardinal buoys “Stenen Oost” and Stenen Zuid”.
Boats are advised to respect the cardinal buoysT-BW-O (east mark) and T-BW-Z (south mark), located just before the Veerhaven (ferry port). These marks indicate the location of the tide energy generators betweennavigation buoy T8 and the Veerhaven.
Boats shall be aware of the ferry route crossing their track about halfway this leg.
At the southern point of the island a gate will be positioned. This Gate 4 is formed by colored inflatable mark attachedto theyellow navigation buoy Mg-H on the starboard side, and a large colored cylindrical regatta buoy on the portside.Boats shallpass through this gate in a northwesterly direction.
Leg 6
Leg 6 of the course: from Gate 4 to Finish.
After Gate 4, at the entrance of the channel “Molengat” there are three yellow metal buoys to port side, named Nbw5, Nbw3 and Nbw1, marking the initial boundaries of the “Razende Bol”, another protected area. The entire line formed between these buoys shall be left to port (see also SI 9). Boats crossing the line,noticed by the RC, will be recorded and disqualified without a hearing.
From Gate 4 towards the North Sea, the shore side of the Molengat ismarked with yellow metal buoys. From the gate mark Mg-H onwards they are identified asMg-G through Mg-B. The entire line formed between these buoysMg-H through Mg-B shall be leftto starboard(see also SI 9) to avoid sailing into the protected areas along the shores and underwater breakwaters and bunkers. Boats crossing the line will be noticed by the RC and will be disqualified without a hearing.
After passing Mg-B, on the way to the finish, boats should be aware of the numerous unmarked underwater breakwaters and bunkers close to the shore.
Approximately 500 meters before the finish line there is a small shipwreck just on the boundary of the surf.
Approximately 300 meter before the finish line there is a gate (Gate 5) of approximately 650 meters. The gate is marked as large inflatable red cylindrical buoys.
Make sure that you do not sail through the finish line again after you have finished, as this will cause disqualification (see also SI 13). Boats need to take caution of the breakwaters close to the finish line.
8MARKS
The marks that are used are large cylindrical regatta buoys and/or otherwise as specifically described in SI 7.
9AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS [DP][SP]
The course contains several restricted areas, also marked in attachment A:
- “Hengst” (north of Gate 2)
- “Vlakte van Kerken” (triangle to the west of VC buoy)
- “Mokbaai” (after the Veerhaven)
- “De Hors” (southern tip of the island)
- The area between buoy line Mg-H up to Mg-B, and the shore
- “Razende Bol” (area west of buoys Nbw5, Nbw3 and Nbw1)
The boundaries of the restricted areas mentioned in this SI 9.1 and further described in SI 7.3 are considered obstructions in the sense of the “Definitions” of the RRS.
10SIGNALS DISPLAYED AT SEA
Signals at sea will only be displayed by Race Committee boats.
Displaying a red flag without a sound signal during the race means that the time limit has expired: boats shall leave the racing area and follow the instructions of the Race Committee boats. This changes RRS “Race Signals”.
Displaying flag ‘N’ without sound signals means that the Round Texel race has been abandoned for safety reasons and will not be restarted. All boats have to sail to the nearest beach or harbor immediately. This changes RRS “Race Signals”.
11THE START
11.1Start procedure
The following start procedure replaces RRS 26:
PreparationSignalFlagSoundTime before
starting signal
Postponement Flag AP displayed2 sounds> 32 minutes
Flag AP removed1 sound31 minutes
Warning andRed flag displayed1 sound30 minutes
PreparatoryFlag P displayed30 minutes
Flag P removed1 sound10 minutes
Z flag (RRS 30.2) Flag Z displayed1 sound4 minutes
One-minuteFlag Z removed1 sound1 minute
StartRed flag removed1 sound0 minutes
During the four minute signal a helicopter shows, as an indication, a blue smoke signal.
During the start signal a helicopter shows, as an indication, a red smoke signal.
Between the 1-minute signaland the starting signal no part of a boat or its crew shall be in the triangle area that is formed by the ends of the starting line and the lighthouse of Texel. RRS 30.2 is changed, so that the scoring penalty is 25% and any rights to the Line Honors are revoked. This changes RRS 63.1.
A boat starting later than 20 minutes after the starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4 and A5.
11.2Starting line
The starting line is defined as the line between an orange flag on board the starting vessel at the port end and orange flag on board the counter starting vessel at the starboard end.
One or both vessels not being anchored will be no ground for redress.
For purpose of orientation and supporting the official starting signal,Race Committee boats can sail along the starting line. The position of the Race Committee boats will not be ground for redress.
12.CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE
The course follows a fixed path as described in SI 7. No changes tolegs will be made and signaled while racing.
13THE FINISH
- The finish line will be off the beach near Paal 17.
- The finish line will be between blue flags, on port side located on the finishing vessel (JAR) and on starboard side located an inflatable colored cylindrical buoy.
- A boat which has finished and re-crosses the finish line will be disqualified without a hearing by the Race Committee. This changes RRS 63.1.
14PENALTY SYSTEM
Rules 44.1 and 44.2 are changed so that only one turn, including one tack and one gybe, is required.
15TIME LIMITS AND TARGET TIMES
Time limit checkpoint no.1, at gate 1:
Gate 1, near the long breakwater west of the lighthouse. Boats failing to pass checkpoint no.1 in time shall abandon the race. They will be shown a red flag from a Race Committee boat and shall return directly to the beach at Paal 17.
Time limit checkpoint no.2, at gate 2:
Gate 2, approximately 1 NM east south east of the lighthouse. Boats failing to pass checkpoint no.2 in time shall abandon the race. They will be shown a red flag from a Race Committee boat and shallgo directlyto the beach west of Gate 2 near the lifeguard station.
Time limit checkpoint no.3, at the VC buoy:
RC vessel near the VC-buoy.Boats failing to pass the third in time shall abandon the race. They will be shown a red flag from a Race Committee boat and shallgo directlyto the beach west of Gate 2 near the lifeguard station.
Time limit checkpoint no. 4 at Gate 3:
Gate 3, near Oudeschild. Boats failing to pass checkpoint no. 4 in time shall abandon the race. They will be shown a red flag from a Race Committee boat and shall go directly ashore the small beach approximately 0.5 NM north of the harbor entrance of Oudeschild.
If necessary for safety reasons other time limits will be announced ashore or at sea. Establishing the time limits is entirely at the discretion of the Race Committee and will be no ground for redress.
No time limits will be set for the Round Texel race.
16PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
16.1Boats need not display the protest flag. This changes the 6m limit of RRS 61.1 (a.2).
16.2Protest forms are available at the Regatta Office. Protests and request for redress shall be delivered within the protest time limit. Protesters shall use the start numbers as identification onthe protest form.
16.3The Race Committee, intending to protest a boat under RRS 60.2 (a), will comply with RRS 61.1 (b) by informing her by way ofthe protest log on the notice board.
16.4The protest time limit is forty-five (45) minutes after the last boat has finished. The same protest time limit also applies to all protests by the Race Committee and Jury, and to requests for redress. This changes RRS 61.3 and 62.2.
16.5Notices of protests by the race committee or jury will be posted to inform boats under RRS 61.1(b).
16.6The start numbers of boats that are disqualified without a hearing will be posted on the notice board within 60 minutes after the time of the last finisher. Boats concerned may lodge a written request for a hearing within one and a half hour of the time of the last finisher.
16.7Breaches of Sailing Instructions 5 and 22 will not be grounds for protest by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1 (a)
16.8Penalties for breaches of SI rules marked with [SP] will be disqualification (or otherwise specified) by the Race Committee without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1 and A5. Specific Sailing Instructions involved are 5.2; 5.3; 7.2; 9; 18.1; 18.2; 18.3 and 18.4.
16.9Penalties for breaches of SI rules marked with [DP] are at the discretion of the Jury. Specific Sailing Instructions involved are 5; 7; 9; 19; 21; 23; 24; 25; 26, or breaches of class rules.
16.10Protests will be heard at the jury office near the RegattaOffice, in approximately the order of receipt and as soon as possible.
16.11The starting number of the protestors, of the protestees and of the named witnesses will be posted on the notice board within one hour after the time of the last finisher.
These witnesses (if any) can only be heard if they are in calling distance of the jury office at the time of the hearing concerned.
16.12A request for a written decision shall be lodged within one hour after being informed of the decision. This changes RRS 65.
The time limit in respect of lodging a request for reopening is set to one hour after being informed of the decision. This changes RRS 66.
16.13Breaches of sailing instructions 18.2-18.5, 21, 23 and 24 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the jury so decides. The scoring abbreviation for a discretionary penalty imposed under this instruction will be DPI.
16.14Decisions of the International Jury, appointed in accordance with RRS 91(b), will be final as provided in rule 70.5.
17SCORING
17.1The Round Texel is a one-race event, so the series consists of one race. No specific point scoring system is applied.
18SAFETY REGULATIONS [NP][DP][SP]
18.1Flag Ywill not be displayed, RRS 40.1 applies always while afloat. This changes the Part 4 preamble and RRS 40.1.