Issue 4
RPCYC/WHSC Thursday Evening Series 2017
Sailing Instructions
Sailing Instructions Change Log
Sailing Instructions Change LogChange Number / Date / Change Details
2 / 31 Jan 2017 / Editorial corrections
3 / 4 Feb 2017 / VHF Channel 89 deleted, replaced by Channel 72
4 / 27 Feb 2017 / One Penalty turn for RRS Rule 44.2 infringement
1.0Rules
1.1The Racing Series will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
2.0Notices to Competitors
2.1Notices to Competitors will be posted on the Race Notice board at the RPCYC and will be sent by e-mail to all competitors where addresses are included on entry form.
3.0Changes to Sailing Instructions
3.1Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the Race Notice board at the RPCYC and will be sent by e-mail to all competitors. Changes to the Sailing Instructions will be issued at least 48 hours before the warning for the next Thursday Evening Race.
4.0Signals Made Ashore
4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from the RPCYC flagstaff adjacent to the race control office.
4.2If shipping movements are expected during the race Code Flag W will be displayed prior to the Warning Signal.
5.0Schedule
5.1The Force 4 Plymouth Thursday Evening Series 2017 will commence on Thursday 6th April 2017 and complete on Thursday 14th September 2017.
5.2The Series will be divided into three Mini Series.
Spring Mini Series - From 6th April 2017 to 25th May 2017.
Early Summer Mini Series - From 1st June 2017 to 20 th July 2017.
Late Summer Mini Series - From 27th July 2017 to 14th September 2017.
Class / Flag / Warning / StartFast Handicap / H / 1810 / 1815
Enterprise / E / 1815 / 1820
Slow Handicap / D / 1820 / 1825
Squib / Naval Numeral 9 / 1825 / 1830
5.3Classes, Flags, Warning & Start Schedule
The Warning signals will be brought forward by 20 minutes on the 7th and 14thSeptember 2017.
6.0Racing Area and Marks
6.1The Racing Area is Plymouth Sound north of the Breakwater as shown in Appendix A.
6.2Port of Plymouth Regulations
Boats are racing within the boundaries the Port of Plymouth and the Dockyard Port of Plymouth Order 1999 (DPPO) and Plymouth Notices to Mariners (PLNTM) shall apply. Details of the DPPO and PLNTM are displayed on the RPCYC notice board and website.
In particular, regulations regarding the safe navigation of large vessels shall be strictly observed. When the Race Committee believes that such regulations have been broken so as to bring the sport into disrepute it will act under RRS 60.2(c) requesting the Protest Committee to act under RRS 69.2(b), Action by a Protest Committee.
Any instructions given by the Race Officials, Safety Boats, Police Boats, Coastguard Boats, Military Vessels or Pilot Boats must be obeyed immediately and without question. This may include an instruction to stop racing temporarily to allow a large vessel to pass through the race course. Any such instruction will not be grounds for redress.
6.3Boats, when racing, are prohibited from entering the area between Drake’s Island and Mount Edgecombe. Boats who fail to comply with 6.3 will be disqualified without hearing. This changes RRS Rule 63.1.
7.0Courses
7.1The Buoys to be used as rounding marks in Plymouth Sound are lettered in accordance with the PPSA Plymouth Sound Racing Marks Course Area K1 as shown in Appendix A.
7.2Letter and Figure Boards.
The courses to be sailed will be indicated by Lettered and Figured Boards displayed under the RPCYC Balcony. The boards indicating the marks to be rounded shall be read sequentially from left to right showing the order of marks to be rounded.
7.3Board Coloured Backgrounds
The lettered boards will have either Green and Red backgrounds indicating that the marks shall be left either to starboard (green) or to port (red).
7.4Class Course Symbols
There will generally be two courses set and following symbol boards will indicate the course for each Class.
Spade Signal - Fast Handicap, Enterprise and Slow Handicap
Heart Symbol - Squib
7.5Mark A
Mark A will be a small buoy surmounted by an orange pennant
7.6For the dinghy classes there is no limit to the number of rounds to be completed. All boats are to continue to race until either the race is shortened or the time limit expires. For the Squib Class a number of rounds will be displayed but the course may be shortened if conditions dictate
8.0Start
8.1Races will be started by using Rule 26 with the warning signal made 5 minutes before the starting signal.
8.2The starting line will be an extension of the line from the RPCYC Flagstaff and the transit pole mounted on the wall of the dinghy park.
8.3The outer limit of the start line will be a laid Outer Distance Mark. The ODM will be a white spherical buoy
Exceptionally if an Outer Distance Mark is not laid the outer limit of the starting line will be Mount Batten Breakwater.
8.4A boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored ‘Did Not Start’ without a hearing and shall not receive a score. This changes Rule A4.
8.5Following a General Recall the recalled start shall start after the completion of the scheduled starts in 5.3 above. This changes Rule 29.2
9.0Change of Course
9.1Courses may be changed at the completion of each round. Code Flag C will be displayed and sound signals made to indicate a course change. The new course will be displayed as described in 7.0 above.If Mark A is not laid W Mallard will normally be substituted.
10.0Finish
10.1The finish line will normally be between the Laid Mark ‘A’ and the Club Flagstaff. Mark ‘A’ will be laid near or to the west of the start transit line and Boats shall cross the Finishing Line as instructed by the course mark sequence.
If Mark ‘A’ is not laid then boats shall finish by crossing the starting line between the Club and Mount Batten Breakwater.Helms should be particular vigilant for a shorten course instruction when approaching W Mallard.
11.0Scoring Penalty
11.1Scoring Penalties shall not be used. This changes RRS Rule 44.3
12.0Time Limits and Target Times
12.1The Time Limit for the first boat in each class shall be 90 minutes. Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing.
12.2The Target Times for each race shall be between 45 and 60 minutes duration for dinghies and 60 and 75 minutes for Squibs.This may be increased during the mid-summer period.
13.0Penalty Turns, Protests and Requests for Redress
13.1A boat may take a One Turn Penalty when she may have broken one or more if the Racing Rules of Sailing Part 2 in an incident while racing. This changes the RRS Section 4 Rule 44.2
13.2Competitors may make protests in accordance with RRS Section 5.
13.3The Clubs also offer the rules disputes processes of Advisory and Arbitration
as recommended by the RYA. (The details of these may be found on the RYA Website)
13.4Whenever possible, the Clubs wish to settle on the water disputes by the RYA ‘Advisory’ process immediately on completion of racing. The clubs will provide an ‘Advisor’ to be able to facilitate this process. The result of this process will be binding on the participants and no further redress will be allowed.
13.5If this is not satisfactory to a competitor then the RYA Arbitration Process is available and the Clubs will provide the resources to facilitate this process.
13.6In any event, for any on the water dispute Competitors shall comply with the requirements of RRS Rule 61.1 Informing the Protestee, even if they intend to use either the Advisory or Arbitration processes
13.7Protest forms are available at the RPCYC Race Office. All protests and requests for redress shall be delivered there within 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day or the Race Committee signals no more racing today, whichever is later.
14.0Scoring
14.1The Low Point System, RRS Appendix A4, will be used to score all classes.
•At least two boats in a class must start a race for the race to be valid. Sail overs are not permitted.
•Four races are required to be completed to constitute a Mini Series.
•For each Mini Series one discard is allowed only after five races have been completed.
•Overall Series scores shall be calculated from all races based on the following discard table. This changes RRS Appendix A4
Races Completed / 10 or Less / 11 - 13 / 14 - 15 / 16 / 17 - 18 / 19 - 20 / 21+Races to Count / All / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15
15.0Safety
15.1All dinghy crews shall wear personal flotation devices, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Rule 40 is deemed to be in effect even though Code Flag Y is not flown. This changes Rule 40.
15.2Squib crews, sailing in a keel boat, may use their discretion with regard to weather conditions as to when they wear personal flotation devices.
15.3A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible. This can be reported through one of the Support Boats or direct to the Race Office on 01752 664327.
15.4For dingy classes racing will generally not be started or courses will be shortened or races abandoned for wind speeds forecast, or rising to a steady Force 5 (Range of 17 to 21 kts, Mean of 19kts, with gusts rising into the mid 20’s kts). However, this will depend upon the wind direction and sea state. The Race officer will make the decision and wherever possible will consult with the Class Representatives. The Race Officer will consult with the Squib Class for racing in winds of Force 5 and above.
15.5All competitors shall obey instructions given by the Safety Boats. The safety boat crews give their time voluntarily and should be addressed with respect at all times. Failure to obey safety instructions or rudeness towards safety boat crews may be grounds for disqualification from the race.
15.6For the Enterprise and Squib Classes the following rules apply when shipping movements prevent boats sailing their normal course without interference.
(a)When prevented from rounding a mark of the course:
Boats, when able to safely proceed, are to round the mark clear astern of one another in the order/position they held with the boats immediately ahead and astern as they approached the mark.
(b)When prevented from crossing a navigation channel:
Boats, when able to safely proceed, are to round the next mark clear astern of one another in the order/position they held with the boats immediately ahead and astern when they were prevented from crossing the navigation channel.
15.7Safety Boats are to note 15.6 above when issuing instructions to boats to keep clear of shipping movements.
15.8Competitors and Safety boats are to note the use of the term ‘Code Red’, used in communications, that signifies an emergency situation has arisen which might require racing to be abandoned.
16.0‘Rookies’
16.1The Clubs wish to encourage young sailors into racing and the Slow Handicap Class is open to young sailors still under tuition in their first season of sailing from PDSSA, PYS and the RWYC, mainly sailing Fever dinghies.
16.2The ‘Rookie’ boats are identified by an orange material flowing from a stay and this may be considered as an ‘L’ Plate.
16.3The ‘Rookie” boats are subject to the Racing Rules of Sailing in accordance with the Sailing Instructions but Club competitors are requested to give sufficient warning and latitude to the ‘Rookies’ in close quarters sailing situations and are not present any unsportsmanlike behaviour. If in any doubt the ‘Rookie’ boats are to keep out of the way of other competitors.
16.4The ‘Rookie’ boats are allowed to receive coaching from a support boat. This changes Rule 41. Coaches are only to offer advice and instructions from a distance, are not to interfere in any way with other boats racing and are to keep their wash and wake to a minimum.
17.0Radio Communication
17.1Except in an emergency, a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications which is not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.
17.2The Race Office will communicate with the safety Boats on VHF Ch 72 and will be monitoring Port movements on VHF Ch 14.
17.3The Squibs will carry VHF Radios, Ch 72, for emergency use and use at the discretion of the Race Officer.
18.0Prizes
18.1A prize will be awarded for the first boat in each Class in each Mini Series.
In the event that a boat comes first in more than one Mini Series the prize for the second and subsequent Mini Series will be awarded to the highest finishing boat that has not won a Mini Series. An additional prize will be awarded to a ‘Rookie’ in each Mini Series.
18.2Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the first three boats in the Overall Series. A prize will also be awarded to a ‘Rookie’ in the Overall Series. In addition perpetual trophies will also be awarded by each Club.
19.0Risk Statement
19.1Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”
Sailing by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:-
(a)They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
(b)They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
(c)They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
(d)Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
(e)The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
(f)The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;
20.0Insurance
20.1Each participating boat shall be insured with a valid third party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 per incident or equivalent.
Appendix A
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