Sailing Instructions for Club Races

Valid From 1st  January  2006

All races will be held under the rules of the ISAF, RYA and the specific rules of each Class concerned with the exception of:

                   ISAF   Rule 26                                  Starting signals

                              Rule 29                                  Recalls

                              Rule 31                                   Touching a mark

                              Rule 32                                  Shortening course

                              Rule 35                                  Time limits

Specific reference will be made in the following Sailing Instructions by heading notation.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF STARTERS

There must be a minimum of 2 starters for each race.

In the Trophy Series a single starter may sail in the Handicap fleet. The handicapper will work out a race result on the assumption that all boats in the Trophy Series are in the same race and transfer the score for that result into the Trophy results.

ENTERING DECLARATION

The helmsman must sign the appropriate entry declaration on the start sheet before the race. Failure to do so will mean that you are not in the race and your times will not be recorded. Where two races are sailed back-to-back, only one declaration is necessary.

The signature is to declare the following:

1.       A valid National Rivers Authority licence is displayed on the dinghy entered.

2.     The helm can produce a valid class certificate and that the dinghy entered conforms to all requirements of its class rules.

3.     The helm has third party insurance cover for at least £1,000,000.

4.     If using a club boat that the appropriate fee has been paid.

5.     The boat intends to compete fairly.

6.     If the boat is to be sailed singled handed or if a spinnaker is carried for intended use.

In exceptional circumstances you may ask a representative to sign on for you. In this circumstance you are deemed to have made the declaration above via your representative.

SIGNING OFF DECLARATION

There is no requirement to sign off after a race is completed, unless the boat intends to retire from that race. In the absence of a retirement declaration or protest against the boat, all boats that have signed on and that finish the race are deemed to have completed the race.

STARTING AND FINISHING LINE

This is formed by bringing into line the two posts with triangular top marks on the clubhouse end of the start line, except when a committee boat is in use.

CLASSES AND THEIR FLAGS

                   National 12                                        Code Flag T

                   Solo                                                  Code Flag A

                   British moth                                       Code Flag E

                   Handicap                                           Numeral Pennant 1

STARTS (Rule 26 amended)

Time of start - As printed in the fixture list or in exceptional circumstances as posted on the notice board.

The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal for the preceding class

In the event that a boat is on the course side of the line after the one-minute warning the vessel must return to the pre-start side of the line without any rights of way before starting. The Race Officer will TRY and inform the helm of their status but the onus is on the helm to comply and failure to do so will result in disqualification unless they retire.

Boats not racing or not under a warning signal are requested to keep clear of those that are. Boats not racing are requested to allow the race officer a clear view of the start / finish line. This applies particularly to boats launching and landing.

SPLIT STARTS

When more than 15 entries are received, the fleet may be split into 2 sections. The two starts will be split into approximately equal sections by sail number or handicap number or by picking an A or a B out of a hat as appropriate.

If a split start is used, a board bearing the letter X will be displayed on the race box. Numeral pennant 1 will be used as a class flag for the first section and numeral pennant 2 will be used as a class flag for the second section.

In the event of the race officer deciding to introduce a split start without a briefing (i.e. after boats are on the water) the following shall apply:      

              First start (numeral pennant 1, fast fleet) Boats with a PY of 1156 and under.

              Second start (numeral pennant 2, slow fleet) Boats with a PY of 1157 and over.

RECALLS (Rule 29 amended)

In the event that a boat is on the course side of the line at the start signal, the bell will be repeated and the Race Officer will TRY to hail the number on any such boat. The vessel must return to the pre-start side of the line without any rights of way before starting. If any boat fails to return it will be noted on the race sheet and their laps will be counted from the moment they cross the line correctly. This may be the next lap.

GENERAL RECALLS (Rule 29 amended)

A general recall shall be indicated by hoisting the 1st Substitute code flag, and with two rings of the starting bell immediately after the starting signal sounds. The re-start will then take place 1 minute after the first substitute flag is lowered, unless there is another race or second section of the same race scheduled to take place after the start in question, in which case the re-start will take place 5 minutes after the last start

TOUCHING A MARK (Rule 31 amended)

When a boat touches a mark surrounded by navigable water, she may exonerate herself as follows:

Complete the rounding of the Mark, leaving it on the required side and thereafter re-rounding it or re-passing it without touching it, as required, to sail the course in accordance with rule 28.1, (Sailing the Course) and DSC Sailing Instructions.

SHORTENING COURSE (Rule 32 amended)

All races are finished using the Shorten Course signal.

The respective class flag will be hoisted over Flag S and the bell sounded twice (normally when the leading boat is in the vicinity of the penultimate buoy.) As soon as the signal has been given each boat in that race will be finished irrespective of the number of laps completed. As they cross the line the bell will be sounded once.

In the event of a split start all boats are finished as if there had been only one start.

In exceptional circumstances it may be advisable to shorten course on a boat, other than the leading boat, to avoid some boats having to sail a further lap in failing light or wind.

Note: In Trophy races the shorten-course flag should normally be raised separately for each individual class. In some circumstances more than one Trophy race can be shortened at the same time in which case all respective class flags must be hoisted over the S flag. In exceptional circumstances all Trophy races can be shortened at the same time in which case the S flag is raised alone.

TIME LIMITS  (Rule 35 addition)

The time limit will be the intended duration of the race plus 15 minutes. In the event of any boat being unable to complete the course within the time limit, or if at least one boat finishes within the time limit but other boats are unable to finish within 30 minutes of the first boat finishing, the Race/Sailing Committee may at its discretion use the previous completed lap times.

RETIREMENTS AND DISQUALIFICATION

Unless disqualified by a protest committee or the Sailing Committee for unfair sailing, boats not completing the course correctly will be deemed to have retired and should sign off as such.

SCORING SYSTEM - CLUB RACES           

              First:                                            1 point

              Second:     2 points

              Third:        3 points

              Retirement: 16 points except that when the number of points possible exceeds 15, boats will score one point more than the highest score of the last boat.

Disqualification: 17 points except that when the number of points possible exceeds 15, boats will score two points more than the higher score of the last boat.

PROTESTS

Protests in writing must be handed to the Race Officer, together with the protest fee of £1 within 30 minutes of completing the course or withdrawing from the race. The Race Officer at his discretion may extend this in special circumstances.  Protests will be heard at the clubhouse as soon as possible after the race

PORTSMOUTH YARDSTICK SCHEME

The Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme as set out in the current YR2 will be used. Portsmouth Numbers (PN) will be those published by the Sailing Committee prior to the start of each race or as posted on the notice board. PNs applicable at the start of the season are shown in the Fixture List.

Yachts without PNs published in the current YR2 will be allocated numbers by use of the Trial Numbers method described in the current YR2.

PNs may be adjusted by the method set out in the current YR2 periodically at the discretion of the Sailing Committee.

PERSONAL BUOYANCY

It is a requirement that whilst racing all cadet members wear personal buoyancy jackets.

BUOYS

          Bank       A DSC buoy placed between 70 and 300 yards (approx.) downstream from the entrance to the Desborough channel.

          Club          A DSC buoy near the clubhouse.

          Manor       A DSC buoy near or downstream from the manor house.

          Desborough A DSC buoy placed between Club and Bank.

          Walton    A DSC buoy placed in the vicinity of Walton Bridge.

COURSES

The course letter for class races will be displayed on the front of the race box. It is a requirement of all Long Distance races that they reach and sail a course in the vicinity of Halliford Bend. In the event that a finish at the club house line is not practical, a finish line between Walton Bridge and the clubhouse must be established.

       A.   All buoys to port. Upstream start to Bank(R), to Club(P), to Manor(R), to Club(R), to line.

          B.    All buoys to starboard. Upstream start to Bank(R), to                             Club(R), to Manor(R), to Club(P), to line.

   E.    All buoys to port. Upstream start to Bank(R), to Club(P), to Walton(R), to Club(R), to line.

          F.    All buoys to starboard. Upstream start to Bank(R), to                             Club(R), to Walton(R), to  Club(P), to line.

G.      All buoys to port. Upstream start to Bank(R), to Club(P), to Manor(R), to Club(R), to  Manor(R), to Club(R), to line.

          H.    All buoys to starboard. Upstream start to Bank(R),                          to Club(R), to Manor(R), to Club(R), to Manor(R), to                          Club(P), to line.

          M.   As B course, but the Bank buoy is rounded to port.

          N.   As H course, but the Bank buoy is rounded to port.

              Note: Courses M and N are useful when a strong stream is                 running.

          Y.    Letter Y in conjunction with another letter indicates that the course is modified to include the Desborough buoy, which must be passed to starboard on the upstream leg, but is not a mark of the course on the downstream leg.

          Z.    Special course - details displayed on the club board                 near the race box.

     N.B. (P) and (R) indicate whether a buoy is to be                passed or rounded.

Note to Race Officers: Courses should be set with due consideration to the sailing conditions. In particular, care should be taken to avoid creating legs in significant wind shadow. This may require buoys to be sited away from their “normal” positions or a special course selected.