SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 2017-2020

1          Rules

1.1       The series of races will be governed by the “rules” as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The prescriptions of the RYA, the Notice of Race, these Sailing Instructions, the rules of Trimpley Sailing Club, Class Association and the requirements of Severn Trent Water.

1.2      Boats are expected to be members of the relevant Class Association and possess a valid measurement certificate.

1.3       Only certified sails shall be used in accordance with the Class Association rules.

1.4       A boat or equipment may be checked by the Race Committee for the compliance of applicable rules.

1.5       Distinguishing numbers: a boat may with the permission of the Race Committee use sails with a distinguishing mark other than the registered number of the boat.

1.6       Trimpley Sailing Club supports the RYA Racing Charter & that when entering, competitors undertake to sail in compliance with the Charter.

 

2          Notice to competitors

2.1       Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the Club House.

2.2       All competitors must register their entry at the reception desk.

3          Changes to Sailing instructions (SI’s)

3.1       Any changes to the SI’s will be posted at least 30 minutes before the warning signal of a race it will affect. The race committee reserves the right to amend the racing programme subject to prevailing conditions.

 

4          Signals Made

4.1       Signals made may be displayed at the Race Control Hut unless otherwise advised at the Briefing within 30 minutes of the start of the race or on the Committee Boat of Trimpley Sailing Club.

5          Safety, Disclaimer of Liability & Insurance

5.1       Rule 4 of RRS states “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”  Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk.  By taking part in an event, each competitor acknowledges this.

5.2       A boat is entirely responsible for her own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. It is for the boat’s crew to decide whether she is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself.

5.3       By launching or going afloat, the boat confirms that she is fit for those conditions and that her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.

5.4       The boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £3,000,000.

5.5       Nothing done by the organizers can reduce the responsibility of the boat, nor will it make the organizers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and include the organising authority, the race committee, the race officer, patrol boats and beach masters. The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of her responsibilities.

5.6       Flag Y will not be flown. Personal floatation devices are mandatory, adequate personal buoyancy must be worn by all competitors whilst afloat. This amends RRS 40.

5.7       The race committee and its patrol boat crews are empowered to compel a competitor to receive significant outside assistance, or return to the shore, when they deem a situation where safety is put at risk. The right of a competitor to seek redress under the RRS is withdrawn under these circumstances. This amends RRS 62.1 This provision does not limit the responsibility of the competitor.

5.8       Patrol Boat(s) – All power boats engaged in safety duties in the sailing area shall rank as an obstruction as defined in RRS Definitions. In addition the water between a power boat and the dinghy(ies) to which she is standing by shall also rank as an obstruction.

 

6          Schedule of Races

Starting and Recalls

6.1       The warning signal for the first race shall not be before the time advised in the Notice of Race. The intended schedule subsequent races shall follow as announced at the briefing.

 7          CLASS Flags

7.1       The falg(s) will be displayed at the briefing

8          Sailing Area & Obstructions

8.1       The sailing area is the full extent of the reservoir.

8.2       The two towers and access bridges in the reservoir rank as an obstruction within two boat lengths.

 The Course & MARKS

9.1       The course will be displayed on the Committee Boat and/or Race Control Hut no later than the warning signal. The mark numbers or letters shall be displayed in sequence, their background colour ‘Red’ or ‘Green’ indicating whether marks are to be passed to port or starboard respectively.

9.2       The number of laps (white numeral on black background) will be displayed on the Committee Boat and/or Race Hut no later than the warning signal.  The number of laps shall be counted when a boat crosses the line used for the starting and finishing of the race.

9.2.1

9.3       Course marks – Course marks are round buoys, labelled and laid out approximately as shown above.

9.4       Start Line Mark – The mark used for the starting line will be a buoy and described at the briefing.

9.5       Finish Line mark

The marks used for the finishing line will be a mark of the course and the Committee boat or the Race Control Hut and the Finish Line Mark10        The Start

10.1     The Starting Line – will be between a staff on the committee boat displaying an orange flag or the Race Control Hut or a staff on the shore and the start line mark.

10.2     A boat starting later than 10 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1 & Appendix A.

11        Change of position of next mark           

11.1     No marks of the course will be moved after the warning signal.

12        The Finish

12.1     The Finishing Line – will be between the staff on the Committee Boat flying an orange flag or the Race Control Hut and the finish line mark.

12.2     Sound Signal – Boats crossing the finishing line may be acknowledged with a sound signal. This does not imply correct completion of the race or otherwise.

13        Penalty System

13.1     The penalties described in RRS 30 & RRS 44.1 – will apply.

13.2     Failure to take a penalty when knowingly breaking a rule is considered a serious breach of the basic principle of sportsmanship.

14        Race Time Limit

14.1     Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat that sails the course and finishes will be classified as Did Not Finish (DNF). This amends RRS 35 & Appendix A.

14.2     The Race Committee may, in its absolute discretion, may allocate a finishing position to any boat that appears to be unlikely to finish in the time limit, or to facilitate the management of the racing. Boats affected will be hailed. The right of a competitor to seek redress under the RRS is withdrawn under these circumstances. This amends RRS 60 and 62.

14.3     A boat that retires from a race shall notify the Race Committee at the first reasonable opportunity.

 15        Protests, Requests for redress & Hearings

15.1     Protests or Requests for Redress shall be in accordance with RRS 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 written on forms available from the race office at Trimpley Sailing Club.

15.2     Completed protest forms shall be lodged with the Race Officer or their representative at the race office at Trimpley Sailing Club within the protest time limit.

15.3     The protest time limit is 30 minutes after the last boat finishes the last race of that day.

15.4     A request for reopening a hearing shall be lodged within 30 minutes of being informed of the original hearing decision. This amends RRS66.

15.5     Boats observed by the Race Committee to have not sailed the correct course will be scored DSQ without the need to protest. Boats may seek redress from this action. This amends RRS 63.1 & Appendix A.

16        DECLARATIONS

16.1     Declarations are not required unless otherwise advised at the Briefing and the Sailing instructions amended.

17        SCORING

17.1     The event will be scored using the low points system in RRS Appendix A.

17.2     A minimum of one race will be sailed to constitute the event. If two races are sailed, both will count. If three or more races are sailed then one discard is allowed.

 

18        SUBSTITUTION OF COMPETITORS or BOAT

18.1     Changing of helm – A change of helm is classified as a new entry.

18.2     Changing of crew – A change of crew must be recorded on the registration form. If the substitute crew is a minor, the parental declaration must also be signed.

18.3     Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless authorised by the Race Committee.  Requests for substitution shall be made to the Race Committee at the first reasonable opportunity.