Sailing Instructions 2011
1.0 RULES
The racing will be governed by the 'rules' as defined in ISAF 2009-2012 The Racing Rules of Sailing.
2.0 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the Race Information Board or on the white board located outside the main Boat Club door.
3.0 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any changes to the sailing instructions will be posted one hour before the first starting signal on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 hours the day before it takes effect.
4.0 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
Signals made ashore more than 30 minutes prior to the time of the first race will be displayed on the flag pole outside the Boat Club.
5.0 SCHEDULES OF RACES
5.1 The schedule of races with expected start times is published in the Sailing and Boating Calendar.
5.2 One extra race per day may be sailed provided that no class becomes more than three races ahead of schedule and the change is made according to instruction 3.
6.0 CLASS FLAG
| Class | Flag |
|---|---|
| Handicap | R |
7.0 RACE AREAS
Newport Bay, unless otherwise stated on the white course board located outside the boat Club.
8.0 COURSES
The course will be decided by the Race Officer and/or Duty Officer. Courses will be displayed on the white board outside the Club 45 minutes before the first published starting signal.
9.0 MARKS
Normally will be orange cylinder or round buoys. Any alternative buoys will be shown on the course board.
10.0 THE START
10.1 Races will be started by using rule 26.
| Signal | Flag | Sound | Minutes before starting signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warning | Class Flag | 1 sound | 5 |
| Preparatory | Flag P | 1 sound | 4 |
| One-minute | Preparatory flag removed | 1 long sound | 1 |
| Starting | Class Flag removed | 1 sound | 0 |
10.2 The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with the starting signal of the preceding class.
10.3 The start line will between the bow of the Committee boat and a cylinder buoy. Alternative the start line will be a transit set from the flag pole displaying the Club burgee at Carreg Germain and an outer distance mark. To start competitors must pass inside the distance mark. Any alternative start will be shown on the course board.
10.4 Flag Z will not be used. This changes rule 30
10.5 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.
10.6 A boat starting later than 10 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes rule A4 and A5.
11.0 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position.
12.0 THE FINISH
The finishing line will be between the committee boat and an outer distance mark, unless otherwise stated on the course board.
13.0 TIME LIMITS
13.1 If no boat has passed Mark 1 within 30 minutes of the starting signal the race will be abandoned. Failure to meet the target time will not be grounds for redress. This changes rule 62.1(a).
13.2 Boats failing to finish within 40 minutes after the first boat sail the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes rules 35 and A4 and A5
14.0 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
14.1 Protest forms are available from the Race Officer when ashore. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered to the Race Office within the appropriate time limit.
14.2 For each class, the protest time limit is 1 hour after the last boat has finished the last race of the day.
14.3 Notices will be posted no later than 30 minutes after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held in the protest room, located upstairs at Newport Boat Club beginning at the time posted.
14.4 Breaches of instructions 10.5, 10.5, 14.1, 14.2, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 19, 20, 21, & 23 will not be grounds for protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides. The scoring abbreviation for a discretionary penalty imposed under this instruction will be DPI.
14.5 Before moving to a formal protest hearing both parties can opt for Arbitration in accordance with RYA RACING BEST PRACTICES – RULES DISPUTES – Version 2009/12. The outcome of arbitration can be accepted or rejected. If rejected a full protest hearing will follow.
14.6 Any anomaly between the Notice of Race and these sailing instructions will be resolved in accordance with these sailing instructions.
15.0 SCORING
15.1 The Low Point System of Appendix A will apply.
15.2 Two races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
15.3 When fewer than two races have been completed, a boat's series score will be the total of her race scores.
15.4 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.
16.0 SAFETY REGULATIONS
16.1 At least 30 minutes prior to the start time, helms must sign a declaration and 'Tally' before going afloat.
16.2 Helm or crew must 'Tally Off' after the last race of the day. Failure to 'Tally Off' will result in disqualification from that race.
16.3 The time limit to 'Tally Off' is 40 minutes after the last boat has finished racing.
16.4 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee by 'Tally Off' as Did Not Finish (DNF).
17.0 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT
17.1 The replacement of crew members is permitted during the series. The helm may change boat during the series within the same class of boat.
17.2 Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will be allowed.
18.0 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS
A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions.
19.0 TRASH DISPOSAL
Boats shall not put trash in the water. Trash may be placed aboard support and race committee boats.
20.0 BUOYANCY
Each boat shall be fully equipped with sufficient buoyancy to enable it to float and to support its crew if capsized or holed. CE Approved Lifejackets or Buoyancy Aids shall be worn by all crew members at all time whilst afloat. All crew members must be suitably dressed for the conditions. Wetsuits and dry suits do not constitute adequate personal buoyancy
21.0 RADIO COMMUNICATION
Except in an emergency a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones. An exception may be made in the case of a competitor who may be called upon to act as a reserve or additional Safety Boat.
22.0 PRIZES
22.1 Prizes will be on awarded on August Bank Holiday Monday. Prizes will be awarded to the helm of 1st place for each series or event. Additional prizes may be awarded.
22.2 The Club trophies will be retained at the Club and displayed in the Club. A list of winners will be published in the Sailing & Boating Calendar for the following year.
22.3 Prizes may be awarded for special or additional races or events during the year.
23.0 INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover £3 million per event or the equivalent.
24.0 SAFETY
A boat is entirely responsible for its own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race, Sailing & Boating Calendar or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. The provision of Safety Boats does not relieve the helm and the crew of the boat of their responsibilities.
It is for the helm of a boat to decide whether it is fit to a sail in the conditions in which it will find itself. By launching, the helm confirms that it is fit for those conditions and that its crew are competent to sail and compete in them.
Nothing done by the Newport Boat Club can reduce the responsibility of the helm or crew members of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the race. Newport Boat Club encompasses everyone helping to run the race and the event, including the Management Committee, the Sailing and Boating Committee, the Race Officer, assistants and Safety Boats crews.
25.0 Additional Information
Newport Boat Club has adopted the RYA's Racing Charter, a copy of which can be found in the current Racing Rules of Sailing. Sailors are expected to comply with the responsibilities that the Charter requires and any sailor found by a protest committee to be in breach of the Charter may be reported to the Committee for investigation which may result in disciplinary action and/or a report to the Royal Yachting Association.