Sailing Instructions
 
  1. Conditions of Entry
  2. Entry In Club Races
  3. Personal Safety
  4. Patrol Boat
  5. Helmsman and Crew
  6. Onshore Signals and Notices
  7. Signing On and Declaration
  8. Handicap, Class Racing and Starting Order
  9. Course to be Sailed
  10. Oral Changes
  11. Starting Signals
  12. Starting Lines
  13. Finishing Line
  14. Time Limit
  15. Scoring System
  16. Average Points
1 Conditions of Entry
1.1 All races will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), RYA Prescriptions and Class Association Rules except when stated herein.
1.2 It is the sole responsibility of each competitor to decide whether or not to start or to continue to race.
1.3 The safety of a boat and its entire management, including, as a minimum, £2,000,000 third party liability insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner or competitor at all times. The establishment of these sailing instructions in no way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of the owner or competitor.
2 Entry In Club Races   Top
2.1 Members whose subscriptions or dinghy park fees are in arrears by more than two calendar months may not take part in Club races. Non-members may only sail in three races per calendar year.
3 Personal Safety  Top
3.1 Members are advised that the Club is only able to provide patrol boat facilities for those participating in organised Club events. At all times parents and guardians have sole responsibility for their children and wards.
3.2 When afloat personal buoyancy must be worn at all times, indicated by flag ‘Y’ flying from the Squarehead. Wet suits do not constitute adequate personal buoyancy.
3.3 At all times when ashore sails must be stowed or secured to prevent flapping.
3.4 At all times when ashore boat owners and competitors should show due regard for the safety and wellbeing of others in public areas. Boats should be kept clear of the marked public walkway on the pier at all times.
4 Patrol Boat  Top
4.1 No race may take place, or continue if already started, without the provision and maintenance of adequate patrol boat facilities.
5 Helmsman and Crew  Top
5.1 After the start of a series a change of helm will be deemed as another entry in that series for the purpose of the scoring system, at the discretion of the Race Officer.
5.2 Crews competing within a series are eligible for any crew trophy that is to be awarded. If more than one crew competes in any one series choice of crew to receive the crew's trophy will be at the discretion of the boat owner.
6 Onshore Signals and Notices  Top
6.1 Any notices to competitors will be posted on the notice board in the Squarehead
6.2 The signal mast above the Squarehead may be used to give early warning of any cancellation or postponement of races
6.3 Any changes or additions to these instructions, or changes to the course or courses to be sailed will be posted at the Squarehead at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, and indicated by the flying of flag ‘L’ and a single sound signal.
6.4 When Flag 'U' is flown from the Squarehead, no boat is to launch. Boats already afloat should return to the shore. When Flag ‘U’ is flown over a class flag, or flags, the class, or classes, indicated should not launch or, if afloat, should return to the shore. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.
7 Signing On and Declaration  Top
7.1 A race may be cancelled at the discretion of the Race Officer if by fifteen minutes before the scheduled start less than five boats have signed on and are ready to race.
7.2 All competitors must sign on at the Squarehead at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time, to declare their intention to race. Any boat taking part in a race without signing on will be scored DNE.
7.3 All boats must sail under their registered sail number. In exceptional circumstances, permission to sail with a different sail number may be granted by the Race Officer and the change should be recorded on the signing on sheet prior to the race. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
7.4 Within thirty minutes of the patrol boat being retrieved all competitors must sign off to declare that all rules have been obeyed during the race. This time may be extended at the discretion of the Race Officer. No competitor may sign off prior to the patrol boat being recovered.
7.5 If two races are sailed without time for competitors to return ashore, declarations must be signed after the second race has been completed.
7.6 Any boat that fails to observe any of the above requirements may, at the discretion of the Race Officer, be disqualified or deemed to have retired.
7.7 Members taking to the water but not racing must sign on and off at the Squarehead. Members should be aware that patrol boats will not remain afloat after the end of racing or training session.
8 Handicap, Class Racing and Starting Order  Top
8.1 In any class or fleet a minimum of two boats will constitute a race. If only one boat in any class or fleet starts a race they may complete the course but no points will be awarded.
8.2 Racing on Saturday will be for Asymmetric, Fast and Slow Handicap fleets. Racing on Sunday will be for Asymmetric, Handicap, Laser and Topper classes. Thursday races will be for Fast and Slow Handicap fleets. The starting sequence will be displayed in the Squarehead at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.
8.3 The Sailing Sub-Committee will decide the division of classes by Portsmouth Yardstick for Handicap racing at the start of the season.
8.4 Separate starts may be operated for each class. If it is necessary to shorten course for individual handicaps or classes then the flags assigned to each will be used.
9 Course to be Sailed  Top
9.1 The number and plan of the course will be displayed at the Squarehead. A Squarehead or Committee boat start will be indicated from the Squarehead. For 'Course 6', a plan of the course will be displayed at least thirty minutes before the start of the race.
9.2 The course direction will be indicated from the Squarehead.
10 Oral Changes  Top
10.1 The Race Officer through his/her representatives may pass race changes orally to competitors when on the water.
11 Starting Signals   Top
11.1 Rule 26 will apply for Club racing.
11.2 If there is to be more than one start, details will displayed at the Squarehead.
11.3 Boats should keep clear of the start line during the start sequence for other classes or fleets starting before them.
11.4 A boat starting later than 4 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start (DNS). This changes rule A4.1.
12 Starting Lines   Top
12.1 Squarehead Start. The starting lines shall be an imaginary line between the signal mast in the centre of the Squarehead and the centre of the distance mark. An inner distance mark may be laid.
12.2 Committee Boat Start.The starting line is defined as that laying between the signal mast of the Committee Boat and the center of an orange buoy or the mast of a boat flying flag 'M'. When on station the Committee Boat will fly an orange flag.
12.3 Limit Marks. An inner mark may be laid adjacent to the Committee boat and boats shall pass between it and the outer mark. Boats passing between the inner mark and the Committee Boat after the preparatory signal will be disqualified.
13 Finishing Line   Top
13.1 Squarehead Finish. The finishing line is defined as that between the signal mast in the centre of the Squarehead and the centre of the distance mark.
13.2 Committee Boat Finish. The finishing line is defined as that between the signal mast of the Committee Boat and the center of the nearest mark to the Committee Boat.
14 Time Limit   Top
14.1 For individual class racing, the time limit is thirty minutes after the first boat has finished.
14.2 For handicap racing the time limit is three hours. The course may be shortened before the time limit expires and average lap times used at the discretion of the Race Officer.
14.3 Races will be abandoned, at the discretion of the Race Officer, if it is deemed unlikely that any boat will complete the 1st lap of the course within one hour.
15 Scoring System   Top
15.1 The scoring system will be the low point system of Appendix A of the RRS.
15.2 The number of races to count in a series will be as follows:

No. Of RacesRaces to Count
2 2
3 2
4 3
5 4
6 5
7 6
8 6
9 7
11 7
12 7
13 8
14 8
15 8
16 8

15.3 Unless approved by the race officer, a member who enters a race who should be on duty will be scored DNE.
15.4 Protest forms are available at the Squarehead. Protests should be delivered to the Squarehead within the time limit of 1 hour after the finish of the last boat in the last race of the day. Protests will be heard as soon as reasonably possible on the day or scheduled for the earliest opportunity thereafter. The Race Officer on the day will be responsible, in all respects, for the conduct of the protest hearing.
16 Average Points    Top
16.1 Average points may be claimed if called upon to perform Squarehead or Patrol Boat duties. The Race Officer must be satisfied that the boat and crew were in all respects ready to sail and able to sail. The crew must sign out as usual and state 'Average Points Claimed - Squarehead / Safety Boat Duties'.
16.2 Average points may also be claimed if representing the club at an event elsewhere. The Sailing Secretary must be advised beforehand in writing stating for which race and event average points are being claimed.
16.3 Average points will be calculated on the performance of that particular boat throughout that particular series, including 'Did not come to the starting area' (DNC) points, where average points have not been claimed.
Score Sheet Designation

First Place1 point
Second and subsequent placesPoints equal to finishing position
DNSDid not start Number of boats raced + 1 point
DNFDid not finish Number of boats raced + 1 point
RAFRetired After Finishing Number of boats raced + 1 point
DSQDisqualification Number of boats raced + 1 point
DNEDisqualification not excludable Number of boats raced + 1 point
DNCDid not compete Number of boats in series + 1 point

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