Notice of Points Series Races and Sailing Instructions for the year 2017
1. Rules
Points Series races at EDYC will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the RYA, Class Rules, these Sailing Instructions and any amendments. The following Racing Rules will be changed: – RRS 26 (Starting Races) – RRS 29.2 (General Recall) – RRS 40 (Personal Flotation Devices) – RRS 62 (Redress) – RRS 63.1 (Requirement for a hearing) -RRS 90.2.c (the Sailing Instructions)
2. Entries
2.1 The Points Series races are open to all EDYC club boats and boats belonging to members of EDYC provided that they satisfy the conditions for award of points in EDYC Club activities in accordance with Club Rules 30 and 42. Any boat that fails to satisfy these conditions can be neither ranked nor scored as a starter.
3. Notices to Competitors
Notices to competitors will be posted on the Race Results Notice Board at the Clubhouse. Their authority will be the Sailing Captain, a properly nominated deputy of the Sailing Captain or, on the day of a race, the Race Officer.
4. Changes to Sailing Instructions
Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the Club Notice board not less than eight days before the first race for which the change applies. Or in exceptional circumstances a change in the sailing instructions will be communicated by the Race Officer orally or by VHF to each boat.
5. Signals Made Ashore
Signals made ashore will be displayed on the flagstaff at EDYC but will not be accompanied by a sound signal.
6. Schedule of Points Series Races, Classes and Race Times
6.1 The schedule of dates of Races and Series is incorporated in the Sailing Calendar published in the Club Handbook.
6.2 Classes and Times of Warning Signal
6.3 Dinghy 1 and Dinghy 2 classes will have two races on Saturdays. The second race will start as soon as practicable after the finish of Race 1, however the Race 2 warning signal for Dinghy 1 will be no later than 15.45 and for Dinghy 2 will be 3 minutes after Dinghy 1. The Race Officer may sweep the course, giving an order and time of finish to remaining boats, to enable a second race. There will be no handicap adjustment for swept boats.
6.4 Wayfarers, GP14s and Toppers as separate classes shall compete on handicap in the appropriate Dinghy class and shall also be scored on a level basis against other boats of the same one-design class for separate awards.
6.5 A cruiser with NHC base numbers in the range 0.865 to 0.895 may elect to race for the entirety of the season in the Cruiser class other than that defined in Rule 6.2, provided that a written declaration to this effect has been lodged with the Sailing Captain more than 3 days before their first race. Yachts in this range that choose to change class from that in which it sailed in the previous year will revert to the base number in the RYA NHC handicap list.
6.6 A dinghy with PY handicap in the range 1141 and over may elect to race for the entirety of the season in the Dinghy class other than that defined in Rule 6.2, provided that a written declaration to this effect has been lodged with the Sailing Captain more than 3 days before their first race.
6.7 In the absence of any such declaration, a boat shall start in the appropriate class and shall be scored in the handicap race and series corresponding to its NHC or PY number as issued, or as competed in the previous year. A boat shall remain in the appropriate class according to the handicap and class allocated at the beginning of the season, with no option to change at any time, unless a race committee decides that the performance of a particular yacht is inequitable.
7. Class Flags
Class flags shall be the following Code Flags:
8. Racing Area
All races will be on the southern part of Strangford Lough and from a starting line in Holm Bay.
9. The Courses
9.1 Possible courses are designated by letters and are specified in a separate List of Courses, published in the Club Handbook. The approximate positions of the marks of the courses are shown on a separate diagram, published in the Club Handbook.
9.2 The courses to be sailed by the various classes shall be indicated by their respective course letters being displayed in the following positions on the Committee Boat (or on a craft serving as the Committee Boat):
9.3 The number of rounds to be sailed will be displayed with the course to be sailed for each class.
9.4 Between each round all boats must sail through the start line in the same direction that they started. Boats that do not sail through the start line between each round of the course shall be recorded as ‘DNF’ without recourse to a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1.
10. The Start
10.1 RRS 26 is changed to read: Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.
The warning signal for each succeeding class will be made with the starting signal of the preceding class. The Preparatory flag will be flown 3 minutes before the Cruiser 1 start and remain in place until after the last starting signal.
10.2 Start mark: A mark “E” shall be laid forming a start line with the rear mast of the Committee Boat.
10.3 RRS 29.2, General Recall, is amended as follows: after the Race Officer has signalled a general recall, the recalled class shall return to the start area. The normal sequence for the other classes shall continue and the recalled start shall be postponed until after the last class has started. Thus, the start signal for the last class shall be the preparatory signal for the recalled fleet. Any subsequent general recall shall follow in this manner.
11. The Finish
11.1 The finish line shall be between the main mast of the Committee Boat with blue flag and mark E.
11.2 Shortened Courses Shortened course codes are listed alongside full course codes in the List of Courses described in 9.1. When a class is required to sail a shortened course, the Committee Boat shall display Code Flag S above the class flag of any class affected, before the leading boat in that class crosses the start/ finish line at the end of a round. Code Flag S shall be displayed alone if all classes are required to sail a shortened course. Code Flag S displayed at the Committee Boat means: ‘After passing the Shortened Course flag, sail on the Shortened Course, as specified in the List of Courses, until finished in accordance with Sailing Instruction 11.4’.
11.3 A Blue Flag means:
When displayed at the Committee Boat: ‘Finish the race at the finishing line described in SI 11.1.
When displayed on a launch or other craft: ‘Finish the race by crossing a finishing line between the craft on which this Flag is displayed and the nearby mark of the course, from the course side. If the Blue Flag is displayed alone, all classes shall finish, but if flown above class flags then only the designated classes shall finish.
The Race Officer may supplement flag signals with other means for ensuring that competitors are fully aware of his intentions regarding the shortening of courses. Such means may be, for example, use of a VHF radio on Channel 37 (alternatively Channel M), a loud hailer, or a safety craft, for delivering verbal instructions.
12. Time Limit
The time limits for the various classes are as follows:
13. Protests
13.1 Intention to protest should be notified to the Race Officer in addition to satisfying the requirements of RRS 61.1. Protests shall be lodged with an Officer of the Club within one hour after the finishing time of the yacht, which finished last in the same class as the protesting boat. Parties to a protest shall be prepared to appear in a hearing either on race day or within 10 days, or such time as will be notified.
13.2 Exoneration Penalty The Exoneration Penalty (20% scoring penalty as stated in rule 44.3(c)) and the Advisory Hearing and RYA Arbitration procedures of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedures will be available as far as possible. Decisions from RYA Arbitration can be referred to a protest committee but cannot be reopened or appealed.
14. Scoring and Awards
14.1 Scoring shall be in accordance with the Low Points System of RRS Appendix A, 4.1. The number of races to count in a Series shall be fewer than the number of races sailed in accordance with the following scale, and shall be subject to the restriction that points awarded for a disqualification for unfair sailing shall not be discarded:
Awards, will be given as follows: Overall Series Class Championship.
Awarded in each class, to the boat with the least points based on its best scores from 12 race starts, including a maximum of 2 compensation points scores in all Series.
Individual Series. Awarded in each Series, in each class, to the boat with the least points from a minimum of 3 race starts and scored as in 14.1
Midfleet Winner. Awarded in each class to the best boat not placed in the first three in any of the individual Series based on the same criterion as the Overall Series Class Championship. GP14 Overall Winner. Awarded to the best GP14 based on the same criterion as the Overall Series Class Championship.
14.2 Compensation Points for race and house (tea and bar) duties. A boat claiming compensation points as described in this Instruction shall ensure that the claim is recorded on the Race Officer’s race results sheet for that date. Provided that an appropriate declaration is made, a boat which is unable to race because its crew is carrying out race or house duties will, on conclusion of the series, be awarded compensation points for the race/s concerned. These shall be calculated as the average of her scores in the races of the series, apart from the race/s concerned and apart from any other race/s, not exceeding the number of race scores in the series which may be discarded.
14.3 Races with at least one starter, shall be scored. A race with no starters shall not be scored and shall be declared cancelled, unless a boat that would otherwise have sailed in that race performs a duty for which compensation points would be awarded.
14.4 Compensation points (as per 14.2) will be provided to allow members boats to compete in one Strangford Lough Club Open event per series that would otherwise prevent a start in the EDYC Series race. Claims for these points must be made to a member of the sailing committee within one week of the Strangford Lough Open event and must be accompanied by evidence to the satisfaction of the Sailing Committee that the boat started the other event.
15. Handicapping Systems
15.1 The Sailing Committee shall adjust the elapsed times of yachts competing in Cruiser 1 and 2 handicap classes according to the RYA National Handicap for Cruisers (NHC) and Dinghy 1 and 2 handicap classes according to the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme (PYS).
15.2 Application of the RYA Handicap Systems:
Yachts racing under the NHC will have their handicaps determined by the Sailing Committee in accordance with the current published RYA NHC list and/or instructions, including Club NHC numbers carried over from the previous year if appropriate. After every race, in accordance with the method described by the RYA, a boat’s handicap will be re-calculated and used in the next race. An adjustment in handicap number is not grounds for redress, this changes RRS 62.
Yachts racing under the PYS will have their handicaps determined by the Sailing Committee in accordance with the current published RYA PYS list and remain at that figure for the year, unless changed by the RYA. PYS Trial Numbers issued to boats with no, or an inequitable PYS handicap will be assessed and liable to change after each assessable race until judged to be stable and a Club Number issued by the Sailing Committee.
16. Safety
16.1 All Dinghy 1 and Dinghy 2 class boats must fulfil class rules concerning buoyancy, means for bailing, towropes and means of manual propulsion (paddles).
16.2 RRS 40 is amended to read: All dinghy sailors must wear an adequate personal flotation device while racing, irrespective of the use of Code Flag Y. Wetsuits and drysuits are not personal flotation devices.
16.3 All keelboats must carry the following safety equipment while racing: Engine (in-board or out-board), fuel for 1 hour motoring, sail number on mainsail, fire extinguisher, bucket and lanyard, warp (2 x LOA of yacht), torch, adequate anchor and warp, foghorn, personal floatation devices for all crew members and First Aid equipment.
16.4 Boats must accept help if so directed by a safety crew. Non-acceptance of such help shall result in disqualification.
17 Risk Statement
17.1 Rule 4 of the RRS states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”
17.2 Sailing is 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 the 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 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.
Information
The Race Officer may cancel or abandon races if, in their opinion, available safety facilities are inadequate.
The Race Officer may move mark E after the start to ensure the finish line is clearly open from the last mark of the course.
Protest forms and RYA arbitration – Competitors are advised to make use of the RYA Protest Form, which is available along with information on the RYA arbitration procedure on the EDYC Club Notice Board in the entrance hall of the Clubhouse.
A signing out and in sheet will be will be on a corridor notice board outside the changing rooms for helm and crew in the Dinghy classes. This will be collected with the results sheets and is to enable the Race Officer to ensure that all boats and crews which used the slipway and raced are accounted for. All Dinghy competitors are requested to complete this for safety reasons and also to improve accuracy of recording entries/results.
All safety boat and Chevy crews are required to sign out and in using the log book for the vessel.
Sailing Committee, 2017