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SAILING INSTRUCTIONS (REVISIONS PENDING)

1. RULES

All races will be governed by, World Sailing’s 2017-2020 Racing Rules of Sailing with the RRS 2017-2020 Sail Canada Prescriptions, and these Sailing Instructions. Racing Rule 40 will be in effect at all times while afloat without the display of flag Y. This modifies the preamble to Part 4 of the Racing Rules.

2. ENTRIES

RNYC Members only. Each boat should pre-register (fill out Racing Entry Form including crew roster) and submit the form electronically (preferred) or a hard copy to the Race Committee prior to each race. However, boats may check-in with the Race Committee on channel 68 prior to each race provided a Racing Entry Form is submitted to the Race Committee at the end of the evening. Boats register to race in one of three PHRF fleets: Division One, Division Two or White Sail. Generally, boats with a PHRF rating of less than 100 will race in Division One and boats with a PHRF rating of greater than 100 will race in Division Two. However, the Race Committee reserves the right to assign a boat to a particular PHRF class at its discretion. Any boats choosing to not to fly spinnaker and register for the White Sail fleet must remain in that fleet for the duration of the Series and vice versa.

3. SCHEDULE OF RACES

Both the Summer and Fall Series will consist of 5 races each on the dates listed below:

Race Schedule 2015A minimum of two entries from a division will be required to warrant a separate start for each division.

4. RACING AREA

The racing area encompasses the (roughly) semi-circular area of Conception Bay bounded by the Kelligrews Point, Kelly’s West, Bell Rock, Little Bell East, and Manuels River marks, as well as the shoreline running between the Kelligrews and Manuels River marks.

5. RACE COURSES

The Courses sailed will vary depending on the wind direction and speed. The Course(s) to be sailed will be posted in the RNYC Bar Area no later than 1 hour prior to the posted start time. The Race Committee reserves the right to make changes to the Course(s) to be sailed at any time prior to a division’s warning signal. All on-water changes will be made by VHF communication on channel 68.
The Race Committee will monitor channel 68 and can provide race information up until a division’s warning signal has been raised.

6. STARTS / FINISHES

The timing of the start is determined by the removal of the class/division flags (time pieces and watches are relative). Sounds are secondary and may fail. The Race Committee can delay start times, combine fleets, or separate fleets at its discretion.

The flags assigned to each division are as follows:
Division One:
Code Flag One OR a plain orange flag
Division Two:
Code Flag Two OR a plain green flag
White Sail:
Code Flag Three OR a plain yellow flag

Starting sequence shall consist of the following signals, which will be made from the Committee Boat or the Race Tower:

Unless otherwise communicated, the White Sail Division will start first, followed by Division Two and then Division One. One minute following the start of a Division, the start sequence for the next Division shall be made. The Race Committee reserves the right to start all Divisions together at its discretion if deemed necessary. Whenever possible, an on-water start / finish line will be made between an anchored Committee Boat and a floating mark or pin. In the situation where an on-water start or finish cannot be made, the start and finish line will be sited from the Race Tower and a floating mark or pin. Boats in divisions whose warning signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose warning signal has been made. Failure to keep clear will result in score of “Did Not Start” (DNS) for the infringing boat. This changes Racing Rule A4.1 A boat starting more than 30 minutes after her starting signal will be scored DNS. This changes Racing Rule A4.1.

7. RECALLS

Individual recalls of boats that were over the line early will be signaled by a sound signal and code flag X. The Race Committee will attempt to hail the boats sail number and/or name where possible. General recalls (recall of all boats) will be 2 sound signals, the first substitute flag, plus a verbal hail from the Race Committee. If sighting the start line from the Race Tower, the Race Committee shall issue recalls via VHF radio on channel 68

8. TIME LIMIT

The time limit for the first boat from each class to finish each race will be 3 hours, after which, if no boats have finished, the race will be abandoned. All other boats must finish within 30 minutes of the first boat of its Division. Boats not doing so will be scored “Did Not Finish” (DNF). The Race Committee reserves the right to abandon a race or score unfinished boats as DNF due to changes in weather or based on time of day.

9. PROTESTS

These races are intended to be a fun and friendly event. Protests are strongly discouraged. Varying boats with skippers and crew of differing skill levels will be racing in close quarters so all boats are asked to be courteous and give spacing where needed. However, the Racing Rules of Sailing shall be adhered to at all times. In the event that a rule infraction is committed, the boat shall act in a sportsman like manner and complete the penalty as required by the Racing Rules of Sailing. Should a protest be necessary, it will be conducted in accordance with Racing Rules of Sailing.

10. SCORING

The Nova Scotia PHRF System will be used to apply a corrected time for each race. The Low Point Scoring System, Appendix A, paragraph A4.1 of the Racing Rules will be used to score the series.

11. SAFETY REGULATIONS

No races will be held in steady winds over 25 knots or gusting winds over 30 knots.
Boats shall comply with and carry (at least) the minimum safety equipment required by the Canadian Small Vessel Regulations. The Race Committee reserves the right to inspect a boat at any time without prior notification to assure compliance with these regulations. Failure to comply may result in disqualification from the race or series.
A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible, by hail, by broadcast over VHF channel 68, or, as a last resort, by phoning the RNYC at 709-834-5151.

12. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

Notwithstanding 11.2 or 11.3 of these Sailing Instructions, 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.

13. CONDUCT

The skipper and/or owner of a boat shall be responsible for the actions of her crew and guests while on RNYC property. In the event of a serious breach of conduct or sportsmanship, destruction of property or failure to comply with the request of any RNYC race officer, committee member or executive member, the skipper and/or owner will be held responsible and the boat or competitor may be subject to disqualification from the race and/or series.

14. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in each race entirely at their own risk. See Racing Rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after each race.
In light of 14.1, the organizing authority reminds competitors that:“The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole responsibility of her owner and/or skipper, who must ensure that the boat is fully sound, thoroughly seaworthy, and manned by an experienced crew. They must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging, sails and gear. They must ensure that all safety equipment is properly maintained and stowed, and that the crew is familiar with its location and use.”

SAFE RACING AND HAVE FUN!