Sailing Instructions

Also see Race & Code Flags and Course Chart

1.  RULES

• 1.1 Races will be governed by the 'rules' as defined in the The Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of U.S. Sailing, the rules of  applicable racing classes (except as any of these are altered by these Sailing Instructions), and by these Sailing Instructions.

2.  ELIGIBILITY

• 2.1 All skippers and crew participating in regular scheduled races of SBYC shall be members in good standing or be a guest of said member as set forth in the By-Laws.
• 2.2 Yacht owners agree that whenever their yachts participate in any race sponsored by SBYC, whether sailed by the owner or anyone else, they shall have aboard all appropriate safety equipment.

3.  NOTICES TO COMPETITORS & CHANGES IN THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

• 3.1 Notices to competitors or changes in the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the bulletin board located next to the Snack Bar.

4.  SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

• 4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the flagpole.
• 4.2 Code flag “AP” with 2 sound signals means “All races are postponed”.
• 4.3 Code flag “N” with 3 sound signals means “All races are abandoned”.

5.  SCHEDULE OF RACES

• 5.1 Information will be posted on the R.C. bulletin board.
• 5.2 When more than one race for one or more classes will be held on the same day, the warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practicable.

6.  CLASS FLAGS

• 6.1 For one design classes, the class flag will be the class emblem. Cruising class flag will be the letter “A”.

7.  RACING AREA

• 7.1 The racing area will be as shown on the attached course chart.
• 7.2 Cruising Class races beyond the area shown on the course chart are described in the Cruising Class circular.

8.  THE COURSES

• 8.1 The course to be sailed will be displayed on the course posting ladder on the R.C. Boat. If Government marks are to be used, letters identifying the marks will be displayed from top to bottom on the ladder in the order the marks are to be rounded. A numeral in the column indicates the number of times the preceding marks are to be rounded. A single letter displayed just forward of the column indicates a course pattern to be followed using the preceding marks (see course chart for patterns).
• 8.2 When a single letter is displayed, that indicates a course pattern to be followed (see course chart). A numeral following the letter indicates the number of times the course pattern is to be sailed.
• 8.3 The course may vary from fleet to fleet and it will be posted prior to your start.
• 8.4 The start/finish line, when in the middle of the course, must be honored. Sailing through this line on a leg of the course will be grounds for disqualification (if the orange flag is not displayed on the Committee Boat, the starting line does not exist, and you may sail through the ‘line’).
• 8.5 Cruising Class courses are described in the Cruising Class circular.

9.  MARKS

• 9.1 Portable yellow inflatable marks will be used as often as possible.
• 9.2 Portable orange or yellow mooring balls may be used for Lasers, 420s, and Optimists.
• 9.3 If a new mark is set for a second or subsequent windward leg, that mark, as provided in Instruction 11.1, will be either yellow, identified with a horizontal black band, or orange.
• 9.4 Permanent (Government) marks are described on the course chart.
• 9.5 Marks for the Cruising Class not described in these Sailing Instructions are described in the Cruising Class circular.
• 9.6 Government marks or buoys must be honored except as follows:

a. When used as a mark of the course.
b. Green Can “C3” NNW of Gap Head (SBYC Mark E).
c. Red Nun “R2” at Oak Rock inside Thacher Island.

10.  THE START

• 10.1 Races will be started by using Rule 26 with the warning signal given 5 minutes before the starting signal.
• 10.2 For Lasers, 420s, and Optimists, races may be started in accordance with the Sound Signal Starting System, Appendix Q of the racing rules.
• 10.3 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on a R.C. boat at the starboard end and the port end starting mark.
• 10.4 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.
• 10.5 Delay of start for a class may be requested by its fleet captain or representative, who shall notify the fleet and the Race Committee.

11.  CHANGE OF THE POSITION OF THE NEXT MARK

• 11.1 To change the position of the next mark, the Race Committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. The change will be signaled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not yet be in position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated without further signaling to maintain the course configuration. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.
• 11.2 Rule 33 is changed to allow the Race Committee to give the compass bearing by hail.

12.  THE FINISH

• 12.1 The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on a Race Committee boat, which will display a blue shape or flag, and the finishing mark.
• 12.2 The finishing line will be as presented on downwind finishes; i.e., the Committee Boat may or may not move to the other side of the finishing mark as shown in the course diagrams.
• 12.3 Each yacht shall be prepared to identify the yacht finishing immediately ahead and astern by sail number if requested by the R.C.

13.  PENALTY SYSTEM

• 13.1 A boat that has taken a penalty or retired under rule 31.2 or 44.1 shall notify the Race Committee as soon as practicable.
• 13.2 As provided in Rule 67, the Protest Committee may, without a hearing, penalize a boat that has broken Rule 42.

14.  TIME LIMITS

• 14.1 Time limit is 3 hours. If the first yacht of a class finishes within the prescribed time limit, the race is valid.
• 14.2 For one-design classes, boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes may be scored Did Not Finish or scored as her current place indicates at the discretion of the Race Committee. This changes rules 35 and A4.1
• 14.3 Cruising Class time limits may vary - see the Cruising Class circular for details.

15.  PROTESTS

• 15.1 All yachts, with the exception of single-handers and 420s, shall display a red flag if protesting another yacht. This changes Rule 61.1(a).
• 15.2 A yacht protesting another yacht shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible after she finishes or retires.
• 15.3 Protests shall be written on forms available in the clubhouse and lodged with the Race Committee within one hour of the docking of the Race Committee boat.
• 15.4 Notices of protests by the Race Committee, Protest Committee or Jury will be posted to inform boats under Rule 61.1(b).

16.  SCORING

• 16.1 The low-point scoring system of Appendix A will apply for individual races with the exception that: a yacht withdrawing or not finishing is scored one point more than the number of yachts starting; a yacht not starting is scored two points more than the number starting; a premature starter will be scored as a yacht not starting; a disqualified yacht is scored three points more than the number starting. Series scoring will be at the discretion of each fleet upon notification to the Race Committee. Throwout races are used at the option of each fleet upon notification to the Race Committee.
• 16.2 PHRF handicaps may be used by the Cruising Class in certain races. See the Cruising Class circular for details.

17.  SAFETY REGULATIONS

• 17.1 Single-handers shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while racing.
• 17.2 Each competitor shall check in on the starboard side of the Race Committee boat prior to the first race. Yachts failing to do so will be scored “DNS”. Late arrivals shall notify the Race Committee.
• 17.3 Yachts retiring from a race shall notify a Race Committee boat or Club launch operator as soon as possible.
• 17.4 Yachts not starting shall notify a Race Committee boat.

18.  DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

• 18.1 Competitors participate in the races entirely at their own risk. See Rule 4, Decision to Race. Sandy Bay Yacht Club, it’s employees and it’s volunteers will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the races.