2005 Sailing Instructions
Arlington Yacht Club
Effective January 1, 2005
1. RULES
The races will be
governed by the “rules” as defined in the 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing
(RRS),
except as modified by these Sailing Instructions, or by notice posted not less
than one (1) hour prior to the warning signal of the race affected.
2. PARTICIPATION
All
AYC members in good standing are eligible to participate in the club racing
programs. A visiting yacht is welcome to participate in club races but
must yield right-of-way to all other yachts and will not be scored.
3. SCHEDULES
Sunday
racing is scheduled to start at 1:30 P.M. Schedules for special sailing events
shall be published in the Tell Tales and/or posted on the bulletin board inside
the clubhouse. If conditions are
such that races may be cancelled, such a decision will not be made before 2:00
P.M. If such a decision has not been made by 2:30 P.M., races are cancelled.
4. CLASS STARTS
A
class start shall consist of a minimum of two member-owned yachts. A
minimum of one yacht of a class may sail in any given race and be scored in the
normal manner; such a one-yacht start will be a “wave through”, not a
regular (RRS 26) starting sequence.
5. SCORING
A. REGISTER – To be scored for each day’s races, each skipper must register by notifying the race committee when on-station (displaying the on-station flag from the aft mast of the committee boat) with skipper’s name, boat type, and sail number prior to the first race sailed. A yacht shall be on starboard and to leeward of the committee boat when hailing.
B. RACE SCORES – Scoring will be according to RRS A4 using the Low Point System. The U.S. Sailing Portsmouth Rating System will be used to score Portsmouth Class Yachts. Other scores:
DNF -- Number of race finishers plus 1
DNS
-- Number of race starters plus 1
DSQ
-- Number of race starters plus 1
This changes RRS A4.2 and A9.
D. RACES
COUNTED – 75% of
races presented will be counted, to be rounded up/down in conventional
manner,
75% x 10 = 7.5 rounded to 8
75% x 11 = 8.3 rounded to 8
Average Score: Total points / races counted,
10 / 8 = 1.25
11 / 8 = 1.37
E.
SERIES TIES –
Ties shall be
broken according to RRS A8
6. PROTESTS
Protests
shall be written on proper protest forms and presented to a member of the race
committee not later than 30 minutes after the race committee comes ashore.
Protest forms shall be made available in the clubhouse galley.
Appeals
to a Protest Committee's decision shall not be considered for AYC race finishes.
Trophies will be awarded based on the number of skippers who
qualified for a series. To qualify for a Series Racing Trophy a Skipper must
have competed in a minimum of 50% of races presented prior to throw-outs
(rounded down, in the competitor's favor, in the event of an odd number of
races)
8. COURSES
A. Course diagrams and designators are attached to these instructions. Starting order by classes and courses for each start shall be posted on the stern section of the Race Committee Boat prior to the Preparatory Signal.
B.
The Starting Line
shall be between a starting mark and an orange line flag on the Race Committee Boat.
C.
Regarding the
start/finish line and when it is placed midway in the windward leg (i.e.
courses I, M, and F):
The
start/finish line is proscribed - a yacht may not sail through this line during
a race without penalty. The penalty is a DNF score for that race.
The PRO has the option of removing the start/finish line
restriction if there is
only one start.
D. The Finish Line will
be between an orange flag or the S flag (see 17. Shortened Course) on a Race Committee boat and the
start/finish mark or nearby mark of the course. Yachts shall finish in
the direction from their last racing mark. A blue flag or shape, when
displayed, means the Race Committee is "on station" at the finish
line.
E. The windward, jibe,
and leeward marks shall be orange cylinders; the start/finish mark shall be
an orange sphere when the start/finish line is placed midway between the
windward and leeward marks (i.e. courses I, M, and F).
F. If used, a windward
offset mark may be placed at the windward mark, positioned approximately 30
yards from the windward mark, perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
A yacht must first round the windward mark, and then round the windward
offset mark before continuing to the next mark of the course. The
windward offset mark shall be an orange or pink sphere.
G. If used, a leeward
gate may be placed at the leeward end of the course; the two marks should be
positioned approximately 30 yards apart and perpendicular to the direction
of the wind. When the leeward gate is used, a yacht must pass between
the 2 leeward gate marks from the direction of the previous mark of the
course, then round either of the two marks before continuing to the next
mark of the course. (i.e. a yacht choosing to round the port mark of the
leeward gate shall leave the port leeward gate mark to the port side when
rounding; a yacht choosing to round the starboard mark of the leeward gate
shall leave the starboard leeward gate mark to the starboard side when
rounding) Leeward gate marks shall be large orange cylinders.
9. STARTS
Attention
(no flag) repeated horns
15 to 30 sec before Warning
Warning
Class Flag UP, one horn
5
Preparatory
P Flag UP, one horn
4
One-minute
P Flag DOWN, one long horn
1
Start
Class Flag DOWN, one horn
0
B.
Visual signals
govern in case there is a failure to sound the horn while raising or dropping a
shape. The Attention Signal for
each succeeding class starting shall be made after the starting signal for the
preceding class, within a reasonable amount of time to allow all starters of the
preceding class to clear the starting area.
C. The next race for each
class, if presented, shall start as soon as possible after the entire class
has finished the previous race.
D. Yachts not in their starting sequence must stay clear of the starting area. Violations may result in a DNS by the race officer.
E. A yacht starting late
shall be scored DNS if it enters the starting area during the last minute (P
flag down) of a subsequent class’ start. A yacht starting more than 15 minutes after the starting
signal for her class shall be scored as DNS.
10. RECALL
If
one or more yachts start prematurely; Code Flag "X will be raised with one
horn, immediately after the starting signal.
The
Race Committee shall endeavor to notify each yacht recalled by hailing that
yacht's sail number, but it is the responsibility of each yacht to make the
proper start. Failure of the yacht hailed to hear, or of the Race
Committee to hail, shall not free the yacht of this responsibility.
11. GENERAL RECALL
When
the Race Committee is unable to identify premature starters or there has been an
error in the starting procedure; Code flag "First Substitute" (yellow
triangle on blue background) will be raised along with two horns immediately
after the starting signal.
When
a General Recall has been signaled, the new Warning signal for the recalled
start shall be made one minute after the lowering of the "First
Substitute" signal.
12. WITHDRAWAL (RETIREMENT)
A
yacht retiring from a race shall make every attempt to notify the Principal Race
Officer (PRO).
13. POSTPONEMENT
Answering
Pennant "AP" (Multiple Red and White Vertical Stripes) and two horns.
Upon lowering the "AP", there shall be one horn; a new signal will be
made one minute after lowering the "AP".
14. ABANDON
Code "N" (Blue and White Checks) and three horns. Races abandoned. Further signals shall be made in the starting area soon. One signal shall be made with the lowering of "N", with the next signal to follow in one minute.
15. ABANDON, RETURN to SHORE
Code
Flag "N" over Code Flag "H" (Red and White) and three horns.
All races abandoned; return to harbor until further notified.
16. ABANDON, NO MORE RACING TODAY
Code
Flag "N" over "A".
17. SHORTENED COURSE
Display CODE
FLAG "S" (Blue Square in White Field") and two horns.
The Finish Line will be between the nearby mark and the staff displaying
this flag.
18. COME WITHIN HAIL - AFLOAT
Code
Flag "L" (Yellow and Black Squares) and one horn. Come within hail for
verbal instructions or follow the official boat displaying Code Flag
"L".
19. RACE COURSE CHANGES
In
the event of a significant wind shift, the course may be changed by the race
committee. Code Flag "C" (Blue, White, Red, White, Blue
Horizontal Stripes) displayed by either the Race Committee boat or an official
boat stationed near the next mark, or moving in the direction of the yachts as
they approach the next mark. The new magnetic heading to the next mark of
the course may be displayed or hailed to competitors.
Sound
signals shall also be made to attract the attention of the competitors.
Any such change shall be made before the lead yacht reaches the mark preceding
the new mark, although the new mark may not yet be in position.
20. "M" CODE FLAG
Object
displaying this signal replaces a missing mark.
21. TIME LIMIT
A. The first yacht of the
first class starting shall have 45 minutes to round the first mark. The race
committee shall cancel the race if the time limit expires.
B.
There shall be a two
hour time limit for the first boat of any class to finish. The race
committee shall cancel the race if the time limit expires.
C.
There shall be a one hour time limit after the first boat of each class
has finished for all other yachts of that class to finish. A yacht not
finishing within the time limit shall receive a DNF for that race.
22. SPECIAL RULES
A.
At all times it is the responsibility of each skipper to insure that
their yacht satisfies the local safety requirements for sailing on Lake
Arlington. These requirements are
posted in the Club House.
B. All yachts racing
shall be clearly identified by a sail number as specified in Rule 77, or by
any other suitable means permitted the Race Captain.
C. Yachts assisting
capsized or otherwise distressed yachts shall be awarded redress consistent
with the rescue/assistance time lost. Any yachts hailed and ordered to
assist others by a member of the race committee shall be required to comply
with such a request, redress will be provided to remedy the time lost.
D. A capsized yacht may
be ordered rescued by the PRO in the interest of safety or to avoid
unreasonable delays. A yacht not complying with such instructions from
the PRO may be disqualified (scored DSQ) at the sole discretion of the PRO;
this changes RRS 63.1.
E.
A one design class yacht may be finished "In Place" by the PRO
to avoid unreasonable delays in the event all other yachts of that class have
finished and, in the opinion of the PRO, the yacht would finish within the one
hour time limit defined in 21 C.
F. The "720
Penalty" as provided in Rule 44.2 of the Racing Rules shall apply for
infringement of a Rule of Part 2.
G. Rule 42 (propulsion)
will apply.
H. Rule
67 (Rule 42 and Hearing Requirement) will apply.
23. RACE COMMITTEE RULES
A.
If there are sufficient personnel to man the Race Committee (see
"C" below), a yacht may sail on its duty day, but shall not be scored.
C. The Race Committee
shall consist of at least four members who are knowledgeable in the rules of
racing, water safety, and operations of the race committee equipment and
craft. The duty race captain shall be responsible for the craft,
personnel, equipment and safety. The committee boat must be manned by
at least two persons, and the rescue boat by a minimum/maximum of two
persons. At no time shall there be more than five persons aboard the
Race Committee boat. As stated in the AYC Safety Policy, minimum age
limits are 14 years for the committee boat and 16 years for the rescue boat.
Minimum age for operating the rescue boat is 18 years.
The diagrams below, with identifying letters and numbers
show the courses, including the approximate angle between legs, the order of
rounding, and the side on which each mark is to be rounded or passed.