2008 SAIL THE BAY REGATTA

MAY 17 & 18, 2008

 

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

 

1.         RULES

1.1        The regatta shall be governed by: the International Sailing Federation Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS); the prescriptions of US Sailing, as applied; the Notice of Race; and these Sailing Instructions.

 

2.         ADVERTISING AND EVENT CLASSIFICATION

2.1        Advertising is allowed as described in RRS 79.  This event shall be classified as a Category C.

3.         ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

3.1        ELIGIBILITY: Beach catamarans 21’ LOA and under with an assigned US Sailing Portsmouth Handicap are eligible to compete.  Boats are encouraged to conform to their Class Association rules.  Any deviations of boat, crew or equipment from Class configuration must be identified at registration.

 

3.2        ENTRY FORMS: Each participant shall file a complete entry form prior to racing.  Incomplete forms will not be accepted.  An entry is official when posted on the master scorecard.

 

3.3        SAIL NUMBERS: Sail numbers shall match the entry form and be readable from both sides of the sail.

 

4.         CHANGES IN THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS / NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

4.1        LOCATION: The location of the Official Regatta Notice Board will be announced at the Skippers' Meeting.

 

4.2        CHANGES: Schedule changes and changes in the Sailing Instructions will be announced at the Skippers’ Meeting.

 

4.3        NOTICES: All other notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Regatta Notice Board.

 

5.         SCHEDULE OF RACES AND EVENTS

5.1        STARTING TIME: The scheduled race start time will be as posted in the Notice of Race.

 

5.2        SKIPPERS' MEETING: The scheduled Skippers' Meeting time will be as posted in the Notice of Race.

 

6.         DESCRIPTIONS OF MARKS

6.1        MARKS: Course marks will be yellow inflatables.  Starting and finishing marks will be an orange buoy and a yellow Hobie flag on the RC boat.

 

6.2        BARGING MARK: A barging mark may be set by the Race Committee as a warning to skippers to keep clear of the starting boat when starting or finishing a race.

 

7.         RACE STARTS AND STARTING SEQUENCE

7.1        STARTING SIGNALS: The starting signals shall be in accordance with RRS 26 with the warning signal given 5 minutes before the starting signal.  The preparatory shape will be a blue shape.  The class shapes will be announced at the Skippers’ Meeting.

 

7.2        DID NOT START: A boat starting later than 5 minutes after the starting signal may be scored Did Not Start.  Changes RRS A4.1

 

7.3        SIGNALS MADE ASHORE: When signals are made ashore they shall conform to RRS Race Signals and their location ashore will be announced at the Skippers' Meeting.  The Warning Signal will not be displayed less than 30 minutes following the end of Postponement AP.

 

8.         THE COURSE

8.1        RACE COURSE: International Hobie Class Association courses shall be used as follows:

             Course No        Course                                      Finish               Options

                        1          (S)  A  C  A (F)                          Downwind          1 G

                        2          (S)  A  C  A  C  A (F)                  Downwind          2 G

                        3          (S)  A  C  A  B  C (F)                  Upwind

                        4          (S)  A  B  C  A  C (F)                  Upwind

                        5          (S)  A  C (F)                              Upwind              5 G

                        6          (S)  A  C  A  C (F)                      Upwind              6 G

                        7          (S)  A  C  A  B  C  A  C (F)         Upwind

 

            All marks left to port except Gates.  Enter between the gate marks from the direction of the last mark and exit to either port or starboard.

 

8.2        COURSE CALLED: The course to be sailed shall be displayed on the Race Committee signal boat before the display of the Preparatory Signal for each fleet.  Changes RRS 27.1

8.3        START LINE OBSTRUCTION: The Start Line shall rank as an obstruction for fleets previously started while other fleets are starting until after the last fleet has successfully started.

 

8.4        FINISH LINE OBSTRUCTION: The Finish Line shall rank as an obstruction for boats not finishing.

 

9.         RETIRING FROM A RACE

9.1        A boat which retires from a race, should notify the Race Committee either before leaving the course area or upon arriving at shore.  Failure to do so may lead to disqualification.

 

10.        ALTERNATE FINISHES, TIME LIMIT, AND RACE VALIDITY

10.1      TIME LIMIT: No race time limit is scheduled.

10.2      FINISHING ON THE WATER: When approximately half of the boats in a race have rounded the last mark, the Race Committee may finish the balance of the boats at the last mark or on the course.  The Race Committee determines the method of finishing and the finish positions awarded each boat.  Changes RRS 28.1

 

12.        PROTESTS AND ALTERNATE PENALTIES

12.1      PROTEST TIME LIMIT: Protests shall be written on US Sailing protest forms or reasonable equivalent. Protests should be filed with the Race Committee within one half hour after the last boat hits the beach.
           

12.2      The 720-dregree Turn Penalty in RRS 44.1 and 44.2 is replaced by a 360-degree Turns penalty. Changes RRS 44.1 and 44.2

 

13.        SCORING, PENALTIES, AND PENALTY SCORING

13.1      SCORING: Scoring is by the Low Point Scoring System as described in RRS Appendix A.  When 4 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.  Scoring in Handicap classes will be determined by a boat’s elapsed time corrected by Portsmouth Handicap.

13.2      PENALTIES: Penalties and Scoring Penalties are as described in RRS Appendix A.

13.3      VIOLATIONS: All boat weight, crew weight, and equipment violations are scored DND, Disqualification No Discard.

 

14.        SPECIAL NOTES

14.1      QUESTIONS: No questions will be answered by the Race Committee on the water.

 

14.2      OBSTRUCTIONS: Mark boats and rescue/chase boats shall rank as obstructions.

 

14.3      ASSISTANCE: Any boat receiving outside assistance from rescue/chase boats will be scored DNF.  The Race Committee may decide when a boat or crew needs assistance.  Changes RRS 41.

 

14.4      SPORTSMANSHIP: The Race Committee may request redress for competitors who exhibit extraordinary sportsmanship.

 

15.        SAFETY

15.1      ALUMINUM MASTS AND OTHER BOAT COMPONENTS CONDUCT ELECTRICITY!  Coming in contact or even near an electrical power line can cause serious injury or death. STAY AWAY from low overhead electrical power line when sailing, launching, or landing your boat.  NEVER TRAILER A BOAT WITH THE MAST UP beyond the landing or launching area.  LOOK UP before raising the mast.

15.2      Each person on board shall carry a lifesaving device or Personal Flotation Device (PFD).  Competitors are required to wear life jackets or PFDs while racing.

 

15.3      It is the responsibility of each competitor to wear adequate protective clothing and protective clothing as conditions warrant and to sail safely within each person's capabilities. If wind, wave, water, or general conditions make you doubt your ability to safely handle the conditions, good sailing practice demands that you retire from the race.