Sailing Instructions

1. Rules
   Racing will take place under the current ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing, these sailing instructions, the club rules and any appropriate class rules.
2. Conditions of Entry
   
   1. Eligible boats may be entered by completing the appropriate race sheet for Club Races, or by completing the appropriate entry form for Open Meetings. Helms are not required to sign off for club races, but helms must sign off at Open Meetings.
   2. The boat owner/helm is responsible for ensuring that the boat has adequate buoyancy under the class rules and is in a safe condition.
   3. The helm/crew must ensure that they are competent to sail in the prevailing conditions.
   4. Buoyancy aids must be worn at all time on the pontoons and while afloat.
   5. Any crewmember not wearing a wet or dry suit must retire if they fall in the water in the period December to March inclusive.
   6. All boats shall have a valid certificate of insurance against third party risks providing a minimum cover of £2,000,000 in any one incident.
   7. Measurement certificates may be requested by the OOD/Race Committee for any competing boat.
   8. Portsmouth Numbers: each boat sailing in a club handicap event will compete under the latest available value of the Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) Number published by the RYA unless the Rear Commodore Sailing / Sailing Committee have allocated a modified number. For 2009, for classes that normally use a spinnaker then their PY is increased by 10. For classes where their association recommends a different PY to the RYA then the club will use these.
      
      For 2009 Summer Series 1 a boat with a PY greater than 1085 will be allocated to the Slow Fleet, and this will include the RS Visions.
   9. As per Rule 86.1(b) of the 2009-2012 ISAF Sailing Rules, the club has decided to change to two the number of hull lengths determining the zone around marks that apply for Rule 18. This will apply to all club events.
3. Notices to Competitors
   Notices to competitors will be posted in the Race Control box or at an alternative location selected by the OOD who must then ensure that all competitors are informed of the alternative location.
4. Signals Made Ashore
   Signals made ashore will be displayed at the flagpole in front of the race control box.
5. Schedule of Races
   The schedule of club races will be printed in the club handbook and posted in the clubhouse. At least two weeks notice of any change will be posted in the clubhouse. The schedule of races for open meetings will be printed on the entry form and/or posted in the clubhouse/race control box.
   
   Club races are normally of sixty minute duration for the first boat. The Frostbite and Wednesday Series 3 races are of 45 minutes duration. Other one-off races are of longer duration and this is specified in the Sailing Programme.
6. Course Instructions
   
   1. Average lap racing;
      1. The course and the hand for rounding of marks will be displayed in the race control box , or alternative location indicated by the OOD, at least 15 minutes before the start of the race
      2. The start and finish lines must be the same, and this line will form a gate through which competitors must sail at the end of each lap. This line should be approximately one third to one half of the way along the main windward leg of the course.
      3. There will normally be one start for all classes
      4. The 'S' flag may be flown with two sound signals to indicate when the race is to be finished.
   2. Other races:
      1. The course and the hand for the rounding of marks will be displayed in the race control box, or alternative location indicated by the OOD, at least 15 minutes before the start of the race.
      3. There will be starts for different classes as indicated by the OOD.
7. Class Flags
   Class Flags will be:

   Class	Flag
   Handicap/Fast	Number one pennant
   Slow/Rookie	M
   Laser	Laser motif pennant

8. The Start
   The OOD at their discretion may give one long sound signal to inform competitors that the next race will start in 15 minutes.
   
   Races will be started according to rule 26 as follows:
   
   Times shall be taken from the visual signal; failure of a sound signal shall be disregarded
   
   

   Title	Signals	Time to start
   Warning	Class flag, one sound	FIVE minutes
   Preparatory	P or I flag, one sound	FOUR minutes
   Rule Flag	P or I flag removed, one sound	ONE minute
   Starting	Class flags removed, one sound	START

   
   The OOD will normally apply the 'I' flag rule (rule 30.1), unless an alternative is specified. Rule 30.1 states that…'if any part of a boat is on the course side of the start line or its extensions during the minute before her starting signal, she shall sail to the pre-start side of the line round either end before starting.'
   
   The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.
   
   The start will be between a start/committee boat and a nominated mark, which maybe an orange buoy or a permanent club course mark. An inner distance mark may be used. This start line will form the gate and the finish line for average lap racing.
   
   A boat shall not start later than 5 minutes after her starting signal
   
   
9. Recalls
   When at a boat's starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line, she shall sail completely to the pre-start side of the line before starting (rule 29.1). Rule 30.1 will apply unless an alternative is specified.
10. The Finish
    
    1. Average lap racing: The finish line will be between the start boat and the buoy marking the gate/start line.
    2. Other racing:
       1. The finish line will be the line between the 'F' buoy and the flagpole. Or,
       2. The finish line will be the between the windward mark and the committee boat
    3. Time limit: Races will normally last approximately 60 minutes; other time periods may be specified by the OOD / Sailing Committee for special races or events. Boats that do not finish within 30 minutes or the first boat to finish will be scored Did Not Finish (DNF).
    The 'S' flag may be used by the OOD to indicate that the race will be finished at a mark of the course, or that the race will finish the next time boats sail through the designated finish line.
11. Scoring
    The number of races in each series shall be published in the club handbook at the beginning of each season. The number of races to count in any club series is as follows:

    Number of Races	Races to Count
    12	7
    11	6
    10	6
    9	5
    8	5
    7	4
    6	4
    5	3
    4	3
    3	2
    2	2

    
    A competitor in a series who has undertaken one or more race duties during that series will have their series score calculated from their average score for the number of races to count minus one multiplied by the number of races to count.
    
    The low point scoring system as detailed in Appendix A4.1 of the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009 - 2012 will be used.
    
    In the event of a series tie, the tied boats will share the position and if applicable, prize.
12. Protests
    rotest forms are available in the clubhouse. Protests must be delivered to Officer of the Day within 60 minutes of the time when the last boat finishes the last race of the day.