SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
23rd PYYC EASTER REGATTA 2015
1 Administration
1.1
The organising Authority for this race series is the Port of Yamba Yacht Club (PYYC).
1.2
The race will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016
unless changed in accordance with Rule 86 Part 7 by these instructions, by the briefing or
by the publication of local rules by the Executive Committee of the PYYC.
1.3
A completed Regatta Entry Form from each boat, with the appropriate entry fee, must be
lodged with Race Control before briefing time of the first race it intends to sail in. A signon crew form must also be completed by each skipper before each race. Boat race fees
are: - Friday $10.00, Saturday $30.00, Sunday $30, or $60 for the whole Regatta.
1.4
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board at the club room.
2 Rule Changes
2.1
Racing Rule 26 Part 3 (Starting Signals) is amended as follows: The starting procedure will
consist of sound and visual signals from the start/finish boat positioned at one end of the
start line.
2.1.1
For scratch starts, there will be a 5 minute warning signal (one hoot and an orange flag
raised), a 1 minute preparatory signal (one hoot and an orange flag with code ‘P’ flag
raised) and a start signal (one hoot and both flags lowered).
2.1.2
For handicapped starts (Pursuit Races), the first boat to start will receive the same signals
as for scratch starts above. Subsequent boats will receive a start signal only (one hoot and
code ‘P’ flag lowered)
2.2
Racing Rule 29.1 Part 3 (Individual Recall) is amended as follows:



2.3
If a boat crosses the line early there will be a series of short sound signals immediately
after the start signal.
The start boat will attempt to broadcast the name(s) of boat(s) starting early on VHF
channel 72, but failure to broadcast will not be grounds for redress.
It is up to competitors who think they may have started early to decide whether to
continue on and get penalised 5 minutes in addition to the time started early, or to turn
back and restart.
Any boat electing to restart must give way to all other boats until crossing the line for the
second time.
Rule 33 (Changing the Next Leg of the Course) is amended as follows:-




The Race Officer may change the finishing line during a race for any of the reasons
specified in Rule 32, including to shorten the course.
The new finishing line may be the end of a leg of the course or any line along a leg even
though boats may have commenced that leg of the course.
If possible this will be done without disadvantaging any participating boats.
Changing of the finish line will be notified over the radio on VHF Channel 72 and code S or
C flag raised on start boat together with a series of short sound signals.
1
2.4
Racing Rule 42.1 of Part 4 (Propulsion) and (in accordance with Rule 42.3(i)), Rule 42.3 (h)
Part 4 (Exceptions) have been amended as follows:


If a boat finds it cannot get clear of a grounding using the forces of wind and water, it
may, as well as using the forces specified in this rule, use a propulsion engine.
Propulsion from an engine must cease as soon as the vessel is clear of the grounding.
To avoid disqualification if any advantage has been achieved in the race by this
propulsion, the boat must sail back to a safe position equivalent to where the grounding
took place before proceeding with the race under sail alone.
2.5
Racing Rule 44.1 has been amended to replace all two-turns penalties with a one-turn
penalty.
3
Schedule of Races
DATE
Friday
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
3 April
4 April
4 April
5 April
TIME
RACE
1400hrs
1100hrs (First boat)
1400hrs
1100hrs (First boat)
Scratch start round the buoys no spinnakers
Pursuit race round the buoys
Scratch start round the buoys
Pursuit race Yamba – Harwood – Yamba
4
Courses
4.1
All races will be conducted in the Clarence River. The course for Friday’s non-spinnaker
familiarisation race will be round the buoys of about 8nm. The course sheet will be
handed out at the briefing at 1230hrs. The courses for Saturday’s races will be round the
buoys of about 8nm each. The course sheets will be handed out at the briefing at
0930hrs. Sunday’s race will be a passage race of about 20nm to the Harwood Bridge and
back which will be detailed at the briefing at 0930hrs.
4.2
Shortening the course or any other changes to the race will be advised by radio on VHF
Channel 72 and code S or C flags raised on the start boat together with a series of short
sound signals.
5
Signal Flags and Pennants in Use
PYYC pennant
Start boat I.D.
AP pennant
Postponement
First sub pennant
General recall
Orange Flag
Warning signal
P Flag
Preparatory signal
C Flag
Course changed
2
S Flag
Course shortened
6
The Start
6.1
The starter’s clock will be synchronised with ‘world time’ on the internet and will be
available at the briefings. Although the start signals should be in accordance with this
clock, the time of the actual start signals will always take precedence.
6.2
Races will be started using amended Rule 26 (see above) with the warning signal made 5
minutes before the start signal. However, in the case of the two pursuit races, only the
first boat starting will receive all the starting signals with each subsequent start time
being indicated by one sound signal and code ‘P’ flag dropped only.
6.3
The start lines for each race will be explained at the individual briefings and as per the
course sheets handed out at the time.
7
The Finish
The intended finish line for all races will be between the green starboard navigation buoy
at Moriarty’s Wall below the Marine Rescue Base and the start boat. However, the finish
line for the two pursuit races may well be adjusted to ensure that the elapsed time of the
race approximates the elapsed time estimated by the handicapper before the race. Any
changes to the finish line will be notified by radio on VHF Channel 72 and code S or C flags
raised on start boat together with a series of short sound signals.
8
Time Limit
8.1
Unless varied by the Race Officer of the day, the time limit on Friday is 3 hours, Saturday
2½ hours each and Sunday 5 hours. Any variations will be made by radio on VHF Channel
72.
8.2
If any boat has crossed the finish line within the above time limits, the race may be
extended by 30 minutes to allow other boats to finish.
8.3
Boats failing to finish within the time limits will be scored Did Not Finish.
9
Protests and Requests for Redress
9.1
Protest forms are available at the PYYC club room.
9.2
The protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished.
9.3
Protest forms must be accompanied by a fee of $25 which is refundable if the protest is
upheld.
9.4
The protest committee has been appointed by the Commodore and Vice Commodore.
Decisions of the protest committee will be final as provided for in Rule 70.5.
10
Scoring and Handicapping
10.1
Results are based on a standard performance handicapping system as used by the PYYC.
Boats that have not raced in a PYYC regatta before will be researched and slotted into the
regatta fleet handicaps as accurately as possible.
10.2
The handicaps of all participating boats that complete the course will be adjusted after
each race of the regatta using a standard performance handicapping formula as used by
the PYYC.
10.3
There will be three divisions: Div 1 – Keel boats; Div 2 – Trailer-sailers; Div 3 – Multihulls.
However, divisions 2 and 3 may be combined if it is deemed that there are insufficient
boats of one of the classes to make a separate division.
3
10.4
The Regatta Champion will be the boat that has the lowest corrected elapsed time of the
combined fleet accumulated over the three races of the regatta. To be eligible, a boat
must have sailed a proper course in all races and have any protests resolved.
10.5
For PYYC members, one of Saturday’s races will be a Club Championship event and also
counts towards the Autumn Sunday Series.
11
Safety Considerations
11.1
Check-in and registration of boats and crew on Friday will be at 12.00-12.30pm and
Saturday / Sunday at 8.30 – 9.30am.
11.2
On Sunday a crewmember from each boat that has checked in must sign off after the race
to confirm that their boat and crew have returned safely. This can be done in person, by
phone or Text on 0456125388 or by radio on VHF Channel 72 to Race Control.
11.3
A boat that retires from a race shall notify Race Control or start boat ‘Bar Tender” ASAP.
11.4
Crews must be aware that yacht racing can be a dangerous sport. Competitors
participate in this regatta entirely at their own risk and your attention is drawn to Racing
Rule 4 Part 1 “Decision to Race”.
12
Prizes
Official prizes will be given as follows:




Winning Skipper and Crew in Friday’s Prawn Trophy Race.
1st Place in each Division of each of the three individual races of the Regatta.
1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each Division of the combined races of the Regatta.
Overall line honours
Overall Regatta Champion, 2nd overall and 3rd overall.
These will be presented when results are announced after the BBQ on Sunday. The names
of Regatta winners in each Division, line honours and Regatta Champion will also be added
to the perpetual trophies kept at the club.
13
Insurance
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a
minimum cover of $5 million.
4