AYC Sailing Instructions - DOWNLOAD NOW!!
1 RULES
1.1 The races shall be governed by the ‘rules’ as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005 - 2008 and the Prescriptions and Special Regulations of the Australian Yachting Federation.
1.2 The rules of each class shall apply.
1.3 If there is a conflict between languages the English text shall prevail.
2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors shall be posted on the official notice board located at desk in the boat shed where competitors sign on.
3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions shall be posted a minimum of 30 minutes before the start of the first race on the day it shall take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races shall be posted by 1200 on the Saturday before the first race day on which it shall take effect, or as otherwise advised.
4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
4.1 Signals made ashore shall be displayed on the flagstaff next to the control tower at the seaward side of the clubhouse.
4.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’ in race signal AP.
4.3 When flag AP is displayed ashore boats are requested not to leave the shore until flag AP is lowered and a signal is made.
5 SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 Racing is scheduled as per the racing calendar that has been circulated with the newsletter and posted on club notice boards.
5.2 The numbers of races scheduled for each of the club events is as specified in the racing calendar. This may be changed if a single race is specified and there are previous races abandoned in the series. The race committee at its discretion with a weeks notice in writing on the club notice board may change this to “back to back” races until the series is back on schedule.
5.3 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race each day is 1400, except for days where we have a morning race short course program in which case the warning signal shall be no earlier than 1000, or any other designated race time, as notified in the racing calendar or on the official notice board, or at the pre-race briefing.
5.4 When more than one race (or sequence of races, for two or more classes) shall be held on the same day, the warning signal for each succeeding race shall be made as soon as practicable.
On a sailing day no warning signal shall be made after 1700 unless otherwise advised to competitors notified in the racing calendar or on the official notice board.
6. DIVISION FLAGS
6.1 Divisions shall be made up of various classes as determined by the race committee.
6.2 Division flags shall be:
DivisionFlag Class
One Pennant 1 - Slow Monos = or > 120,
Two Pennant 2 - Fast Monos < 120,
Three Pennant 3 - Slow Cats = or > 80,
Four Pennant 4 - Fast Cats < 80,
Five Pennant 5 - Trailables,
Six Pennant 6 - To be defined, and
Seven Pennant 7 - To be defined.
7. RACING AREAS
7.1 The racing area shall be Altona Bay.
7.2 For Trailable Yachts the race area shall be Altona Bay or other area as notified by the race committee.
8. THE COURSES
8.1 The course diagrams for each division shall be displayed on the white board at the entrance to the boat shed after the completion of the Sailing Committee meeting. The actual course layout and length shall be set at the discretion of the Sailing Committee or the Race Officer, to facilitate optimum sailing for the conditions of the day.
8.2 The mark denoting the end of Seaholme Reef (Wise’s Reef) is a mark of the course as a consequence all boats racing must pass this mark on its seaward side.
8.3 Altona Reef represents a navigational hazard and as such the Course Layer shall attempt to not lay any course where the rhumb line between two marks passes closer than within one hundred metres of the South Cardinal mark denoting the reef.
8.4 No later than the warning signal, the race committee signal boat may display the approximate compass bearing from midpoint of the starting line to the windward mark.
8.5 Courses shall be shortened where weather conditions dictate a shortened course is required to either complete the race or for the safety of the competitors.
8.6 Where the Judge& Starter deems it necessary to shorten a course the process used to shorten a course shall be as per rule 32, or instruction 12.1.
9 MARKS
9.1 Course Rounding Marks 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be cylindrical inflatable orange or yellow buoys.
9.2 The ID Mark is to be a cylindrical inflatable orange or yellow buoy.
9.3 The Finish Mark is to be a cylindrical inflatable orange or yellow buoy.
9.4 New marks, as provided in paragraph 11.1.
9.5 The starting line shall be the race committee signal boat at the starboard end and a buoy at the port end.
9.6 A race committee boat signaling a change of course is a mark as provided in instruction 11.2.
10 THE START
10.1 Races shall be started using Rule 26, with the warning signal being given 5 minutes before the starting signal with Divisions starting at not less than 5 minute intervals.
10.2 When the club runs short course or “back to back” racing the 5 minute interval may be changed to 3 minutes at the ‘Judge and Starters’ discretion. Sailors shall be advised of this change to start timings at the pre-race briefing.
10.3 The starting line shall be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the race committee signal boat at the starboard end and the port-end starting mark.
10.4 Boats whose warning signals have not been made shall avoid the starting area.
10.5 A boat starting after her designated start time shall not interfere with boats that have commenced their starting sequence.
10.6 A boat starting later than 15 minutes after her starting signal in long course races shall be scored Did Not Start. A boat starting later than 10 minutes after her starting signal in short course or medium course races shall be scored Did Not Start.
11 CHANGE OF THE POSITION OF THE NEXT MARK
11.1 To change the position of the next mark, the race committee shall display the ‘C’ flag then move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position. The change shall be signaled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the mark may not yet be in the new position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the moved mark may be relocated without further signaling to maintain the course configuration.
11.2 For all the divisions, rule 33 is applied;
Reverse ‘port’ and ‘starboard’ when the mark is to be left to starboard.
11.3 Except at a gate, boats shall pass between the race committee boat signaling the change of course and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the race committee boat to starboard. This changes rule 28.1.
12 THE FINISH
12.1 The finish line shall be as notified in the pre-race briefing, and the club Notice Board prior to each day’s racing. The finish line shall be either a:
Tower Finish: By rounding an ID mark prior to passing between the Altona Yacht club tower and the finishing mark. Both marks are to be rounded on the port side. or On Water Finish: Between a staff displaying a orange flag on the Race Committee Boat and the port-end finishing mark. The finish line is an obstruction and any boat sailing through it in an
upwind direction, other than when finishing, shall be disqualified.
or Shortened Course: When the Race Committee Boat displaying code flag "S" is on station within the immediate vicinity of a mark of the course proper, the finish shall be between the Race Committee Boat displaying code flag "S" and the mark. The exception to this shall be when Fleet Racing where different Divisions are racing a dissimilar number of laps to consist the race. In this instance a Race Committee Boat displaying code flag "S" is on station within the immediate vicinity of a mark of the course proper, and the finishing shall be as per 'On Water Finish', being the original 'Start Line'.
12.2 A boat having finished her race shall not interfere with boats that are still racing and shall stay away from the on course side of the finishing line.
13 PENALTY SYSTEM
13.1 The penalties are as follows: A boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 while racing may take a penalty at the time of the incident. Her penalty shall be a 720 degree Turns Penalty. However, if she caused serious damage or gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach she shall retire.
13.2 A boat that has taken a penalty or retired under rule 31.2 or 44.1 shall acknowledge their action by making a declaration in the appropriate space on the Sign-Off form within the protest time limit.
13.3 For all multihulls rule 44.2 is changed so that the 720 degree turn is replaced by a 360 degree turn.
14 TIME LIMITS
14.1 Long Course: Boats failing to finish within 150 minutes, or within 45 minutes after the first boat in their class or division sails the course and finishes, shall be scored Did Not Finish. This changes rules 35.
14.2 Medium Courses (back to back races): Boats failing to finish within 90 minutes or within 15 minutes after the first boat in their class or division sails the course and finishes shall be scored “Did Not Finish”. This changes rules 35.
14.3 Short Courses: Boats failing to finish within 60 minutes or within 10 minutes after the first boat in their class or division sails the course and finishes shall be scored DNF this changes rule 35.
15 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
15.1 Protest forms are available from the Race Office. Protests shall be delivered to the Race Office within the protest time limit.
15.2 For each class/division, the protest time limit is 30 minutes after the last boat in the class/division has finished the last race of the day. The same protest time limit applies to all protests by the race committee and protest committee and to requests for redress. This changes rules 61.3 and 62.2.
15.3 Notices shall be posted within 30 minutes of the protest or the protest time limit, on the official notice board located at desk in the boat shed where competitors sign on, to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings shall be held in the upstairs observation lounge beginning at 1700 or no sooner than one hour after last boat in the race, to which the protest relates, has finished.
15.4 Notices of protests by the race committee or protest committee shall be posted on the official notice board located on the Notice Board in the boat shed where competitors sign on\off to inform boats under rule 61.1(b).
15.5 A list of boats that, under instruction 15.4, have acknowledged breaking rule 42 or have been disqualified by the protest committee shall be posted before the protest time limit on the official notice board located at desk in the boat shed where competitors sign on.
15.6 For the purpose of rule 64.3(b) the ‘authority responsible’ is the Measurer appointed by the organizing authority.
15.7 Breaches of instructions 11.3, 13.3, 16, 17.2, and 22 shall not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides.
16 SCORING
16.1 The low point nominated scoring system shall be applied to all races.
16.2 The number of races required to be completed to constitute a series, as outlined in the racing calendar that has been posted on the Altona Yacht Club Website and posted on club notice boards is:
(a) For the Club Aggregate series 80% of the completed races shall count.
(b) For the Club Championship series 80% of the completed races shall count.
(c) For the Autumn Trophy series there are 6 races programmed, of which 5 of the completed races shall count.
16.3 Club Handicaps are to be generated from the Aggregate Series of races. Club Handicaps are to be carried from season to season.
16.4 Club Members who have not yet paid their Annual Yacht Club Membership fees shall be ineligible to be awarded race points, until such time as the fees are paid.
16.5 Occasionally Members may be required to assist with the manning of the Rescue Boats in order for a race to be safely conducted. On these occasions, the Member shall be compensated by their boat being awarded average points from the balance of races to count in that series. This is on the proviso that the Member notates ‘Duty’ on the Sign On/Off sheet of that day. Members can only be awarded average points a maximum of three times within the current season.
17 SAFETY REGULATIONS
17.1 To be eligible for points all boats shall be required to have undergone a safety check and the safety check form completed and given to the Sailing Commitee. Skipper / Crew onus applies.
17.2 Each boat competing in the day’s racing program is required to sign on prior to commencing their first race of the day and sign off when they have completed their last race for the day by completing the necessary declaration.
17.3 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the sailing committee as soon as possible and complete the necessary declaration.
18 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS
A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions. On the water, a boat can be instructed by a race committee member to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection.
19 OFFICIAL BOATS
Official boats shall be marked as follows; ‘ALTONA RESCUE’ and ‘ALTONA PATROL’ or as advised on race days.
20 PRIZES
20.1 The number of, and type of Prizes to be awarded shall be at the discretion of the Committee of Management for Altona Yacht Club. Prizes shall be awarded as follows;
- Bill Smith Race Opening Day Trophy, Fleet Race based on Yachting Victoria Yardsticks,
- Commodore Club Championship, based on Yachting Victoria Yardsticks,
- Jack Bradley Trophy, Fleet Race awarded to the boat with the most improved Altona Y.C. Handicap on that day, and
- Fred Manning Handicap, Fleet Race based on Altona Y.C. Handicap, and
- Autumn Trophy Series, based on Yachting Victoria Yardsticks
.
20.2 The Aggregate Series is to have Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd based on YV Yardsticks, and 1st place based on Altona Y.C. Handicap.
20.3 Class prizes shall be awarded where there are more than five boats within the class which compete on a regular basis.
21 DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Competitors participate entirely at their own risk. (See rule 4: Decision to Race.) The organizing authority shall not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after racing at Altona Yacht Club.
22 INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of $5,000,000 per event or the equivalent.
Addendum A - Starting Races
All races sailed shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals. The absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded. For the short course races the 5 minutes between starts may be changed to 3 minutes at the Judge and Starter’s discretion.
Three Minute Start Sequence
Signal Flag and Sound Minutes before
starting signal
Warning Division flag; 1 long sound 3
Preparatory P, I, Z, Z with I, or black flag; 1 sound 2
One-minute Preparatory flag removed; 1 long sound 1
Starting Division flag removed; 1 sound 0
Note: The warning signal for each succeeding division shall be made with the starting signal of the preceding class
Five Minute Start Sequence
Signal Flag and Sound Minutes before
starting signal
Warning Division flag; 1 long sound 5
Preparatory P, I, Z, Z with I, or black flag; 1 sound 4
One-minute Preparatory flag removed; 1 long sound 1
Starting Division flag removed; 1 sound 0
Note: The warning signal for each succeeding division shall be made with the starting signal of the preceding class.