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15 February 2010
HOPE TOWN SAILING CLUB
HOPE TOWN, ABACO, BAHAMAS
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR CRUISING CLASS YACHTS
1.RULES-
1.1 Races will be governed by the current ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing and the Prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association, except where changed by these Sailing Instructions. Competitors shall have a working knowledge of the above-referenced Racing Rules (2009-12).
2.NOTICES TO THE COMPETITORS will be posted on the official Notice Board located in the Club House.
3.AMENDING AND/OR CHANGING SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2.1 Sailing Instructions may be amended or changed no later than 9:00 am on the day of a race, and shall become effective when posted on the Official Notice Board.
4.ELIGIBILITY-
4.1 Races are open to all competitors sailing "cruising class boats" (generally a sailboat of not less than 18 feet in length) and they need not be members of the Hope Town Sailing Club (HTSC), the Organizing Authority.
4.2 The definition of "cruising class boats" and the acceptance of any entrant are at the sole discretion of the HTSC Race Committee (changes Rule 76).
4.3 Competitors shall enter races by submitting appropriate handicap or design information to the Race Committee prior to their first race and may do so at the Clubhouse or by VHF radio. Handicaps are determined at the sole discretion of the Hope Town Sailing Club Race Committee, using the U.S. Sailing Association PHRF Handicaps Book ratings and/or Portsmouth Yardstick Manual numbers as guidelines, and are subject to review, change, or adjustment at any time as deemed appropriate by the Race Committee. The Hope Town Sailing Club handicap system is currently expressed in Portsmouth Yardstick values.
5.EQUIPMENT -
5.1 Downwind sails such as spinnakers and gennakers are not permitted during racing. All headsails must be attached along the entire luff to a headstay or forestay at all times. Headsail changes are permitted and all sails may be reefed and unreefed during a race (changes Rule 50).
5.2 A vessel being sailed singlehanded may use an automatic steering device (i.e. autopilot) from time to time during racing to effect such activities as sail changing, reefing, sail trim, navigation, and other standard shipboard activities that would require absence from the helm. Use of such automatic steering device in no way relieves a vessel from full compliance with the Racing Rules of Sailing (changes Rule 52).
6.SCHEDULE OF RACES –
6.1 The schedule of races is listed in the current Club Directory, and is posted on the Club Official Notice Board.
6.2 A skippers meeting will be held in the Clubhouse at 0900 the day of each scheduled race to announce the approximate course and other race information.
7.CLASS FLAGS - When one class is participating the Class Flag shall be a red rectangle flag.
8.RACING AREA –
8.1 The racing area normally will be on Abaco Sound, West of Hope Town, as shown on the attached chart, or, in the case of a point-to-point race, on the Sea of Abaco.
9.COURSE AND VHF RADIO COMMUNICATION –
9.1 The course to be sailed will be announced by the Race Committee on VHF radio Channel 66 prior to the warning signal. A leg may be lengthened, or shortened, or changed during the race. The Committee will attempt to maintain contact with boats at all times during the race on VHF Channel 66. Such VHF radio communication shall replace visual and sound signals if such signals are not made. All competitors shall monitor their radios for this purpose at all times (changes Rule 32, 33, Appendix J2).
10.MARKS
10.1 All marks of the course, including the starting and finishing line marks, will be orange inflatable tetrahedrons, except in point-to-point races where the marks may be navigational aids, landmarks including islands, or other identifiable objects.
11.THE START
11.1 Races will be started in accordance with Rule 26 by using the following signals: a warning signal will be given 5 minutes before the starting signal, by the hoisting of the Class Flag, in this case a red flag, accompanied by a sound signal. Unless the race is postponed or abandoned, a Gathering/Attention Signal will be made at 1050, the Warning at 1055, and the Start at 1100. Normally a race not started by 1200 may be abandoned. A race so abandoned may or may not be rescheduled.
SignalFlagSoundMinutes before Start
WarningRed flag hoisted 1 sound5***
Preparatory"P" flag hoisted 1 sound 4
One-minute "P" flag removed 1 sound 1
Start Red flag removed 1 sound 0
*** A Gathering/Attention Signal, made by repeated horn blasts and announced on Channel 66, may be made five minutes before the warning signal.
11.2 When the following flags are displayed as the Preparatory Signal instead of the "P" flag, the following rules will come into effect:
"I" flag – round an end rule
"Z" flag – 20% penalty rule
black flag – black flag rule
11.3 The starting line will be between a staff displaying the "RC" flag on the Race Committee boat at the starboard end, and the starting mark, normally an orange inflatable tetrahedron, at the port end, (except in point-to-point races where the starting mark may be a navigational aid, landmark including an island, or another identifiable object, as designated at the Skipper's Meeting and/or on VHF radio prior to the Warning Signal). A round red inner distance mark (often referred to as a "barging buoy") will be placed near the Committee Boat. When approaching the line to start, boats shall pass between this mark and the outer distance mark (pin end, red tetrahedron). Boats shall not pass between this mark and the Committee Boat. If a boat fails to observe this instruction or is forced between this mark and the Committee Boat by a boat that did not break a rule, then said boat must retire.
12.RECALLS-
12.1 Individual Recalls will be signaled by displaying code flag "X" (blue cross on white) with one sound signal and the Race Committee will attempt to notify premature starters by VHF radio; such VHF communication will replace visual and sound signals if such signals are not made (changes Rule 29).
12.2 A general recall will be signaled by displaying the "First Substitute" flag (blue triangle, yellow center) with two sound signals and notification by VHF radio; such VHF communication will replace visual and sound signals if such signals are not made (changes Rule 29.2). The warning signal for a new start will be made one minute after the "First Substitute" flag is removed, with one sound signal.
13.CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START-
13.1 The Race Committee may change, shorten, or lengthen a leg or legs, or eliminate a leg or legs, of the course after the start and will so notify boats by VHF radio before the leading yacht has begun the leg or legs being changed (changes Rules 32 & 33).
14.THE FINISH –
14.1 Boats will finish between the "RC" flag on the Race Committee Boat, which is normally stationed at the starboard end, and the finish mark, normally an orange inflatable tetrahedron, at the port end, as designated at the Skippers' Meeting and/or on VHF radio prior to the start, or during the race. The Committee Boat, due to conditions, may be stationed at the port end of the finish line, as signaled prior to the finish on VHF radio.
14.2 The Race Committee Boat will display a solid blue flag when on station at the finish.
15.TIME LIMIT-
15.1 The time limit for all races is 3 hours from the starting signal until the first boat crosses the finish line. The Race Committee may retire from the course, at its sole discretion, one hour after the first boat crosses the finish line. A boat that retires from the race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.
16.OTHER SIGNALS-
16.1 All visual and sound signals below will be replaced by VHF radio communications on Ch. 66 if the signals below are not made.
16.2 Postponement- Answering Pennant (vertical red and white stripes) plus two sound signals means "all races not started are postponed." Answering pennant will be lowered (accompanied by one sound signal) one minute before a new warning signal or abandonment.
16.3 Abandonment- Code Flag "N" (checkered blue and white) plus three sound signals, means "all races are abandoned for the day".
16.4 Shortened course - Code Flag "S" (blue square on white) plus two sound signals means "finish between the near mark and a Race Committee boat".
16.5 Leg(s) shortened – Code Flag "C", plus repetitive sound signals (changes Rule 33(b)).
16.6 Leg(s) lengthened – Code Flag "X", plus repetitive sound signals (changes Rule 33(b)).
17.PROTESTS-
17.1 All boats intending to protest must follow these requirements: shall hail "PROTEST", shall display a red flag, and shall notify the Race Committee of a protest at the finish line and shall file a written protest with the Committee chairman within 1 hour after the Committee boat docks at the Sailing Club dock. Protest forms are available from the Race Committee (changes Rule 61.1(2)).
17.2 ALTERNATIVE PENALTY – A boat which may have broken a rule of Part 2 may take a Two Turn Penalty (720 degrees) at the time of the incident and shall report that fact to the Race committee upon finishing the race (changes Rule 44).
18.DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
18.1 Competitors participate in this (these) race(s) entirely at their own risk. See Rule 4, Decision to Race. The Race Organizers will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the race(s). By participating in this event, each competitor agrees to release the Race Organizers (Race Committee, Protest Committee, Host Club, Sponsors, or any other organization or official) from any and all liability associated with the competitor's participation in this event. Rule 82 shall not apply to this event.
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