Sailing Instructions

QUICK JUMP TO SECTIONS:
General
Racing Rules
CCL Series Events | Wednesday Night Series | Bridge Series
Eligibility
Race Dues
Race Committee
Start Line
Start of Race
One-minute Rule
Flags
Protests
Scoring System
Ratings

1.0  GENERAL

These sailing instructions shall govern all races in the CCL racing season.  Separate instructions are set forth in Section 3 where applicable for the individual series.  Where a discrepancy appears the rules for that particular series govern.

These instructions may be modified or amended in writing or verbally changed by the Race Committee Chairman at a skipper’s meeting.  Any verbal revision to these instructions shall be reduced to a written form as soon as practical, provided the revision is general in nature and not directed to a specific event.

2.0 RACING RULES           

Except as otherwise modified by these sailing instructions, all races shall be governed by the 2005-2008 International Sailing Federation rules.

3.0  CCL SERIES EVENTS

3.1 WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERIES

3.1.1  SCHEDULE

The Wednesday Night Series shall consist of two separate series as set forth in Appendix A of these instructions.

3.1.2  SCORING

Each Series shall be scored individually.  Each race shall be scored according to the scoring system set forth in section 12 of these instructions.  Each boat may count its best races towards the series as follows; best 7 of 10, 6 of 9, 6 of 8, 5 of 7, 5 of 6, 4 of 5, 3 of 4, 3 of 3, 2 of 2, 1 of 1.

3.1.3 CLASSES

The race committee prior to the start of each series shall determine classes for each series.  If a boat enters the series after the classes are announced, the race committee shall assign that boat to a class at its discretion.

3.1.4 STARTING TIME

The committee boat should plan in advance to have the marks and the starting line set in order for the race to start on time.  The blue (preparatory) flag shall be raised at 6:00pm sharp.  In the event conditions warrant the postponement of the starting time, the postponement flag (red and white vertical stripes) shall be raised at 6:00pm in place of the warning flag.

3.1.5 START SEQUENCE

The start sequence for the Wednesday Night Series shall be as follows:

                                    Jam B  ( Short Course)

                                    Jam A

                                    Spinnaker B

                                    Spinnaker A

Fleets may be added or eliminated but slower fleets will start before faster fleets.

3.1.6 COURSE

The course shall be as close to a windward/leeward set as possible.  Two windward marks are set as close as possible directly upwind.  The furthest mark shall be set approximately 1 mile from the start line.  A second windward mark should be set approximately 150 yards closer to the start line.  The start line consists of one mark and the committee boat.  The standard course shall be 3 legs, windward/leeward/windward, and 3 miles in length.  This requires that the committee boat move to a windward mark to create the finish line.

The course length can be shortened for light air by sailing a 2-leg race, windward/leeward.  In this case the committee boat stays anchored and the start line is the finish line.

The course length can be lengthened for heavy air by sailing a 4-leg race, W/L/W/L.  The committee boat stays anchored and the start line is the finish line.  The committee boat needs to fly the GREEN FLAG to distinguish the lengthened race from the shortened race.  GREEN is for GO.

All marks shall be rounded to PORT.

NOTE:  HARRODS CREEK TO GOOSE CREEK IS APPROXIMATELY ONE NAUTICAL MILE.

3.1.7 TIME LIMITS

A race for a class will be abandoned if the first boat in that class does not reach the first mark within one hour after her start, or does not finish within 2.5 hours after her start.

The committee will attempt to notify boats in the abandoned class or classes.  The burden is on the boats in the individual classes to determine if a boat in that class has rounded the first mark in the prescribed time.  The fact that the committee boat may be displaying the abandonment flag means only that a race for a class has been abandoned.  It does not necessarily mean the race for all classes has been abandoned.

Boats not finishing 1 hour after the lead boat has finished will be scored a DNF, provided the first boat has finished within the prescribed time limit.

3.1.8 ABANDONMENT

Notwithstanding any other time limitations, the committee boat shall have the right in its sole discretion, to terminate a race after 8:30pm for any class, which has not finished.  In such event, any boats that have not finished will be scored a DNF.  In exercising this discretionary action, the committee boat should consider wind, weather, darkness and proximity of boats to the finish line.  ANY decision by the committee boat under this rule shall not be grounds for protest.  The committee boat is advised not to allow any race to continue after dark.

3.1.9  COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS           

If any member who is scheduled to serve as committee for a Wednesday night series is UNABLE to be present for that race, it shall be his responsibility to secure a replacement.  Upon 2 weeks advance request, the Race Committee will appoint another member to serve as committee for that race.  In NO event shall a member be permitted to sail in the race for which he was originally scheduled to serve as committee with scheduling a replacement.

Final committee assignments will be posted at the Limestone Bay Yacht Club building bulletin board on the East Side of the building.

3.2 BRIDGE SERIES

3.2.1 SCHEDULE

The Bridge Series races shall be held as published in the Cruising Club Directory.

3.2.2  SCORING

For each race, scoring shall be as set forth in section 12 of these instructions.  A participant may count his best races towards the series as follows; 4 of 5, 3 of 4, 3 of 3, 2 of 2, 1 of 1.

The GREAT YACHT RACE shall be scored separately and trophies awarded for that race.  It shall also count as one race toward the Bridge Series scoring.

3.2.3 CLASSES

There shall be two classes, SPINNAKER and JAM.  Once a boat has entered into and sailed the first race in a class, it may be changed by accepting a DNF for races not sailed in the new class.

3.2.4 SKIPPER’S MEETING

A skipper’s meeting will be held prior to each race at the Limestone Bay Yacht Club at 11:30 a.m.  At that time any amendments to the Sailing Instructions and course to be sailed shall be announced.

3.2.5  COURSES           

The course will be set at the skipper’s meeting.

The actual start time will be announced at the skipper’s meeting.

3.2.6 STARTS

The start sequence will be a 5-minute sequence.  To start the countdown, blue (preparatory), red ( start).  All boats are required to start at their assigned time after the red flag.  The start is based on REVERSE PHRF.  The highest handicaps start first.  The last boat to start will attempt to raise the red flag for all boats.  The flag will be hoisted for 30 seconds and then lowered.

3.2.7 FINISHES

The first boat to finish wins the race.  The first boat to finish shall mark his elapsed time and the name of the boat immediately behind on the provided form.  Subsequent finishers shall record the time of day as well as the boat ahead and the boat behind on the provided form.  The forms shall be turned in at the Limestone Bay Yacht Club in the box under the stairs.

3.2.8  TIME LIMIT                       

There shall be a 2.5-hour time limit to the first mark for the first boat in each fleet.  There shall be a 4-hour time limit for the first boat in each fleet to finish.  Any boat not finishing within 6 hours shall receive a DNF.

4.0  ELIGIBILITY

All members of the CCL are eligible to participate in each CCL race series provided the current year’s dues are paid.  Members must register the boat they will race in each respective series.  No boat or member shall be considered as participating in any CCL race unless registered.  A member may register a different boat for different series.

If a member desires to participate in a series after that series has commenced, he may so provided fees are paid for the entire series.  The member will receive a DNS for races not sailed.

5.0 RACE DUES

Amounts

Racing fees are established by the Race Committee and noted for each series on the registration form.

Payments

Fees for each series or individual regattas must be paid prior to participation in the series or regatta.

6.0 RACE COMMITTEE

The CCL Race Committee shall be responsible for the preparation, conduct and completion of each race in the series.  The Race Committee may delegate committee assignments for the respective races.

All decisions made by the Race Committee shall be final.  No decision of the Race Committee in setting a course, postponing a race, abandoning a race or shortening a race may be protested.

The Race Committee boat shall receive his season average for being Race Committee.

7.0 START LINE

The start line for the bridge series will be set in the proximity of Limestone Bay Yacht Club as conditions permit.  It shall consist of a buoy at one end and a dock with a marker or another prominent mark on shore as the other end, e.g. the flag pole on the Limestone Bay point.

The start line for the Wednesday night series will be at the leeward end of the course.  The committee at its discretion may place a buoy on the leeward side of the committee boat (barging buoy), which shall be considered an extension of the committee boat.  In the event a barging buoy is utilized, all boats shall start between the buoys.  The starting line shall be defined as an imaginary line drawn between the main mast of the committee boat which is at the starboard end of the starting line and the furthest buoy, which is at the port end of the starting line.

When fleets are awaiting separate starts, boats in the fleets with a later start must keep clear of the starting area up to the five minutes prior to their start.  This starting box is approximately the area with a width of twice the starting line length and a depth that extends back from the starting line by one-half the starting line’s length.

8.0 START OF THE RACE

The starting sequence as spelled out in the 2005-2008 ISAF rules, part 3 will be used at some regattas and should be understood by our sailing group.  However, the flexibility of these rules also lead to some complexity and therefore, for CCL’s Wednesday night and Bridge series we will continue to use the old starting sequence as laid out below. Note that the 10 min. Warning flag has been eliminated from the old sequence.

The committee shall have the start-finish line in place and the committee boat on station and hoist the Preparatory ( Blue Flag) signal in accordance with section 3.  This will commence the following sequence to the start.

- 1 minute	Series of short horn blasts to warn of Prep Signal
Time zero	BLUE FLAG RAISED ( PREPARATORY SIGNAL)
+4 minutes	BLUE FLAG LOWERED
+5 minutes	RED FLAG RAISED  ( START SIGNAL for first fleet and PREPARATORY SIGNAL for next fleet)
+9 minutes	RED FLAG LOWERED
+10 minutes	RED FLAG RAISED ( START SIGNAL for second fleet and PREPARATORY SIGNAL for next fleet)
+14 minutes	RED FLAG LOWERED
+15 minutes	RED FLAG RAISED( START SIGNAL for third fleet) and PREPARATORY SIGNAL for next fleet)
+19 minutes	RED FLAG LOWERED
+20 minutes	RED FLAG RAISED( START SIGNAL for fourth fleet)

The committee will attempt to sound a horn at the  PEPARATORY AND EACH START. No horn is sounded when lowering the blue or red flag. However, the FLAGS and not the sound shall control.

9.0 ONE MINUTE RULE

N/A

10.0 FLAGS

In addition to the white, blue, and red starting flags, the following flags will be utilized.

10.1 GENERAL RECALL:  Yellow triangle on blue background accompanied by several horn blasts.

10.2 INDIVIDUAL RECALL:  Blue cross on white background.  The committee will attempt to hail an early starter; however, the burden to restart is on the offending boat.

10.3 POSTPONEMENT: Red and white alternating bars.  When the postponement flag is displayed, one minute after the flag is lowered; the next signal will commence the beginning of the sequence that was delayed.

10.4 ABANDON RACE:  Blue and white checkered flag.  Note section 3 for time limits.

10.5 LIFE JACKETS REQUIRED:  Red and yellow diagonal bars.  If this flag is shown, all skippers and crew must wear life jackets.

11.0 PROTESTS

If a boat violates any rule or instruction during a race, it should retire immediately or conform to the 720 rule.  If it fails to do either of these, it shall be protested in the following manner by the protesting boat:

Verbally notify the offender of the intent or protest at the earliest opportunity after the foul.

Display a red flag.

Notify the committee boat after finishing the race.

File a written protest.

A Protest Committee will be appointed and will convene as soon as possible after the racing event.  All parties involved must be available upon call by the Protest Committee.  Protest will be heard by a Protest Committee chosen from members of fleets not involving boats affected by the outcome of the protest.  The written protest shall be given to the Race Committee chairman no later than noon of the day following the race.  This can be hand delivered or sent by e-mail.

12.0 SCORING SYSTEM

12.1 REGATTAS

The score for each race will be calculated as follows, using the low point system; first place- 1point; second place – 2 points; third place – 3 points; and so on.

12.2  BRIDGE AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERIES

The low point scoring system for a club series shall be used.  See section 3.1.2 and 3.2.2 for minimum required races scored.  Each boat finishing in a race and not retiring thereafter or being disqualified will be scored points as follows: first place –1 point; second place – 2 points; third place – 3 points; and so on.

The series score for each boat will be the sum of her races scored.  A boat not starting or ranking as a starter in the minimum number of required races shall receive a score equal to the number of entrants in her class to complete the minimum required scoring.

12.3 ABBREVIATIONS & PENALTIES FOR SCORING

DNS – Did not start – ranked as a starter but failed to start; score = number in fleet + 1

DNF – Did not finish; score = number of starters +1

DSQ- Disqualified; score = number of starters + 2

12.4 TIES

In the event of a tie at the end of a series, or regatta, the tie will be broken by elevating the boat, which has the most first place finishes for the series.  If the tie still exists, the most second place finishes, and so on.

13.0 RATINGS

13.1 PHRF RATING

All boats will be rated according to their respective PHRF number as determined by the Race Committee.  A boat may request modification of its rating at any time.   The request must be in writing setting forth the reasons requested.  The committee shall maintain the existing rating or amend the rating to the requested number.  Any modification shall be in effect after approval.  No boat may protest another boat’s assigned rating.  The Race Committee at its discretion may delegate the assignment of handicaps but the final determination shall be the responsibility of the committee.

13.2 TIME ON TIME CORRECTION FACTORS

A time on time handicap system shall be used for scoring the Wednesday Night Series.  Each boat will receive a time correction factor (TCF) based on its PHRF rating.  The actual elapsed time is multiplied by the TCF.  The TCF is calculated as follows; TCF= 650/(550 + PHRF).