Nedlands Yacht Club - Sailing Instructions 2011/2012

1.1 All races will be governed by the "rules" as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), [which includes the prescriptions of YA and the rules of competing Class(s)], except as any of these are changed by these sailing instructions, and by these sailing instructions.

1.2 Club racing is designated Category C with respect to advertising.

1.3 The NYC Management Committee is the 'Organising Authority' as required by rule 88.1 (c).

1.4 The NYC Regatta Committee is the appointed 'Race Committee' as required by rule 88.2.

1.5 The 'Officer of the Day' (OOD) is the NYC Regatta Committee representative with all the authority of the 'Race Committee'.

2 Eligibility for Entry

2.1 Boats shall be included in the Club Yacht Register.

2.2 Boats registered in the names of Junior members shall be skippered only by Junior members.

2.3 Boats and their crew shall be nominated for Invitation Races (these entries shall not be awarded placings or points for Club Championship or Consistency).

2.4 Except where qualified by instruction 2.8, skippers and crew shall be Life, Temporary or financial Sailing, Crew, Junior, and Provisional Members of the Nedlands Yacht Club.

(Note: Temporary Members shall compete in a maximum of three Club Races, Invitation Races excluded.)

2.5 Every skipper and crew member who sails more than 3 races in a season shall be a Youth or Silver member of Yachting Australia.

2.6 Except where qualified by instruction 2.8, a Skipper may nominate one of his/her crew to sail in their absence. The crew so nominated shall report to the OOD prior to racing and record his/her position as Skipper on the Sign on Sheet.

2.7 Boats in the Cruiser section may sail with a Co-Skipper, as approved by the Regatta Committee or the OOD. Co-Skippers shall be regular members of the boats crew, unless otherwise approved, and shall comply with instructions 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6.

2.8 Every boat in the Club Yacht Register shall have displayed on its hull, in letters and numbers no less that 50 mm in height, the name of the boat and her sail number.

2.9 A boat shall compete without its registered sail number only with prior permission of the OOD. The competitor shall make appropriate notation on the sign on sheet.

3 Nominations

3.1 Nomination for all Club races is compulsory. Any boat failing to nominate shall be recorded as 'Did not Start' in the Club Championship scoring system and awarded zero points in the Club Consistency scoring system.

3.2 Nominations shall be lodged by correctly filling in and signing the Sign On Sheet provided by the Section Handicapper in the NYC Training Centre prior to the warning signal for that Section.

4 Notices to Competitors

Notices to competitors will be posted on the Race Control notice board located in the front window of the NYC Training Centre.

5 Changes in Sailing Instructions

Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the Race Control notice board no later than thirty minutes before the first sections warning signal.

6 Signals Made Ashore

6.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from the yardarm adjacent to the NYC Start Box

6.2 All Course signals will be made ashore, irrespective of boat starts, at least 15 minutes before the first Warning signal. See 10.4

6.3 A warning signal will be made not less than 1 minute after the end of a postponement period.

7 Schedule of Races

The start times for races are scheduled as follows:

Start Time Consistency Races Championship Races

13.25 hours Open Cats (Race 1) Open Cats (Race 1)

13:30 hours National 125 National 125

13:35 hours Cruiser Division 3 & 4 Cruiser Division 3 & 4

13:40 hours Cruiser Division 2 Cruiser Division 2

13:45 hours Hobie 16 B Hobie 16 A and B

13:50 hours Hobie 16 A Juniors

13:55 hours Juniors Open Dinghy

14:00 hours Open Dinghy

14:40 hours Open Cats (Race 2) see note 1 Open Cats (Race 2) see note 1

Note: 1 The second race for the Open Cat Fleet will start 5 minutes after the last boat finishes but not before 14:40.hours.

Note: 2 14ft and 16ft catamarans without spinnakers may sail in Hobie B fleet

Note: 3 For Handicap starts the limit boat starts at 13:30 (all fleets)

Handicap Starts

13:30 hours Limit boat (i.e. first boat to start)

Note: Open Cats sail only 1 race during handicap races.

8 Flags

8.1 Section

Open Cat Black Tornado class emblem on white

National 125 Black 125 class emblem on white

Cruiser Division 3 & 4 Naval Numeral Four (4)

Cruiser Division 2 Naval Numeral Two (2)

Hobie 16 A Black Hobie class emblem on white

Hobie 16 B Black Hobie class emblem on yellow

Juniors Red "M" on white

Open Dinghy Flag 'G'. Yellow & blue vertical stripes

8.2 Line In Use

A 'Line In Use' will be identified by a conspicuous Orange Flag. A boat shall not pass in either direction through a start or finish line in use, other than her own. Alleged infringements of this sailing instruction may be protested under rule 60.1, 60.2 or 60.3 as a result of a report from any race committee. The onus of satisfying the protest committee that she did not pass through the line in use shall be with the protested boat. Rules 44.1 and 44.2 apply as though this instruction was part of Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

8.3 Start Box Procedure

Will be indicated by Numeral pennant 5 (yellow and blue vertical) and will be displayed ashore at least 15 minutes prior to the first Warning signal.

8.4 Boat Start Procedure

Will be indicated by Numeral pennant 6 (black over white) and will be displayed ashore at least 15 minutes prior to the first Warning signal.

8.5 Handicap Start Procedure

Will be indicated by the Numeral pennant 7 (yellow over red halved) and will be displayed ashore at least 15 minutes prior to the first Warning signal.

9 Racing Area

Races will be conducted on the areas of the Swan River known as Melville Water East and Melville Water West.

10 Courses

10.1 Courses will be displayed in the Club Training Centre for all Sections

10.2 Each Section will have four standard courses numbered 1, 2, 3 & 4.

10.2.1 Course No. 1 is for moderate to strong south-westerly winds.

10.2.2 Course No. 2 is for weak to moderate south-westerly winds.

10.2.3 Course No. 3 is for westerly winds.

10.2.4 Course No. 4 is for easterly winds.

10.3 Courses 1, 2 & 3 shall finish via Dalkeith Day Buoy and Course 4 shall finish via Waratah Day Buoy.

10.4 The course to be sailed will be indicated by a painted representation of a numeral pennant placed in the frame on the yardarm adjacent to the NYC start box at least 15 minutes prior to the first warning signal. A numeral pendant will also be hoisted on the start boat prior to the first warning signal. The pennant hoisted on the start boat will override the pennant hoisted on the start box should they be different.

10.5 Open Cat fleet boats will sail the following courses on all Consistency and Championship Races. Race 1 will consist of 3 laps of courses 1, 3 & 4 and 2 laps of course 2. Race 2 will consist of 2 laps for course 1 and 1 lap for courses 2, 3 & 4. When a Handicap Start is scheduled only one race consisting of the full course (all laps) will be sailed. A lap consists of one upwind and one downwind leg.

10.6 When a boat start procedure is used for course 3, the first mark of the course for all Sections shall be Gallop Buoy rounded to port. After rounding Gallop Buoy the displayed course shall be resumed.

10.6.1 Shortening The Course (changes RRS 'Course Signals')A Shortened Course will be indicated by the flying of a flag 'S' at a mark of the course. The flag may be flown by the NYC support boat anchored in the vicinity or it may be on a buoy anchored adjacent to the mark. In the latter case it will have a NYC burgee below it to indicate that it applies to NYC boats only. The support boat crew may hail the boats affected to draw their attention to the shortened course.

When a course is shortened the affected boats shall pass by the course mark at which the flag 'S' is flying on the correct side and proceed to the finish line rounding Dalkeith Day Buoy if it is course 1, 2 or 3, or rounding Waratah Day Buoy if it is course 4.

10.7 Alternative Courses

Alternative courses will be posted on the Race Control Notice Board and will be indicated by an "S" in the frame on the yardarm adjacent the NYC Start Box.

10.8 Obstructions

The Perth Flying Squadron start line, whether or not in use, is not to be sailed through at any time and is regarded as an obstruction and rules 18 and 19 apply. Also rules 44.1 and 44.2 apply as though this instruction was part of Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

10.8.2 No boat shall sail through a line joining either Brick landing buoys A and B or Smith and Lucky Bay buoys at any time and these pairs of buoys are regarded as obstructions and rules 18 and 19 apply. Also rules 44.1 and 44.2 apply as though this instruction was part of Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

10.8.3 The Personal Water Craft (jet ski) designated areas at Point Walter and The Narrows Bridge are obstructions at all times and rules 18 and 19 apply.

11 Abandoned Race

Should a heat be postponed or abandoned it may be re sailed immediately or on a day decided by the Race Committee.

12 Marks

12.1 Club Start/Finish Line Buoys.

The Outer Buoy will be a black and red striped post style mark.

The Inner Buoy will be a green post style mark.

12.2 Dalkeith Day Buoy

Will be placed in a position approximately midway along a line between the end of the NYC jetty and the outer buoy of the club start/finish buoys.

12.3 Waratah Day Buoy.

Will be placed in a position approximately 100 metres from the outer buoy in a WSW direction along a line extended from Dalkeith Spit to the outer buoy of the club start/finish buoys.

12.4 Junior Day Buoy No. 1 (Wing mark)

Will be placed in a position approximately at the intersection of two lines consisting of, the easterly extension of a line from Perth Flying Squadron start box to Armstrong Buoy, and the northerly extension of a line from Bond Spit to Deepwater Spit.

12.5 Junior Day Buoy No. 2 (Bottom mark)

Will be placed in a position approximately 50 metres North of Hallmark Buoy.

13 Start Lines

While a boat start is the preferred start type the OOD may elect to use a club start box start. A decision on the start type shall be identified by the appropriate flag and shall not be grounds for redress (see 8.3 and 8.4).

13.1 Club Start Box Line

13.1.1 The starting line will be between the red triangle on the front of the Club Start Box and the outer club start/finish line buoy (striped).

13.1.2 The extremities of the Start Line are the Outer Buoy (striped) and the Inner Buoy (green). The Inner Buoy may be only approximately on the start line.

13.1.3 When an extended Start Line is requested by a section, it will be identified by the placing of a white coloured buoy (Extension Buoy) flying a NYC burgee and an Orange Start Flag at the outer end of the line.

13.1.4 The Start Line will then be between the red triangle on the front of the Club Start Box and the Extension Buoy.

13.2 Boat Start Line

13.2.1 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the Race Committee Boat at the starboard end and the port-end starting mark

13.2.2 The extremities of the Start Line are the port-end starting mark and the Race Committee Boat. A Barging Buoy may be laid near the Race Committee Boat and it is an extension of the Race Committee Boat, therefore, the barging buoy, the Race Committee Boat and the space between them, all form the starboard end starting mark.

14 The Start

14.1 In order that the Race Officials have an uninterrupted view of the start line, no boat, other than Juniors, shall pass between the start box and the inner club start/finish buoy when the line is in use. Penalty for failure to comply will be disqualification without a hearing (changes rule 63.1).

14.2 Boats whose starting signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose starting signal has been made.

14.3 A boat shall not start later than 15 minutes after her starting signal.

14.4 No warning signal will be made after 15:30 hours

14.5 Championship and Consistency Races

14.5.1 Races will be started using rule 26, with sections starting at 5 minute intervals in the order as stated in instruction 7 Schedule of Races, i.e.

Signal Flag and Sound Minutes before starting Signal

Warning Section flag; 1 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 Section flag removed; 1 sound 0

The orange 'Line in use' flag will be hoisted 5 minutes prior to the warning signal for the first fleet, accompanied by one sound and may be lowered no sooner than 15 minutes after the last section starts.

14.5.2 General Recalls

14.5.2.1 Recalled Sections go to the rear of the fleet in sequence and the preceding fleet's starting signal will be their Warning signal. This changes rule 29.2.

14.5.2.2 Where there is a General recall for Open Cat Section first race, the race will be judged "Race Abandoned."

14.5.2.3 Rule 29.2 of the RRS (General Recall) will apply if the restart is for the last Section in the sequence or Open Cat second race.

14.6 Handicap Races

14.6.1 All boats shall start as one fleet on the same set of numbers. The start signal for each boat shall be the lowering of its handicap number.

14.6.2 Handicap numbers will be black on white.

14.6.3 The orange "line in use" flag will be hoisted 5 minutes prior to the Warning signal, accompanied by one sound, and will be lowered no sooner than 15 minutes after the last number has been lowered.

14.6.4 Five minutes before the start time of the limit boat the Warning signal will be given by hoisting all Section Flags, accompanied by one sound.

14.6.5 Four minutes before the limit boat's start the Preparatory Flag will be broken out.

14.6.6 Three minutes before the limit boat's number, the number which is two greater than the limit boat's handicap number will be displayed in front of the Start Box.

14.6.7 Numbers will be lowered, one each minute, until the start of the scratch boat. All signals will then be lowered.

14.6.8 A boat shall be penalised three minutes for every minute or part thereof by which it prematurely starts.

15 The Finish

15.1 The finish line will be between the red triangle on the front of the Start Box and the outer club start/finish buoy (striped).

15.2 The extremities of the Finish Line will be the Outer Buoy (striped) and the Inner Buoy (green). The Inner Buoy may be only approximately on the finish line.

15.3 Having finished, no boat shall sail through the Club Finish Line. A boat breaking this rule will have two minutes added to her finishing time.

15.4 In order that the Race Officials have an uninterrupted view of the finish line, no boat, other than Juniors, shall pass between the start box and the inner club start/finish buoy when the line is in use. Penalty for failure to comply will be disqualification without a hearing (changes rule 63.1).

15.5 If the 'Line in use' flag has been lowered after the start then it will be re-hoisted prior to the first boat finishing and stay hoisted until all boats competing have finished or retired.

16 Penalty System

16.1 For multi hull fleets rules 44.1 and 44.2 (taking a penalty) are changed so that only one turn, including one tack and one jibe is required.

16.2 Instruction 16.1 does not apply to Multi hull boats competing in Cruiser events.

17 Time Limit

17.1 The time limit for all Sections (except Race 1 and Race 2 for the Open Cat Fleet when not a handicap start) is 3 hours. Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat finishes or within the time limit, whichever is later, will be scored Did Not Finish (this changes rules 35 and A4).

17.2 Open Cat Fleet Time Limits are 2 hours for Race 1 and 1.5 hours for Race 2. In addition if a boat fails to finish Race 1 within 25 minutes of the first boat it will be scored Did Not Finish (this changes rules 35 and A4).

18 Protests and Requests for Redress

18.1 Protests and requests for redress shall be written on the appropriate forms which are available from the OOD's office and delivered to the OOD during the protest time.

18.2 Protest time ends 30 minutes after the last boat of all the fleets has finished. For the Open Cat Fleet protests for Race 1 will be accepted after Race 2.

18.3 At the discretion of the OOD, requests for redress may be heard prior to protests; otherwise protests and requests for redress will be heard in approximately the order of receipt

18.4 Generally hearings will be conducted at the earliest opportunity but may be deferred to another time at the discretion of the OOD.

18.5 Notices will be posted on the Race Control Notice board within 30 minutes of protest time closing to inform competitors where and when there is a hearing in which they are parties to a hearing.

18.6 Parents of interested parties from the junior fleet may accompany their children to the hearing as observers only.

19 Scoring

19.1 Club Championship

19.1.1 For all classes the Bonus Point system of RRS Appendix A will apply modified so that each boat's series score will be the total of her race scores, with her worst score discarded if six races have been completed. Six races are scheduled, of which five races shall be completed to constitute a series.

19.1.2 Open Cat points awarded for Race 1 and Race 2 are added together to determine final placings for each Club Championship Heat.

19.1.3 Rule A9 applies. The number of boats entered in the series shall be determined following the final heat of the series.

19.1.4 Open Section and Juniors finish placings will be calculated using the Regatta Committee approved Yardsticks.

19.1.5 There shall be a minimum of three boats which start to constitute a heat; otherwise that heat shall be cancelled.

19.1.6 To determine the champion skipper, or co-skipper (see instruction 2.7), points shall be awarded to the nominated skipper, or co-skipper, not the boat. Thus if a skipper, or co-skipper, changes boats during the season, points gained in previous heats shall be retained. In the case of a Cruiser which has a co-skipper, points gained by one skipper shall be also awarded to the other skipper.

19.1.7 Points are not transferable between Sections or fleets within a Section.

19.1.8 Average points shall be awarded as redress resulting from a redress hearing or where a skipper is engaged on Club duties, with the approval of the OOD, which prevent that skipper from racing.

19.2 Club Consistency

19.2.1 A minimum of seven heats for each Section shall be completed to constitute a series for each Section. Open Cat Fleet heats consist of Race 1 and Race 2 added together.

19.2.2 There shall be a minimum of three boats in a section which start to constitute a heat for that section, otherwise that section's heat shall be cancelled, and no points shall be awarded in respect of such cancelled race.

19.2.3 At the commencement of the season each Section will establish a figure to be called the MAXIMUM SCORE which shall be the number of boats on the SECTION'S Club Register plus ten or such other numbers as may be approved by the Regatta Committee.

19.2.4 Handicap placings shall be awarded on the basis of the handicap allocated to the skipper for that race. However, points shall be awarded to the boat sailed by that skipper.

19.2.5 Points are awarded for placing on handicap. First shall be awarded the Maximum Score, second one less, third two less, and so on.

19.2.6 A boat which comes to the starting area but does not finish shall be awarded points for the finishing place ONE more than the number of boats that come to the starting area and shall be awarded at least one point. A boat which finishes shall be awarded at least two points.

19.2.7 A boat which finishes and thereafter retires shall be awarded points for the finishing place TWO more than the number of boats that come to the starting area.

19.2.8 A boat which finishes and thereafter is disqualified shall be awarded points for the finishing place FOUR more than the number of boats that come to the starting area.

19.2.9 A boat that comes to the starting area in a race that is subsequently cancelled shall be awarded points for the finishing place which equals the number of boats that come to the starting area.

19.2.10 A boat competing in another event with prior approval from the Chairperson of the Regatta Committee or whose skipper is engaged on Club duties, with the approval of the OOD, which prevent that skipper from racing shall be awarded points equal to that boat's average points for the series.

19.2.11 Average points are defined as points equal to the average, to the nearest tenth of a point (0.05 to be rounded upward), of her points in all races in the series except the race in question.

19.2.12 All heats programmed by the Club shall count towards the Consistency Series unless the Regatta Committee has approved otherwise.

19.2.13 In addition to the provisions of instruction 19.2.10, a boat shall be awarded points for a maximum of two races in which it did not compete. Points so awarded for each of these races shall equal the lowest point score awarded to that boat for a race during the series (including points awarded for races in which it did not finish and/or retired and/or was disqualified).

19.2.14 Where a boat is sold or otherwise disposed of and another boat is sailed by the former skipper of the disposed boat, points gained in previous heats of the series may be transferred to the replacement boat with the approval of the Regatta Committee.

19.2.15 Points are not transferable between Sections or fleets within a Section.

19.2.16 Placings in the Consistency Series shall be based on the total points awarded over the series. The highest total points wins.

20 Handicapping Systems for the Consistency Series

20.1 Individual handicaps used for the determination of placings in a Club Consistency race will be calculated using a system of handicapping which has been approved by the Regatta Committee.

20.2 Sections may adopt a system based either on a percentage or a time as preferred. In addition, if required, two sets of handicaps may be established to suit the following wind strengths:

• Wind strength up to 12 knots

• Wind strength 12 knots and over

20.3 The wind strength will be declared by the OOD during the race by the display of the following signals on the signalling yardarm:

• Wind strength up to 12 knots, one orange ball

• Wind strength 12 knots and over, two orange balls

20.4 The Section Handicapper will be responsible for assessment, arbitration and record-keeping for that Section's handicaps.

20.5 Appeals against handicaps or the administration of handicaps shall be made to the Section Handicapper. A member dissatisfied with the outcome of such an appeal may make a further appeal to the Regatta Committee. Such appeal shall be lodged in writing with the Club or the OOD prior to the race following the Handicapper's decision being advised.

21 Safety Boat

Safety Boat will display a Green over White Diagonal Flag. They have right-of-way at all times. Redress does not apply to a boat disadvantaged by a safety boat which is performing a rescue.

22 Retirement

22.1 A boat that has retired during a race shall not sail through the Finish Line.

22.2 A boat which retires shall either enter its retirement on the Retirement Sheet in the NYC Training Centre within 15 minutes of reaching the shore or, if at a place remote from the Club, advise the OOD as soon as possible

22.3. A boat which retires after finishing shall inform the OOD of doing so and the boat shall be scored as per Sailing Instruction 19.2.7.

23 Safety and Responsibility

23.1 Attention is drawn to the RRS, Part 1, Fundamental Rule 4, "Decision to Race", which states, "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone."

23.2 The Club and its officials are not responsible for the seaworthiness of boats or for the sufficiency or adequacy of their equipment.

23.3 It is a requirement that boats in the Cruiser section shall comply with the mandatory safety requirements prescribed by the RRS Addendum A, YA Special Regulations Part 1, Category 7 and boats in all other sections shall comply with the safety requirements of RRS Addendum A, YA Special Regulations Part 2 'Off the Beach Boats'.

23.4 The Club or its officials are not responsible for any damage or injury, either ashore or on the water, either to persons or boats, which might result from participating in Club racing.

23.5 Adequate insurance cover is recommended

23.6 Racing may be abandoned or postponed when the average wind speed in the race area is greater than 25 knots or in any event if at the discretion of the OOD conditions for racing become unsafe. When abandoning, flag 'N' will be flown ashore and by the rescue boats and all boats shall return to the shore to receive further signals.

24. Personal Floatation Devices (lifejackets)

24.1 All skippers and crew of dinghies and catamarans must wear approved personal floatation devices (PFDs) at all times in accordance with YA Special Regulations Part 2 item 5.01

24.2 When the Race Committee deems the wind speed to be 20 knots or above or the conditions to be severe the Y flag will be flown from the yard arm of the control tower and the start boat and skippers and crew on cruisers must don PFDs level 150 or 100 (type 1) or level 50 (type 2) in accordance with Racing Rules of Sailing Part 4 rule 40.

25 Prizes

25.1 Club Championship Series

25.1.1 Championship Pennants will be presented to the skippers and crews in first, second and third place for each heat on the day.

25.1.2 Overall placings for the series will be awarded trophies, which will be presented at the Club Trophy Night.

25.2 Club Consistency Competition

25.2.1 Consistency Pennants will be presented to the skippers and crews in first, second and third place on handicap and the fastest time for each heat on the day.

25.2.2 Overall placings for the series will be awarded trophies, which will be presented at the Club Trophy Night.