Starcross Yacht Club - Sailing Instructions

Reviewed and approved by the SYC Sailing Committee January 2013
Updated 29 April 2014 (v1.9 – Sam Woolner)
Updated 23 November 2015 to correct broken hyperlinks
Updated 16th May 2016 for changes to Protests (Franco Marenco)
Updated 13th September 2018 for changes to Section 15 (Mark Elkington)

These Sailing Instructions apply to all races run by Starcross Yacht Club unless event specific Sailing Instructions are produced.

Document governance

Table of Contents

1. Rules
2. Conditions of entry and eligibility
3. Notices to competitors
4. Changes to sailing instructions
5. Entries and declarations
6. Race Management Signals
7. Race Schedule and Format(s)
8. The Course
9. The Start
10. Recalls
11. The Finish
12. Shortening Course
13. Abandoning the Race
14. Time Limit
15. Penalties and Protests
16. Individual Race Scoring
17. Series Scoring
18. Appendix A - Course Board
19. Appendix B - Local PY Handicap System

1 Rules

Racing will be governed by the International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), 2013 - 2016, the prescriptions of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and Class rules, unless any of these are amended by these sailing instructions.

2 Conditions of entry and eligibility

2.1 General

The safety of the boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/competitor who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise in the course of the race.  Neither the establishment of these Sailing Instructions nor the inspection of the boat under these conditions in any way limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/competitor for his/her crew, his/her boat and its management.

Starcross Yacht Club (SYC) and the individuals responsible for race organisation (the Race Committee) shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury however caused to the owner/competitor, his/her skipper or crew, or his/her boat as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover, every owner/competitor warrants the suitability of his/her boat for the race or races.

2.2 Eligibility

Races are open to Members (including Temporary and Winter Members) of SYC, Members of Group Membership Organizations and guests invited by Members (subject to the current Membership Rules on guests).

Guests who wish to race may do so provided that they comply with Section 5 (Entries and Declarations). Guest results will be recorded in individual and series races but will not be eligible for any trophies/prizes awarded for individual club events or race series.

Guests under the age of 18 including crews must lodge a signed parent/guardian consent form with the RaceCommittee – available from the web site downloads section.

2.3 Distinguishing Numbers

Under exceptional circumstances, the Race Committee may permit a boat to use sails carrying a distinguishing number other than that under which the boat is registered (as required by RRS Appendix G), in which case both sail numbers must be reported on the entry form and the number to be used when racing when signing on.

2.4 Insurance

All boats entering a SYC race, including those of guests, must have a minimum third party insurance of £3,000,000.

2.5 Personal Floatation Devices (Personal Buoyancy)

Adequate personal floatation devices for all crew members shall be worn at all time afloat.

Neither a wet-suit nor a dry-suit, nor certain types of trapeze harness with buoyancy, either individually or combined constitute adequate personal buoyancy. Competitors breaking this Sailing Instruction may be disqualified without a hearing. This changes RRS rule 1.2.

All competitors shall wear a full-length wet-suit or dry-suit whilst afloat between 1st November and 31st March.

2.6 Advertising

Advertising on boats, sails and clothing is permitted in accordance with the ISAF Advertising Code.

2.7 Image Rights

SYC retains the rights to use any images or video taken before, during or after club race events for promotional purposes.

2.8 Parental Consent

It is a condition of club membership that members who are parents of children under the age of 18 years that participate in club races have consented to their participation in the activities covered by these sailing instructions.

Children of non-members who are participating in club racing as guests must provide a completed consent form to the Race Committee – this form is available from the web site downloads section.

3 Notices to competitors

Notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board located within the clubhouse. They may be repeated on a board near the race box and/or on the club website.

4 Changes to sailing instructions

Any changes to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the Official Notice Board at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the first race.

The attention of competitors will be drawn to the change by a sound signal from the race box accompanied by the flying of Flag L (see Section 6).

5 Entries and declarations

5.1 Entries (Signing On)

A computer sign on system is used to collect entries for most races at SYC.  Instructions for using this system are available in the race box.  Each competitor shall be solely responsible for entering the race using the supplied system and shall confirm that their name, class and visible sail number is correct. If technical problems prevent entry through this mechanism the competitor shall report their entry directly to the Race Committee in the race box.

The Race Committee may opt to use a paper based entry/sign on system for particular races.  In this case signing on sheets will be provided and Flag L will be flown.  If this system is used each competitor shall legibly print his/her name, class and sail number (and boat number if using a sail with a different number) on the signing on sheet before his preparatory signal.

Entries for all competitors in the race must be made before the preparatory (3 minute) signal for the first start in the race sequence unless otherwise specified by the Race Officer on the Official Notice Board.

5.2 Declarations (Signing Off)

The RaceCommittee may opt to use a paper based declaration system.  This will be signalled by the flying of Flag L.  The requirements for declarations in this case will be posted on the Official Notice Board.

6 Race Management Signals

Signals to competitors will normally be made using a combination of the race box lights system and sound signals – with the exception of a change to the sailing instructions, a change to the course or a postponement. This changes RRS Rule 25.3.

Flag signals as defined in the RRS will only be used if the race is being run from a committee boat, or the race box light system is not operating, or there is no equivalent light signal available.

Signal	Lights/Sound Signals	Flag Signal Alternative
Change to Sailing Instructions	TWO short sound when flag L is raised [Flag should be dropped at least one minute before first warning signal]	Not Applicable
Postponing a Race	TWO short sounds when flag AP is raised, 1 short sound when it is dropped. [Flag should be dropped at least one minute before the first warning signal]	Not Applicable
Starting a Race	See details in Section 9
Cancelling a Race	RED beacon + THREE short sounds. The race cannot be cancelled before the scheduled start time as shown in the Race Programme.	Flag N
Abandoning a Race	RED beacon + THREE short sounds. The abandonment applies to all fleets except those that have been specifically shortened (AMBER beacon + individual fleet lights). [Beacon turned off when all boats are ashore]	Flag N
Course Change	TWO short sounds when flag C is raised, ONE short sound when it is dropped. [Flag should be dropped at least one minute before the first warning signal]	Not Applicable
Shorten Course	AMBER beacon + TWO short sounds. If the shorten course applies only to individual fleets should be accompanied by the relevant fleet lights. [Beacon turned off when all boats are ashore]	Flag S
Individual Recall	AMBER beacon + ONE short sound [Beacon turned off after 1 minute]	Flag X
General Recall	RED beacon + TWO short sounds [Beacon turned off after 1 minute]	Flag 1st Sub

7 Race Schedule and Formats

The schedule of races and the start times of the first fleet are shown in the printed SYC Racing Programme and on the club website. The start time reported on the club website shall take precedence, if they are not the same.

Any changes to the race schedule will be posted on the Official Notice Board and may also be posted on the club website. Only in exceptional circumstances will changes be made less than a week before the race is scheduled.

The classes to race in each fleet and the starting order are detailed in Sailing Instruction 7.2 and on the club website. Any changes to this information will be posted on the Official Notice Board and may also be posted on the Race Box and/or the club website.

7.1 Minimum Number of Starters

For all fleets, a single competitor ranking as a starter will constitute a race, with the exception of a pursuit race which must have a minimum of 5 starters.

7.2 Types of races

The various types of races run by SYC are shown below.   The  timing schemes used for each race are detailed in Section 16.2 .

Other types of race format may be defined for special events. In these cases the Race Committee will hold a briefing to explain the race format immediately the race and provide any changes to the sailing instructions on the Official Notice Board.

[Note:  PN in the table below is the Portsmouth Yardstick number allocated to a class as defined by the RYA or by a locally adjusted number - see Section 16.1 and Appendix B.

8 The Course

8.1 The Course

The course (start, bouy sequence / rounding side and number of laps) for each fleet will be displayed on the Course Board mounted on the Race Box - see Appendix A. A diagram of the course may also be shown on the board. If there is a conflict in the instructions, then the buoy sequence and rounding instructions will take precedence over the diagram.

The course may be changed on the course board at any time up to 6 minutes before the warning signal for the first start in the event sequence with no signals. Any change after this time must be signalled as described in Sailing Instruction 6. If a course change is required after the first start, all races shall be abandoned and the start sequence restarted after the course change has been made and signalled.

Unless the course instructions indicate otherwise the start and finish lines will be as defined in these Sailing Instructions (see Sailing Instruction 9 and 11).

All competitors shall pass through the finish line on each lap unless the course instructions specifically indicate that this is not required.

8.2 Course Marks

Course marks will be orange inflatable buoys, and/or permanent navigation buoys, or as described on the Course Board.

In the circumstances when there are two inflatable buoys forming part of separate courses in the same part of the SYC sailing area, the buoy with the black band should be assumed to be the buoy for the multihull fleet.

8.3 Moving Marks after the Start

Course marks will only be moved in exceptional circumstances. A mark can only be moved before ANY boat (in all fleets) begins the leg that ends at that mark. RRS Rule 33 regarding signalling a move will not apply when a mark is moved after the start of a race; there will not be any sound signal to indicate the movement.

8.4 Sailing the correct course

Competitors witnessed by the Race Committee to sail an incorrect course may be disqualified without a hearing. This changes RRS Rule 63.1

9 The Start

9.1 Starting Line

The Race Committee may choose one of three start lines (see Appendix A) :

Line Start:

This is indicated by the use of the letter L before the course on the Course Board.

The start line is an extension of an imaginary line between the Race Box flagstaff and a moveable transit pole on the shore. The outer limit for this start line will be marked by Channel Buoy 29 - the buoy may not be precisely on the imaginary line. If the transit pole is missing the line will be taken to be an imaginary line from the Race Box flagstaff to Channel Buoy 29.

Special Start:

This is indicated by the use of the letter S before the course on the Course Board.

The start line is indicated by an extension of an imaginary line between the Race Box flagstaff and a moveable transit pole on the shore. The outer limit for this start line will be marked by the orange spherical 'J' buoy - the buoy may not be precisely on the imaginary line. If the transit pole is missing the line will be taken to be an imaginary line from the Race Box flagstaff to the red 'J' buoy.

Committee Start:

This is indicated by the letter C before the course on the Course Board.

In this case neither end of the start line will be marked by the Race Box flagstaff and instead will be marked by moored boat(s) and/or buoys. If this start line is used the OOD will hold a briefing before the race to describe the start line and start procedure.

Inner Distance Mark (IDM):

The OOD may choose to set an inner distance mark for the Line and Special start lines, this will be indicated by the letter D after the start and before the course on the course board. If an IDM is used, the start line is an extension of an imaginary line between the flagstaff and the IDM. The outer limit will be marked by whichever buoy is dictated by the start type.

9.3 Start Sequence

Races will be started using a six minute start sequence, this changes Rule RRS 26.

6 minutes before the first start:

The warning signal will be made with one sound signal and flashing fleet light (or hoisting of the fleet flag).

3 minutes before the first start:

The preparatory signal will be made with another sound signal and the class light will automatically show continuously (or flag P). At the same time the warning signal for the next class will be made - light will flash (or next fleet flag hoisted).

At the first start:

A sound signal will be made, the first class light will automatically extinguish (or first fleet flag dropped). At the same time the next class light will show continuously and the warning light for the following start will flash (or the next fleet warning flag will be raised).

This sequence will continue until all the starts are completed.

Time (mins)	Start 1	Start 2	Start 3	Start 4	Start 5
–6 mins	Warning (flashing)
–3	Preparatory	Warning (flashing)
0	Start	Preparatory	Warning (flashing)
+3		Start	Preparatory	Warning (flashing)
+6			Start	Preparatory	Warning (flashing)
+9				Start	Preparatory
+12					Start
light colour	Yellow	Green	Red	White	Blue
alternate flag signal

If the light system is not available or a committee boat start is used, the OOD can use flags for the warning signal for each start as shown above. The preparatory signal will be the P flag for all classes:

9.4 Start Penalties

Starting penalties are as defined in RRS 30. The I, Z, and black flag rules shall only apply with the hoisting of the appropriate flag at the preparatory signal for the fleets affected as defined in the RRS.

9.5 Time Limit for Starting

10 Recalls

10.1 Individual Recalls

If there is an individual recall the AMBER beacon will be lit (or flag X flown) and notified with one sound signal. The AMBER beacon will remain lit (or flag X will remain flying) until the offending boat has returned, or for two minutes, whichever is the shortest.

Also see Sailing Instruction 6.

10.2 General Recalls

If there is a general recall the RED beacon will be lit (or flag 1st Substitute will be flown) and notified with two sound signals. The RED beacon will be switched off (1st Substitute lowered) after two minutes.

The restart will take place as soon as possible after the remaining start sequence has completed. This changes RRS Rule 29.2.

The restart will be signalled by the preparatory (3 minute) signal being displayed (i.e. either the continuous fleet light display, or the preparatory flag for the recalled fleet) at any time after the normal fleet sequence. [Note: the preparatory signal for the restart may be made at the same time as the last start of the normal fleet sequence]. This changes RRS Rule 29.2.

If more than one fleet has a general recall, the restarts will follow the sequence of the normal fleet sequence.  Only the warning signal (continuous light or warning flag) will be shown for each recalled fleet.

Also see Sailing Instruction 6.

11 The Finish

The finish line will be between the Race Box flagstaff and Channel Buoy 29, unless an alternative finish line has been shown on the Course Board Diagram.

Boats finishing may be signalled with one short sound signal. The use of a sound signal does not imply that a competitor has complied with the racing rules (e.g. the Race Committee may still be recorded as OCS (On Course Side), or DSQ (Disqualified) in the race results).

12 Shortening Course

The OOD may shorten the course to finish the race at a convenient time, or for any reasons given in RRS Rule 32.1.

The signal for shortening the course will be the lighting of the AMBER beacon (or flag S flown) together with the fleet lights (or flags) of those fleets being shortened; TWO sound signals will accompany the lights (flags). If no fleet lights (or flags) are shown then all fleets are shortened. See Sailing Instruction 6. This changes RRS Rule 32.1.

For races using 'average lap timing' (see Section 16.2), the Race Committee may choose to finish a significantly slower boat before the leading boat has finished when they judge that the completion of another lap will prolong the race such that a boat is likely to finish more than 15 minutes behind the leading boat.  In this case a shorten course signal will not be shown - such signals will only apply to the leading boat.

13 Abandoning a Race

The signal for abandoning a race will be the RED beacon being lit (or flag N flown); THREE sound signals will accompany the lights (flags). This applies to all fleets still racing except for those that have been shortened using the AMBER beacon and relevant fleet lights). If no fleet lights (or flags) are shown then all fleets are abandoned. See Sailing Instruction 6. This changes RRS Rule 32.1

If fleets were originally shortened and then abandoned, the relevant fleet flights and AMBER beacon should be turned off when the abandonement is signalled.

14 Time Limit

With the exception of Long Distance races and Cruiser Races the time limit for races will be two hours. Boats failing to finish within 45 minutes from the finishing time of the leading boat or within the race time limit, whichever is the lesser, will be scored DNF (Did Not Finish).

If not boats finish within the time limit the Race Committee shall abandon the race.

This changes RRS Rule 35.

15 Penalties, Arbitration and Protests

15.1 On-the-Water Penalties

On the water exoneration penalties will be as follows:

- Touching a mark – a 360 degree turn (i.e. one tack and one gybe).

- Other rule infringements – a 720 degree turn for monohulls, and a 360 degrees for multihulls - this changes RRS Rules 44.1.

RRS Rule 44.3 (on-the-water scoring penalty) shall not apply.

15.2 Exoneration (scoring) penalty

A boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing or rule 31 may, after finishing the race concerned and before the start of any related Protest hearing, notify the race committee that she accepts an Exoneration penalty (scoring penalty), calculated as described below. However, if a boat caused injury or serious damage or gained a significant advantage by her breach, her penalty shall be to retire.

The race score for a boat that takes an Exoneration penalty shall be the score she would have received without that penalty, plus 30% of the number of competitors in the race (rounding to a whole number - 0.5 upward). The minimum penalty is four points. The maximum score including the penalty shall not be worse than Did Not Finish (DNF). The designation XPA (Exoneration Penalty Accepted) will be used in the results. The scores of other boats shall not be changed; therefore, two boats may receive the same score.

When an Exoneration Penalty is accepted:

(a) Neither the boat nor a protest committee may then revoke or remove the penalty.

(b) The boat shall not be penalized further in a Protest hearing when the protest committee decides that it was appropriate to the facts found and the applicable rules. If the boat has caused injury or serious damage or gained a significant advantage by her breach, this provision does not apply.

15.3 Rules dispute process

A competitor wishing to initiate an Arbitration Hearing or a full Protest must report to the race committee within a time limit of 30 minutes of the last boat in her fleet finishing the last race of the day. The race committee shall record the time the request was received, and inform the club's protest committee as soon as possible.

If the representatives of the boats involved or a member of the protest committee or race committee agree that an Arbitration hearing is not suitable then a full protest meeting will be held. If significant damage or injury occurred to any boat or person involved in the incident a full protest must be held.

In the case of a competitor seeking Redress or who has suffered serious damage or injury, the time limit is extended to 7 days. In this case, the competitor must initiate the rules dispute process by filling an online form on the SYC website.

The club's protest committee shall nominate one person (Arbitration) or three persons (Protest or Request for Redress) who will a hear and judge the case. If unable to organise an Arbitration Hearing, Protest Meeting or Redress Hearing on the day of the race, the hearing will be held on a convenient date within the next 30 days.

15.4 Arbitration

SYC has adopted the RYA's Arbitration process and encourages its use as an alternative to a full Protest meeting, as documented on the RYA website. Note that the RYA Advisory process is not adopted.

If any boats judged to have a broken a rule does not accept an Exoneration Penalty the dispute shall proceed to a full protest hearing. In addition after the Arbitration hearing is complete any party may ask for the dispute to be reviewed as a full protest. The time limit for such a request shall be 30 minutes after the Arbitration hearing.

15.5 Protest Meetings and Redress Hearings

Meetings will be held in Accordance with RRS Part 5, with the time limits stated above.

15.6 Actions by the club's sailing and protest committees

If the club's Sailing Committee or protest committee is made aware that a competitor has caused serious damage or injury without having retired or having been disqualified, it shall open a protest against that boat before prizes are awarded. This overrides the above time limits.

16 Individual Race Scoring

16.1 Class Handicaps

The corrected time calculation may result in the same corrected times being given to two or more boats. To resolve dead heats the time calculation will be performed to the nearest tenth of a second and, for average lap timing, evaluated for the no. of laps completed by the leading boat (e.g. a boat completing 2 laps where the leader completed 3 laps, will have their elapsed time mulitplied by 3/2 to get their equivalent elapsed time time for a 3 laps race). If these measures still do not resolve the dead heat, then both boats will be given the same position.

The Sailing Committee may elect to adopt alternative yardsticks (e.g personal handicaps, national RYA handicaps) for selected races.

16.2 Timing Schemes

16.3 Scoring

The Low Point scoring system, RRS Appendix A will apply.

Competitors who were scored "DNS" (did not come to start area), "DNF" (did not finish or retired after finishing), "OCS" (on course side), or "DSQ" (disqualified) will be scored as the number of starters in the race + 1.

Competitors who take an exoneration penalty will be scored as described in sailing instruction 15.2.

If the race is abandoned and the abandonment is the result of wind conditions changing significantly on the last lap of the race - either dropping to flat calm or increasing to unsafe conditions - the OOD can opt to score the boats for a finish at the last completed lap if this is considered to be fair to all competitors still racing at the time of the abandonment.

Persons doing club duties that prevent them from sailing may be scored "OOD".  This will be converted to an average points score for the relevant series - see Section 17.3.  To claim this scoring the persons involved should sign on normally and inform the Race Committee.  The results will show a code of "OOD".

16.4 Redress

If redress is awarded to a competitor the Results Manager will apply the redress points in the results.

16.5 Results

The race results will normally be displayed on the club website and may be displayed on results notice board in the clubhouse.

16.6 Results Dispute

Errors identified by a competitor or the OOD in the recorded results (e.g. position, sail number, crew etc.), shall be reported on the SYC Website Forum [Race Results]. If the competitor does not have access to the forum they can request their fleet captain or a member of the Sailing Committee to report the error on their behalf. The Results Manager will then consider whether to make the change to the results. He/she may require further evidence to be provided before making the change (e.g. confirmation from other competitors and/or the Race Committee of the finish order).

17 Series Scoring

17.1 Allocation of Series Points to Competitors

A competitor scored as DNC (did not compete) for a race in the series will be scored as the number of competitors in the series + 1.

17.2 Competitor Scoring

Series points are awarded to a competitor identified by a nominated helm and the class of boat (e.g. a person sailing an RS200 and an RS400 in different races within a series will be treated as two competitors). A competitor may sail with different crews in individual races within a series event.

Results will be merged to represent a single competitor in the following circumstances:

• competitors sailing more than one boat of the same class/handicap in a series (e.g. a person selling one Merlin and buying another will have their results for both boats aggregated)
• competitors sailing a Laser dinghy with different rigs during a series.
• regular helm/crew teams swapping roles during a series in a single class
  

For race series, overall positions will be awarded in accordance with RRS Appendix A8.

For the short Club Trophies where three to five races are completed each boat may discard her worst score; where six or more races are completed she may discard her worst two scores. For the long series 50% of the completed races will count (rounded up) - for example in an eight race series four races count, in a nine race series five races count. Each boat may discard her other results. For all series, one completed race result will constitute a series. Specific series may have a "no discard" rule and this will be indicated on the sailing programme published on the club website. This changes RRS Rule A2.

17.3 Club Duties

Competitors who were scored "OOD" in a race (see Section 16.3) will be awarded average points for that race.  The average position will be calculated only including races completed by that competitor (i.e excluding DNS, DNF).

17.4 Series Results

The series results will normally be displayed on the club website and may be displayed on the results notice board on the website.

17.5 Series Results Disputes

The procedure for dealing with problems with the series results is the same as for the individual race results – see Section 16.6.

Appendix A: Course Board

The course board can display up to three separate courses - one on each row. Each row is divided into three areas as shown in the diagram below.

The left hand section on each row indicates the type of start being used, the middle section the actual course (numbers are navigation buoys and letters are inflatable buoys), and the right hand section indicates which starts are using each course (the colour corresponding to the start light colour) and the number of laps to be sailed. Buoys to be left on the starboard side have a green background and those to be left on the port side have a red background. The buoy sequence is repeated for each lap.

In the example shown in the diagram above the asymmetric fleet (yellow light) are using the top course and sailing four laps; the handicap (green) and laser/topper (red) fleets are also using the top course and both sailing three laps. The multihulls (white) are using the bottom course and sailing four laps.

A map showing the approximate location of the buoys (fixed and inflatable) can be obtained from the downloads section on the website, and is also displayed close to the course board.

If the course is particularly complex or unusual the Race Committee may also provide a diagram of course(s) using one of the course map boards in the race box. This can be hung on the bottom of the main course board.

If the course is changed after first being displayed the OOD should fly flag C and sound the hooter. The OOD must make course changes AT LEAST 6 minutes before the start of the first fleet.

Flag C   

Appendix B: Local PY Handicap System

All club races will use the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) handicap system with adjustments applied to compensate for average local conditions.

The PN (performance number) adjustments will be proposed by a sub-committee of the SYC Sailing Committee with the aim of providing an equal opportunity for the most skilled sailors in each class to (a) win individual races when conditions (wind/tide/sea state/course are optimum for the class of boat they are sailing, and (b) win race series held in a range of conditions. 

The PN adjustments will be based on historical review of class performance using race timings recorded at SYC using algorithms recommended by the RYA, supplemented with equivalent data from clubs racing under similar conditions where this is available. 

Before proposing adjusting a PN the sub-committee will consider whether the proposed change is :

• due to relative Crew Skill Factor differences between different classes
• confirmed by sufficient data for classes with few boats
• significant enough not to be a result of natural sampling variation (proposed changes of <5 points should be carefully considered)

The review of yardsticks will take place at least annually.

Changes proposed Yardstick Sub-committee must be ratified by the full SYC Sailing Committee. Agreed changes to class yardsticks to be applied to club racing will be notified on the club website and may be displayed on the Offical Notice Board.

[Note: For new classes without a published handicap the Yardstick Sub-committee will estimate a PN based on the boat characteristics.]