Lysterfield Sailing Instrcutions as at January 2021
1
RACING RULES
Club Racing will be governed by the
2021-2024 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of World Sailing and the Australian
Sailing, Special Regulations Part 2 for “Off the Beach Boats”, except as any of
the Racing Rules, and Special Regulations Part 2 are altered, the means thereof
being prescribed in these Sailing Instructions.
1.1 The Racing Rules of Sailing came into effect in Australia from 1 January 2021
1.2 The
Australian Sailing Special Regulations came into effect from 1 July 2017 and
are valid until 30 June 2021
2
DECISION
TO RACE
The
responsibility for a boat’s decision to race or to continue racing is hers
alone.
3
ELIGIBILITY,
ENTRY & REGISTRATION
3.1
Member’s boat’s must be on
the Club Register and crewed by financial members of
the Lysterfield Sailing Club Inc, members having an Australia Sailing, Sailor
Identification Number.
3.2 Members,
or their delegated representative, must indicate their intention to race by completing
and signing the official entry form (Sign On sheet (s)) no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the
Division in which the members boat is competing.
3.3 A
boat not signed on will be scored as a “Did Not Start”.
3.4
Visitors are eligible to
race and enter by the payment of an appropriate fee and by indicating their
intention to race by completing and signing the official entry (Sign On sheet
(s)) no later than 15 minutes prior
to the start of the Division in which the Visitors boat is competing A visitor
must provide evidence that he or she has a current Australian Sailing current
Sailor Identification Number. Visitors shall pay an entry fee for each Club
race entered.
4
NOTICE
OF RACE
The official Club
Racing Schedule is as displayed on the Club Notice Board with formal notification
being provided to members by post, electronic media and / or on the Club’s
website at www.lysterfieldsailing.com.au.
Racing will take place in accordance with the Schedule. Except for re-sails,
the Schedule will not be changed, unless one week’s notice of change is given
by a notice on the Club’s Notice Board and / or by a formal notification to
members.
5
DIVISIONS
& RACE SIGNALS
Divisions and
Divisional Race Signals are as follows:
|
Division |
Boats in division |
Division Flag |
|
Division 1 |
All Multi-hulls |
Pennant 1 |
|
Division 2 |
Mono- hulls with a yardstick of 130 or less |
Pennant 2 |
|
Division 3 |
Mono- hulls with |
Pennant 3 |
|
Division 4 |
Tackers Division |
Pennant 4 |
NOTE: An additional
division (s) may be added and will be explained at a pre-race briefing.
6
COURSES
6.1 The
Race Officer will determine the course (s) to be sailed, the description of which will be displayed with the sign on sheet (s).
These will be available at least 30
minutes before the display of the appropriate Divisional Pennant (s)
providing the warning signal for the commencement of the Starting Procedure. Race
Signals will be displayed in accordance with Sub-Rules 25.1 to 25.3 and Rule 26
together with the following course signals
|
Starboard Course |
Plain Green Flag |
|
Port Course |
Plain Red Flag |
|
Combined Port & Starboard Course |
Red & Green Flag |
7
STARTING
LINE
7.1 The
starting line will be between the designated mark and the stern of the Starting
Boat which will be stationed at the starboard end of the line. The designated
mark may be the Finish mark or an alternative mark designated by the Race
Officer. A clearance mark, or buoy, may be set off astern or abeam of the
Starting Boat, and no boat may pass between this clearance mark or buoy, and
the Starting Boat.
7.2 For
multiple starts, boats whose preparatory signal has not been made shall keep clear
of the starting area and of boats whose preparatory signal has been made.
8
ACTIONS
BEFORE THE STARTING SIGNAL
Before the starting
signal the Race Officer may for any reason postpone
the race, such postponement shall be in accordance with Rule 27.3.
9
STARTING
PROCEDURE
Races shall be
started using the following signals. Times
will be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be
disregarded.
|
Signal |
Flag |
Action |
Minutes |
|
Warning |
Divisional Race Signal(s) Pennant(s)
|
Pennant 1 |
3 |
|
Preparatory |
Flag “P” (No Or Flag “I” Or Flag “Z” (20% Or Flags |
Flag(s) 1 |
2 |
|
One minute |
Preparatory Divisinal |
Preparatory 1
|
1 |
|
STARTING |
Divisional Race Signal(s) Pennant(s) |
Divisional Race Signals removed |
0* |
*For multiple
starts, the warning signal for each succeeding Division will be made with or
after the starting signal for the preceding Division.
A boat starting
later than 10 minutes after their
starting signal will be scored “Did Not
Start”. (This changes Rule 26).
10 RECALLS
10.1
Individual
Recall – Rule 29.1
When at a boat’s
starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side
of the starting line or she must comply with Rule 30.1, the race committee
shall promptly display Flag “X” with one sound. The flag shall be displayed
until all such boat’s have sailed completely to the pre-start side of the
starting line or one of its extensions and have complied with Rule 30.1 if it
applies, but no later than four minutes after the starting signal or one minute
before any later starting signal, whichever is the earlier. If rule 30.3
applies this rule does not.
10.2
General
Recall – Rule 29.2
When at the
starting signal the race committee is unable to identify boats that are on the
course side of the starting line or to which Rule 30 applies, or there has been
an error in the starting procedure, the race committee may signal a general
recall by the display the First Substitute with two sound signals. The warning
signal for the new start for the recalled Division shall be made one minute
after the First Substitute is removed (one sound) and the starts for any
succeeding Division (s) shall follow the new start.
11 STARTING PENALTIES
11.1
The “I”
Flag Rule (Rule 30.1 refers) When an “I” flag is
displayed, and any part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment is on the course
side of the starting line or one of its extensions during the last minute
before her starting signal, she shall thereafter sail from the course side
across an extension to the pre-start side before starting.
11.2
The “Z”
Flag Rule (Rule 30.2 refers). If a “Z” flag is
displayed, no part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment shall be in the triangle
formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal.
If a boat breaks this rule and is identified she shall receive, without a
hearing, a 20% Scoring Penalty calculated as stated in rule 44.3©. She shall be
penalized even if the race is restarted or re-sailed, but not if it is postponed or abandoned before the starting signal. If she is similarly
identified during a subsequent attempt to start the same race, she shall
receive an additional 20% Scoring Penalty.
12 SHORTENING OR ABANDONING
AFTER THE START
12.1
After the starting signal, the Race Officer may
shorten the course by displaying Flag “S” and the relevant Numeral Pennant (s)
with two sound signals or abandon the
race by displaying Flag N, N over H or N over A and the relevant Numeral
Pennant (s) with three sound signals as appropriate:
● because of an
error in the starting procedure;
● because of foul
weather;
● because of
insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will finish in the time
limit;
● because a mark
is missing or out of position;
● for any other
reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition.
12.2
However, after one boat has sailed the course
and finished within the time limit,
the Race Officer shall not abandon
the race without considering the fairness of the competition applicable to all
boats remaining in the race
12.3
If the Race Officer signals a shortened course,
notice will be drawn to the displaying of Flag “S” and the relevant Divisional
Numeral Pennant on the committee boat at or near or on a rounding mark. The
shortened course signal accompanied by two sound signals shall be made as the
leading boat in the relevant Division approaches the mark to be rounded. Boats
in the relevant Division shall round this mark on the required side and proceed
directly to the finishing line. If no Divisional Numeral Pennant is displayed,
all Divisions shall shorten course. (This changes Rule 32.2).
13 TIME LIMIT
13.1
In each Division all boats must finish within
one (1) hour of the finishing time of the first yacht to finish in that
Division. The first yacht in each Division must finish within two (2) hours of
its starting signal.(This changes Rule 35).
13.2
The Race Officer may extend the time limit by
not more than 30 minutes toenable a fair result. If the leading boat in a
Division fails to finish within the extended time limit, the race for that
Division will be abandoned.
13.3
If the first boat in a Division finishes within
the time limit, any other boat in that Division that fails to finish within the
time limit, or such extended time limit, will be recorded as “Did Not Finish”. (This
changes Rule 35).
14 SAILING THE COURSE
14.1
A boat shall start,
sail the course, described in these sailing instructions and finish. While doing so, she may leave on
either side a mark that does not
begin, bound or end the leg she is sailing. After finishing she need not cross the finishing line completely. (Rule
28.1)
14.2
A string representing a boat’s track from the
time she begins to approach the starting line from its pre-start side to start until she finishes shall, when drawn taut;
●
pass each mark
on the required side and in the correct order;
●
pass each rounding mark, and;
●
pass, where applicable, between the marks of a gate from the direction of
the previous mark.
She may correct any errors to comply with
Rule 28, provided she has not finished.
14.3
The normal finishing line is an imaginary line
from the Control Tower on the shore to the designated start / finish mark. A
boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in the normal
position, involves sailing from the last mark of the course and sailing through
the finishing line.
14.4
A boat does not have to cross the line
completely, and is still racing until it has cleared
the finishing line and finishing marks and having cleared the line shall not
interfere with boats that are still racing.
15 DECLARATIONS
All competitors
must sign the sign off sheet (s) within 15 minutes of finishing in its
Division, or upon withdrawing from the race. The act of signing off will be
taken as a declaration that the Sailing Instructions have been complied with.
The crew withdrawing
must indicate on the sign off sheet (s) DNS “Did Not Start” or DNF “Did Not
Finish after his / her signature. This acts as a safety check.
16 PENALTIES AT TIME OF
INCIDENT
A boat may take a Two-Turns Penalty when
she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 of the Racing Rules of Sailing,
in an incident while racing. She may
take a One -Turn penalty when she may have broken Rule 31. After getting well
clear of other boats as soon after the incident as possible, a boat shall take
a One-Turn or Two-Turns Penalty by promptly making the required number of turns
in the same direction, each turn including one tack and one gybe. When a boat
takes a penalty at or neat the finishing line, it shall sail completely to the
course side of the line before finishing.
17 PROTESTS
17.1
Protests must be lodged in writing on the
prescribed Protest Form with the Officer of the Day within one hour of the finishing time of the last boat of the relevant
Division. No fee applies. Protests must be lodged in accordance with the provisions
of Part 5 of the Rules.
17.2
Parties to the protest shall make themselves
available for a hearing on the day of the incident. Unless an acceptable reason
for non – attendance is submitted, the hearing will proceed in absentia.
18 RACE SERIES SCORE
18.1
The Low Points Scoring System, Appendix A Clause
A4.1 of the Rules will be used for all Club series races and regattas, as
follows:
|
Finishing |
Points |
|
First |
1 |
|
Second |
2 |
|
Third |
3 |
|
Fourth |
4 |
|
Fifth |
5 |
|
Sixth |
6 |
|
Seventh |
7 |
|
Each Place |
Add 1 point |
18.2
Penalty
Points will be determined, as follows:
|
● |
Number of boats in that boat’s Division (Rule A9) |
|
● |
Number of boats (Rule A9) |
|
● |
Number of boats |
|
● |
Finishing place |
|
● |
Rule 90.3(b) |
18.3
The number of races actually conducted in a
series will determine the number of races that will be counted for the final
result, as follows:
o For eight or more races completed, two races will be discarded;
o For five to seven races completed, one race will be discarded;
o For three or four races completed all races will count.At least
three races must be completed to constitute a series.
18.4
At least three races must be completed to
constitute a series
18.5
The lowest total points
score wins. The points for Race Ties and Series Score Ties will be determined
in accordance with Rules A7 and A8.1 and A8.2 respectively.
18.6
Pennants may be awarded to visiting yachts, but
visitors’ performances shall be disregarded for the purposes of determining a
Club race series placing and points, except the Club’s Winter Race Series.
The following
additional clauses shall also apply to Race Series Scores:
18.7
The Race Officer and Duty Crew for a series race
shall receive average points across races sailed in a series where duty is
completed and recorded. There shall be a limit of two such claims per series
unless otherwise approved by the Club Committee.
18.8
A boat competing in a designated class
association or Australian Sailing/Yachting Victoria events (same class) on the
same day as a Club series race may, within one week of the event concerned,
claim average points across races sailed in the Club series. Only one such
claim per series is allowed.
19 RACE SERIES SCORE
19.1
Handicapping will be carried out under Yachting
Victoria’s Yardstick System
19.2
A boat racing for the first time will be placed
on the Yachting Victoria Yardstick of its applicable class of boat. This
applies to new members and existing members racing a different class of boat.
19.3
Handicapping will be the average of three
handicaps in the last five handicap races, dropping highest and lowest. At the
beginning of the season the results from handicaps gained in the previous
season will be included for calculation.
19.4
Any boat not starting in four consecutive
handicap races will lose its personal handicap and revert to the yardstick of
its particular class of boat.
19.5
Some classes of boats may be sailing well below
the Yachting Victoria Yardsticks. This is mainly due to the relatively flat conditions
on the Lysterfield Lake. The Yachting Victoria yardsticks are largely
calculated under Port Phillip Bay conditions and to overcome any class of boat
having an unfair advantage or disadvantage, the Club Committee may consider /
approve the adjustment of the Yachting Victoria yardstick of a particular class
of boat.
20 ELIGIBILITY FOR TROPHIES
20.1
The number of trophies awarded in a race series
will be dependent upon the number of competing entrants in that race series.
Where the number of entrants is from one to three boats, only a first place
trophy will be awarded. Where the number of entrants is four to five boats,
first and second trophies will be awarded. For six or more entrants in a race
series, first, second and third place trophies will be awarded.
20.2
These limitations will apply to all race series
sailed and to all Divisions, except Division 4, where trophies will be awarded
to first, second and third places as appropriate, regardless of the number of
entrants competing.
For the purpose of
this Sailing Instruction the “Number of Entrants” shall mean the total number
of different crews that competed during the race series.
If there are no entrants in one third or more of the races in a
series for a Division, no race series trophies will be awarded for that
Division.
21 SAFETY
21.1
The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole
and inescapable responsibility of the owner and the
person in charge who must do their best to ensure that the boat is
structurally sound, thoroughly seaworthy and manned by an experienced crew who
are physically fit to face the expected conditions. The owner and the person in
charge must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging sails
and all gear. The owner and the person in charge must ensure that all safety
equipment is properly stowed and that the crew knows how to use it.
21.2
Neither the establishment of the Australian
Sailing, Special Regulations, Part 2 for “Off the Beach Boats” their use in
approved Club events, nor the inspection of a boat under these Regulations in any
way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of the owner
and the person in charge.
22 DUTY OF CARE
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Fundamental Rule 4 “Decision to Race” that states “The
responsibility for a boat’s decision to race or to continue racing is hers
alone”
the Lysterfield Sailing Club Inc will however, owe a Duty of Care to
participants in races and associated activities where there is a reasonable
foreseeable risk of harm or injury to participants as a result of the actions
of the Club and its Officials.
In exercising this
Duty of Care, the law requires the Club and its Officials to take reasonable
steps to reduce the likelihood of injury to participants as a result of those
risks that are reasonably foreseeable.
23 AMENDMENTS TO SAILING
INSTRUCTIONS
Amendments may be
issued from time to time during the currency of these Sailing Instructions and
should be recorded, as follows:
|
Date |
Amendment No |
Brief Description of |
|
February 2018 |
|
Update of References to |
|
Jan 2021 |
|
Start sequence |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|