SAILING PROGRAM

See the full 2010/2011Sailing Program here.  It includes instructions, calendar and registered boats.

Sailing Instructions

All races shall be governed by the current rules (and amendments) as defined in the International Sailing Federation Racing Rules of Sailing, the special regulations of the Australian Yachting Federation and the rules of each class boat association except as varied by these Sailing Instructions.

All those taking part in Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club races, do so at their own risk and responsibility. Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club is not responsible for the seaworthiness of a yacht whose entry is accepted or the sufficiency or adequacy of its equipment. Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club expects all boats/owners to carry public liability insurance and all participants to be fit and healthy.

Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club reserves the right to refuse an entry. Attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 4 of AYF Racing Rules Of Sailing “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone”.

1. PRINCIPAL RACE OFFICER (P.R.O.)

The Vice-Commodore or his nominated substitute shall be the Principal Race Officer for all sailing under the auspices of the Club and shall with the Race Committee have full control of all events.

2. CHANGES IN THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Any changes to the sailing instructions shall be posted not less than one hour before the first race that they will affect, except that any change to the schedule of club championship heats will be posted not less than 7 days before the reprogrammed date.

3. ELIGIBILITY

The helmsman and crew of all yachts competing in Club events shall be financial members of the Club in a Membership Category that has sailing rights. Visitors’ dispensation shall only be allowed for crew upon application to the Principal Race Officer. Dispensation will normally be given only for three races. Visiting boats are not eligible for points in Club Championship, Consistency Trophy races, or special club trophies unless open entry is specified.

4. NOMINATIONS

All competitors intending to start shall nominate on the Nomination Form and pay the required fee, if any, prior to the event. Failure to comply shall mean that the yacht will rank as a non-starter.

5. CONDITIONS OF RACE

5.1 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship points shall be awarded to each helmsman of each class having five or more starters in any three Club Championship heats. There shall be six races of which the best five for each helmsman shall be counted for total points. In the event of a tie between two or more helmsmen, Appendix A 8 shall apply.

An abandoned club championship heat will normally be rescheduled for the following week but this may be altered at the discretion of the Principal Race Officer following consultation with the relevant class Sailing Committee representative.

5.2 CONSISTENCY TROPHY
Consistency points are awarded to each helmsman in each class on the handicap results of nominated trophy races. The worst five races shall be discarded by each helmsman to determine total points. To qualify for consistency points, a class requires a minimum of five starters for a minimum of seven of the nominated trophy races. In the event of a tie, Appendix A8 shall apply.

5.3 HANDICAP TROPHIES
Handicap trophies are awarded to the helmsman winning a race on handicap in each class having five or more starters. A class, which frequently has three or four starters, may elect to conduct its handicap racing as a series of three race events. Such events shall be scored in accordance with ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix A using the bonus point scoring system. The relevant class representative is responsible for managing this process in consultation with the PRO.

5.4 MULTIPLE RACES
Individual classes may, at the discretion of their class representative and the PRO, substitute a series of short races for a single afternoon race.

If two or more races are sailed as a mini series alternative to normal Saturday afternoon racing, that mini series shall be scored in accordance with ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix A using the bonus point scoring system. The result so obtained shall be equivalent to the result of a single Saturday afternoon race for the purpose of determining points for handicap and consistency trophies.

6. SCORING

The scoring system shall be the bonus-points scoring system of Appendix A ISAF Racing Rules Of
Sailing. A. The Sailing Committee shall determine the number of entries for the series.

7. PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES

Each helmsman and crewmember shall wear an adequate personal flotation device (PFD) in accordance with Rule 40 and AYF Addendum A Part 2 Regulation R1. Race signal “Y” will not be displayed. The Club recommends that each crewmember wear an approved PFD/Type 2.

8. COURSES AND STARTING TIMES

Courses and scheduled starting times will be displayed on the notice boards in the lower deck at least 30 minutes before the warning signal for the first start.

9. MARKS, STARTING & FINISHING LINES

Course marks shall be shown on the course diagram.

The starting line shall be a line between staffs displaying orange flags or shapes on buoys or committee boats. All starting and recall signals shall be made from the committee boat at the starboard end of the line.

A buoy may be moored near the Committee Boat, carrying an orange flag. It may not be exactly on the starting line, but yachts shall leave this buoy on the same hand as the Committee Boat when starting. For the purpose of the application of the Racing Rules, the buoy is deemed to form part of the Committee Boat which it protects and any yacht touching the buoy, or passing between it and the Committee Boat shall be deemed to have touched the Committee Boat and shall exonerate herself in accordance with AYF Rule 31.2. Yachts whose preparatory signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area and of all yachts whose preparatory signal has been made.The finishing line shall be a line between a staff on the observation point (either the Clubhouse or an official boat) and a mark. If finishing from the Clubhouse a distance mark shall be set to limit the length of the line and every effort will be made to place the inner mark as close as practicable to the actual line and on the course side of the finishing line. An orange flag shall mark both ends of the finish line.

Boats shall not, other than when finishing a race, cross a finish line in either direction. If an official boat is used for recording finishes it shall be on the starboard end of the line. Life Saving When lifesavers’ buoys are in place, all yachts shall not sail between them and the shore.

10. STARTING PROCEDURE

(a) COURSE SIGNAL
Where applicable, approximately 15 minutes before the first start, a red or green flag shall be displayed. A red course flag will signify a port hand course, requiring all marks to be left to port. A green courseflag will signify a starboard hand course, requiring all marks to be left to starboard. If no course flag is displayed then marks shall be rounded as shown on the course diagram.

(b) WARNING SIGNAL
Five minutes before the first start, the class flag shall be displayed and a sound signal may be made.

(c) PREPARATORY SIGNAL
Four minutes before the first start the code flag ‘P’, I, or black flag shall be displayed, and a sound signal may be made.

(d) MINUTE SIGNAL
One minute before the first start the preparatory flag shall be lowered and a sound signal may be made.

(e) STARTING SIGNAL
At the starting time the class flag shall be lowered and a sound signal may be made.
Unless specified otherwise on the race notice board, the starting signal for the first class shall be the warning signal for the next class and the distinguishing flag for that class shall be displayed. All classes shall then follow at the scheduled intervals.

(f) VISUAL STARTING SIGNAL TO GOVERN
Times shall be taken from the visual starting signals, and the failure or mistiming of a gun or other sound signal calling attention to starting signals shall be disregarded.

11. INDIVIDUAL RECALL

RRS Rule 29.1

12. GENERAL RECALL

The last sentence of ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing Rule 29.2 is amended as follows:
The recalled class shall then accept the starting signal for the last scheduled start as its warning signal. If more than one class has a general recall they shall restart in the original sequence.
The general recall flag shall remain displayed until approximately 1 minute before the next starting signal.
No sound signal will be made when the general recall flag is lowered.

13. POSTPONEMENT, ABANDONMENT, SHORTEN COURSE SIGNALS & CHANGING

THE POSITION OF A MARK
In accordance with ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing 27.3, 32, 33. In addition:

• When racing is abandoned after boats have commenced racing, a spot light may be switched on from the Bridge to call attention to the race signal for abandonment;
• Where a signal is made indicating postponement, abandonment, or shorten course with a Class Flag, it shall apply only to that class but where the signal is made on its own it shall apply to all classes racing.
• Where a signal is made indicating change of position of a mark it shall apply to all classes rounding the mark at which the signal is made.

14. TIME LIMIT

Unless specified otherwise on the notice board, the time limit for each race shall be 3 hours for all classes. Boats failing to finish within 1 hour, 1.5 hours for trailerable yachts, after the first boat finishes or within the time limit, whichever is the later, will be scored “did not finish”. If back-to-back races have been scheduled, the time limit for each race shall be 30 minutes after the first boat has finished. For trailerable yacht “shoreline” races the time limit shall be 3.5 hours. Boats failing to finish within 1.5 hours after the first boat finishes or within the time limit, whichever is the later, will be scored “did not finish”.
The P.R.O. may, in consultation with the class sailing committee representative, determine a longer time limit for the Trailer Yacht Fleet, notice of which will be displayed on the course board.

15. RETIREMENT

All competitors shall, within 45 minutes of the finishing time of the last boat of their class, or by notifying the PRO or Bridge-master as soon as practicable, sign off on the Nomination Form at the Nomination Desk. Competitors shall indicate whether they finished (FIN) or did not finish (DNF) the race. Failure to comply with this instruction may lead to disqualification. Breaches to this instruction will not be grounds for protest by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1 (a). Penalties for a breach of this instruction may be less than disqualification if the Protest Committee so decides.

16. PENALTY SYSTEM

ISAF RRS rule 44.1 and 44.2 apply. Rule 44.3 is deleted.

17. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

Written protests shall be lodged with the Bridge within 1½ hours of the finishing time of the last boat.Protests are normally heard at 7-30 pm on the Tuesday following the date of the protest, unless other arrangements are made by the PRO.

18. PROTEST MEDIATION

A mediation hearing may be conducted for protests lodged in accordance with Rule 60.1(a) which allege an infringement of a rule of Part 2. Such hearings will be held subsequent to the protest being lodged and prior to the protest hearing. Mediation shall normally be undertaken on the same day as the race in which the incident which generated the protest.
One representative of each yacht shall attend and no witnesses will be allowed. The mediator shall decide the manner in which the testimony is given.

The Race Committee will appoint the mediator. Should the protest proceed to a protest hearing then the mediator shall not be a member of that protest committee nor be called as a witness at that hearing. Rule 63.1 is amended. Protests, which are the subject of a mediation hearing, may be withdrawn. After taking testimony at a mediation hearing the mediator shall make one of the following conclusions:
(a)The protest does not comply with Rule 60 and the protestor may withdraw the protest.
(b)The matter shall proceed to a protest hearing. This may be because rules other than Part 2 are
involved, or because evidence is too complex or divergent to reach a reasonable and timely conclusion, or due to the apparent severity of the alleged infringement, or for any other reason decided by the mediator.
(c) There was no infringement and the protestor may withdraw the protest.
(d) There has been an infringement by one or more of the yachts involved, the infringing yacht(s) may accept a penalty equal to 50% of the penalty that would result from a disqualification, and if so accepted, the protestor shall withdraw the protest.

19. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS - OFF THE BEACH BOATS

Off the Beach Boats shall meet the requirements of AYF Racing Rules of Sailing Addendum A Part 2 -Special Regulations. In addition all boats shall be fitted with a stainless steel towing ring, with a
minimum internal diameter of 35mm.
Amendment to ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008 Part 4 Rule 41 – OUTSIDE HELP
Race officials and race powerboat crews may retrieve boat crews and return them to their boats for safety reasons. The sail number of a boat which receives outside help will be notified to the Race Committee with details of the incident and a hearing may be held (if required) to determine any penalty. The penalty for such a breach of Rule 41 shall be at the discretion of the Protest Committee.

20. TRAILER YACHT FLEET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

While racing in the immediate vicinity of the Club all trailerable yachts shall meet the safety requirements of AYF Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, Special Regulations Part 1 Section 2 Category 6 and Section 3.25 Category 5.
For designated races away from the Club without effective rescue availability all trailerable yachts shall meet the safety requirements of AYF Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008 Special Regulations Part 1 Section 2 Category 5.
If a boat in a Trailer Yacht Fleet race capsizes and cannot be righted readily or within a reasonable time, the P.R.O. may abandon or cancel the race, whether or not any yachts have finished.

NOMINATION FEES FOR VISITING SAILORS: State Heat Contestants and Visitors Nomination fee per morning or afternoon session each boat $10.00 per boat $5-00 HFT

GUIDE TO BEING RESCUED

Don't delay too long before calling for assistance - it is very hard for the support craft personnel to right a capsized boat if the crew is too exhausted to help.
If you are in the boat raise both hands above your head and lower to sides at about five second intervals OR secure a shirt or rag to a spar and wave from side to side above head.
If the boat is capsized and you are in the water - raise one hand above the head for about three seconds at five second intervals.
If it is necessary for a boat be towed ashore, the sails should be lowered quickly. The towline should be passed through a towing ring secured to the stemhead, wound around the mast once or twice and held securely within boat.
It is often better to sail the boat ashore, than to have it towed.

NOTE: Once assistance has been requested or agreed to, the powerboat skipper is in charge of the operation, and may, if he considers it necessary, anchor or abandon a yacht. The primary concern is to protect people; protecting equipment is important but secondary.