Sailing Instructions, Rules & Safety

Canterbury Clubs Standard Sailing Instructions

Version 04.3

1.0        Rules

1.1         The regatta will be governed by the ‘rules’ as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2001-2005.

If there is any conflict between the Notice of Race, the Class Rules and the Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions take precedence

1.2         The Yachting New Zealand Safety Regulations Part1 shall apply unless changed in the Special Regatta Instructions

1.3         A boat shall not discharge rubbish into the water.

1.4         These Sailing Instructions must be read in conjunction with the Special Regatta Instructions issued by the Race Committee and available at registration.

2.0        Notices to Competitors

              Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the club.

3.0        Changes to Sailing Instructions

 Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted before 0830 hours or two hours before the first warning signal on  the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 1700 hours or the end of protest time whichever is the earlier on the day before it will take effect.

4.0        Signals Made Ashore

4.1        Signals made ashore will be displayed at the club.

4.2        When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’ in race signal, AP.  When flag AP over flag B is displayed boats shall not go afloat]

4.4        Signals flown over a white flag bearing the letter Ä”, “B” or “C” will apply to classes sailing on courses A, B or C respectively.

5.0        Schedule of Races

5.1         The schedule of races is included in the Special Regatta Instructions

5.2         One extra race per day may be sailed, provided that no class becomes more than one race ahead of schedule.

5.3        The warning signal for a subsequent race for a [class] [group] on the same day will be made as soon as practicable [but not sooner than 5 minutes after the last boat finishes the previous race for that [class] [group].

6.0        Class Flags

             Class Flags may be included in the Special Regatta Instructions

7.0        Racing Areas

7.1         The Racing Areas are included in the Special Regatta Instructions

7.2         When classes are assigned to racing areas these will be posted on the official notice board no later than 0900 hours on the day the assignment will take effect.  However when flag AP is displayed ashore (instruction 4.2) the course area may be reassigned at any time before flag AP is lowered.

8.0        The Courses

8.1         The Courses are included in the Special Regatta Instructions

8.2        When there is a gate, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and round either gate mark.

9.0        Marks

9.1         A description of the Marks and Courses is included in the Special Regatta Instructions

9.2        A race committee boat signalling a change in course is a mark as provided in instruction 11.3

10.0      The Start

10.1       Races will be started by using rule 26 unless changed by the Special Regatta Instructions.

10.2      The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the starting mark at the starboard end and the port-end starting mark.

10.3      Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.

10.4      A boat starting later than four minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start.  This changes rule A4.1.

10.5      For subsequent races on the same day the scheduled time of the warning signal for the next race for each [class] [group] will be displayed with flag L as soon as possible after the finish of the preceding race.

11.0      Change of the Position of the Next Mark

11.1      To change the position of the next mark, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable.  The change will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not yet be in position.  Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated without further signalling to maintain the course configuration.  When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

11.2      For the Optimist, Firebug, P Class and Starling class[es], rule 33 is changed so that, instead of displaying a compass bearing, the race committee will display a green [triangular] [board] [flag] if the direction is changed to starboard or a red [rectangular] [board] [flag] if the direction is changed to port.

11.3      Except at a gate, boats shall pass between the race committee boat signalling the change of course and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the race committee boat to starboard.  This changes rule 28.1.

12.0      The Finish

12.1      The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the finishing mark at one end and the finishing mark at the other end.

12.2      When the course is shortened at a gate, a race committee boat near the gate will display flag S and boats shall finish by sailing through the gate from the direction of the previous mark. The finishing line will be between the gate marks. This changes race signal S.

13.0       Penalty System

13.1       For Catamaran class[es] rule 44.2 is changed so that the 720° turn is replaced by a 360° turn.

14.0      Time Limits and Target Times

The time limits and target times in minutes for the first boat may be included in the Special Regatta Instructions

15.0      Protests and Requests for Redress

15.1      Protest forms are available at the club.  Protests shall be delivered there within the protest time limit.

15.2      For each [class] [group], the protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat in its [class][group] has finished the last race of the day.  [The same protest time limit applies to all protests by the race committee and [protest committee] [jury] and to requests for redress.  This changes rules 61.3 and 62.2.]  Protest time limits will be posted.

15.3      Notices will be posted within 15 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. 

15.4      Notices of protests by the race committee or [protest committee] [jury] will be posted to inform boats protested under rule 61.1(b).

15.6      For the purpose of rule 64.3(b) the ‘authority responsible’ is the measurer appointed by the organising authority.

15.7      Breaches of instructions 4.2, 10.3, 13.3, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat under rule 60.1(a).  This changes rule 60.1(a).  Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the [protest committee] [jury] so decides.

15.8      On the last day of the regatta a request for reopening a hearing shall be delivered:

(a)     Within the protest time limit if the party requesting reopening was informed of the decision on the previous day;

(b)     No later than 30 minutes after the party reopening was informed of the decision on that day.

This changes rule 66.

16.0      Scoring

16.1         The Low Point scoring system of Appendix A will apply unless changed in the Special Regatta Instructions.

16.2         The number of races required to constitute a series will be stated in the Special Regatta Instructions

16.3          (a)     When fewer than 4 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.

                (b)     When from 4 to 9 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

                (c)     When 10 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores.

16.4          The scoring abbreviation for a discretionary penalty given under instruction 15.7 will be DPG.

17.0          Safety Regulations

17.1          Boats shall check in before going afloat and check out after being afloat.

17.2          A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

18.0         Replacement of Crew or Equipment

18.1         Substitution of competitors during a regatta will not be allowed without prior written approval of the race committee.

18.2         Substitution of damaged or lost equipment during a regatta will not be allowed unless approved by the race committee.  Requests for substitution shall be made to the committee at the first reasonable opportunity.

19.0         Equipment and Measurement Checks

A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions.  On the   water, a boat can be instructed by a race committee measurer to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection.

20.0         Support Boats

Team leaders, coaches and other support personnel shall stay outside areas where boats are racing from the time of the preparatory signal [for the first [class] [group] to start] until all boats have finished or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment.

21.0         Haul Out Restrictions

The Special Regatta Instructions may specify where all competing boats and equipment shall be launched and retrieved.

22.0        Radio Communication

A boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats.  This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.

25.0         Prizes

                Prizes will be as listed in the Special Regatta Instructions

26.0         Disclaimer of Liability

Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk.  See rule 4, Decision to Race.  The Organising Authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

Attachments (Possible additional clauses)

13.3         A boat that has taken a penalty or retired under rule 31.2 or rule 44.1 shall complete an acknowledgement form at the race office within the protest time limit.

15.1      Immediately after finishing a boat intending to protest shall, in addition to the requirements of rule 61.1(a), inform the [race committee] [protest committee] [jury] boat at the finishing line of her intention to protest and the identity of the boat(s) protested against.  The protesting boat must receive an acknowledgement from the [race committee] [protest committee] [jury].  This changes rule 61.

15.2       For protests where only a rule of Part 2 is alleged to have been broken, an arbitration hearing will be offered prior to any formal hearing. Yachting New Zealand appendix Z will apply. (This changes Rule 44.1)

15.5      A list of boats that, under instruction 13.3, have acknowledged breaking rule 42 or have been disqualified by the [protest committee] [jury] will be posted before the protest time limit.

15.6         A list of boats that under instruction 13.4 have acknowledged breaking rule 42  or have been disqualified by the [protest committee] [jury] will be posted before the protest time limit.

Canterbury Provincial Championships

To receive recognition by the Canterbury Yachting Association, Canterbury Provincial Class Championships must comply with the following conditions:

1.     There shall be a minimum of four races scheduled and three races sailed for each class.

2.     Each class shall have five or more starters in at least three of the races.

3.     Scoring shall be according to ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix A except that, should four races be sailed, the best three out of four shall count. If only three races are sailed then all shall be counted. If class rules require the use of a different scoring system, approval must be sought and obtained from the Canterbury Yachting Association.

4.     All skippers and crew must be financial members of all clubs to which they belong.

5.     The event must be listed as the Canterbury Provincial Class Championship in the CYA Programme of Events.

6.     The Championship winner shall be decided on a ‘line honours’ basis.

7.     Sufficient records shall be kept to allow for the above conditions to be verified if required.