Sailing Rules

9.3 The warning signal will not normally be sounded until the safety boat launching crew, if they are intending to race, have sailed to the starting line.

9.4 A boat that does not start within ten minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start.

10  RECALLS

10.1  Individual Recall

       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 RRS 30.1, the race officer shall promptly illuminate a white light with one sound. The light shall be displayed until all such boats have sailed completely to the pre-start side of an extension to the starting line in compliance with RRS 30.1.

10.2   General Recall

       When at the starting signal the race officer is unable to identify boats that are on the course side of the starting line or to which RRS 30 applies, or there has been an error in the starting procedure, the race officer may signal a general recall (illuminate red and amber lights with two sounds). The warning signal for a new start for the recalled race shall be made one minute after the lights are extinguished (one sound).  This changes RRS 29.2.

11  STARTING PENALTIES

11.1   I Flag Rule

       RRS 30.2, RRS 30.3 and RRS 30.4 do not apply. RRS 30.1 always applies, though flag I will not be displayed. This changes       RRS 30.

12  SHORTENING OR ABANDONING AFTER THE START

12.1   RRS 32.2 is changed as follows:  If the race officer signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be,

(a) at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S; or

(b) a line the course requires boats to cross; or

(c) at a gate, between the gate marks; or

(d) a line level with a staff displaying flag S carried by the safety boat; or

(e) a finish line that one or more boats have previously crossed.

Except in the case of SI 12.1 (e), the shortened course shall be signalled before the first boat crosses the finishing line.  The        safety boat will attempt to hail boats with information about the revised finishing line.

12.2       Return to harbour

             In conjunction with the race being shortened or abandoned, the race officer may call boats back to harbour because of foul weather, lack of wind, deteriorating conditions, reducing visibility or any other reason affecting the safety or fairness of the race.

12.3   Return to harbour will be signalled by illuminating the amber light and repeating a group of two (for a shortened race) or three (for an abandoned race) sounds every five seconds until all boats have been observed to be returning to harbour.

12.4  When returning boats to harbour, where possible, if one or more boats have completed at least one lap, or one significant leg of a longer race, the race officer will consider shortening the race in preference to abandoning the race.

13  CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

13.1   The race officer may change a leg of the course by changing the position of the next mark (or the finishing line) and signalling all boats by displaying Flag C on the lighthouse, accompanied by repetitive sounds.  If possible, the safety boat will hail the leading boat.  This changes RRS 33.

14  THE FINISH

14.1   The finishing line will be a line extending from the lighthouse through the ODM.

14.2   Red and amber lights will be illuminated when the leading boat approaches the finish line.  Thereafter each boat that finishes will be acknowledged (one sound) and scored as having finished.

15  PENALTY SYSTEM

15.1   For all classes, RRS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty.

15.2   For Jumbo sailing, RRS 44.2 is changed as detailed in Attachment C.

(no longer applicable and taken out)

16  TIME LIMITS

16.1   If the leading boat in any lap takes 45 minutes or more to complete that lap, the race will be abandoned.

17  SCORING

17.1  Final positions will be calculated using the Porthsmouth Yardstick Scheme.  Where boats have sailed different numbers of laps, average lap times will be used to calculate equivalent elapsed times for boats sailing fewer laps.

17.2   Discards

Rule RRS A2.1 is changed so that each boat’s series score shall, subject to rule RRS 90.3(b), be the total of her scores                   excluding her worst n scores, where n is 25% of the races constituting that series rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5     is rounded down).

17.3   The Low Point System detailed in RSS A4 applies.  RRS A4.2 and RRS A9 are changed as follows:

Circumstances described Abbreviated as Points awarded

Did not finish DNF Two more than the last placed boat

Retired RET Two more than the last placed boat

Did not start DNS Four more than the last placed boat

On course side OCS Four more than the last placed boat

Disqualified DSQ Five more than the last placed boat

Did not compete DNC Eight more than the last placed boat

17.4   In addition to RRS A5, helms who have sailed fewer than 40% of the races constituting a series will not be considered to have completed that series, and will be awarded points equal to the last placed boat for the following activities during a race.  Helms who have sailed a minimum of 40% of the races constituting a series will be awarded average points (total of helm’s points in that series divided by number of races sailed by that helm) for the following:

Activity described Abbreviated as Notes

Race officer or assistant race officer RO Only those two people named on the DR

Safety boat helm or crew SB Only those two or three people named on the DR

Undertaking training T Notify the race officer prior to sailing

Helming or crewing a Jumbo J Notify the sailing secretary in good time

Competing in an RYA affiliated event elsewhere EE Notify the sailing secretary in good time

Assisting any person or vessel in danger A At the discretion of the race officer

17.5   Less experienced and infrequent sailors self-identifying as such, with the agreement of the race committee, shall be allowed to compete in a special category in series where the NoR provides for such.

18  RYA RISK STATEMENT

       RRS 4 states: "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone."

Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the               event, each sailor agrees and acknowledges that:

18.1   They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;

18.2   They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;

18.3   They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;

18.4   Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;

18.5  The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not     relieve them of their own responsibilities;

18.6   The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;

18.7   It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event.

19  INSURANCE

19.1   Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3 million per incident or the equivalent.

ATTACHMENT A COURSES

ATTACHMENT B

FLAGS AND SOUNDS 

The below listed flags are detailed on boards for the purpose of the race officer signalling to the helms out on the water. The signals are there to be used at the discretion of the race officer and displayed in a suitable manner.