Notice of Race 2008

1. RULES
1.1 SYC races will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing. Except as modified by the sailing Instructions
1.2 Additional requirements for cruiser and sportsboat racing are contained in NESS Safety Regulations.

2. ADVERTISING
2.1 Advertising will be restricted to category C.

3. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
3.1 Racing is open to all boats owned by Sunderland Yacht Club members.
3.2 Boats shall have paid all appropriate harbour dues and boat fees before entering a race.
3.3 Boats must sign the Club Declaration Form before entering a club race or series. Club Declaration Forms will be available from the club office or sailing secretary.
3.4 Starters required for a race:
3.4.1 Cruisers:
3.4.1.1 A or B class a minimum of two starters
3.4.1.2 A & B Class a minimum of three starters
3.4.2 Dinghies: a minimum of two starters

4. CLASSES TO RACE
4.1. Dinghy Handicap Class.
4.2. Asymmetric Handicap Class
4.3. Cruiser Class A & Sportsboats
4.4. Cruiser Class B

5. SCHEDULE
5.1. The schedule of races will be as published on the Sunderland Yacht Club official notice board and the Club website.
5.2 Changes to the race schedule will be published, with appropriate notice, on the notice board and Club website.

6. CRUISER AND SPORTSBOAT RACING SAFETY
6.1. All cruisers and sportsboats racing shall comply with NESS Safety Regulations.

7. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
7.1. The Sailing Instructions will be available from the sailing secretary before the first race and will be displayed on the Notice Board and the Club Website.

8. SAILING AREA
8.1. Dinghy courses will be set either outside of the piers in the open North Sea and/or within the confines of Sunderland Piers.
8.2. Cruiser Courses will be set outside of Sunderland Piers in the open North Sea.

9. SCORING
9.1 The Low Point Scoring System of Appendix A will apply as modified by the sailing instructions, this changes A4.2
9.2 A minimum of three races are required to be completed to constitute a series, unless otherwise stated on the racing programme.
9.3 Cruisers: A boats series score will be 50% of her race scores, plus one (or ½ to nearest whole number), excluding her worst scores.
9.4 Dinghies: A boats series score will be 75% of her race scores (or to nearest whole number), excluding her worst scores.

9.5 Handicaps:
9.5.1 Corrected dinghy finish positions will be calculated using the Portsmouth Yardstick System, which may be modified by the SYC Sailing Committee.
9.5.2 Cruisers will be given TCF ratings in accordance with the North East Rating Rule (NERR), after inspection of sails and gear by the club's measurers, and their corrected finish positions will be calculated on that basis.
This rating system will be used to Award A & B Series, Individual Trophy Races and Overall club Championship. Refer to Appendix A Trophy Schedule.
9.5.3 Cruisers will also be given a SYC TCF rating and their corrected finish positions will be calculated on that basis. The SYC TCF will be allocated by the Sailing committee. Combined A & B Class Series will be run using the SYC TCF rating. Refer to Appendix B Trophy Schedule.

10. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
10.1. SYC will maintain a listening watch on VHF channel M1(37) during scheduled race times
10.2. Cruiser racing information may be announced by SYC to boats over channel M1(37).
10.3. Other than for safety reasons a boat shall neither make radio transmissions nor receive radio communications not available to all boats racing. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.

11. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
11.1. The safety of a boat and her entire management, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person in charge 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 Sailing Instructions nor any inspection of the boat limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/person in charge for the crew, the boat and her management. The race organisers shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/person in charge or crew as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover, every owner/person in charge warrants the suitability of the boat for the race or races.

12. INSURANCE
12.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 per event.

Sailing Instructions

1. RULES
1.1 Races will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing, and these sailing instructions
1.2 Cruiser and Sportsboat racing shall, as a minimum, comply with NESS Safety Regulations.

2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the entrance hall of SYC and may also be published on the official Club Website.

3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
3.1 Any duly authorized change to the sailing instructions will be posted at least 90 minutes before the scheduled race when it will take effect.

4. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
4.1 Flag signals made ashore will be displayed on the club flagpole.
4.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, '1 minute' is replaced with 'not less than ten minutes' in the Race Signal AP. This changes Race Signals.
4.3 Light signals from the SYC race office will be used for cruiser racing. This changes RRS26, 29.1,29.2 and Race Signals.

5. SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 The schedule of races will be as published on the Sunderland Yacht Club official notice board and the Club website.
5.2 Changes to the schedule of races with be posted by 20.00hrs on the day before it will take effect, on the official notice board and/or Club website.

6. CLASS FLAGS
6.1 Dinghies:
Flag H Combined Start - Code
6.2 Asymmetric boats that wish to sail in the General Handicap fleet may elect to do so in writing to the sailing committee before the first race in which they sail.
6.3 Cruisers:
Cruiser Class "A", TCF of 0.8550 and above or Sportsboats - numeral pennant one.
Cruiser Class "B", TCF of 0.8549 and below - numeral pennant two.

7. SAILING AREA
7.1 Dinghy courses will be set either outside of the piers in the open North Sea and/or within the confines of Sunderland Piers.
7.2 Cruiser Courses will be set predominantly outside of Sunderland Piers in the open North Sea.

8. THE COURSES
8.1 Dinghies:
8.1.1 Courses will be displayed on the notice board under the galley steps, or on the Committee boat.
8.1.2 The order of marks, rounding hand and number of laps will be stated.
8.1.3 Average lap times may be used to determine the finishing places and a boat race score, when the course has been shortened and some boats have completed less laps than the leading boat at the finish. This adds to A3.
8.2 Cruisers:
8.2.1 Courses will be displayed on the course board under the galley steps, or on a Committee boat.
8.2.2 The order of marks, rounding hand and number of laps will be stated on the course board.
8.2.3 The course may be transmitted on VHF channel M1(37) (In case of conflict displayed course will take precedence)
8.2.4 At all times the RED CAN channel navigation buoy (when in position) at the harbour entrance is a mark of the course and should be left on the appropriate hand.
8.2.5 Courses may be set rounding the INSHORE mark, J mark, OUTFALL mark, (but not through the area bounded by them and the shore). X mark, A mark, S mark, Hendon mark, Ballast mark, the SOUTH RANGE buoy, the NORTH RANGE buoy or any extra mark(s) laid for racing.

9. MARKS
9.1 Dinghies
9.1.1 Rounding marks will normally be orange inflatable 'cylindrical' type marks
9.1.2 Alternatively, or in addition, fixed SYC marks may be used.
9.1.3 The starting and finishing mark will be a spherical Dan buoy with a flag or a mark of the course.
9.2 Cruisers
9.2.1 Marks will be either
Fixed SYC marks located in the racing area
Navigation buoys
Laid Marks specifically put in for racing
9.2.2 The location of cruiser marks will be given on the Club Notice Board.

10. SPARE NUMBER

11. THE START
11.1 Dinghies:
11.1.1 All classes of dinghy shall start at the same time.
11.1.2 Races will be started by using rule 26.
11.1.3 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the starting vessel and the starting mark.
11.2 Cruisers:
11.2.1 All classes will have a combined start.
From the Race Office: Races will be started by using Rule 26 but with light signals displayed from the SYC race office substituting for flags, as follows.

SIGNAL
LIGHTS
MINUTES BEFORE START SIGNAL
Warning
One White
5
Preparatory
Two White
4
One Minute
One White
1
Start
All Off
0


No sound signals will accompany this sequence. This changes RRS 26 and Race Signals.
11.2.2 Individual recall will be signalled by the re-ignition of two white starting lights without a sound signal. This changes RRS 29.1 and Race Signals.
11.2.3 A general recall will be signalled by the re-ignition of three or more white starting lights without a sound signal. This changes RRS 29.2 and Race Signals
11.2.4 The start line will be within the harbour:
Normal: between the lights on the race office and the transit marks on the South Pier or
Candle: between the lights on the race office and the white tower 'candle' on the south pier,
This will be shown on the course board (SI 8.2.1)
11.2.5 The start line may be as described on the cruiser course board

11.2.6 In the event of Sea Starts, from the Committee Boat, races will be started using Rule 26.

12 SPARE NUMBER

13 THE FINISH
13.1 Dinghies:
13.1.1 The finish line will be the same as the start line described in SI 11.1.3 or between the committee boat mast displaying a blue flag and a mark of the course
13.2 Cruisers: The finishing line will be either:
13.2.1 "Finish South": between the Northern most point of the masonry on the South pier and the Race Office, or,
13.2.2 "Finish North": between the Southern most point of the masonry on the North pier and the Race Office, as described in the race instructions.

13.2.3 In the event of a sea start/finish, the finish will be as described in the race instructions.
13.2.4 A shortened course may be signalled by the display of a single white light on the race office, without a sound signal. This adds to 32.2 and Race Signals.

14. SPARE NUMBER

15. TIME LIMITS
15.1 Time limits are as follows:

CLASS
EVENT
TIME LIMIT
Dinghies
All Races
60 minutes
Cruiser
Early Bird
12:30 hrs
Cruiser
Wednesday Series
21:15 hrs
Cruiser
Dark Wednesday
21:00 hrs

15.2 Dinghies: Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored 'Did not finish'. This changes rule 35 and A4.
15.3 Cruisers: Sunday Early Bird and Wednesday races, boats failing to finish within 60 minutes, or the time limit whichever is the later, after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored 'Did not finish'. This changes rule 35 and A4.
15.4 For races with no time limit specified, competitors may be requested to record their own finish times after 18:00 hours. This request will be broadcast to all competitors using VHF channel M1(37).

16. PROTESTS
16.1 Protest forms are available from the race office and shall be delivered to the race office or a committee member within the protest time.
16.2 For each class the protest time is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the race, or in the case of two or more races sailed back to back, after the last race of that sequence. The same time limit applies to protests by the race committee and protest committee, about incidents they observe in the racing area, and to requests for redress.
16.3 Parties to a protest or request for redress will be informed of the time and place of the hearing within 24 hours.

17 SCORING
17.1.1 The Low Point Scoring System of Appendix A will apply, except as amended hereunder:
17.1.2 DNC will be scored as the entry to the largest race entry in the series plus one this changes A4.2
17.2 A minimum of three races are required to be completed to constitute a series, unless otherwise stated on the racing programme.
17.3.1 Cruisers: When fewer than four races are completed, a boats series score will be the total of her scores
17.3.2 When four or more races have been completed, a boats series score will be 50% of her race scores, plus one (or ½ to nearest whole number), excluding her worst scores.
17.3.3 Dinghies: When fewer than four races are completed, a boats series score will be the total of her scores.
17.3.4 When four or more races have been completed, a boats series score will be 75% of her race scores (or to nearest whole number), excluding her worst scores.
17.4 Handicaps:
17.4.1 Corrected dinghy finish positions will be calculated using the Portsmouth Yardstick System, which may be modified by the SYC Sailing Committee.
17.4.2 Cruisers will be given TCF ratings in accordance with the North East Rating Rule (NERR), after inspection of sails and gear by the club's measurers, and their corrected finish positions will be calculated on that basis. This scoring system will be used to award A & B Series, Individual Trophy Races and Overall club Championship. Refer to Appendix A Trophy Schedule.
17.4.3 Cruisers will also be given a SYC TCF rating and their corrected finish positions will be calculated on that basis. The SYC TCF will be allocated by the Sailing Committee. combined A & B Class Series will be run using the SYC TCF rating. Refer to Appendix B Trophy Schedule.

18 SAFETY
18.1 Each dinghy crew member shall wear a suitable buoyancy aid whilst racing. This changes RRS 27.1 and Race Signals. A wet or dry suit is not a buoyancy aid.
18.2 All boats, racing or intending to race shall not impede commercial shipping.
18.3 Dinghy classes shall not race unless a safety boat is on station in the race area.

19. SPARE NUMBER

20. EQUIPMENT OR MEASUREMENT CHECKS
20.1 A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with class rules and these sailing instructions.

21. SPARE NUMBER
22. SPARE NUMBER
23. SPARE NUMBER
24. SPARE NUMBER

25. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
25.1 SYC will maintain a listening watch on VHF channel M1(37) during scheduled race times.
25.2 Cruiser racing information may be announced by SYC to boats over channel M1(37).
25.3 Other than for safety reasons a boat shall neither make radio transmissions nor receive radio communications not available to all boats racing. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.

26. PRIZES
26.1 Club Trophies will be presented on an annual basis to winners of series with three or more boats entered.
26.2 The club committee may, at their discretion, award additional prizes if appropriate.

27. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
27.1 The safety of a boat and her entire management, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person in charge 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 Sailing Instructions nor any inspection the boat limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/person in charge for the crew, the boat and her management. The race organisers shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/person in charge or crew as result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover, every owner/person in charge warrants the suitability of the boat for the race or races.

28. INSURANCE
28.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 per event.

Declaration Form

Richard Purdy
Chairman SYC Sailing Committee
(09.03.08)

E&OE