2008

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1. Rules

   1. The Racing will be governed by the ‘rules’ as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005 – 2008 including appendix B (Windsurfing competition Rules), and these Sailing Instructions.
   2. In case of conflict with the Notice of Race these sailing instructions shall take preference.

2. Notices to Competitors

   1. Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board, located at the Race Office.

3. Changes to Sailing Instructions

   1. Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board at least 30 minutes before the advertised warning signal of the race or races concerned, and signaled by displaying flag L ashore. However, any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 19:00 hours on the day before it will take effect.

4. Signals Made Ashore

   1. Signals made ashore will be displayed on the official flag pole located at or near the race office.
   2. Signals displayed over a fleet flag apply to that fleet only.
   3. No Board should leave the shore to race until its fleet flag (SI 6) is displayed with two sound signals. The first possible warning signal will not be in less than 10 minutes. Competitors may tally out (SI 18.3) before the class flag is displayed.
   4. Flag AP (with two sound signals) may be displayed ashore to signify racing is postponed, Should AP be displayed with a Fleet Flag the postponement will apply to only those fleets who’s Flags are displayed.
   5. When Flag AP is lowered (with one sound signal) the first possible warning signal will not be in less than 10 minutes.( Alteration to RRS –Race Signals)
   6. When Flag Y (with one sound signal) is displayed ashore rule, 40.1 applies to competitors, coaches and support personnel, who shall wear their buoyancy at all times while afloat.

5. Schedule of Races

   1. Racing is scheduled as follows: the first warning signal on day one will not be before 11.00, and on the last day not before 10.00.
   2. Races which are not separated by lunch will start as soon as practically possible after the finish of the previous race. The race officer may indicate the imminent start of the next race sequence by repeated short sound signals
   3. No warning signal will be made after 16.00 on the last day of the regatta.

6. Class Flags

   Will be as follows:

   • Top Flight –
   • Challenge –
   • Junior –

7. Heats and heat indicators

   1. Competitors shall be allocated to heats by the Race Committee, who shall take into account: seeding based on results in previous or current year, and known ability or experience. The Race Committee decision is final and cannot be protested.
   2. For races started afloat, the number of the heat to be sailed will be displayed on the start vessel at least two minutes before the warning signal, and will remain displayed until the starting line is closed for that heat.
   3. It shall be the sole responsibility of each competitor to ascertain in which heat they are to compete, and to get to the starting area in adequate time.

8. Racing Area / Course Area

   1. The course area is defined as an area extending 50 metres beyond the course including the ‘starting line’ and the ‘finishing line’ and its extensions, which would normally be taken by a racer when racing.

9. The Courses

   1. The recommended courses are illustrated in Attachment A .The diagrams show the courses, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left.
   2. The course to be sailed shall be posted on the ONB.
   3. The course will not be changed during a heat, but marks may be repositioned to maintain a satisfactory course configuration relative to the wind and tide.

10. Marks

    1. Marks will be large inflatable red PRYDE buoys.
    2. Starting marks will be a race committee vessel at the starboard end and an inflatable orange cylindrical buoy at the port end.
    3. Finishing marks will be a race committee vessel and a black buoy.
    4. A board may touch a mark but shall not hold on to it; except a board shall not touch a starting or finishing vessel.

11. The Start

    1. Races will be started in accordance with RRS Appendix B – System 2 or System 3.
    2. The start for one fleet may be the warning signal for the subsequent fleet. If there is a General Recall, then the subsequent fleets start may be delayed in order to maintain the start sequence.
    3. The starting line will be between a staff displaying a plain orange flag on the race committee (starting) vessel at the starboard end and the port end start mark.
    4. Boards whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.
    5. A Board starting later than 1 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. (Alteration to RRS A4 & A5)
    6. A boat flying a course area flag may be positioned on the extension of the starting line through the pin end buoy. Between the preparatory and starting signals no board shall sail between this boat and the pin end buoy.
    7. The intended order of starts may be published on the official notice board

12. The Finish

    1. The finishing line will be between a staff displaying a blue flag on the finishing race committee vessel (or positioned on the beach) and the finishing mark. The position of the finishing line will be illustrated on the course diagram published on the ONB.
    2. Competitors shall make every effort to avoid re-crossing the finishing line once they have finished. Failure to do so may incur a penalty.

13. Penalty System

    1. A Board that has taken a penalty or retired under RRS 44.1 shall inform the race committee immeadiately upon coming ashore & complete an acknowledgement form at the race office.
    2. Where Boards break SIs 10.4, 12.2, 13.1, 17, 18, or 21.1 the Protest Committee shall decide the penalty. This may be a points penalty or disqualification

14. Time Limit

    1. There is no time limit for a race.

15. Protests

    1. Boards intending to lodge a protest or request redress for an incident afloat must inform the race committee upon finishing the race.
    2. A protest shall be made orally immediately following the heat in which the incident occurred.
    3. Following receipt of protest or request for redress, a hearing will be called as soon as possible. Competitors involved in an incident afloat are advised to ascertain the status of any possible hearing for which they may be required. A competitor may retire before a protest hearing commences.
    4. Protests under SIs, 11.4, 12.2, 13.1,17, 18, 21.1, may be brought only by the race committee or Protest Committee and not by a competitor. ( Alteration to RRS 60.1)

16. Scoring

    1. The Low Point scoring system of Appendix A will apply.
    2. Each Board’s series score will be the total of her race scores with her worst score discarded if three or more rounds are completed, or her worst two scores discarded if five or more rounds are completed, or her worst three scores discarded if eight or more rounds completed.

17. Safety

    1. All competitors under the age of 17 shall wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket to an appropriate standard at all times when afloat. Wet suits and dry suits are not an appropriate standard. When flag Y is flying all competitors shall wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket to an appropriate standard at all times when afloat.
    2. When IC pennant 3 is displayed ashore , competitors shall wear wetsuits or drysuits. A wetsuit for the purpose of this SI is a neoprene garment covering at least the torso, legs and shoulders.


18. The Tally System

    1. The Tally System to check-in and check-out competitors will be located at the Race Office. Tallies comprise numbered rubber wrist bands, and must be worn visibly, over clothing, while afloat.
    2. Each competitor shall individually tally-out before racing by personally collecting their tally, and individually tally-in upon returning to shore after racing by returning the tally personally to tally control. Competitors shall tally-in as soon as practically possible upon being instructed to do so by the race committee.
    3. Tally numbers will be issued after registration has closed.
    4. Competitors who fail to comply shall accept the penalty in SI 13.2 without a hearing.
       Competitors who are already afloat and who realise they have forgotten their tally must inform an official boat at the first opportunity and the race office upon returning to shore. This may relieve the competitor from receiving a penalty.

19. Official Boats

    1. Official will be marked as follows: Committee Boats-Orange flag.

20. Boards and Competitors in Difficulty

    1. When the race committee considers that a Competitor is in difficulty it may instruct the competitor to accept outside help, retire or sail ashore.