BRISTOL YACHT CLUB
REGATTA
28 June 2015
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
REGISTRATION: The Notice of Race is changed to extend the deadline for registration to 27 June 2015 via HYPERLINK “http://www.yachtscoring.com” www.yachtscoring.com (2015 Bristol Yacht Club Regatta).
1. RULES
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 20013-2016 (RRS), the Notice of Race, applicable class rules, and these Sailing Instructions.
1.2 A valid, signed Entry Form including a liability waiver by all participants with full payment of fees must be submitted by June 27th, 2015
1.3 The rules of RRS Part 2 are replaced with the right-of-way rules of state and federal regulations governing inland navigation when encountering commercial traffic.
1.4 Spinnakers shall be used by only the J-22 fleet.
1.5 If a pole is used to wing out a headsail, it must be attached to the mast.
1.6 All boats must display sail numbers on at least one sail during the race consistent with their race registration.
2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
2.1 Notices will be posted on the race committee bulletin board located in the main hallway of the BYC clubhouse.
3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
3.1 Changes to these SI’s will be posted on the race committee bulletin board and emailed to registered skippers prior to 1700, June 27th, 2015
4. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from the club’s flagpole on the front lawn.
4.2 When flag “AP” is displayed ashore, the warning signal for the first race will be made not less than 60 minutes after removal. This changes the meaning of Race Signal “AP” when it is displayed ashore.
5. SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 The scheduled time of the WARNING signal for the first race is 1000.
5.2 Multiple races will be held.
5.3 The last race will START no later than 1530.
6. RACING AREAS
6.1 The starting area is in Bristol Channel area, east of Poppasquash.
6.2 Racing will be in Bristol Harbor with probable extension into Narragansett Bay.
7. THE COURSES
7.1 The courses will be windward/leeward with the Start/Finish line between the windward and leeward marks.
7.2 Course length will be determined by the RC.
7.3 The Course Board on the RC signal boat will display:
7.3.1 The designation of the fleet(s) affected: A, B, or A and B,
7.3.2 The approximate bearing (degrees magnetic) to the windward mark,
7.3.3 The approximate distance to the windward mark, and
7.3.4 The number of laps to be sailed around the course: 1, 2, or 3.
7.4 A race committee boat may, at the windward mark, signal a shortening of a course that is 2 or 3 times around. Boats will sail to the leeward mark then to the finish.
7.4.1 The course will be shortened by a RC boat displaying:
7.4.1.1 Flag “C”; the definition of which is changed to mean, “There is a change in the course.”, and Pennant “0”; which is defined to mean, “There are zero (no) more laps around the course, and boats are to Finish after rounding the leeward mark.”
7.5 After the start, boats may not pass between the starting pin and the race committee signal boat until finishing.
8. MARKS
8.1 Windward and leeward marks will be temporary racing inflatable orange buoys.
8.2 The starting and finishing marks will be the race committee signal boat and an orange inflatable buoy.
9. THE START and FINISH
9.1 The Start/Finish line will be between an orange, inflatable buoy and a staff displaying an orange flag on the race committee signal boat.
9.2 Races will be started according to Rule 26 with a 5-minute sequence.
9.3 The Class flags to be displayed are:
9.3.1 Class A Red letter / White field J-22 fleet
9.3.2 Class B Red letter / Blue field Sea Sprite fleet
9.4 After the initial start, each fleet will start subsequent races as soon as ready and determined by the RC to be prudent to do so.
9.5 Subsequent Starts may or may not include both fleets.
11. AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS
11.1 The areas between the following aids to navigation and the adjacent land are obstructions at all times:
C “3” Usher’s Cove
Castle Island Beacon N of Hog Island
Hog Island Shoal Light House SE of Hog Island
C “3” E of Hog Island
RB “1” QK FL Bell SW of Popasquash Point
RN “2” SW of Bristol Point
12. TIME LIMITS
12.1 The first place boat must cross the finish line within 2 hours of start, or the race is cancelled.
12.2 The time limit for each race will be 3 hours from start.
12.3 No race will start after 1530.
12.4 Boats failing to finish within the time limits will be scored DNF without a hearing. This changes Rules 35, A4 and A5.
13. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
13.1 Protest forms will be available from the RC.
13.2 Protests must be submitted within 60 minutes after the RC Boat docks.
13.3 Hearings will be held in the protest room, located on the second floor of the clubhouse.
14. SCORING
14.1 Scoring will be low point scoring with no throw out races.
15. SAFETY REGULATIONS
15.1 A boat shall Check-In prior to racing by identifying herself by sail number and reporting the number of souls aboard. It will be each boat’s responsibility to assure acknowledgement from the race committee.
15.2 Check-In shall be done when passing within hailing distance of the race committee signal boat, or by VHF radio channel 71.
15.3 A boat shall Check-Out with the race committee by finishing the race, or, if retiring, to do so as soon as possible either by so communicating on Channel 71 VHF or by passing within hailing distance of the RC boat and so communicating verbally. If unable to do so the yacht shall notify the Bristol Yacht Club, 401-253-2922, of its withdrawal as soon as it is able. A yacht that has withdrawn must not cross the finish line.
15.4 Narragansett Bay, including Bristol Harbor, is considered a “restricted channel” and there shall be no interference with commercial or privileged marine traffic. When boats meet vessels not sailing under these Sailing Instructions, the rules of Part 2 are replaced by government right-of-way rules. The race committee or protest committee, upon the observation, or proper report, of an incident shall protest the boat. This changes rules 60.2 and 60.3.
16. RADIO COMMUNICATION
16.1 The race committee may broadcast courtesy racing information such as weather, courses, starting sequence, starting violations, time limits, etc. Failing to do so will not be grounds for redress.
16.2 VHF Channel 71 will be used for any announcements by the race committee and for communication with competitors. It may be used for radio check-in prior to the first warning signal.
17. PRIZES
17.1 Trophies will be awarded to first, second, and third place finishers
17.2 The overall winner in the Sea Sprite fleet will have his or her name engraved on the perpetual trophy named “Sea Sprite Regatta.”
18. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
18.1 Competitors participate in the races entirely at their own risk. See RRS rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing 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 races.
19. INSURANCE
19.1 Each participating boat should be insured with valid third-party liability insurance. 19.2 East Bay Sailing Foundation Charters are covered by existing insurance.
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