VICTOR HARBOR

YACHT CLUB INC

VHYCColourLogo

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

SEASON 2011-12

 

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1: GENERAL

Races of the Victor Harbor Yacht Club Inc (VHYC) will be conducted by the VHYC in the waters of Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor. These Sailing Instructions cover all races associated with the VHYC sailing calendar for season 2011-2012, except for where sailing instructions are provided by class associations or specific regatta’s.

2: RULES

The racing will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of Yachting Australia and Yachting SA and the rules of the various classes, except as altered by these sailing instructions.

All crewmembers of all yachts regardless of class or division shall wear a prescribed Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for the full duration of the race & while on the water. This prescription will be strictly enforced. All races will be category C. A yacht entered into a race or series, which does not comply with Class Rules or is modified from the original class design, shall notify the VHYC Sailing Committee providing details of that modification/s on the VHYC Race Nomination form.  The Sailing Committee will decide a yardstick variation, if any. Written applications for a change of sails outside of class rules must be made to the Commodore or Vice Commodore prior to the race in which the change is to occur. Specific attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 4 TOW RINGS: All craft shall maintain a tow ring or loop, of minimum diameter 25mm, through which a tow line can be passed. The tow ring or loop shall be centrally located as near as possible to the bow, and shall not form part of the rigging.

3: NOMINATIONS

Entries will be accepted from registered sailors and financial members of a Club or an Association affiliated with Yachting South Australia or YA. Acceptance of entries from unregistered sailors or un-financial members of a recognised organisation is at the absolute discretion of the Sailing Committee. All boats shall nominate, and pay the prescribed fee, before each race, using the designated form, which will be available in the VHYC boatshed. Failure to nominate will mean that the boat shall rank as did not compete. Competitors wishing to compete in the Club Championship series shall complete a Club Championship Nomination Form. Club Championship points will only be awarded to the nominated person. Boats not nominated for the Club Championship by the 5th Club Championship race, will be ineligible to be included in the overall results. All crew changes during club championship race must notify the VHYC bridge crew and fill in change of crew form. VHYC bridge crew will forward the application to the VHYC Sailing Committee for approval. 

4: RETIREMENTS

Competitors who do not finish a race are requested to notify the Bridge as soon as practicable.

5: NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the Victor Harbor Yacht Club Boat Shed. No notice to competitors will be posted less than thirty minutes before the warning signal for the race.

6: CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Changes to the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board at least one hour before the first scheduled start. The Sailing Committee will display Code Flag “L” with one sound signal when posting alterations to these Sailing Instructions.

7SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

Signals made ashore will be displayed from the mast of the Victor Harbor Yacht Club Boatshed. Code flag “AP”, Answering Pendant, over a numeral pendant 1-6 with two sound signals means ‘the race is postponed for n-hours”. Lowering Code Flag “AP” with one sound signal will signal the end of the postponement. The Warning Signal will be made not less than 30 minutes after lowering Code Flag “AP”.

8: RACING AREA

The races will be held in the waters of Encounter Bay

9: MARKS

Course Marks will be coloured inflatable buoys. The colour of the marks will be indicated on the course board located adjacent to the sign on area.

10: COURSES

Notification of the course and scheduled starting times will be posted on the Course Board in the VHYC Boatshed at least 40 minutes before the warning signal of the first division.

11: ALTERATION TO COURSES

As per RRS 32 and 33

12: STARTING LINE

The starting line will between a staff carrying an orange flag on the Committee boat and a buoy carrying an orange flag.

13: FINISHING LINE

Unless otherwise specified on the Course Board, or in accordance with 11 above, the finishing line will be in front of the VHYC Boatshed and shall extend from a buoy carrying a blue flag to the Bridge located on the Boatshed. An inside limiting marker will be placed, but may not be on the line. Boats shall not pass through the finishing line unless they are finishing. Boats passing through the line when not finishing may be disqualified.

14: DIVISION/CLASS FLAGS

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES *

Division 1

Catamarans 4.5metres and over

Numeral 1

Division 2

Catamarans less than 4.5metres

Numeral 2

Division 3

Arafura Catamaran

Numeral 3

Division 4

Monohulls rating 125.5 and greater

Numeral 4

Division 5

Monohulls rating 102 to 125

Numeral 5

Division 6

420 monohulls

Numeral 6

Division 7

Monohulls rating less than 102       

Numeral 7

*boats may sail in different divisions with approval from sailing committee. 

15: THE START

Races will be started as follows:

Signal Meaning

Visual Signal

Motion

Sound

To Start

Warning

Class Flag

Displayed

Horn

5 min

Preparatory

Flag P, I or black

Displayed

Horn

4 min

One Minute

Flag P, I or black

Lowered

Long Horn

1 min

Start

Class Flag

Lowered

Horn

0

For subsequent starts the warning signal for the next class will be displayed at the Starting Signal of the previous class. Yachts whose warning signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area.

16: LATE START

If a boat has not started within ten minutes of her starting signal, she shall rank as a Non Starter.

17: RECALLS

Individual recalls will be signalled in accordance with RRS 29.2.

General recalls shall be signalled in accordance with RRS 29.3.

18: TIME LIMIT

The time limit for each Division shall be three hours from the start of that Division. Yachts finishing more than one hour (elapsed time) after the first yacht in her Class finishes will be scored ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF). This changes Rule 35.

19: PROTESTS

Protest shall be written on forms available from the Bridge and must be lodged with the VHYC Bridge within one hour of the protesting yacht’s finishing time. If more than one protest is lodged they will be considered in the order in which they are received.

20: ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES

The two turn’s penalty described in RRS 44.1 and 44.2 shall apply for breaking rules of part 2 of RRS.

21: RESULTS

Appendix A, Low Point Scoring System will apply. Corrected times will be calculated using Yachting Victoria yardsticks as provided by Yachting SA. Results will, where possible, be posted in the Clubhouse.

Progressive results will be maintained for the Club Championship and handicap series. When the series consists of ten completed races the three worst scores will be dropped. Where eight or nine races are completed the worst two scores will be dropped. Where six or seven races are completed the worst score will be dropped. Where five or less races are completed all scores will count.

22: PRIZES

The following prizes will be awarded:

a.        Club Champion Series: Perpetual Trophy plus personal trophy for all crew members. Trophies for second and third placed craft, subject to entries.

b.        Handicap Series: Trophy to winning skipper and crew in each series. Trophies for second and third placed craft subject to entries.

c.        Cock of the Walk: Pennant. Awarded to the craft which scores the most yardstick corrected time 1st placing in all scheduled Club races in which three or more starters compete.

d.       Cock of the South: Perpetual Trophy and Personal Trophy. Awarded to the best performing Club boat in the Rum Race. To be determined by the Race Committee.

e.        Rex Rowe Memorial Trophy. Perpetual Trophy and personal trophy. Awarded to the most helpful junior, as determined by the General Committee.

f.         John and Madge Mack Trophy. Perpetual Trophy, medallion and gift voucher. Awarded to the junior sailor who demonstrates outstanding application to the sport and service to the Club. Determined by the Sailing Committee.

David Turner Memorial Trophy. Perpetual Trophy and personal trophy. Awarded to the craft which wins the David Turner Memorial Race. Open to all craft and determined by Club based yardstick.