- RULES: All races will be sailed under the current ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing, the RYA Prescriptions, these instructions and addenda, and class rules where applicable. All boats MUST comply with IRCS (collision regulations) at ALL times (see RYA publication G2/95).
- ENTRIES: A boat manoeuvering in the area of the start in the 5 minutes before the starting signal shall be deemed to have entered the race.
- HANDICAPS: The Sailing Committee will determine a boat’s handicap. It will be based on the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick scheme and posted on the club notice board before the beginning of each series.
- SAFETY: The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone (RRS Fundamental Rule 4). All competitors shall carry or wear personal buoyancy adequate for the conditions (RRS Fundamental Rule 1.2) unless the boat has lifelines. Dinghy racing is restricted to the area designated in the Special Instructions for Dinghy Racing.
- INSURANCE: All boats shall have adequate third party insurance cover.
- CLASSES: All club racing is handicap racing. There will be one class only for each series of races.
- STARTING AND FINISHING LINES: There are three club lines: the cruiser line, which is a transit between the flagpole and a white diamond on the shoreline. The outer limit mark is the Outer Diligence buoy or an inflatable placed at the near edge of the channel. The dinghy line is from the starting box flagpole to an orange buoy to seaward. There is no inner limit to either line. There may be occasional committee boat starts these being subject to sailing instructions issued on the day. The lines must be crossed in the direction of the first mark to start and of the last mark to finish.
- COURSES: Courses are given in the club handbook. For more detail see the Special Instructions to Cruisers and Dinghies. Courses should be notified at least 15 minutes before the start.
- TIME LIMIT: All club races shall have a time limit of 90 minutes unless otherwise notified. If a boat finishes within the time limit all other boats that finish shall score. If no boat finishes within the time limit then the race shall be abandoned.
- SIGNALS: Races shall be started by the following signals: A warning signal 5 minutes before the start, which shall be the class flag, accompanied by 1 sound signal. The preparatory signal 4 minutes before the start which shall be Flag “P” (no starting penalty or round the ends rule flags will be used for club line starts). This will be accompanied by 1 sound signal. At one minute the preparatory flag shall be removed accompanied by 1 long sound signal. At the start the class flag shall be removed together with 1 sound signal. Times shall be taken from the visual signals, the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded. After the start the OOD may shorten or abandon the race (see ISAF Rule 32). The signal for shortening the course shall be the ‘S’ flag accompanied by 2 sound signals. The signal for abandoning shall be flag ‘N’ accompanied by 3 sound signals.
- SCORING: Scoring shall be by the Low Point System (i.e. 1 for a win, 2 for second etc). For club series racing a boat that came to the starting area but did not start, did not finish, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points one more than the number of boats that came to the starting area. A boat that did not come to the starting area scores one more than the number of boats in the series. If there are 6 races or more in a series there shall be two discards. 3 to 5 races in a series there shall be 1 discard. If only 1 or 2 races in a series no discard.
- PENALTIES: A boat that has touched a mark of the course may, after getting well clear of other boats as soon as possible, take a penalty of one complete 360 degree turn. The penalty for breaking Part 2 of the ISAF Rules differ for cruisers and dinghies hence are given in the relevant special instructions.
- PROTESTS: Intention to protest shall be notified verbally or by telephone to the OOD or the Sailing Secretary within 2 hours of the completion of the race. Protests in writing shall be lodged with the Sailing Secretary within 72 hours of completion of the race. The protest procedure shall be governed by Part 5 of the ISAF Rules.
RESCUE BOAT
Safety requires that the rescue boat be manned by at least two people during dinghy racing, with the Cox holding a RYA Safety Boat Certificate. At the discretion of the OOD the crew may be younger. The race will not take place without the full complement of officers. In order to ensure the successful running of dinghy racing, comprehensive training for the rigid inflatable is being offered at the beginning of the season.
RESCUE BOAT MAINTENANCE
It is essential that the rescue boat is in a good operational state at all times. Please report any defects to the Safety Boat Officer so that any can be rectified as soon as possible.