Sailing Instructions

Scaling Dam Sailing & Watersports Club

2024 Season

(1st March - 31st December 2024)

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS (SIs)

The notation '[DP]' in a rule of the notice of race (NoR) means that the penalty for a breach of that rule may, at the discretion of the protest committee, be less than disqualification.

1 RULES

1.1 Events are governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, the Notice of Race and these SIs.

1.2 In case of conflict with the Notice of Race these Sailing Instructions shall prevail. This changes RRS 63.7

1.3 RRS will be changed as follows:

RRS 27.1 & RRS 40 Personal buoyancy will be worn at all times whilst on or near the water. Wetsuits and drysuits are not considered personal flotation devices.

RRS 26 Visual signals and sound signals for the starting procedure are as described in SI 12.2 and when a number of classes are being started in sequence in SI 12.3. When a number of classes are being started the Warning signal for each succeeding class will be made with or after the 1 minute signal of the preceding class.

RRS 29.1 When at a boat's starting signal any part of her hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line, then that boat shall return to the pre-start side of the starting line via one of it's extensions (rule 10.5) and if that boat does not, and the race committee is presented with evidence from the safety or committee boat to that effect, then the sailing committee may disqualify that boat without a protest hearing

RRS 29.2 When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify boats that are on course side of the starting line to which RRS 30 applies, or there has been an error in the starting procedure, the race committee may signal a general recall.

Where the class recalled is the only or the last class in the sequence, its new Warning signal will be made at least one minute after the recalled start signal. Where one or more classes follow the class recalled then the Warning signal for the new start will be the 1 minute signal for the last class in the sequence (back of the queue).

2 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1 Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of the first race on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted before 1900 on the day before it will take effect.

3 COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMPETITORS

3.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at SDSWC 2024 Club Events Noticeboard and outside the external exits to the changing rooms.

3.2 [DP] While racing, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.

4 CODE OF CONDUCT

4.1 [DP] Competitors and support persons shall comply with reasonable requests from race officials.

5 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at the clubhouse flagpole or via the Race Office light signal system.

5.2 Light and sound signals are made from the Race Office as follows:

5.3 When one (1) red light/ flag AP is displayed ashore, '1 minute' is replaced with 'not less than 10 minutes' in the race signal AP. This changes RRS Race Signal AP.

6 SCHEDULE OF RACES

6.1 As per NoR 9.2

6.2 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race each day:

6.2.1 Sundays Series

6.2.2 Sunday One Day Events

6.2.3 Wednesday Series

6.3 On Sundays, no warning signal will be made after 16:10. On Wednesdays, no warning signal will be made after 19:30

6.4 Races may be sailed back-to-back.

7 CLASS FLAGS

7.1 The class flag(s) to be used will be defined at a competitors briefing.

8 RACING AREA

8.1 The racing area is Scaling Dam reservoir. SI Addendum A1 shows the location of the racing area.

8.2 Competitors should avoid sailing within 30m of fishermen and avoid causing damage to their gear.

9 COURSES

9.1 The course to be sailed will be displayed on the course board located outside the external exits to the changing rooms underneath the balcony.

9.1.1 Where races are advertised as back-to-back the same course shall be used for both races.

9.1.2 The course will be displayed 15 minutes before the first warning signal.

9.2. In the event of a committee boat start the course may be displayed on a board on the committee boat instead of the course board located ashore.

9.2.1 The course configuration gives the order of rounding marks and the side to which they shall be left shall be displayed on the Committee Boat before the Warning Signal.

The background colour refers to the side to which the marks are to be rounded.

Marks to be rounded to port will be displayed on a red background.

Marks to be rounded to starboard will be displayed on a green background.

9.2.2 The number of laps to be sailed shall be displayed on the Committee Boat before the Warning Signal.

9.3 SI Appendix A1 gives an example of the course board.

10 MARKS

10.1 Club course marks are round orange buoys numbered 1 - 8, and round white and yellow buoys marked W and Y respectively.

10.2. Temporary yellow inflatable tower buoys (T) or orange triangle buoys may be used.

11 OBSTRUCTIONS

11.1 The following are designated as obstructions:

• Shallow waters marked by white buoy adjacent racing mark 7.
• Disabled fishing pier and fishing area demarcated by black buoys adjacent to the jetty.
• The Bird Sanctuary demarcation floating line and buoys located in the southwest corner.

12 THE START

12.1 Races will be started using RRS 26 with the warning signal made 5 minutes before the starting signal.

12.2 Races will normally be started using a system of lights from the race office, as follows:

12.3 The warning signal for each succeeding class will be made with or after the 1 minute signal of the proceeding class. See example below for an advertised start time of 13:30 class race.

12.4 The starting line is between a mark of the course (as indicated on the course board) and an orange dan buoy.

12.4.1 In the event of a committee boat the start is between a mast or staff displaying an orange flag on the committee boat and an orange dan buoy.

12.5 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.

12.6 For all starts Rule 30.1 "Round-an-End Rule" shall apply. Flag I will not be displayed.

12.7 If any part of a boat's hull is on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal and she is identified, the race committee will attempt to hail her sail number. Failure to hail her number, failure of her to hear such a hail, or the order in which boats are hailed will not be grounds for a redress for request. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

12.8 A boat that does not start within 4 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS A5.1 and A5.2.

13 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

13.1 To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will move the original mark or the finishing line to a new position.

14 THE FINISH

14.1 The finish line will be indicated on the course board.

14.1.1 In the event of a committee boat the finish is between a mast or staff displaying a blue flag on the committee boat and the adjacent mark of the course or an orange dan buoy. Boats shall finish in a direction from the previous mark of the course.

14.2 Shortening Course

14.2.1 For each class involved, a shortened course shall be indicated by 3 white lights and 2 sound signals as the leading boat of that class rounds or passes the last mark before the finish. The 3 lights shall remain on, but be extinguished briefly prior to shortening the course for any subsequent class, as above.

14.2.2 In the event of a committee boat finish: for the class involved, a shortened course shall be indicated by displaying Flag S and the relevant class flag on the Committee Boat and 2 sound signals as the leading boat of that class rounds or passes the last mark before the finish. For subsequent classes to finish the relevant class flag will be displayed with 2 sound signals as the leading boat rounds or passes the last mark before the finish.

14.2.3 Further to 14.2.1 and 14.2.2 at the discretion of the Race Officer, one or more boats may be finished after completing fewer laps than the leading boat, provided that:

a) The start lap and the first lap times for a representative boat in that race are recorded. The start lap shall be calculated as a fraction of a complete lap by ratio of the start lap and the complete lap.

b) The total race time for a boat so shortened shall be calculated in proportion to the laps (and fraction of lap) completed by the representative boat and by the shortened boat.

c) Where possible the shorten course signal shall be made as the leading boat approaches the penultimate buoy. However, the Race Officer at his discretion may make the signal for a boat other than the leading boat in order to maintain control of the race (e.g. to avoid sending slower boats round the course in a dying wind). When this discretion is exercised the Race Officer will endeavour not to split fleets (e.g. finish some boats of the same class on different laps). Should a fleet become split and the results show obvious anomalies, redress may be applied to restore the natural order within that fleet without disadvantaging other competitors.

15 PENALTY SYSTEM

15.1 The Scoring Penalty, RRS 44.1, applies.

16 TIME LIMITS AND TARGET TIMES

16.1 The Mark 1 Time Limit and the Finishing Window are shown in the table below.

16.2 If no boat has passed the first mark within the Mark 1 Time Limit, the race will be abandoned.

16.3 The Finishing Window is the time for boats to finish after the first boat sails the course and finishes. Boats failing to finish within the Finishing Window, and not subsequently retiring, penalized or given redress, will be scored Did Not Finish (DNF) without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1, A5.1 and A5.2 and A10.

16.4 Failure to meet the Target Time will not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

17 HEARING REQUESTS

17.1 The protest time limit is 30 minutes after the last boat finishes the race. Where races are sailed back-to-back the protest time limit is 30 minutes after the last race of the day or the race committee signals no more racing today, whichever is later. The time will be posted on the official notice board.

17.2 Hearing request forms are available from the race office.

17.3 Notices will be posted no later than 30 minutes after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held in the club training room or the race office.

18 SCORING

18.1 As per NoR 15

19 SAFETY REGULATIONS

19.1 RRS 40.1 applies at all times whilst afloat.

19.2 When 4 white and 1 red lights accompanied by frequent sounds are signalled from the Race Office all boats shall return ashore immediately.

19.3 All competitors must sign on prior to going afloat, as per NoR 4.6

19.4 [DP] A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity.

19.5 All competitors must sign off within 30 minutes of the last boat finishing. A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee by signing the declaration sheet as retired.

20 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT

20.1 [DP] Substitution of competitors is not allowed without prior written approval of the race committee.

21 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS

21.1 A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules, notice of race and sailing instructions.

22 SUPPLIED BOATS - NOT USED

23 OFFICIAL VESSELS

23.1 Official vessels will be identified as follows: SDSWC Race Committee boat and SDSWC safety boats.

24 SUPPORT TEAMS - NOT USED

25 TRASH DISPOSAL

25.1 Trash may be placed aboard official vessels.

26 BERTHING - NOT USED

27 HAUL-OUT RESTRICTIONS - NOT USED

28 DIVING EQUIPMENT AND PLASTIC POOLS - NOT USED

29 PRIZES

29.1 As per NoR 24

30 RISK STATEMENT

30.1 RRS 3 states: 'The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.' By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma, hypothermia or other causes.

31 INSURANCE

31.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3 million per incident or the equivalent.

SI ADDENDUM A

SI ADDENDUM A1