VICTORIA

U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOODLAWN SAILING CLUB

AMYA CLUB # 112

October 10-12, 2008

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1                    RULES

1.1               The regatta will be governed by the current International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) as modified by Appendix E, the prescriptions of US Sailing when they apply, the rules of the VICTORIA Radio Controlled Class, these Sailing Instructions and any amendments to these Sailing Instructions (SI).

2                    ENTRIES

2.1               This event is an AMYA sanctioned, National Championship open to all current AMYA registered VICTORIA owners.

2.2               Completed entry forms shall be given to the Race Committee by 0930 Hours on October 11 for the entering skipper.

3                    RADIO EQUIPMENT

3.1               RRS E1.5 is modified in that transmitter tips are required to have a protector of “whiffle golf ball” size or better.

3.2               If Conflicts are present. All transmitters shall be turned OFF when not racing or preparing to race in designated heats.  This is suggested at any time a skipper is off the course

3.3               After a boat completes its race, the skipper is to return their boat to the dock in a reasonable time and turn OFF the transmitter.

3.4               Boat repairs requiring the transmitter being on should be OK’d by the Race Director.

3.5               Failure to abide with provisions in paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4 shall result in a DSQ which will be applied to the boat’s next race.  If racing has concluded or the boat withdraws, the DSQ shall be applied to the boat’s last race sailed.

4                    CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

4.1               Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted no later than 15 minutes after the end of the skipper’s meeting and before the first race.

4.2               These Sailing Instructions may be amended by the Race Director orally or in writing. Boats on shore as well as on the water may be informed orally of changes to the Sailing Instructions provided that all the boats affected are notified.

5                    SCHEDULE OF RACES

5.1               The warning signal for the first race will be at 10:30 AM (Saturday), 10:00 AM (Sunday)

5.2               No Starting Signal will be made after 5:00 PM (Saturday), 3:30 PM (Sunday)

5.3               Three(3) races, including all associated heats (if required), will constitute a championship.

5.4               Should the number of entries or limitations on radio frequencies prohibit all boats from racing at one time, an equal opportunity racing system will be used.  The specifics of the EORS will be addressed at the skipper’s meeting.

6                    RACING AREA AND COURSE

6.1               Racing will be conducted off the “BARGE” adjacent to the “Y-DOCK.”

6.2               Courses will consist of temporary marks set by the Race Committee.

6.3               The Race Committee will make a best effort at providing courses configured in variations of a triangle, windward/leeward, or combination.  However, the overriding rule will be to set the fairest course possible given time, available resources and environmental conditions.

6.4               A course board illustrating the course will be provided in the vicinity of the starting area.

6.5               Course changes will be announced prior to the starting sequence.

6.6               The skipper’s control area consists of the Y-dock including the Barge.  Competitors not racing are permitted in the control area but are expected to be courteous and remain in areas away from skippers participating in a race.

7                    STARTING

7.1               The signal for starting a race will be an audible message containing a pre-recorded two-minute countdown.  Racing will be official at the one-minute mark.  The pre-recorded word “START” or the sound of a BELL is the completion of the two-minute countdown and will signify the start of a race.  Manual means will be used if the recorded means breaks down.

7.2               The Starting Line shall be between two temporary marks, the alignment of which will be the best combination of the course configuration, the wind direction and the skippers’ control area.  The approximate position of the marks shall be displayed on the course board.

7.3               A boat not racing in the specific race or heat being conducted shall keep clear of those boats that are racing.  Additionally, the provisions of SI paragraph 3 apply.

7.4               RRS E3.5 is changed in that RRS 30.1 (aka “round the ends” or  “one minute rule”) shall be in effect at all times, except that code flag “I” need not be displayed.  Additionally, RRS 30.1 is modified in that the “restricted area” is defined as the triangle formed by the two starting marks and the first mark of the course.

8                    RECALLS

8.1               The official starter will attempt to notify the skipper of any boat that starts prematurely by calling its sail number or other distinguishing feature if the sail number is obscured.  However, it is the sole responsibility of the skipper to start his boat correctly and the inability to hear the official starter’s recall shall not be considered as grounds for recourse.

8.2               A general recall may be called at the discretion of the official starter.

8.3               Should a general recall be necessary, the new starting sequence will consist of the full two-minute countdown as prescribed in SI 7.1.

9                    TOUCHING BEFORE THE START

9.1               Prior to the preparatory signal, the only skippers that may ask the official starter to delay the starting sequence for five (5) minutes for the repair of a technical problem or breakdown are those who raced in the prior heat.  A skipper may be granted only one such five-minute “hold” per day.  Holds for tuning or adjusting sails are not permitted under this rule.

9.2               No two boats may ask for a 5-minute hold consecutively and no competitor may call a 5-minute hold for another skipper.

9.3               If it is necessary to touch a boat for adjustment or other purpose during the one-minute countdown at the start, the boat will be held until the start gun has sounded.  At that point, the yacht cannot be propelled forward at a speed greater than the yachts that are participating in the race.  A held yacht cannot be let go within 5 feet of the nearest starting mark.

10                THE FINISH

10.1            The Finish Line shall be between two temporary marks as shown on the course board.

10.2            As soon as a boat has finished, it shall clear the finish line area and not impede the finish of any other boat still racing. Please remove your boat from the racing area if not racing in the next heat to be sailed.

11                LAST YACHT CALLED

11.1            When a single boat remains on the course, it may be scored as last place if it started properly.

11.2            The Time Limit for each heat will be twelve (12) minutes after the first boat finishes that heat. All boats not finished at that time will be scored a Did Not Finish (DNF).

12                PROTESTS

12.1            The provisions of RRS section E5 or E6 shall apply.

12.2            RRS E6.2 is replaced with “Rule 61.1a is changed to: “ A boat intending to protest another boat because of an incident that occurs in the racing area shall twice hail “PROTEST” and the SAIL # (immediately/ASAP after the incident).

12.3            Protest will be heard after the heat in which the incident happened.

12.4            Parties to the protest will be granted 5 minutes immediately after their heat to record relevant facts as needed.

12.5            RRS 61.2 is modified in that the protest need not be in writing.

12.6            The Race Director may file a protest against any boat (RRS 60.2a)

12.7            The Race Director may be a witness to any party of a Protest or Incident.

12.8            Decisions made by the Protest Jury are final with no right to appeal. RRS 70.4a. applies.

13                SCORING

13.1      The Low Point Scoring System, Appendix A2 of the RRS, will be used with the following exceptions:                                                                                                                                                        

a)      Throw-out / discards Races will be as follows:  1 race   after  6 races sailed

                                                                                   2 races after 15 races sailed

                                                                                   3 races after 24 races sailed

b)   After the completion of two(2) “seeding” races (4 heats) on the 1^st day of the Championship, the boats shall be placed in a “A” Heat or “B” Heat by totaling their two(2) scores and placed accordingly with boats having lowest scores in Heat “A” and so on. These scores will not be counted in the Championship series of scores.

14                RACE DIRECTOR AUTHORITY

14.1      The Race Director will have the authority to monitor the conduct of the competitors during the regatta and if he/she so directs, offensive behavior will be grounds for scoring the competitor a DNF for the heat, or to eliminate the competitor from further racing. If so, no appeal will be allowed on this decision.

15                AWARDS / MISC.

15.1            An award ceremony will be held at the Racing Venue as soon as practical after the last race.

a.       Prizes will be awarded to the skippers placing first through fifth(Minimum) in the regatta.

b.   All other competitors will receive a special commemorative award. Please attend!

15.2     Please keep all alcoholic beverages and trash up near the WSC patio.

15.3     You must have fun at this event and not go home hungry from the Woodlawn sailing Club. This is a rule of the club!

MAY YOUR YACHT BE SWIFT, YOUR BATTERIES STRONG, AND YOUR FINISHES ALWAYS IN THE MONEY!

                                 GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN IN SAN ANTONIO!                                

Thank You & Viva San Antonio

From the members of the

WOODLAWN  SAILING  CLUB

Home of the “Pirates of Woodlawn” - AMYA  #112