OCEAN RACING Sailing Instructions 2012-2013 Latitude Series Ocean Race LATITUDE OCEAN ORCV OCEAN RACE V1.00
Amendments Number Instructions Changed Summary of Amendment 2 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc
1. Rules 1.1 The race will be governed by the current versions of : The 2009-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the ISAF, together with the prescriptions and safety regulations of Yachting Australia (YA); The Special Regulations of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV); The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea; except as amended by the Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions. 1.2 All times in these Sailing Instructions are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) unless otherwise stated. 1.3 Between the hours of Sunset and Sunrise, RRS 10 to 22 inclusive shall cease to be applicable, and shall be replaced by the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea. 1.4 For the purpose of this race, the times of Sunrise and Sunset shall be as follows: Sunrise: 0558 Sunset: 2015 1.5 RRS Rule 52, Manual Power, shall be modified: to allow self-steering equipment to be used by boats sailing Two-Handed, and to allow the adjustment of movable water ballast or canting keels on any boat. 2. Notices To Competitors 2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the club website www.orcv.org.au. 2.2 Any change to these Sailing Instructions may also be posted on the club website. 2.3 Any alterations to these instructions will be announced after the pre-race radio schedule or during the pre-race shipping advice broadcast. Sailing Instructions The 2012 Melbourne Latitude Series Ocean Yacht Race will be conducted on the waters of Port Phillip and Bass Strait. The race is organised and conducted by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) Inc. 3. The Start 3.1 The start time will be 1130 on Saturday, 17 November 2012 in the vicinity of Drapers Reef, Queenscliff always allowing the Race Committee, at their discretion, to postpone to another time. 3.2 The Starting Line shall be an imaginary line between a Quick Flashing Red (QR) Light on the Drapers Reef Pile and a boat or a buoy with a rotating amber light approximately 300 metres to the south east (see See Appendix B - Start Line on page 10). 3.3 In the event of rough weather or other unforeseen difficulties, the boat or buoy may not be in position. In this case the starting line will be an extension of an imaginary line from a rotating amber light and the Draper s Reef Light, this line running almost east to west to a distance not exceeding 400 metres. 3.4 The starting sequence will be as follows: 1125 Preparatory Signal, White flare 1130 Starting Signal, Green flare This changes RRS 26. 3.5 Individual recalls shall be signalled by one white flare. Premature starters may be identified on VHF Channel 12 (See Appendix A - Radio Communication on page 7). There will be no General Recall. This amends RRS 29.1 and 29.2. 4. The Course 4.1 The expected course for this race is Course 1 described below. If, in the opinion of the race director, it is imprudent to send the fleet through Port Phillip Heads, then Course 2 shall be used instead. The chosen course will be announced at the pre-race sign-on radio schedule. 4.2 Course 1 - Outside Course From the starting line to the finishing line after rounding the following marks: Mark M at Corsair Rock to Port Any point on the Latitude Line designated for each boat in the Fleet List 2012-2013 Latitude Series Ocean Race Sailing Instructions (V1.00) 3
4 Mark M at Corsair Rock to Starboard Thence to a finish line off Portsea Pier. Mark M means a boat flying Code Flag M and carrying a rotating orange beacon on station at approximately S38 18.0 E144 38.3. Note that the mark boat will not be anchored. Boats should keep well clear of the vessel while rounding it. If a mark boat is not on station then Mark M means the position of Corsair Rock at approximately S38 18.0 E144 38.3. The absence of a mark boat may be announced during the pre-race schedule. Boats should be aware that an approach to Corsair Rock along the South Eastern shoreline may lead over other rocks and shoals. The Fleet List, available separately, includes five sets of Latitude Lines designated Set 1, Set 2, Set 3, Set 4 and Set 5, which have been calculated to take into account the variety of prevailing weather conditions which may be encountered for the race. The applicable set of Latitude Lines will be announced during the Pre-Race Schedule (See Appendix A - Radio Communication on page 7). The set of Latitude Lines to be used may be subsequently varied after the start and while boats are on the outbound leg of the course, if weather conditions vary significantly from those forecast prior to the start. Any such change will also be broadcast in accordance with Appendix A - Radio Communication. 4.3 Course 2 - Inside Course Through the Starting Line in a North Easterly direction, then to the finishing line leaving the following marks, in order, on the hand shown: Popes Eye Bank South Cardinal Mark at approximately S38 17.3 E144 41.3 to port Popes Eye Annulus at approximately S38 16.6 E144 41.8 to starboard West Channel Pile Structure at approximately S38 11.6 E144 45.4 to port Any point on the designated latitude line for each boat in Fleet List, which will be announced if required. South Channel Mark 19 at approximately S38 20.12 E144 54.45 to starboard. Sorrento Channel Mark 12 at approximately S38 21.10 E144 48.50 to starboard. Sorrento Channel Mark 10 at approximately S38 21.33 E144 47.30 to starboard. Thence to a finish line off Blairgowrie Marina. 5. Changes To Turning Latitudes Any change to the applicable set of Latitude Lines announced at the pre-race schedule, which may be necessitated by prevailing weather conditions, will be broadcast while yachts are on the outbound leg and may be broadcast at the Routine Schedule. Yachts should therefore maintain a continuous listening watch on the Race Frequency (see paragraph A1.1) once 2 miles clear of the Heads. 6. The Finish 6.1 Course 1 - Outside Course The Finishing Line shall be an imaginary line extending 100 metres bearing 000 magnetic from the navigational beacon at the north west corner of the Portsea Pier. 6.2 Course 2 - Inside Course The Finishing Line will be the transit between a red pile mark in line with the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron breakwater and the Day-Glo triangle on the seaward side of the race tower of the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron clubhouse. Boats shall finish in a Westerly direction and should pass to the North of the red pile and to the South of a yellow cone buoy located at approximately S38 21.29 E144 46.53. 6.3 A boat crossing the finishing line correctly is deemed to have made a declaration that all rules have been complied with and that the course has been sailed correctly. If a skipper is uncertain as to whether a rule has been breached, he or she should report the circumstances to an ORCV official. A written report may be required. 7. Protests And Requests For Redress 7.1 Protests or requests for redress are to be lodged with an official of the ORCV or the ORCV office no later than 1200 on Monday, 19 November 2012. 7.2 Boats intending to protest or request redress must inform the Race Director in person or by radio giving any details as may be known at Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc
the time with their declarations, on the form or by radio. 7.3 Protests or requests for redress will be heard at a time and place advised. 7.4 All requests for redress involving the official time sheet must be submitted as soon as possible after the posting of the results but no later than 1200 Monday, 19 November 2012. 7.5 The protest committee shall not be entitled to abandon the race as a consideration for redress (This amends RRS 64.2). 8. Penalty System 8.1 If, after a protest and hearing, a boat is found to have infringed a rule, the protest committee may disqualify or otherwise penalise the boat in accordance with the provisions of RRS 64. 8.2 The protest committee may apply a time penalty for a breach of a rule or the Sailing Instructions declared by an infringing competitor without a hearing or after a hearing if a protest is contested. 8.3 The following penalties will be applied for breaches of these Sailing Instructions or the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) at the discretion of the Protest Committee: For a minor infringement 15 minutes For a significant infringement 60 minutes For a serious infringement the penalty will rest with the protest committee and may result in a time penalty or disqualification. 8.4 All penalties will be noted on the time sheet and shall be applied to finishing times. Boat positions will be adjusted after penalties are applied. (This complements RRS 64.1 and amends RRS 44.3). 9. Boats Retiring Boats retiring shall inform the race committee as described in A10. Yachts Retiring on page 8. 10. Safety Regulations 10.1 The Safety Category and regulations are as set out in the Notice of Race. 10.2 Yachts shall keep clear of all commercial shipping (vessels more than 25 metres in length) whilst within Port Phillip and particularly while transiting Port Phillip Heads, as required by Port of Melbourne Corporation Harbour Master s Directions. Ships are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre while entering Port Phillip and yachts should take any necessary avoiding action early. In the event of avoiding action becoming necessary, a yacht may start its engine and motor to avoid a shipping hazard, on a course away from the conflicting traffic for as long as necessary. A yacht that takes such action shall return to the position at which the engine was started, cease motoring and resume racing as soon as possible. The details of any such action must be reported to the Race Director on the Declaration after finishing. 10.3 Attention is drawn to Rule 9 (a) and Rule 9 (b) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at sea, 1972, and yachts shall hold to any course and directions described during the pre race shipping advice. Yachts deemed to have impeded the progress of a commercial vessel will be disqualified. 10.4 The ORCV strongly recommends that safety harnesses and suitable personal flotation devices be worn whenever conditions warrant, particularly in rough weather, at night or when sailing short handed. In particular, attention is drawn to Victorian regulations which stipulate the mandatory wearing of PFDs when on deck during times of heightened risk. This includes crossing a bar, transiting the Heads (classified as a bar), sailing at night and when the weather or weather forecast indicates risk. For full details, consult the Transport Safety Victoria website (www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au). 10.5 A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the ORCV safety rules and sailing instructions. 10.6 The Race Director may, at his absolute discretion, disqualify a boat from participating or continuing to participate in the race if he believes that it is unsafe for that boat to commence or continue to race. 11. Unsuitable Conditions 11.1 After commencement of the race, the race can be terminated at the race officer s discretion. 11.2 The race organising authority may deem the race to be abandoned, rescheduled at another time or deemed to be shortened. 11.3 Prorated positions may be used to determine a result for the race and/or for any series. 2012-2013 Latitude Series Ocean Race Sailing Instructions (V1.00) 5
11.4 Terminating the race will be advised by radio communications as available. 12. Radio Communication 12.1 A boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones. 12.2 Radio communications procedures are detailed in Appendix A - Radio Communication. 12.3 It is compulsory for all boats to respond to all scheduled radio communications, including the Pre-race Sign-on Schedule, the Routine Position Reporting Schedule and the Latitude Turning Schedule. 12.4 Yachts must not give false or misleading position reports. 12.5 If used, yachts must not interfere with operation of any tracking units. 13. Disclaimer Of Liability 13.1 All those taking part in this race do so at their own risk and responsibility. 13.2 Acceptance of a boat as an entrant in the race is not to be taken as express or implied acceptance on the part of the ORCV and/or any of its Flag Officers, Committee, Equipment Auditors or any other members, of the fitness of any boat or any equipment on such boat to safely compete in the race, and/or deal with any and all eventualities of the contemplated passage. It is the responsibility of each skipper of each competing boat to decide whether his/her boat is fit and suitably crewed for the intended purpose, and neither the ORCV nor any club, person or company connected with the organisation of the race is responsible for the seaworthiness of any boat whose entry is accepted. 13.3 Attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 4 Decision to Race of the RRS which states: The responsibility for a boat s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone. 14. Mooring Information Mooring at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron after the race is at the direction of BYS volunteers. 15. Crew Behaviour No flares of any type are to be fired while the yacht is moored at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron. Civil authorities have severe penalties for any offenders. Skippers are reminded that the best way of ensuring that no flares are fired from their yacht is to place them under lock and key. 16. Appendices The attached Appendices A and B form part of these Sailing Instructions. 6 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc
Appendix A - Radio Communication A1. Race Frequencies A1.1 Radio communications for this race will be on VHF Channel 71, the Race Frequency, unless boats are directed to alternate frequencies by one of the race radio stations listed below. A1.2 VHF Channel 12 will be used for the pre-race shipping advice and may be used to notify premature starters. A1.3 Yachts must monitor the Race Frequency at all times during the race when further than 2 miles from the Heads. Instructions and changes to Turning Latitudes may be broadcast at any time. A2. Race Radio Stations A2.1 All schedules, including crew changes, the prerace schedule, routine position reporting and turning report schedules, will be conducted by ORCV Mobile using the call sign Ocean Racing. A2.2 Any other yacht or station nominated by ORCV Mobile will provide assistance where necessary. A3. Crew Changes A3.1 Late crew changes may be notified on Friday, 16 November 2012 by calling the ORCV Race Director on mobile telephone 0418 396 605 between 1800 and 2100. A3.2 Crew changes may also be notified by calling Ocean Racing on the Race Frequency between 0935 and 0955 on Saturday, 17 November 2012. A3.3 When nominating additional crew, details required include name of crew, address, age, Yachting Australia membership number and next of kin details including relationship to crew member, contact address and telephone number. A4. Pre-Race Sign On Schedule A4.1 A pre-race sign on schedule will be conducted on the Race Frequency by Ocean Racing commencing at 1035 on Saturday, 17 November 2012. A4.2 Boats will be called in alphabetical order to confirm that they are starters in the race. A4.3 Boats should respond [Boat Name] is a starter, [99] persons on board if they intend to start in the race, where [Boat Name] is the name of the boat concerned and [99] is the number of persons on board. A4.4 Boats that do not respond on the first call must wait until they are called again at the end of the schedule. A4.5 Any boat failing to respond on the Race Frequency or demonstrating unsatisfactory radio operations during this schedule shall not be considered a starter in the event and shall be scored DNS. A4.6 The course to be sailed and the applicable set of Latitude Lines will be announced at the end of this pre-race schedule. A4.7 Any alterations to the sailing instructions or to handicaps applicable for the race will be broadcast following completion of the pre-race schedule. All boats are required to maintain a listening watch at this time. A5. Pre-Race Shipping Advice A5.1 At 1115, Ocean Racing will broadcast advice of shipping movements through Port Phillip Heads on VHF Channel 12. A5.2 All boats are required to monitor this broadcast and maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 12 until they are 2 nautical miles outside Port Phillip Heads. Lonsdale VTS and any shipping transiting the Heads will be monitoring this frequency. A5.3 Boats should revert to the race frequency and VHF Channel 16 when 2 miles clear of the Heads. A6. Premature Starters Premature starters may be identified on VHF Channel 12. A7. Routine Position Reporting Schedules A7.1 Routine position reporting schedules will take place at 1235 and 1335. A7.2 Boats will be called in turn alphabetically to give their position. A7.3 Boats that do not respond on the first call must wait until they are called again at the end of the schedule. 2012-2013 Latitude Series Ocean Race Sailing Instructions (V1.00) 7
A7.4 The position reported shall be the boat s position as at the immediately preceeding half hour (1230, 1330) in degrees and whole minutes only of Latitude and Longitude as follows: [Boat Name] s position was dd mm ddd mm, over A7.5 The relative position of other boats in the close vicinity should be noted if they can be positively identified and given if requested. A7.6 At the conclusion of the schedule, boats are encouraged to give safety-related information should the skipper consider it would be to the benefit and safety of the fleet, for example if conditions are severe. If weather conditions are given it is important that the transmission be kept as brief as possible and give factual information such as wind speed and direction and wave conditions. A7.7 It is mandatory that all boats respond to each schedule and report their position. Failure to answer a Routine Position Reporting Schedule on time shall require written explanation of the reasons why the schedule(s) was missed and boats may be penalised for any such failure after protest. A8. Latitude Rounding Report A8.1 Yachts are also required to call Ocean Racing within 5 minutes of reaching their designated turning latitude; this call must receive an acknowledgement. A9. Changes to Turning Latitiudes A9.1 Any change to the applicable set of Latitude Lines announced at the pre-race schedule which may be necessitated by prevailing weather conditions will be broadcast while yachts are on the outbound leg and may be broadcast at Routine Position Reporting Schedule times. A9.2 Yachts must therefore maintain a continuous listening watch on the Race Frequency once 2 miles clear of the Heads. A10. Yachts Retiring A10.1 Should a boat retire from the race every effort must be made to advise Ocean Racing as soon as possible and to give the following information: Time and position at the time of retirement Reason for retirement The state of the crew The port to which the yacht is retiring A10.2 Boats that retire shall maintain any routine position reporting schedules until such time as they reach a safe harbour. A10.3 Within two hours of arrival at a safe harbour, contact must be made with ORCV Melbourne (Ocean Racing) by VHF radio or telephone to 0418 396 605 to confirm safe arrival. Failure to comply with this requirement may prejudice acceptance of an entry in future races. A11. Finishing Schedules A11.1 Yachts may call Ocean Racing on the Race Frequency as they approach the Finish Line. A11.2 Yachts shall have their radio on the Race Frequency for confirmation by Ocean Racing that they have finished. Yachts should also record their own finishing time. A11.3 Radios should be left on until the boat has berthed. 8 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc
A12. Summary Date Time Action Frequency Station 16 November 1800-2100 Crew Changes T:0418 396 605 Race Director 17 November 0935-0955 Crew Changes Race Frequency Ocean Racing 17 November 1035 Pre-Race Sign On Race Frequency Ocean Racing 17 November 1115 Pre Race Shipping VHF Channel 12 Ocean Racing 17 November 1125-1130 Starting Sequence VHF Channel 12 Ocean Racing 17 November 1130 Individual recalls may be notified VHF Channel 12 Ocean Racing 17 November 1235 Routine Schedule Race Frequency Ocean Racing 17 November 1335 Routine Schedule Race Frequency Ocean Racing 17 November Turning Latitude Turning Schedule Race Frequency Ocean Racing 17 November Approaching Finish Line Finishing Schedule Race Frequency Ocean Racing 2012-2013 Latitude Series Ocean Race Sailing Instructions (V1.00) 9
Appendix B - Start Line Note: the positions shown in these diagrams are approximate and for planning purposes only. The diagrams should not be used for navigation and the positions shown may vary on the day. Drapers Reef QR Light Start Boat, Amber Flashing Light Start towards the Heads Drapers Reef QR Start Line Start Boat 10 Direction of Start Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc