Women on Water Coaching Regatta November 11-12, 2017 Westernport Yacht Club SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 1 RULES 1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. The Novice Sailors will race under the ISAF Introductory Racing Rules. 1.2 Competitors that may have breached a rule may take an exoneration penalty as described in instruction 16 - Exoneration Penalty System. 2 ENTRIES Eligible boats may enter by completing registration with the organising authority as per Notice of Race. 3 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the Westernport Yacht Club. 4 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted before 1100 hrs on the day it will take effect, except any change in the schedule of races will be posted by 0900 hrs on the day it will take effect. 5 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE 5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the western halyard of the WYC flagstaff located on the race box end of the club house. 1
5.2 Flag AP with two sound signals (one sound signal when lowered) means The race is postponed. The warning signal will be made not less than 30 minutes after AP is lowered. 6 EVENT &SCHEDULE Saturday 11/11/17 0800-0900 Sailor Registration 0830 Coaches, Officials and Support briefing 0900 Sailor Briefing Volunteer briefing 0915-1200 Sailor Coaching Session 1100 Race Management briefing 1230 Sailor Race Information Session 1300-1630 Races back to back (target 3-5 races) 1830 Dinner Sunday 12/11/17 0830 Coaches, Officials and Support briefing 0900-1200 Sailor Coaching Session 1230 Sailor Race Information Session 1300-1630 Races back to back (target 2-4 races) On the last day of racing no warning signal will be made after 1530. Resails will be scheduled at the discretion of the Race Committee on any scheduled race day as required. When more than one race will be held in the same racing session the warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practicable after the preceding race. 7 CLASS FLAGS The class flags shall be a flag carrying the: - Sabre class symbol for Sabre - Optimist class symbol for Optimist - Hobie 164 class symbol for Hobie 164 - Pacer class symbol for Pacer - Code flag D for Minnow - Code flag E for Windsurfer - Code flag J for Open Bic - Code flag K for Impulse - Code flag T for Optimist novice - Code flag F for Pacer novice - Code flag W for Sabre novice Formatted: Indent: First line: 1.5 cm 8 RACING AREA Attachment 1 shows the location of the racing area. 2
9 THE COURSES 9.1 The diagrams in Attachment 2 show the courses and the order in which marks are to be passed. All rounding marks are to be passed to port. 9.2 The internal angle at Marks 1, 2 & 3 will be approximately 60 o. The approximate compass bearing to Mark 1 may be displayed on the Race Committee vessel prior to the warning signal. 9.3 No later than the warning signal, the race committee shall signal the course to be sailed by displaying the appropriate International numeral pennant as per Attachment 2. 10 MARKS 10.1 Marks 1, 2 and 3 will be orange cylindrical inflatable buoys. 10.2 The starting mark will be an orange stick mark. The finish mark will be a smaller orange cylindrical inflatable buoy. 10.3 The change of course mark will be a smaller orange cylindrical inflatable buoy with a grey band. 11 THE START 11.1 Races will be started by using rule 26 with the warning signal made 3 minutes before the starting signal. 11.2 The starting line will be an imaginary line between a staff displaying an orange flag on the committee boat at the starboard end and the port-end start mark. 11.3 Those boats whose warning signal has not been made, shall keep clear of the starting line, and of all boats whose warning signal has been made. 11.4 A boat starting later than five minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4. 12 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE 12.1 To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark. 12.2 Boats shall pass between the race committee boat signalling the change of the next leg and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the race committee boat to starboard. This changes rule 28. 13 THE FINISH The finishing line will be between a staff flying an orange flag on the committee boat at the starboard end and the port-end finish mark. 3
14 TIME LIMIT The target time for each race will be 20 to 25 minutes. Boats failing to finish within 10 minutes after the first boat for their class sails the course and finishes will be finished on the water in the place they are currently in and returned to the start area for the next race. Failure to achieve the target time for a race shall not be grounds for redress. This changes rules 35, 62.1(a), A4 and A5. 15 SAFETY 15.1 Fundamental Rules: Competitors attention is drawn to rules 1 and 4. 15.2 Personal Buoyancy: Approved personal buoyancy shall be worn by all competitors at all times while afloat. 15.3 Retirement Afloat: Any boat retiring from a race shall, when possible, notify an official vessel before leaving the racing area. 15.4 Coloured ribbons: Competitors shall attach a coloured ribbon to the end of their boom which will be issued at registration and used at all times. (The coloured ribbons are for the coaches to identify their Sailors) 15.5 Signing On: Before each sailing session, skippers shall sign on by signing the Sign On /Sign Off sheets for each race, located under the club house, in the sailing room. 15.6 Signing Off: Signing off is to be done within 30 minutes of the last boat in a fleet finishing the final race of the racing session. 15.7 Signing On & Off: A 5-point penalty for the first race of the session may be awarded without a hearing, for failing to sign on. A 5-point penalty for the last race of the session may be awarded without a hearing, for failing to sign off. No penalty under this instruction will result in the competitor being scored worse than DNF. This changes rule 63.1. 15.8 Rescue Boats: Competitors in difficulty are asked to respect instructions of rescue boat crews. 16 EXONERATION PENALTY SYSTEM 16.1 Provided rules 44.1(a) and (b) would not apply, a boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2, rule 31 or rule 42 while racing, may take an exoneration penalty for that incident. The exoneration penalty increases her score by the percentage of the difference between her score without the penalty and the score for retirement. 16.2 The percentage is 20% if exoneration occurs before a protest hearing involving the incident. 16.3 The exonerated score is rounded up to the next whole number, but capped at the retirement score. 4
16.4 A boat takes an exoneration penalty by informing the race committee in writing and identifying the race number and when and where the incident occurred and any other boat involved. 16.5 Boats are encouraged to have Support Persons / Coaches assist them to understand the rules that apply to an incident, so that a boat that finds out, after the incident, that they broke a rule, can take an exoneration penalty. 16.6 Rule 44 Penalties at the time of an incident - is not changed by this rule and boats may take a one-turn or a two-turn penalty as described in that rule. 17 PROTESTS 17.1 Protest forms will be available at the regatta office. Protests shall be delivered within 60 minutes after the time of the last boat of a fleet finishes in the last race of the day. 17.2 Protest notices will be posted as soon as practicable after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties to a protest or named as witnesses. 17.3 Protests will be heard in approximately the order of receipt as soon as possible. 17.4 Rule 66 is changed by adding the following: On the last day of racing, a party to a hearing may ask for a reopening only if the request is received within one hour of receiving the protest decision. If no race is completed on the last day, requests to re-open hearings shall be lodged no later than 1 hour after the abandonment signal is made. 17.5 Infringements of instructions 15 (Safety), 21 (Support Boats) and 22 (Electronic Communication) will not be grounds for a protest by another boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). 18 SCORING 18.1 The Low Point System of Appendix A will apply, amended as follows: a) Three (3) races are required to be completed to constitute a series. b) A maximum of nine (9) races will be sailed in the series. c) If four (4) races are completed then all races will be counted towards a boat s total series score. d) If five (5) to seven (7) races are completed, a boat s series score will be the total of her scores excluding her worst score. e) When eight (8) or more races have been completed, a boat s series score will be the total of her scores excluding her two (2) worst scores. 19 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT 19.1 Substitution of competitors will not be allowed without prior approval of the race committee. 5
19.2 Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless approved by the race committee. Requests for substitution shall be made to the committee at the first reasonable opportunity. 20 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS All competitors shall be responsible for completing a Safety Self-Check signed (by their parent or guardian if under 18 years of age) as part of registration and ensuring their boat complies with all class safety requirements. The race committee reserves the right to measure any boat or conduct a safety check at any time. 21 SUPPORT BOATS AND PERSONNEL 21.1 Support personnel intending to go on the water at any time during the regatta are required to register with the Race Committee by reporting to the WYC Control Tower and completing an appropriate registration form, and attend the Coach / Official briefings shown in the Event Schedule at instruction 6. 21.2 All Support personnel in charge of a vessel must hold a current power boat operators license, and be must be responsible for the condition and compliance of their vessel. 21.3 Support boats are required to carry an operational VHF radio. Channel 73 will be the initial Channel. WYC Tower will advise if communications are to migrate to 72 or 74. Westernport Yacht Club s call sign is VJ3BI. 21.4 Support boats are required to render assistance if requested to do so by the Race Committee or a competitor. 21.5 Support Boats shall use the utmost caution when on the course. Non Coaching Support boats are not permitted inside the triangle formed by the three rounding marks or between mark 3 and the finish line, from the time of the preparatory signal for the start until all boats have finished or the Race Committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment unless specifically directed by the Race Committee in an emergency or as set out in instruction 21.4 above. Only those boats carrying Regatta Coaches can approach within close proximity of sailors in areas where boats are or may be racing. 21.6 Support boats are to restrict their speed to 5 knots, except in an emergency (and then only outside 5 knot zone ). 22 RADIO COMMUNICATION 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. 6
23 PRIZES Prizes will be given as follows: Women on Water Perpetual Trophy (Open age trophy for a sailor who finishes in top 5; nominated by coach; best demonstrates values: Good Sportsmanship, Enthusiasm, Passion, Determination) Women on Water (Junior/Youth Trophy U18; finishes top 5; nominated by coach; best demonstrates values: Good Sportsmanship, Enthusiasm, Passion, Determination) Pacer 1st, 2nd, 3rd Sabre 1st, 2nd, 3rd Sabre Novice 1st, 2nd, 3rd Impulse 1st, 2nd, 3rd Minnow 1st, 2nd, 3rd Optimist 1st, 2nd, 3rd Open Bic 1st, 2nd, 3rd Hobie 164 1st, 2nd, 3rd Windsurfer 1st, 2nd, 3rd 24 LIABILITY Competitors sail at their own risk. Injuries to competitors and damage to boats can and often does occur. The Organising Authority and all parties involved in the organisation of the Regatta accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage or injury which may occur to any person or property, whether ashore or afloat, as a consequence of participation in the Regatta or otherwise. The Organising Authority and all parties involved in the Regatta disclaim any and all such liability. The Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions in no way limit or reduce the complete and unlimited responsibilities of a competitor for the management and care of themselves and a boat they may be sailing in the Regatta. 25 INSURANCE Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of AUD$5,000,000 (recommended AUD$10,000,000) per incident or the equivalent. 7
Attachment 1 Area where courses will be laid (Approx) Regatta Course Area 8
Attachment 2 Regatta Course Diagrams Course Description 1 Start 1 2 3 Finish 2 Start 1 2 3 1 3 Finish 3 Start 1 2 3 1 3 1 2 3 Finish 4 Start 1 2 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 Finish All mark roundings to port Mark 1 Wind Mark 2 Start Mark 3 Finish 9