MELGES 24 2019 Australian Championships Incorporating the Melges 24 NSW Championships. Photos: Ally Graham 9 th 10 th March 2019 NSW Championships 12 th 15 th March 2019 Australian Championships LAKE MACQUARIE YACHT CLUB Sailing Instructions Page 1 of 6
1.0 RULES The series shall be governed by: 1.1 The rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). 1.2 Boats must comply with the 2017-2021 Yachting Australia Special Regulations equipment requirements for Category 7; 1.3 The current class rules of the Melges 24 class shall apply; 1.4 RRS 44.1 Penalty System is changed so that the Two Turns Penalty is replaced by the One Turn Penalty. Infringements in the Zone as defined in the RRS shall be a Two Turn Penalty. This changes RRS 44.1; 1.5 M24AA Class Rule C.11 Boat handling Rules will be enforced; 1.6 IM24CA Rule C.2.2 Crews shall be weighed only during the registration period prior to racing. A crew found over the maximum weight shall not race. Note: This is a combined series - competitors entering both series will be weighed during the registration period of the first series raced only. 1.7 All competing boats shall carry a functional hand held or cockpit mounted VHF radio for both safety purposes and Race Committee communication. 1.8 Where there is conflict with the Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail except that neither shall change nor alter any Class Rules unless specifically referenced. 1.9 This is a Wet Regatta whereby all yachts competing will be required to berth at LMYC. Berthing will be positioned on the Marina adjacent to the clubhouse. If additional berthing is required outside the regatta period casual berthing rates shall apply. All berthing is to be coordinated by the LMYC Dock master. Dock Master: Mob 0400205600 2.0 NOTICE TO COMPETITORS 2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the noticeboard located at the Sailing Office, located at the entrance to the club; 2.2 Any changes to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the regatta noticeboard not less than ninety minutes prior to the first race of the day; 2.3 Any changes to the schedule of races will be posted by 7.30pm on the day before it will take effect. 2.4 VHF Channel 71 will be used as the Race Communications channel. 2.5 The Race Committee may broadcast race information before, during and after each race. Any such communication shall not be deemed as outside assistance. This alters RRS 41. 2.6 A failure to broadcast or receive race information shall not be cause for 'Request for Redress' this amends RRS 62.1 Page 2 of 6
3.0 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE 3.1 Signals made ashore will be flown from the flag mast on the northern dock near the boat crane; 3.2 Code Flag AP when broken out ashore with two sound signals (one sound signal when lowered) means that the race is postponed. The warning signals will be made not less than 30 minutes after AP is lowered. (Amended Race Signal AP ); 4.0 SCHEDULE OF RACING 4.1 Melges 24 NSW Championships. Friday, 8 th March Registration and Weigh In From 3pm to 5pm Saturday, 9 th March Registration and Weigh In From 9am to 10am 3 Races Windward Leeward First Warning 1155 Sunday, 10 th March 3 Races Windward Leeward First Warning 1155 4.2 Melges 24 Australian Championships Monday, 11 th March Registration and Weigh-in From 3pm to 5pm Tuesday, 12 th March Registration and Weigh-in From 9am to 10am Boats to be in water 1000 3 Races Windward Leeward First Warning 1255 Wednesday, 13 th March 3 Races Windward Leeward First Warning 1255 Thursday, 14 th March 3 Races Windward Leeward First Warning 1255 Friday, 15 th March 2 Races Windward Leeward First Warning 1155 No warning signal after 1500 Note: additional races may be added to the schedule at the discretion of the Principle Race Officer on the day. If this is the case, the first warning for the race on the following day will be as per the schedule however the race number will continue in sequential order up to race 10. 5.0 RACING AREA 5.1 Racing will be conducted in an area bounded by Wangi Point, Fishing Point, Coal Point, Cardiff Point, Belmont Bay and Marks Point. Page 3 of 6
6.0 COURSES 6.1 Courses will be windward /leeward courses 6.2 Mark 1 will be laid to windward of the start line. Mark 1a may be laid to Port of Mark 1 and if laid must be rounded to Port after rounding Mark 1 to Port. If Mark 1a is not laid boats shall round Mark1 to Port. 6.3 Gate marks will be laid approximately 50 meters to windward of the starting line. The gate marks may be laid after the starting signal. 6.4 If only one Gate mark is set, boats shall round the single mark to Port. 6.5 The number of rounding s of the windward mark will be indicated by a numeral board displayed from the transom of the Race Committee Vessel (RCV) at or before the Warning Signal. 6.6 The approximate (magnetic) compass course to the first mark will be displayed from the transom of the RCV at or before the Warning Signal. COURSE SIGNAL NUMBER LA1 LA2 LA3 COURSE CONFIGURATION (All Marks Rounded to Port except Starboard Gate Mark if in force) Start 1 (1a) Finish Start 1 (1a) Gate 1 (1a) Finish Start 1 (1a) Gate 1 (1a) Gate 1 (1a) Finish Page 4 of 6
7.0 Marks 7.1 All rounding marks will be blue drums with orange skirts. Drums are approximately 900mm high x 600mm diameter; 7.2 The start / finish mark will be an orange buoy with code flag O atop; 7.3 The inner distance mark (IDM) will be a spar mark with a red flag atop. 7.4 The Lake Macquarie Yacht Club Race Committee Vessel (RCV) will be an orange coloured 9 metre launch with a Lake Macquarie Yacht Club burgee bordered in red atop. 7.5 Change Mark 1 shall be Blue drum, approximately 900mm in height and 600mm in diameter with a White skirt. To change the next leg of the course to windward, the race committee will lay the Change Mark 1 in the new position. The offset Mark 1a will not be laid. 8.0 THE START 8.1 Races will be started in accordance with RRS 26. 8.2 The class flag will be code flag M 8.3 The start line shall be between the mast bearing an orange flag on the RCV (starboard end) and the start mark (port end). 8.4 An IDM may be moored near the RCV and this mark will be left on the same hand as the RCV when starting. Note: A yacht will not start later than 5 minutes after her start signal. 9.0 THE FINISH 9.1 The finish line will be between the signal mast on the RCV bearing a blue flag and the Start / Finish Mark moored nearby. 10.0 FURTHER INFORMATION 10.1 The time limit for each race shall be 1.5 hours or 10 minutes after the first yacht to finish; whichever event occurs latest (amends RRS 35). 10.2 If a boat is still racing when her time limit expires will be scored points equal to the number of boats finishing within the time limit plus 30% of the number of starters rounded to the nearest whole number, but no more points than the number of starters. Such boats will be scored Time Limit Expires (TLE). This changes RRS 35, A4.2 and A5. 10.3 All competitors shall wear personal floatation devices while racing, except in brief periods. Page 5 of 6
11.0 PROTESTS 11.1 Protests shall be written on forms available at Lake Macquarie Yacht Club and lodged with the race officer at Lake Macquarie Yacht Club. 11.2 Protests shall be lodged within one hour of the last boat finishing in the last race of the day. 11.3 Protests will be notified on the regatta noticeboard and competitors will use this as the means of notification in accordance with RRS 63.2. The time and place of hearing will be notified thereon. 12.0 SCORING 12.1 The event shall be scored in accordance with RRS Appendix a Low Point System. A minimum of 4 races shall be completed to constitute a series. If less than 5 races are completed, all scores shall count. When 5 or more races have been completed, a boat s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. 12.2 Ties shall be resolved in accordance with RRS Appendix A A8. 13.0 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT 13.1 Substitution of competitors will not be allowed without prior written approval of the Race Committee. 13.2 Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless authorized by the Race Committee. Requests for substitution shall be made to the Committee at the first reasonable opportunity. 14.0 DISCLAIMER 14.1 All those taking part in the regatta do so entirely at their own risk and responsibility. Specific attention is drawn to RRS 4 which states; "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone". 14.2 It is the competitor s decision to enter the Event or to start and continue in any race. Competitors shall accept that their participation in the Event is at their exclusive risk in every respect. By way of entry in the Event competitors shall indemnify the Organizing Authority, and the Host Club, their Officers, Members, Staff and Agents in respect to all claims and demands of whatever nature which may be made upon them in connection with or howsoever arising from their participation or intended participation in the Event. 14.3 The Organising Authority, and its Officers, Members, Staff and Agents accept no responsibility in respect of loss of life, personal injury or loss or damage to property which may be sustained by reason of their participation or intended participation in the Event or howsoever arising in connection with the Event. Page 6 of 6