Queensland Hobie Cat Association State Championships 29 th March 2013 to 31 st March 2013 Sailing Instructions The organising authority is the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in conjunction with the Queensland Hobie Cat Association. 1 Rules 1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. 1.2 The prescriptions and Yachting Australia special regulations Part 2 will apply. 1.3 Rule(s) of the International Hobie Class Association class rules will apply. 2 Notices to competitors and skippers meeting 2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the vicinity of sign on/off tent on main rigging lawn. 3 Changes to sailing instructions Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board before 0900 hours on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 1800 hours on the day before it will take effect. 4 Signals made ashore 4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at the Official Flag Pole located on the main rigging lawn. 4.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, 1 minute is replaced with not less than 60 minutes in race signal AP. 5 Schedule of races Date Friday 29 th March 2013 Saturday 30 th March 2013 Sunday 31 st March 2013 Time of warning signal Not before 11.30am Not before 10.00am Not before 10.00am Last warning signal not after 3.15pm The Race Committee may hold up to 4 races per day with back to back races. - 1 -
The maximum amount of races for the regatta will be 12. A minimum of 1 race is required to constitute a series. To alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, the AP flag will be displayed.. 6 Class flags Class flags will be- Hobie 16- Blue flag with a black Hobie insignia. 7 Race area The race area will be outside Green Island. Please allow plenty of time to reach course. Race Area may be moved inside of Green Island if weather permits. 8 The courses 8.1 The International Hobie Cat Class Courses will be used. See Attachment A 8.2 All marks, except gates are to be left to port. 8.3 When there is a gate, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and round either gate mark. 8.4 The offset mark, if used, is defined as a mark located approximately 50 to 100 metres from the windward mark at right angles. It applies both at the beginning of downwind legs and at reaches. 9 Scoring 9.1 The Low Point System of Appendix A will apply. 9.2 One race(1)is required to be completed to constitute a series. 9.3 When five(5) races have been completed, a boats series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. 9.4 When ten races have been completed a boats series score will be the total of her race scores less the worst two scores. All boat weight, crew weight, and equipment violations will be scored Disqualification Not Excludable. Whenever possible, competitors should be warned of potential equipment violations on the beach before racing when observed by other competitors, the protest committee, or regatta officials. 10 Marks 10.1 Marks A,, C, G, will be orange cones, Mark B will be a yellow inflatable buoy, the Offset mark will be an orange teardrop. 10.2 New marks, as provided in instruction 12.1, will be a Purple inflatable buoy. 10.3 The starting and finishing line port end marks will be an Orange teardrop. 10.4 A Race Committee boat signalling a change of course is a mark as provided in instruction 12.2. - 2 -
11 The Start 11.1 Races will be started by using rule 26 with the warning signal given 5 minutes before the starting signal. 11.2 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag n the Race Committee Signal Vessel at the starboard end and an Orange teardrop at the port end. 11.3 A boat starting later than 4 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4. 11.4 Minimum wind conditions: No race will be started in under 5 knots of wind at all marks of the course as determined by the Race Committee. 12 Change of the position of the next mark 12.1 To change the position of the next mark, the Race Committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. The change will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not yet be in position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated without further signalling to maintain the course configuration. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark. 12.2 Except at a gate, boats shall pass between the Race Committee boat signalling the change of course and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the Race Committee boat to starboard. This changes rule 28.1. 13 The finish 13.1 The finish line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Vessel displaying a blue shape at the starboard end and an Orange Buoy at the port end. 13.2 Finish Line Obstruction: The finish line shall rank as an obstruction when a blue flag or shape is displayed on the Race Committee Signal Boat at the finish line. 14 Penalty system Rules 44.1 are changed so that only one turn, including one tack and one gybe, is required. - 3 -
15 Time limits 15. 1Boats failing to finish within 25 minutes after the first boat of its class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes rules 35 and A4 and A5. 15.2 The race committee may finish a boat on the water and direct them to proceed back to the starting line for a new race. 16 Protests and requests for redress 16.1 Protest forms are available at the RQYS sailing office. Protests shall be delivered there within the protest time limit. 16.2 The protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day. The same protest time limit applies to all protests by the Race Committee and Protest Committee and to requests for redress. 16.3 Notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held at the first reasonable opportunity after the completion of racing. 16.4 Breaches of instructions 11.3, 17, 19, 20 and 23 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the Protest Committee so decides. 17 Safety regulations 17.1 All skippers shall SIGN ON before racing each day and SIGN OFF at the earliest possible time after the completion of racing (but not later than the end of protest time). Sign on board will be available near the main rigging lawn from 0800 on the day of racing. The skipper of a boat that retires or does not intend to continue racing is required to SIGN OFF immediately on return to shore. 17.2 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible. 17.3 Competitors shall comply with with the following harbour bylaws: All sailing vessels shall give way to powered vessels at all times whilst inside the Manly Boat Harbour. Once outside the Manly Boat Harbour, competitors are to as soon as possible stay outside of the main channel, keeping clear of powered vessels. No Spinnakers are to be flown in the Manly Harbour 6-knot area. 17.4 Boat failing to comply with these safety regulations may be protested by the race committee, Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides. 18 Replacement of crew or equipment 18.1 Crew substitution will not be allowed without prior written approval of the Race Committee under the provisions of General Class Rule 17. 18.2 For substitution of sails, General Class Rule 12.3 applies. 18.3 Substitution of other damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless approved by the Race Committee. Requests for substitution shall be made in writing to the committee at the first reasonable opportunity. 19 Equipment and measurement checks A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions. On the water, a boat can be instructed by a Race Committee measurer to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection. - 4 -
20 Rubbish Disposal Boats shall not put rubbish in the water. Rubbish may be placed aboard support and Race Committee boats. 21 Disclaimer of Liability 21.1 It is each competitor s decision to enter the regatta or to start and/or continue any race. Each competitor accepts that their participation in the regatta or race shall be at their exclusive risk in every respect. Attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 4 Decision to Race 21.2 The sponsor, organising authority and their officers, members, servants and agents and all parties involved in the organisation and conduct of the regatta shall not be liable in respect of loss of life, personal injury or loss or damage howsoever caused which may occur whether ashore or afloat during or in conjunction with the regatta. 21.3 The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions do not limit or reduce the complete and unlimited responsibilities of each competitor for the management and care of a boat that he or she has entered in the regatta. 22 Insurance 22.1 All boats competing shall have third party liability insurance cover of not less than $AUD 5 million. 22.2 All owners and/or competitors who sign the Entry Form are deemed to have made a declaration that they hold such cover. 23 Special Notes 23.1 Race Committee boats shall rank as obstructions. 23.2 The Race Committee shall not answer any questions on the water. 23.3 Any boat receiving hands on assistance from a Race Committee boat will be scored Did Not Finish. The Race Committee may decide when a boat or crew needs assistance. 23.4 Sportsmanship: The Race Committee may request redress for competitors who exhibit extraordinary sportsmanship. 24 IHCA safety notes to competitors 24.1 If wind, wave or water conditions make you doubtful of your ability to handle the conditions, retire from the race. 24.2 Before raising the mast and always whilst sailing, check for and avoid low overhead electrical power lines. If you see a power line, avoid it. A mast coming in contact or even near an electrical power line can cause serious injury or death to people on or touching the boat. - 5 -
Attachment A: Potential Courses (per IHCA Standard Course C) No. Course Finish Options for the Race Committee 1 (S) A C A (F) Downwind 1 G 1 O 1 GO 2 (S) A C A C A (F) Downwind 2 G 2 O 2 GO 3 (S) A C A B C (F) Upwind 3 O 4 (S) A C A B C A (F) Downwind 4 O 5 (S) A C (F) Upwind 5 G 5 O 5 GO 6 (S) A C A C (F) Upwind 6 G 6 O 6 GO 7 (S) A C A B C A C (F) Upwind 7 O - 6 -