Charleston Ocean Racing Association 2018 Skipper s Guide 1 Page
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3 Page SPONSORS OF THE 2018 CORA SUMMER SERIES
Introduction The Charleston Ocean Racing Association (CORA) was formed in 1967. CORA organizes and conducts yacht racing year round in Charleston's historic harbor and offshore waters. The primary goal of CORA is to promote competitive sailing in Charleston, to encourage good fellowship among yachtsmen, afloat and ashore, to assist CORA racing skippers to obtain competent and congenial crew, and to assist non-yacht owning CORA members to obtain desirable berths on CORA racing yachts. Charleston Ocean Racing Association P.O. Box 20271 Charleston, SC 29413 www.charlestonoceanracing.org 2018 CORA Executive Committee Commodore Crisp McDonald (843) 789-0631 crisp@goraceproductions.com Vice Commodore Jeff Doyle (843) 824-4672 jdoyle0814@gmail.com Rear Commodore Andy Guhl (410) 805-1749 aguhl@comcast.net Past Commodore Patrick Chisum (803) 546-1953 pchisum@gmail.com Treasurer Fran Boyd (843) 509-0171 fran.boyd7@gmail.com Secretary Catie Yeager (251)-895-2374 catieyeager@gmail.com Measurer John Lucas (843) 224-3834 Melges245@me.com Historian Dan Machowski (843) 343-7141 DanMachowski@comcast.net 4 Page
2018 CORA Racing Schedule Date Race Planned Start Jan 1 Hangover Race 1300 Jan 6 Frostbite Series 1 1300 Jan 21 Frostbite Series 2 1300 Feb 3 Frostbite Series 3 1300 Feb 10 Frostbite Series 4 1300 Feb 24 Frostbite Series 5 1300 Mar 3 Spring Ocean Race 1000 Mar 17-18 Sheriff s Cup 1000 Mar 24 Spring Harbor 1 1100 Apr 8 Spring Harbor 2 1100 Apr 13-15 CHARLESTON RACE WEEK Fri, May 11 Indigo Cup to Hilton Head 1800 May 16 Summer Series 1815 May 23 Summer Series 1815 May 25-28 Gulfstreamer May 30 Summer Series 1815 June 2 Femme Fatale 1300 Jun 6 Summer Series 1815 Jun 13 Summer Series 1815 Jun 20 Summer Series 1815 Jun 23 Summer Sailstice 1830 Jun 27 Summer Series 1815 Jul 11 Summer Series 1815 Jul 18 Summer Series 1815 Jul 25 Summer Series 1815 Aug 1 Summer Series 1815 Aug 8 Summer Series 1815 Aug 15,22,29* Summer Series 1815 Fri, Aug 17 Savannah Cup 1600 Sept 5,12,19,26* Summer Series 1815 Sep 8 Fall Harbor Race 1100 Sept 22 Leukemia Cup Regatta Oct 6-7 Alice Cup 0900 Oct 27 Witches Brew 1300 Nov 3 Fall Ocean 0900 Nov 10 ChYC Big Boat Regatta Nov 17 Double-Handed Race 1300 Nov 24 Turkey Day Regatta 1300 *Only sailed if needed to complete 6 races in each Series 5 Page
6 Page SPONSORS OF THE 2018 CORA OFFSHORE CHALLENGE SERIES
Race Committee All CORA registered boats are required to volunteer to assist Race Committee for at least one race each year. The link to the sign up is on the CORA website at www.charlestonoceanracing.org/racecommittee Each boat should provide at least two volunteers to serve on Race Committee for their scheduled date/race. Two boats are assigned to each race to ensure a minimum of four volunteers to assist the Principal Race Officer (PRO). Race Committee boat assignments will be posted on the CORA website in the Race Committee tab. Uniform Sailing Instructions NOTE: Substantive changes to the Uniform Sailing Instructions from last year are highlighted in red. 1. RULES 1.1 All CORA races will be governed by the 2017-2020 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), and the prescriptions of USSA; except any rules that are changed by these Uniform Sailing instructions. 1.2 If there is a conflict between these Uniform Sailing Instructions and individual CORA race Sailing Instructions (SI s) that may be posted for CORA events, the SI s for that event will take precedence. 1.3 US Sailing Appendix V1, PENALTY AT TIME OF AN INCIDENT shall be in effect for all CORA races. 2. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY 2.1 Races designated as harbor races are open to monohull sailing boats with a minimum length overall of 22 feet. Races designated as offshore races are open to monohull sailing boats with a minimum length overall of 24 feet. Any other boats must request and obtain in writing and in advance permission from the CORA Executive Committee to race. 2.2 Eligible boats shall be entered only by members of CORA who are in good standing, have paid all Skipper dues and signed/submitted waivers. Ineligible boats will be scored DNS. 2.3 All competing boats must have obtained or requested a PHRF rating from the CORA Measurer before competing. Unrated boats will be scored DNS. 7 Page
2.4 All competing boats must have obtained or requested a distinctive sail number and conform to RRS 77. Boats without a one-design or national number may request a sail number assignment from the CORA Measurer. Boats without proper sail numbers will be given a 20% scoring penalty by the Race Committee. This changes RRS A5. 2.5 For each race, two CORA registered boats will be assigned to assist the PRO with RC duties. If the skipper has a conflict, it is his/her responsibility to find a replacement boat in a timely manner and notify the Rear Commodore and the PRO. 2.5.1 If providing RC support requires a competitor to miss a race in a series, then, upon request to the Rear Commodore, it may be awarded its average score for the series for that race. 2.5.2 If the appointed boat does not fulfill its RC responsibilities, it will be disqualified from the next race that it participates in, even if it is a part of a series or an offshore distance race. This penalty may be waived if the boat makes arrangements to fulfill its RC responsibilities at later date. 3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS All Notices to Competitors will be posted on the CORA website. 4. CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Any changes in Sailing Instructions will be posted on the CORA website by 1900 hours on the day before it will take effect, except for Summer Series races. Any changes in Sailing Instructions for a race designated as a Summer Series race will be posted by 1300 on the day of the race. 5. SCHEDULE OF RACES Races are intended to be conducted according to dates and start times as designated in the 2018 CORA Racing Schedule on the CORA website and in this Skippers Guide. Refer to individual race Sailing Instructions and/or Notices of Race posted on the CORA website for dates and start times. 6. CHECK IN 6.1 A boat intending to race shall check in with the Race Committee using the boat name, sail number and Class via VHF channel 74. In the rare occasion that VHF check in is impossible, a boat may check in verbally with RC. Verbal checkins are NOT available for Offshore races. 8 Page
6.2 A boat shall continue to check in until it has been acknowledged by the Race Committee via VHF radio or verbally. 6.3 Boats failing to check in will be given a scoring penalty equal to 20% of the number of boats entered in that class for that race without a hearing. (This changes RRS A5). 6.4 Once acknowledged by Race Committee, the boat shall switch and standby VHF channel 73 for course announcements, starting order, and other race information. 7. CLASSES 7.1 The fleet will be divided into Classes for the purpose of scoring. Class A: Boats whose PHRF spinnaker rating is 132 or below. PINK Class flag. Class B: Boats whose PHRF spinnaker rating is above 132. GREEN Class flag. Class C: Spinnaker boats whose D/L is 200 or above, or whose upwind SA/D is 17.5 or below, and who do not wish to sail in Class A or B. YELLOW Class flag. Class D: Boats who do not use a spinnaker. LIGHT BLUE Class flag. Class S: Used and defined as needed in Notices of Race. WHITE Class flag. Class N: Used and defined as needed in Notices of Race. PURPLE Class flag. 7.2 Displacement to length (D/L) and sail area to displacement (SA/D) ratios will be those published by US Sailing. 7.3 If the competition of a Class could be enhanced by allowing a nonconforming boat into a particular class, a nonconforming boat may sail in a different Class upon the approval of the Class Captain and the Ratings Committee. The nonconforming boat may be given a ratings adjustment for the purpose of further promoting fairness and competition in the class. 7.5 Racing Committee reserves the right to assign or reassign any boat to any Class for the purpose of enhancing competition. 8. COURTESY BROADCASTS The following paragraph applies to all signals other than Uniform Sailing Instruction16: A designated member of the Race Committee may report visual signals displayed by the Race Committee over VHF channel 73. Information reported by the designated person is provided as a courtesy to competitors and does not in any way alter the competitor s responsibility to observe the Race Committee's visual signals, which govern the conduct of the racing. Errors or omissions on the part of the designated person will not be ground for redress. 9 Page
9. COURSES The Race Committee will designate courses by use of a number board at the starting line based on the Race Courses section of the 2018 CORA Skipper s Guide. For the Offshore Challenge Series refer to the posted Sailing Instructions. For Spring Harbor and Fall Harbor races see Addendum C. 10. MARKS 10.1 The starting and finishing marks will be an anchored orange or yellow ball. 10.2 J mark will be a white marker buoy in the vicinity of (32.46.675N 79.55.075W) 10.3 All other marks are designated in the applicable course selection documents listed in Race Courses section this Skippers Guide, or in race-specific SI s for Offshore races. 11. THE 11.1 Races will be sailed in accordance with RRS 26, with classes starting with a five-minute sequence. Classes will be started in an order determined by the Race Committee. The Race Committee will attempt to notify competitors of the starting order via VHF 73. 11.2 At its discretion, the Race Committee may signal the warning for one or more classes at the starting signal of the previous class(es). If the RC intends to do rolling starts they will announce such on VHF 73. 11.3 At its discretion, the Race Committee may start more than one class at a time, and will announce on VHF 73. 11.4 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Carolina Yacht Club dock, or the James Island Yacht Club dock, or a Race Committee boat and the starting mark. Refer to Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and/or Notice to Competitors for starting line information specific to each race or series. 11.5 In the event of a General Recall, the next Class(es) to start may not be the Class(es) which were recalled. This changes RRS 29.2. Race Committee will attempt to notify competitors of starting sequence via VHF 73. 11.6 Boats failing to start four minutes after their Class flag is removed (RRS 29.1) will be scored DNS. 10 Page
12. ING 12.1 The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Carolina Yacht Club dock, the James Island Yacht Club dock, or the Race Committee boat and the finishing mark. Refer to Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and/or Notice to Competitors for finishing line information specific to each race or series. 12.2 All boats finishing after dark are required to identify themselves via hail to the Race Committee after crossing the finish line. In the event the Race Committee is not on station at the finish, each boat shall record its own finishing time and report to the Rear Commodore at its first opportunity. 13. TIME LIMIT From Class start time, five hours for harbor races and 2.5 hours for Summer Series races. Refer to individual Sailing Instructions for Offshore race time limits. Any boat not finishing within the applicable time limit will be scored DNF. 14. PROTESTS 14.1 A protest by a boat, or by the Race Committee about an incident the Race Committee observed, shall be delivered or copied by fax or emailed to the race PRO or a member of the CORA Executive Committee no later than 1700 the first business day following the race. The Race Committee is not obligated to remain on station after the end of a race to await filing of protests. 14.2 The Rear Commodore (or their designee) will organize a Protest Committee. The protest hearing will be held as soon as possible following the protest filing time limit. The Protest Committee Chairman will notify the parties to the protest as to the time and the place of the hearing. It is the responsibility of these parties to have a representative at the meeting and to arrange for any witnesses to be present. The absence of a representative is not grounds for rescheduling a hearing. 15. SAFETY 15.1 Boats must comply with United States Coast Guard safety requirements. Boats participating in races designated as harbor and ocean day races are required to comply with Category 5 safety requirements as set forth by the Offshore Racing Council (ORC). For Ocean races refer to race-specific Sailing Instructions for additional safety requirements. 15.2 Boats must remain clear of commercial shipping traffic at all times. Boats are encouraged to monitor VHF 16 when near any shipping channels. Boats are 11 Page
further encouraged to contact any commercial ship on VHF 16 that they may come near. 15.3 Any boat receiving five horns from a vessel constrained by draft shall be disqualified without redress. 15.4 Boats retiring from a race are required to notify the RC via VHF 73. 16. SHORTENING COURSE A shortening of the course will be signaled before the leading boat in a Class has begun the new final leg. The race committee will hail on VHF channel 73 notifying the boats of the shortening of course, the last mark of the course, the direction to round the mark, and the Class or Classes affected. The finish will be between the start/finish mark and a staff showing Code Flag S on the dock (for harbor races). This modifies RRS 32 and the Race Signal Code Flag S. Not having a functional VHF radio on board will not be grounds for redress in the event of a shortening of course. 17. SCORING 17.1 Boats will be handicapped using the appropriate PHRF rating corresponding to the spinnaker status in which each boat has opted to sail as outlined under Section 7 of the Uniform Sailing Instructions. 17.2 The method of scoring for each Series or race shall be determined by the CORA Rear Commodore and posted in the Notice of Race on the CORA website and Sailing Instructions prior to the Series or race. Once selected, the same method of scoring shall be used for each individual race in a Series or race date. 17.3 The Frostbite Series races will be scored as a Series. For this Series, the Low Point scoring system, RRS A2 will apply. A minimum of one less than the number of races scheduled shall be completed to constitute a Series. 17.4 The 2018 NORTH SAILS Summer Series (Wednesday night races) will be scored as two separate Series: Summer Series I and Summer Series II. A minimum of three races shall be completed to constitute a Series. For both these Series, the Low Point scoring system, RRS A2 will apply. Series I shall commence on May 16, 2018 and will continue on successive Wednesday nights until six races are completed. Upon completion of Series I, Series II shall commence and will continue on successive Wednesday nights until six races are completed in this series. In any case, no Wednesday night races shall be sailed after September 26, 2018. One throw out will be allowed after the completion of five races. 12 Page
17.5 The 2018 QUANTUM Offshore Challenge Series will be scored as a Series and will consist of seven long distance ocean races. There will be two throw outs allowed. To be eligible for a Series trophy a competitor must complete at least one overnight race, or in the case of Class B boats, at least one Sprint race. Scoring will be pursuant to RRS A9, where boats that came to the starting area but did not start, did not finish, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that come to the starting area. A boat that did not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the Offshore Challenge Series. At the end of the season the boat with the lowest point count in each Class wins the Series. 17.6 Once a boat has registered and sailed a race in a Class for a Series it will not be allowed to switch Classes during that Series. This applies to the Frostbite Series, Summer Series I and II, and the Offshore Challenge Series. 18. AWARDS One trophy will be awarded for every three boats starting each race for each class up to a maximum of three trophies per class. 18.1 The Indigo Cup shall be awarded to the one boat with the lowest corrected time over the longest course distance. 18.2 The Alice Cup shall be awarded to the boat with the lowest two-day score in each Class. If there is a tie, the boat with the lowest combined corrected time shall win the tiebreaker. 18.3 The Savannah Cup shall be awarded to the one boat with the lowest corrected time. 18.4 The Summer Series Trophy shall be awarded to the boat in each Class with the lowest total score in all of the races sailed. No throw-outs will apply in calculating the total in order to promote participation. ADDENDUM A FEMME FATALE and WITCHES BREW RACES For the race designated in the CORA schedule as the Femme Fatale and the Witches Brew, the Uniform Sailing Instructions are changed as follows: All helmspersons must be female. Boats without female helmspersons shall be disqualified. 13 Page
ADDENDUM B DOUBLE HANDED RACE For the race designated in the CORA schedule as the Double Handed Race, the Uniform Sailing Instructions are changed as follows: Each competing boat shall have aboard no more than two persons at any time after the warning signal until finishing. ADDENDUM C SPRING AND FALL HARBOR RACES For these races the start line and finish line will be from a Race Committee Boat located in the general area of Middle Ground. The course will use government buoys and/or inflatable marks. The courses will be announced over VHF73. 14 Page
2018 CORA Race Courses HARBOR COURSES ALPHA COURSE LENGTH TO BE DETERMINED The, MARKS, and will be designated by the Race Committee and communicated over the radio on Channel 73. COURSE 1-5.05 NM R 2 Fl R 2.5s COURSE 2-3.40 NM J COURSE 3 1.35 NM COURSE 4-4.58 NM (Not to be used for A Fleet) G 27 Fl G 2.5s 15 Page
COURSE 5 7.83 NM (Not to be used for A Fleet) G 27 Fl G 2.5s G 27 Fl G 2.5s COURSE 6 11.08 NM (not to be used for A Fleet) G 27 Fl G 2.5s G 27 Fl G 2.5s G 27 Fl G 2.5s COURSE 7 8.67 NM R "2" Fl R 2.5s R "2" Fl R 2.5s COURSE 8 12.29 NM R "2" Fl R 2.5s R "2" Fl R 2.5s R "2" Fl R 2.5s 16 Page
COURSE 9 5.50 NM J J COURSE 10-7.60 NM J J J COURSE 11 5.30 NM G 37 FI G 4s COURSE 12 5.68 NM G 37 FI G 4s Finishing mark and CYC doc 17 Page
COURSE 13 9.31 NM G 37 FI G 4s G 37 FI G 4s COURSE 14 9.69 NM G 37 FI G 4s G 37 FI G 4s COURSE 15 7.41 NM G 37 FI G 4s J COURSE 16-4.47 NM (Not to be used for A Fleet) R 2 Fl R 2.5s COURSE 17-4.81 NM ( A/D CLASS COMPANION TO COURSE 16 ) R 2 Fl R 2.5s 18 Page
COURSE 18 4.25 NM (Not to be used for A Fleet) G 27 Fl G 2.5s COURSE 19 5.31 NM (Not to be used for A Fleet) R 2 Fl R 2.5s G 27 Fl G 2.5s COURSE 20 4.07 NM G 37 FI G 4s COURSE 21 8.09 NM G 37 FI G 4s G 37 Fl G 4s COURSE 22 7.71 NM G 37 FI G 4s G 37 Fl G 4s 19 Page
COURSE 23 7.28 NM G 37 Fl G 4s R 4 FI R 4s G 37 Fl G 4s R 4 FI R 4s COURSE 24 2.26 NM J OFFSHORE COURSES COURSE 25 25.39 NM R "14" Fl R 2.5s BELL RN "2" (RATTLESNAKE) R "14" Fl R 2.5s BELL COURSE 26-39.24 NM G 13 Fl G 2.5s RW C Mo (A) WHIS G 13 Fl G 2.5s COURSE 27 18.88 NM G 13 Fl G 2.5s 20 Page
COURSE 28 41.70 NM R "14" Fl R 2.5s BELL RN "2" (RATTLESNAKE) RW C Mo (A) WHIS COURSE 29 15.60 NM G "15" Fl G 2.5s BELL 21 Page
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