DEEP CREEK YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION, INC.

2011 RACING SEASON

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

 

1.   RULES

      a.)  All races will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing  2009 – 2012 (RRS), the current prescriptions of US Sailing, the class rules of each fleet as determined in advance and on file with the Race Committee (except as they are altered by these Sailing Instructions), and by these Sailing Instructions and any duly posted amendments thereto (except where all or part of these instructions are modified by special regatta instructions).  In the event of any conflict, these sailing instructions shall govern.

 

2.   ENTRIES

      a.)  Current Active Members (including members of their immediate families living at home), Youth, and Junior Members of the Deep Creek Yacht Racing Association, Inc. (DCYRA) are eligible.

      b.) A boat registered by  a Current Active Member may be raced and scored regardless of the DCYRA membership status of the skipper or crew in all series races and regattas, except the Sandy Douglass, Women’s and Laser Invitational.

      c.)  Series races are defined as races which are part of either the June Series or the July/August Series.  Regatta races are defined as races which are part of the Becker Cup, Firecracker, Commodores’ Cup Regattas, and the Fred Steiding Trophy Race.  The Sandy Douglass Memorial Regatta, Wednesday Night Races, Magellan Race, Junior Races, Women's and Laser Invitational Regattas are all conducted as DCYRA events, each will have separate instructions and are not included herein.

      d.)  The Flying Scot and Laser (Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 rigs are encouraged to sail with the Laser fleet) are the only classes presently recognized.  A class may become recognized if at least six owners are DCYRA Active Members.  An open class may be recognized if at least six owners of different class boats are DCYRA Active Members.

      e.)  The Flying Scot and Laser fleets shall be split into divisions according to rules determined by each fleet.  Flying Scots and Laser Radials shall display a streamer in the area of the lower batten on the mainsail as follows:

                        Orange/Red:   Flying Scot Gold

                        Black:             Flying Scot Silver; Laser Radial

                        Green:             Flying Scot Masters (Skipper age 60 or older. Ages of skipper and next oldest                                            crew must total 120 yrs. or more); Flying Scot Junior (under age 19 in year 2011)

                        Blue:               Flying Scot Challenger

            Yachts not displaying a streamer will be notified of their failure to do so, and for a subsequent infringement, may be scored "Did Not Start" (DNS).  Appropriate streamers and sail tape will be available at the Skippers’ Meeting and on the Race Committee Boat and/or Patrol Boat.

      f.)  Anyone (DCYRA members and non-members) sailing a boat propelled by sail only is eligible for the Fred Steiding Trophy Race.

 

3.   NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

      a.)  Notices to competitors will be posted on the bulletin boards located at both the Deep Creek Lake Sailing Association (Turkey Neck) and the Deep Creek Yacht Club (Deerhaven).  Notices may also be posted on the DCYRA web site at http://www.dcyra.org.  It shall be the responsibility of each participant to check one of the bulletin boards for posted changes.

 

4.   CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

      a.)  Any changes in the sailing instructions will be posted at least one week prior to the first race in which the changes become effective.

      b.)  Any changes in the schedule of races or starting times will be posted at least one week prior to the first race in which the changes become effective.

 

5.   SCHEDULE OF RACES

      a.)  Races will be held as set forth in the 2011 Racing Schedule.

      b.)  No race shall start after 1600.

      c.) The Race Committee at their discretion may elect to sail an additional race on Sunday if one or more races were not completed on Saturday, no posted notice is required.

      d.)  Starting times will be as follows:

            Series:

               Saturday:      Race 1 @ 1200, and Race 2 @ 1430.

               Sunday:        Race @ 1230 additional make-up race if sailed to follow (back to back).

            Regattas:

                        A day on which two races are scheduled:    Race 1 @ 1200 and Race 2 @ 1430.

                        Last day of regatta:    Race 1 @ 1100.  Any make-up races will follow.

      e.)  Code flag “L” (black and gold checked rectangle) displayed by the Race Committee at the finish indicates that competitors should stay in the area and stand by for an additional race to be sailed back-to-back.

      f.)  During a regatta the Race Committee at their discretion may conduct more than the scheduled number of races per day so long as the total number of races for a regatta is not greater than the total number of races that were originally scheduled, no posted notice is required.

 

6.   THE COURSE

      a.)  Illustration “B” shows the basic courses and roundings.  Letters posted on the course board on the starboard side of the Race Committee Boat will designate the actual course to be sailed.  Courses may be increased from those indicated in Illustration “A” by adding a WL or T to increase the number of roundings.  The courses may be sailed with all starboard mark roundings or all port roundings as indicated by the color of the letters.  Course letters in red indicate port roundings, green indicates starboard roundings. In the event red and green numbers are both displayed, all marks shall be rounded to port.  A number (not to exceed 3) following the letter designation indicates the number of times around for that course. 

            Example: “T2” in red indicates a triangle course as indicated in Illustration “A” sailed two times around leaving all marks to port.  Example: “TWL” in green indicates a triangle then windward leeward course leaving all marks to starboard. 

      b.)  The course will be displayed on the starboard side of the Race Committee Boat prior to the warning signal.  The Race Committee may change the course in accordance with RRS 33.  A boat flying code flag “C” may give compass headings to the new mark or display a green triangle or red rectangle to indicate that the mark is to starboard or port of its original location.  A sound alert will be given at the mark rounding prior to the new leg.

      c.)  The Race Committee may, at their discretion, use different courses for each recognized fleet.  The courses to be sailed by each fleet will be displayed on separate course boards on the starboard side of the Race Committee Boat.  The course board for each fleet will be designated by that fleet's class symbol.   Fleets sailing different courses will use common starting and finishing lines except that the finish lines may be in different locations for shortened courses.

      d.)  Generally, the finish line will be on the opposite side of the Race Committee Boat as the start, and the finish mark will be passed to starboard.

      e.)  A boat sailing between a Turkey Neck Club mooring and the Turkey Neck shore when on a leg of the course shall be disqualified.

      f.)  A boat that has started properly and is sailing the course shall not sail through the starting line at any time after her start. 

      g.)  The Race Committee may, at their discretion, assign finishing positions to a boat or boats that have not finished within 20 minutes of the first boat to finish in their respective fleet or division.

      h.)  For regattas the race committee may elect to set separate start line and finish line.  This will be indicated by the start line being set to leeward of the designated course. 

      i.)  The Fred Steiding Trophy Race course will be an “Old Timers Race” which will be a “zone” course.  The traditional number designations for zones of the lake will be used and the course displayed as specifically described at the Skippers meeting immediately preceding the race.

      j.)   DCYRA will designate a DCYRA Race Course Representative who shall consult with the Race Committee to set and adjust the race course or starting line before all race starts. 

 

7.   MARKS

      a.)  Rounding marks will be yellow tetrahedrons for Flying Scots, orange spheres for Lasers. A black band around the mark indicates its position has been changed.

      b.)  An offset mark may be used at the Flying Scot windward mark.  This offset mark will be set approximately 60 yards from the windward mark.  The offset mark will be a white sphere.  When in place the offset mark shall be rounded next after rounding the windward mark leaving the offset mark to the same side as the windward mark.

      c.) The Starting mark will be an orange cylinder or mast bouy

      d.) The Finish bouy will be a yellow cylinder or mast bouy.

 

8.   THE START

      a.)  Races will be started in accordance with RRS 26. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.  The visual signals for starting a race will be as follows:

Signal

Flag and sound

Minutes before starting signal

Warning

Class flag; 1 sound

5

Preparatory

P, I, Z, Z with I, or black flag; 1 sound

4

One-minute

Preparatory flag removed; 1 long sound

1

Starting

Class flag removed; 1 sound

0

            The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.  Fleets will start in the order listed in 8b, however the Class flag color shall indicate the starting fleet and in the event of a conflict the Class flag shall govern.

      b.)  Class flags are assigned as follows:

                                Laser:   large yellow flag                          

                        Flying Scot Gold:  large red flag

                        Flying Scot Silver:   large black flag

                        Flying Scot Masters, 1st race of day:   large green flag

                        Flying Scot Challenger:   large solid blue flag

                        Flying Scot Junior, 2nd race of day:   large green flag

      c.)  All boats will start together for the Fred Steiding Trophy Race using the yellow flag as the class flag.

      d.)  As a gather signal, code flag “L” (black and gold checked rectangle) will be hoisted together with a horn 30 minutes prior to the first starting signal for each race.

      e.)  Code flag “L” will be lowered with a horn one (1) minute prior to the first warning signal for each race.  As a courtesy to the competitors, the Race Committee may sound a get-ready whistle approximately 10 seconds prior to the first warning signal.

      f.)  The starting line will be between a staff displaying a small orange flag on the Race Committee Boat and the starting mark, which will be either an orange cylinder or an orange pin.

      g.)  Before the first warning signal of each race, each boat shall sail past the stern of the Race Committee Boat on starboard tack and hail her sail number, her fleet, and the names of the crew on board until the Race Committee acknowledges her.  A boat that does not hail will be notified of her failure to do so, and for subsequent infringement, may be scored "Did Not Start" (DNS).

      h.)  Boats that are subject to RRS 30.1 may be notified when they are over the starting line before the starting signal.

      i.)   Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose preparatory signal has been made.  Note – As a courtesy, boats that have not started are asked to keep clear of boats attempting to cross the starting line after their starting signal.

      j.)   A boat shall not start later than 10 minutes after her starting signal.

 

9.   RECALLS

      a.)  Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with RRS 29.1.  The Race Committee will attempt to hail the sail number(s) of the boat(s) concerned and may further attempt to notify each boat after she has wholly returned to the pre-start side of the starting line.

 

10. THE FINISH

      a.)  Unless the course is shortened, the finish line will be between a staff displaying a small orange flag on the Race Committee Boat and the finishing mark.

      b.)  In the event of a shortened course, the finish will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Boat and the nearby rounding mark.  When used as one end of the finish line, a rounding mark need only be passed (not rounded) on the required side.

 

11. THE TIME LIMIT

      a.)  The time limit will be 2 hours for all series races and 2.5 hours for all regatta races or 30 minutes after the finish of the first boat in the respective fleet, whichever is later.  Boats not finishing within the time limit will be scored "Did Not Finish" (DNF).

 

12. PROTESTS

      a.)  A boat intending to protest shall notify the Race Committee immediately upon finishing (if unable to finish, at the first reasonable opportunity), giving her sail number and the sail number(s) of the boat(s) she is protesting.  (Supplements RRS 61)

      b.)  A Flying Scot intending to protest is required to fly a red protest flag in accordance with RRS 61.1a.  (Eliminates RRS 61.1a2 for Flying Scots)

      c.)  Protests will be written on the Standard Protest Forms (available at Turkey Neck and Deerhaven Clubs) and lodged with the Race Committee within one hour after the finish of the last boat in the final race of the day.  Protests will be heard in the order received by the designated Protest Committee.  The Protest Chairperson will determine time and place of the hearing.

 

13. SCORING

      a.)  For regatta races, a boat’s score will be the total of her race scores for that regatta. (see 2b)

      b.)  For regattas, one race shall constitute a series. The total number of boats entered in the regatta for each fleet or division shall be equal to the total number of boats, counting each boat only once, from each fleet or division that came to the starting area with the intent to race at least once during the regatta.

      c.)  For series races, one race shall constitute a series. Each qualifying boat's score will be the sum of her scores for all races, excluding worst scores equal to the number of scores in excess of the number of scores required to qualify.  All other boats (DNF, DSQ, DNS, RET, OCS, etc.) will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that started or were not scored DNC in that race. (see 2b)

      d.)  Ties will be scored per Appendix A8 of the RRS.

      e.)  In order to qualify in either the June Series or the July/August Series, a boat must start or not be scored DNC in a minimum of 60% of all the races completed in that series.  Races which are canceled or abandoned are not counted.

      f.)  Individuals not sailing series races due to active patrol or race committee service will receive a score equal to the average (rounded off to the nearest whole position) of their qualifying races for up to three of the races missed or 30% of the qualifying races, whichever is greater.

      g.)  Individuals not sailing series races due to participation as skipper in a national class-sanctioned regatta (of the normally sailed class of boat) shall receive a score for the races missed equal to the average (rounded off to the nearest whole position) of all races in that series in which he/she started or was not scored DNC.

      h.)  Average scores may account for a maximum of one-third of an individual's qualifying races (rounded off to the nearest whole race).  Average scores shall not be used for a race in which the individual's boat started or was not scored DNC concurrent with his/her service or absence.

      i.)   Series races for a fleet are scored as canceled if less than two boats of the fleet start or are not scored DNC.

      j.)  The Race Committee shall score all boats starting and finishing.  All decisions concerning alleged infractions of the RRS or eligibility shall be decided by the Protest Committee.

      k.)  Fleets or divisions are scored in a regatta if at least three boats of the fleet or division (counting each boat only once) start or are not scored DNC in both of the first two races.

      l.)   The Laser fleet will be scored in two groups.  The first group will include Lasers sailing with the standard rig.  The second group will include Lasers sailing with the Radial or 4.7 rig.

 

14. PRIZES

      a.)  Prizes will be awarded for fleets of recognized classes according to the By-Laws of DCYRA.

 

15. SAFETY

      a.)  Boats are subject to verification by the Race Committee that they have on board all class-required safety equipment. 

      b.)  A boat retiring from the race is required to notify the Race Committee either upon leaving the course, or if that is impossible, immediately upon arriving ashore.

      c.)  It is each competitor's exclusive and individual responsibility to decide whether or not to race or continue racing, to wear a personal flotation device (PFD), and to otherwise provide for his or her own personal safety.  The Race Committee will make no signal requiring PFDs.

      d.)  The Race Committee shall not start a race without at least one patrol boat available, in addition to the Race Committee Boat.  The Race Committee may postpone or cancel if the one or more patrol boat(s) available are not, in their opinion, adequate for the conditions.

      e.)  Electronic communication devices such as cell phones, pagers, and two-way radios may be carried on board while racing, but may not be turned on while racing except for emergencies.

      f.)  A boat may monitor VHF Channel 19 before and during the racing.  Any VHF transmission from a boat racing, unless for a call for assistance, shall result in a disqualification.

 

16. REGATTA RACE CREW SUBSTITUTIONS

      a.)  During a regatta, boats that change the skipper or crew will be subject to protest.  An exception is that children age 10 and under may be added or removed as crew without approval of the PRO.  Anyone over age 10 may not be added, removed, or substituted for a child as crew without approval of the PRO. (see 16b below)

      b.)  During a regatta, a request to substitute crewmembers (over age 10 and of similar weight other than the skipper) must be made to the Regatta PRO at the Skipper's Meeting or not less than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the race in which the substitution will occur.