1. Rules

1.1    Events will be governed by the Rules as defined in The Racing Rules of sailing 2017-2020 and these Instructions. These instructions change RRS rules 26, 29, 32, 41, 63.1, A2, A5 and Race Signal AP, and incorporate the Exoneration Penalty and the Advisory hearing and Arbitration of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedures.

1.2    Instructions specific to particular competitions are contained in the relevant appendix:

                  Appendix A - Club Long Series Racing.

Appendix B - Bank Holiday series and Club Regatta.

Appendix C - Pursuit racing.

2. Notice of Competitors

2.1      Notices to competitors will be posted on the secretary’s notice board in the clubhouse foyer and/or at the race control hut.

3. Changes to Sailing Instructions

3.1      Any changes to these Instructions will be posted on the club website at least a week before the race affected. Attention to changes will be brought to the attention of all club members via email and will be posted on the secretary’s notice board in the clubhouse foyer and/or at the race control hut at least one hour before the affected race

4. Signals Made Ashore

4.1      Signals made ashore will be hoisted on the signal mast at the race control hut.

4.2      If ‘AP’ is displayed ashore to postpone a race for which boats have not launched, it will be removed (with sound signal) at least 10 minutes before the subsequent warning signal. This changes Race Signal AP in RRS.

5. Schedule of races

The numbers of races in a series are approximations; they may be slightly less owing to open meetings which are yet to be finalised.If less than the qualifying numbers of races are sailed, then the number of races to qualify will be the total number of races sailed in that series.

6. Classes and Class Flags

6.1    Current club classes and class flags are:

                  Fast handicap             Numeral ‘4’

                  Slow handicap             Flag Y

                  General handicap        Flag G

                  Solo                          Numeral ‘1’

6.2    Changes to classes may be made by the Management Committee and announced on the secretary's notice board.

6.3    Fast Handicap class will be made up of all boats with or below the Portsmouth Rating of a Finn dinghy

6.4    Slow Handicap class will be made up of all boats above the Portsmouth Rating of a Finn dinghy

7. Racing Area, Course Plan, and Marks

                  The course plan and marks will be displayed on the course board at the race control hut.

8. The Start

8.1    The starting sequence will be listed on the course-board at the race control hut before each race. More than one class may be grouped for starting at the discretion of the OOD and depending on numbers of participants.

8.2    The following starting sequence will be used, changing RRS 26:

              Classes will start at two minute intervals, with times taken from the visual signals. A sound system failure will be disregarded, other than the warning signal. Signals will be as follows, illustrated for 3 starts:

- 4 min	1st warning signal	1st Fleet flag				1 sound signal
- 2 min	2nd warning signal	Preparatory flag		2nd Fleet flag		1 sound signal
0 min	1st Fleet Start	1st Fleet flag		3rd Fleet flag		1 sound signal
+ 2 min	2nd Fleet start	2nd Fleet flag				1 sound signal
+ 4 min	3rd Fleet start	3rd Fleet flag		Preparatory flag		1 sound signal

        The preparatory signal for each class will correspond to the warning signal for the succeeding class. Flag P will be left hoisted until the last class starts

8.3    The start line for a shore start will be shown by a transit from two masts on the shore, and an outer distance mark which may not be exactly in line with the transit. An inner distance mark may be laid, and in this case boats approaching the line to start shall pass between this mark and the outer distance mark.

9. Recalls

9.1          Individual recalls will be signalled with one sound signal and the class flag held at the dip (part way down), until all boats have started correctly or for a maximum of 4 minutes. This changes RRS 29.1.

9.2          A general recall will be signalled by the displaying of the First Substitute flag (two sound signals) as soon as possible after the class start. The First Substitute flag will be removed (one sound signal) one minute after the class start. The warning signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed. Subsequent classes will still start at their scheduled time. This changes RRS 29.2. An explanatory document with diagrams is available HERE for more details).

10. The Finish

10.1         Shore-based - The finishing line will be between the signal mast and a finishing mark.        

10.2        Each boat will sail the defined number of laps or until flag 'S' is displayed, with class flag(s) if only selected class(es) are to finish. The leading boat of each class will then finish when next crossing the finishing line and other boats will finish thereafter. Any boat more than one lap behind a class leader may be finished on next crossing the finishing line, and given the position held at that time. This changes RRS 32 and A2.

10.3        It is not a requirement that all boats in the handicap fleets complete the same number of laps.

10.4        The time limit will be two hours unless otherwise announced on a notice at the race control hut.

10.5        In the event of abandonment, places may be awarded from positions at the end of the last completed lap.

11. Protests

11.1        Protests shall be written on forms available at the clubhouse and lodged with the OOD within 30 minutes of finishing the last race of the day.

11.2        The Advisory hearing and Arbitration of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedures will be available.

12. Scoring

12.1        Scoring will follow the low point system of RRS Appendix A.

12.2        Average lap times will determine the results for handicap racing, calculated using the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick scheme. (Club Portsmouth Numbers are calculated using the RYA PYOnline system. Click HERE for more details).

              The Club Portsmouth Number list can be found by clicking HERE

12.3        Series points can only be aggregated for the same class of boat.

12.4        Series discards will be introduced using a profile throughout the series duration.

12.5        Sailing Correct Course – when the Race Committee observes a boat failing to sail the correct course, the boat so observed will be disqualified without a hearing. This changes RRS63.1 and A5.

13. Retirements

              Any competitor retiring shall inform the OOD/Patrol-boats at the earliest opportunity. Failure to do so may result in with-holding of any race result.

14. Outside Assistance

              Competitors who have received assistance from a patrol boat may continue to race provided that it is safe for them to do so. Each incident will be noted by the Patrol boat and no penalty applied unless a significant advantage in result has been gained, in which case a time or place penalty may be applied. This changes RRS 41.

15. Responsibilities

              Competitors are entirely responsible for their own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing reduces this responsibility. It is for competitors to decide whether their boat is fit to sail in the conditions in which it will find itself. By launching competitors confirm the boat is fit for those conditions and that they are competent to sail and compete in them. Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the owners and/or competitors, nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the event. The provision of Powerboats does not relieve owners and   competitors of their responsibilities.  

Appendix A - Club Long Series

A1     Conditions of Entry

A1.1        All helms shall sign on for each series on each day before racing. Failure to do so may be penalised by with-holding any race result.

A1.2        The club website will indicate which series are open to non-members. In these cases non-members must complete an entry form and pay the required fee before racing.

A2     Classes

A2.1        Classes having separate class racing will be listed in the club website and other classes will race in a handicap fleet, unless changed by announcement from the Committee on the secretary’s notice board.

A3     Scoring

A3.1       The club website will list for each series the number of race results required for a series result. This number may be changed by announcement from the Committee on the secretary's notice board if races are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. This changes RRS A2.

Appendix B - Bank Holiday Series and Club Regatta

                Bank Holiday, Regatta and all other Open Events shall have their own set of Sailing Instructions

Appendix C - Pursuit Racing

C1           Conditions of entry

C1.1        All club members shall sign on for the event before racing. Failure to do so may be penalised by with-holding any race result.

C1.2        Non-members must complete an entry form and pay the required fee before racing.

C2           Classes

              All classes may participate.

C3.          The Start

C3.1        Starting times for each participating class will be calculated from the current club yardsticks and a list posted at the race control hut, rounded to suitable intervals.

C3.2        The first listed start will be shown by a 4 minute warning signal, 2 minute preparatory signal and then start signal using flags and sound as para.8. Subsequent starts will be indicated by sound signal.

C4         The finish

              At the nominated finish time, a sound signal will be made and boat positions at that time recorded by the Rescue craft from a support boat. Detailed arrangements will be announced at the briefing.