SAILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OFFSHORE YACHTS (2009)
1 Responsibility of Yachts
Attention is drawn to the Fundamental Rule whereby it is the responsibility of each yacht to decide whether to start or to continue to race.
2 (a) Minimum Equipment and Accomodation Standards
All yachts must carry the following equipment when racing in offshore races
(a) Suitable anchor and chain/warp
(b) Liferaft or inflatable dinghy
(c) Spare Compass
(d) Lead line or echo sounder
(e) Log or other equipment to measure distance
(f) safety harness and life jacket for each member of the crew
(g) Fire extinguisher
(h) Flares in date (2 parachute red, 4 hand red, 2 hand white and 2 orange smoke
(i) Bilge pump or buckets
(j) Lifebelt
(k) Navigation lights
(l) Foghorn
(m) Radar reflector
(n) Small Jib
(o) Pulpit and lifelines
(p) First aid kit
(q) VHF Radio
(b) No yacht shall be altered during a series so as to obtain a different rating without the permission of the Offshore Committee.
(c) At the discretion of the Offshore Committee open keel boats may take part in races within the River Wyre. The handicaps for such boats shall be allotted by the Offshore Committee.
3 Handicaps
(a) each yacht shall be allocated a handicap by the Offshore Committee prior to the start of any race or series.
(b) If there is any alteration to the hull ballasting, trim or rig of a yacht, or if any yacht intends too use an oversize sail for that yacht, the owner shall inform the Offshore Committee of the alteration or the intention to use an oversized sail at least one week before the start of the race. A yacht taking part in a race without giving the required notification will be disqualified.
4 Identification
Yachts must carry an identification number allocated by the Offshore Committee, if no sail number is carried.
5 Entries
For races over 30 miles in distance and not finishing at Fleetwood, separate entries for each race shall be delivered to the Offshore Captain at least 2 days before the start of the race. Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Offshore Committee. Yachts that retire from or do not start such races must notify the starter and/or finisher of the retirement as soon as possible.
6 Rules
All races shall be sailed under the rules of the I.S.A.F. And the prescripttions of the RYA in so far as they are not inconsistent with these regulations and where appropriate any special sailing instructions.
7 Sailing during the Hours of Darkness
Between the times of Sunset and Sunrise the rules contained in Part 2 of the ISAF Racing Rules shall cease to govern the race which shall be continued under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. (N.B. This prohibits luffing during the hours of darkness).
8 Narrow Channels
If at any time a yacht obstructs the safe passage of a large power driven vessel in a narrow channel contrary to the International Roles for Preventing Collisions at Sea Rules 9b and d she may be disqualified from any race/series.
9 Use of main engine
If an engine is used to enable a yacht to sail clear of a large power driven vessel, to recover a man overboard, to render assistance or in any other grave emergency, full details must be reported to the Race Officer, and the yacht will not be disqualified if the Offshore Committee consider the circumstances warranted the use of the engine.
10 Alterations
If it is necessary to make alterations to the Sailing Instructions, code flag “L” will be hoisted at the starting line at least fifteen minutes before the actual start of the race. It then the responsibility of those in charge of the yachts to acquaint themselves with the alterations before starting. Any such alterations shall be committed to writing by the Race Officer and be available for inspection at the start line.
11 Signals for Starting Races
System 1 as prescribed by Rule 26 of the ISAF Rules, except that the intervals between the warning preparatory and starting signals shall be three minutes for the Frostbite, Winter Series and any other race held in the river estuary. Any communications regarding start procedure will be broadcast on VHF Channel 8 prior to the start.
12 General Recalls
After a general recall, the warning signal for the new start shall be 5 minutes after the original except for the Frostbite and Winter Series. See Frostbite and Winter Series Sailing Instructions.
13 Scoring System
The scoring system will be in accordance with ISAF Low Point System referred to in Appendix A, except that the first place shall score 3/4 instead of 1 and Rule 15 of these rules shall apply as to the number of races to count in a series.
14 Number of Races to count in a series.
1 or 2 races sailed- all to count
3 to 4 races sailed- all but one to count
5 to 6 races sailed- all but two to count
7 or more sailed - all but three to count
15 Missing Mark
Should a mark be missing the race shall be abandoned unless a replacement mark shall be laid in the approximate position of the missing mark.
16 Protests
(a) Code Flag ‘B’ must be used as protest flag.
(b) Offshore protests will be heard in the Clubhouse on the Tuesday following the race at 8:00p.m. Or such time and day as prescribed by the Offshore Committee.
(c) River Race protests will be held as soon as possible after the Race where possible.
17 Alternative Penalties
(a) Infringements prior to Starting
If a yacht after the preparatory signal (i) uses her engine for propulsion (ii) receives outside assistance (iii) takes on board crew, gear or stores (iv) does not leave her mooring or (v) is not in the vicinity of the starting line, she shall complete a full 360° turn after stopping her engine and (except for the Frostbite and Winter Series) shall have 10 minutes added to her corrected time. The yacht shall keep clear of all other yachts until she has crossed the starting line, and shall notify the Offshore Committee of the infringement.
(b) For all races started at Fleetwood the Scoring Penalty shall apply and not the 720° Turn penalty.
18 Rule 70(2)
The Race Committee may also notify a yacht of an apparent infringement by placing a notice on the Club’s Notice Board before 23:00 hours on the Tuesday following the race.
19 Delivery of Protests, Declarations , Acknowledgements, Notifications.
(a) All protests, declarations, acknowledgements and notifications required to be delivered or given by these sailing Instructions or under any ISAF Rule except those noted in 20(b), shall be delivered to the race Officer, Offshore Captain or appointed member of the Offshore Committee before 8:00p.m. On the Tuesday after the race or posted by first class post to the Offshore Captain before the last post on the Monday after the race.
(b) For the Frostbite Series, Ladies race, Club Regatta, Lifeboat regatta and Winter Series the time limit shall be reduced to 3 hours after the start of the race.
20 Time Limits
Races within the River Wyre and Evening Races — 2 hours (2½ hours)
Morecambe Bay races, Piel Pots —10 Hours (11 Hours)
Morecambe Bay Light races, Selker —(22 hours) (24 hours)
All other races —36 hours (40 Hours)
The figure in brackets after each time limit is the time limit for all yachts to finish the race.
21 Finishing Times
After all offshore races a declaration shall be signed by the skipper of each yacht that such yacht has completed the course and complied with the sailing directions throughout the race, giving the yacht’s finishing time, and where possible the finishing times of yachts finishing within 10 minutes ahead and 15 minutes behind such yacht.
22 Trophies
Trophies shall be awarded for each event as displayed on the Club’s Offshore Notice Board.
23 Prizes
(a) Prizes shall be awarded for each race (not being a series race) and series according to the number of starters in such race and series as follows:
In a series of races the number of starters shall be the number of yachts that start the minimum number of races to count for that series.
1 or 2 starters - 1st only
3 or 4 starters - 1st and 2nd
5 or more - 1st,2nd and 3rd
(b) No tacht shall be awarded more than one prize for one race, but additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Offshore Committee.
(c) At the discretion of the Offshore Committee no class prize shall, be awarded in a race when less than 3 boats in such class start the race.
24 Insurance
It is the boat owners responsibility to carry insurance protection for Third Party Liabilities of at least £2,000,000.
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