EXE SAILING CLUB Tornado, Shelly Road, Exmouth, EX8 1EG Tel: 01395 264607 email: [email protected] website: exe-sailing-club.org Sailing Instructions - Dinghy Racing Document History Reviewed and approved by the Exe Sailing Club (ESC) Sailing Committee. Updated: 27/03/2018 (Version 1.11 – Anne Way) These Sailing Instructions apply to all dinghy races run by Exe Sailing Club unless event specific Sailing Instructions are produced. Document governance The Dinghy Committee reviews and where necessary updates the club Dinghy Sailing Instructions annually to reflect the implementation of the current Racing Rules of Sailing, the RYA Arbitration process and any local variation of these in our club racing. The Dinghy Committee shall then submit the updated Sailing Instructions to the Sailing Committee to be approved before the start of the racing season. For avoidance of any doubt the Race Committee and the Sailing Committee are deemed to be the same body. Please notify the Sailing Committee of any errors or omissions you find in either copy of the Sailing Instructions. This is best done via email to the Chair of the Sailing Committee. Page 1 of 17 RYA Racing Charter Objectives • To provide the framework for everyone to enjoy the sport of sailboat racing in whatever capacity and to whatever level the individual desires. • To ensure that the sport of sailboat racing welcomes all people and treats them equally. • To ensure that those who experience sailboat racing are encouraged to continue. Principles and Practices • The sport welcomes all participants; it relies largely on self-compliance and self-policing. Those that deliberately take unfair advantage of this or behave in an inappropriate manner, either on or off the water, can expect action to be taken against them. • Competitors agree to compete in compliance with the rules and behave in accordance with accepted standards of sailboat racing. When involved in a genuine dispute, all parties to the dispute and those deciding the matter will use the established procedures for achieving resolution. • Foul or abusive language, intimidation, aggressive behaviour or lack of respect for others and their property will not be tolerated. • Organizers, officials and other providers of sailboat racing agree to provide the fairest racing possible. This includes encouraging feed-back and facilitating the resolution of genuine disputes (including protests) in a timely and proper manner. • Support persons agree to encourage their competitors to behave in compliance with the above principles and practices. This Charter applies equally to those who organize, manage, coach, advise, judge, provide services and compete (including those who support competitors) in sailboat racing. Page 2 of 17 1 Rules Racing will be governed by the International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), 2017 - 2020, the prescriptions of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and Class rules, unless any of these are amended by these sailing instructions. 2 Conditions of entry and eligibility 2.1 General The safety of the boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/competitor who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise in the course of the race. Neither the establishment of these Sailing Instructions nor the inspection of the boat under these conditions in any way limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/competitor for his/her crew, his/her boat and its management. Exe Sailing Club (ESC) and the individuals responsible for race organisation (the Sailing Committee) shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury however caused to the owner/competitor, his/her skipper or crew, or his/her boat as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover, every owner/competitor warrants the suitability of his/her boat for the race or races. 2.2 Eligibility Races are open to Members of ESC and guests invited by Members (subject to the current Membership Rules on guests). Guests who wish to race may do so provided that they comply with Section 5 (Entries and Declarations). Guest results will be recorded in individual and series races but will not be eligible for any trophies/prizes awarded for individual club events or race series. Guests under the age of 18 including crews must lodge a signed parent/guardian consent form with the Sailing Committee – available from the web site. 2.3 Distinguishing Numbers Under exceptional circumstances, the Sailing Committee may permit a boat to use sails carrying a distinguishing number other than that under which the boat is registered (as required by RRS Appendix G), in which case both sail numbers must be reported on the entry form and the number to be used when racing when signing on. Failure to display a distinguishing number on the mainsail whilst racing may result in a disqualification without a hearing. Page 3 of 17 2.4 Insurance All boats entering an ESC race, including those of guests, must have a minimum third party insurance of £3,000,000. 2.5 Personal Floatation Devices (Personal Buoyancy) Adequate personal floatation devices for all crew members shall be worn at all times afloat, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. The “Y” flag will not be flown. This changes RRS rule 40. Neither a wet-suit nor a dry-suit, nor certain types of trapeze harness with buoyancy, either individually or combined constitute adequate personal buoyancy. Competitors breaking this Sailing Instruction may be disqualified without a hearing. This changes RRS rule 1.2. It is recommended that all competitors wear appropriate protective clothing (such as a full-length wet-suit or dry-suit) whilst afloat from and including the 1st November until the 26th December. 2.6 Advertising Advertising on boats, sails and clothing is permitted in accordance with the ISAF Advertising Code. 2.7 Image Rights ESC retains the rights to use any images or video taken before, during or after club race events for promotional, training or other club purposes. 2.8 Parental Consent It is a condition of club membership that members who are parents of children under the age of 18 years that participate in club races have consented to their participation in the activities covered by these sailing instructions. Children of non-members who are participating in club racing as guests must provide a completed consent form to the Sailing Committee – this form is available from the web site. 3 Notices to competitors Notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board located within the clubhouse. They may be repeated on the notice board outside the club house and / or on the club website. 4 Changes to sailing instructions Any changes to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the Official Notice Board at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the first race. Page 4 of 17 The attention of competitors will be drawn to the change by a sound signal from the race box accompanied by the flying of Flag L. L Ashore: A notice to competitors has been posted. Afloat: Come within hail or follow this boat. 5 Entries and declarations 5.1 Entries (Signing On) Each competitor shall be solely responsible for entering the race using the supplied system. Currently a paper-based entry/sign on system is used and each nominated crew member shall legibly print their name, class and sail number (and boat number if using a sail with a different number) on the signing on sheet before the relevant preparatory signal. If the nominated crew has a junior (under 18) on board and wishes to count their results in the series they must put a “J” on the signing on sheet. Entries for all competitors in the race must be made before the preparatory (5 minute) signal for the first start in the race sequence unless otherwise specified by the Race Officer on the Official Notice Board. 5.2 Declarations (Signing Off) All entered competitors must complete the sign off sheet on return to the club house after racing. Failure to sign off within an hour of the last boat finishing may result in a disqualification without a hearing. Competitors only need to declare if they have retired in acknowledgement of a rule infringement. Competitors that have not completed the course need not declare their retirement as this will be recorded by the Race Officer. Competitors that have completed the course who wish to retire due to some rule infringement should enter the retirement directly on the signing off sheet. 6 Race Management Signals Signals to competitors will normally be made using nautical code flags from the Race Box / Committee Boat with accompanying sound signals – with the exception of a change to the sailing instructions or a postponement. Page 5 of 17 7 Race Schedule and Formats The schedule of races and the start times of the first fleet are shown in the printed ESC Dinghy Racing Programme and on the club website. The start time reported on the club website shall take precedence, if they are not the same. Any changes to the race schedule will be posted on the Official Notice Board and may also be posted on the club website. Only in exceptional circumstances will changes be made less than a week before the race is scheduled. The racing season for starts on the first Saturday of April and ends on Boxing Day. Any changes to this information will be posted on the Official Notice Board and may also be posted on the club website. 7.1 Minimum Number of Starters The final decision to run any racing must be made by the Race Officer of the day taking into consideration the tide, weather conditions, the experience of the sailors and the types and number of boats wishing to take part.