SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 44TH NS14 TASMANIAN CHAMPIONSHIP 7th, 8th and 9th March 2015 Midway Point Yacht Club The Organising Authority is the NS14 Association of Tasmania. 1. RULES 1.1 The prescriptions of Yachting Australia will apply. 1.2 The Championship will be governed by the rules as defined by The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2013 – 2016 (RRS). 1.3 The Yachting Australia Special Regulations Part 2 - Off the Beach Classes will apply. 1.4 Under Rule 87 the NS14 Class Rules are amended as follows to allow registered MG14 class boats whose crew satisfies the eligibility criteria in 4.1 in the Notice of Race to participate: The MG14 must meet the NS14 Class Measurement Rules with the following allowances granted under the NS14 Constitution: 11.3.2 A fixed bowsprit stub projecting less than 60mm beyond the normal measurement length is permitted. Any pointed or sharp protuberances must be safely capped accordingly. 11.6.5 The mainsail shall be capable of being lowered from sailing position from within the boat afloat and upright. 11.6.6 If the "MG" class insignia is present on the mainsail, the NS14 Class insignia shall be affixed to the opposite side of the sail (i.e. port side uppermost). The sail number must be unique. 2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS Notices to competitors will be posted in the Midway Point Yacht Club (Club House) on the notice board near the sign in desk (the official notice board) 3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted not less than two (2) hours prior to the first race of that day, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 1700 hours on the day before it will take effect. 4. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE 4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at by flag from the Club House. 4.2 When code flag AP is displayed ashore with a sound signal, this means ‘Racing’ is postponed. The warning signal will be made not less than 30 minutes after flag AP is lowered ashore.’ This changes Race Signals – AP. SI NS14 Tasmanian Championship 2013-14 Page 1 of 5 5. REGISTRATION Entrants must register at the Club House between 0930 hours to 1130 hours on Saturday 7th March 2015. 6. ENTRANTS’ BRIEFINGS Entrants’ briefings will be held each day before racing at race headquarters at the following times: 1200 hours Saturday 7th March 2015 0900 hours Sunday 8th March 2015 0900 hours Monday 9th March 2015 All skippers and crews must attend all briefings. 7. RACE PROGRAMME Race Date Time of warning signal No warning Signal after Race Session 1 Saturday 7th March 2015 1300 hours 1730 hours Race Session 2 Sunday 8th March 2015 1000 hours 1200 hours Race Session 3 Sunday 8th March 2015 1400 hours 1700 hours Race Session 4 Monday 9th March 2015 1000 hours 1330 hours 8. CLASS FLAG The NS14 Class Flag is a white flag with an ‘NS’ insignia. 9. THE COURSES The diagrams in Attachment 1 show the courses, including the approximate angles between legs, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left. 10. THE START 10.1 Races shall be started in accordance RRS 26. 10.2 The starting line will be between the orange pole on the Committee Boat displaying an orange flag and the starting mark. The Committee Boat will be positioned at the starboard end of the start line. When from five (5) to Seven (7) races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. 10.3 A boat starting later than 15 minutes after the starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4 and A5. 10.4 Races will not be started when winds are consistently over 25 knots in the starting area. The Race Committee shall, in its sole discretion, decide whether to proceed with a race. Competitors are reminded that the decision to race or continue to race is up to the entrant. 11. CHANGE OF POSITION OF THE NEXT MARK To change the next leg of the course, the Race Committee may move a mark (or move the finishing line). If a mark is moved then a race committee boat, displaying flag ‘C’ will be positioned near the mark beginning the leg being changed. The race committee boat will also display a red or green flag indicating a move to port or starboard, and make a sound signal periodically the change will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated without further signalling to maintain the course configuration. 12. THE FINISH The finish line will be between the pole on the Committee Boat displaying an orange flag and the Finish Mark, positioned at the port end of the Finish line. SI NS14 Tasmanian Championship 2013-14 Page 2 of 5 13. TIME LIMIT The time limit for the first boat to finish each race shall be 90 minutes. Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes, will be scored Did Not Finish. This changes rules 35 and A4. 14. SHORTENED COURSE When Code Flag S is displayed by the Committee Boat while on station at the designated finish line, the course will be shortened when the leading boat next passes mark 3 on the course as specified. After passing mark 3 all boats shall sail directly to the finish line. Code Flag S may also be displayed by a separate official boat in the vicinity of mark 3 and attention drawn by an intermittent sound signal. 15. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS 15.1 Protest forms are available from Club House. Protests shall be delivered there within the protest time limit. 15.2 The protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day. 15.3 Notices will be posted as soon as possible to inform entrants of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Such notice shall constitute notification for the purposes of RRS 63.2. The venue and times for protest hearings will be specified on the Official Noticeboard. 15.4 Mediation A mediation hearing will be conducted for all protests lodged in accordance with rule 61, which allege an infringement of a rule of Part 2 or Part 4. Such hearings will be held subsequent to the protest being lodged and prior to the protest hearing. A boat acknowledging an infringement during the mediation process may accept a 10% time penalty as settlement of the matter and the protest hearing shall then not proceed. 16. SCORING 16.1 A maximum of up to Eight (8) races are scheduled of which Four (4) races are required to be completed to constitute a series. 16.2 When four (4) or fewer races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. 16.3 When from five (5) to Seven (7) races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. 16.4 When from race eight (8) onwards have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores. 16.5 Handicap scoring will be maintained for the Championship. A handicap will be determined for a boat on the first Four (4) races or a number to be determined by the Race Committee. 17. SAFETY REGULATIONS The attention of all entrants is drawn to Yachting Australia Special Regulations Part 2 which shall apply 18. REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT 18.1 Subject to clause 4 of the NOR, substitution of competitors will not be allowed without prior written approval of the Race Committee. Requests for substitution of competitors shall be made in writing on the prescribed form available from Race Headquarters. SI NS14 Tasmanian Championship 2013-14 Page 3 of 5 18.2 Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless approved by the Race Committee. Requests for substitution shall be made in writing to the Race Committee at the first reasonable opportunity. 19. SUPPORT BOATS Coaches and other support personnel shall stay outside areas where boats are racing, a minimum of 100 metres outside of any lay line, from the time of the preparatory signal until all boats have finished or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment. 20. PRIZES Prizes will be presented at the Annual General Meeting to be held during the year at a date and time to be advised. Prizes to be awarded include: Open Championship - (1st, 2nd & 3rd overall on scratch) Female Champion Skipper - (first female skipper on scratch) Junior Champion Skipper - (first skipper aged under 19 on 8th March 2014 on scratch) Handicap Division – (1st, 2nd, & 3rd overall on handicap) Classic Division (Aero 9 or equivalent and prior) – (1st overall on scratch) 50th Percentile – (midpoint finisher overall on scratch) Please note that Scratch prize winners will not be eligible for Handicap prizes. 21. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. The organising authority and All parties involved in the events organisation accept no liability for any loss, damage, death or Injury which may occur to property or persons, both ashore and afloat, as a consequence of Participation in this event.