2015 - 2016 NS14 NSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 25-26-27-28 March 2016 Georges River 16ft Sailing Club SAILING INSTRUCTIONS ORGANISING AUTHORITY GEORGES RIVER 16FT SAILING CLUB 2015 – 2016 NS14 NSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 25 to 28 March 2016 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Organising Authority: Georges River 16ft Sailing club 1 Rules 1.1 The series will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 1.2 The prescriptions of Yachting Australia will apply. 1.3 The Yachting Australia Special Regulations Part 2 – Off the Beach Classes will apply. 1.4 Rule 87 the NS14 Class rules is amended as follows to allow registered MG14 class boats whose crew satisfies the eligibility criteria in Notice of Race Clause 4.1 to participate. The MG14 must meet the NS14 Class Measurement Rules with the following allowances granted under the NS14 Constitution. a. Class Rule 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. b. Class Rule 11.6.5. The mainsail shall be capable of being lowered from sailing position from within the boat afloat and upright. c. Class Rule 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 2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the on the official notice board located in the Regatta Room at the eastern end of the Clubhouse adjacent to the undercover car park. 3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted not less than two hours prior to any race it will affect, except that any change to the schedule of races shall be posted by 2000 hours on the day before it will take effect. 4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE 4.1 Signals made ashore shall be made on the flag mast located at the western end of the clubhouse adjacent to the rigging area and ramp to the beach. 4.2 When Flag AP is displayed ashore “1 minute” is replaced with “not less than 45 minutes” in the race signal AP. 5 REGATTA SCHEDULE 5.1 Date Event Time Registration 0900 to 1130 Competitor Friday 25 March 1200 briefing Racing session 1 1st Waring signal not before 1400 Saturday 26 March Racing session 2 1st Warning signal not before 1300 2015-16 NS14 NSW State Championship Sailing Instructions Page 1 Sunday 27 March Racing session 3 1st Warning signal not before 1300 Monday 28 March Racing session 4 1st warning signal not before 1100 A maximum of two races may be sailed in a session on Friday and Monday. A maximum of three races may be sailed in a session on Saturday and Sunday. 5.2 The maximum number of races scheduled is 8. 5.3 When races will be held back to back, the warning signal for subsequent races will be made as soon as practicable after the finish of the previous race, but not less than 5 minutes after the last boat has finished. To alert boats that a race sequence will soon begin, the orange stating line flag will be displayed with one sound at least 5 minutes before the warning signal is made 5.4 No warning signal will be made after 1300hrs on the last day of racing. 6 CLASS FLAG The Class flag will be a white flag with a black NS emblem. 7 RACING AREA Racing will be conducted on the waters of Botany Bay and Georges River east of Capt. Cook Bridge 8 COURSES 8.1 Attachment 1 shows the approximate course layouts, the order in which the marks are to be passed and the side on which the marks are to be left. 9 MARKS 9.1 Marks 1, 2 and 3 will be pink inflatable cylindrical buoys. 9.2 The Start and Finish Marks will be green inflatable cylindrical buoys with an orange band 9.3 A new mark, as provided in Instruction 11.1, will be a pink inflatable cylindrical buoy with a black band. 10 THE START 10.1 The start line will be between the staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Vessel at the starboard end of the line and the port end stating mark. 10.2 A boat starting later than five minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4 and A5. 10.3 If flag U has been displayed as the preparatory signal, no part of a boats hull, crew, or equipment shall be in the triangle formed by the ends of the starting line and the first mark during the last minute before her starting signal. If a boat breaks this rule and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a hearing but not if the race is restarted or resailed or postponed or abandoned before the starting signal. This changes RRS26. 10.4 Use of engines by a race committee boat to hold position shall not be an improper action of the Race Committee. Any effects will not be grounds for granting redress. This alters rules 60.1(b) and 62. 11 CHANGE THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE 11.1 To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark. 11.2 Boats shall pass between the race committee boat signalling the change of the next leg 2015-16 NS14 NSW State Championship Sailing Instructions Page 2 and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the race committee boat to starboard. This changes rule RRS28.1. 12 THE FINISH 12.1 The finish line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Vessel at the starboard end and the course side of the Finish Mark at the port end. 12.2 Crossing through the Finish Line whilst racing is not proscribed. 12.3 Use of engines by a race committee boat to hold position shall not be an improper action of the Race Committee. Any effects will not be grounds for granting redress. This alters Rules 60.1(b) and 62. 13 TIME LIMITS 13.1 The time limit for the first boat to finish will be 90 minutes. 13.2 Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored two points more than the number of finishers in that race. This point allocation will be made irrespective of the boat crossing the finish line, but will not apply to boats which have retired. This changes Rules 35, A4 and A5. 13.3 The target time will be 45 minutes. Failure to meet the target time shall not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS62.1(a) 14 ARBITRATION 14.1 An arbitration hearing may be conducted for all protests lodged in accordance with RRS 61, which allege an infringement of a rule of Part 2 or Part 4 or Rule 31. Such hearings will be held subsequent to the protest being lodged and prior to the protest hearing. 14.2 The arbitrator will decide the time and place of the arbitration hearing and such advice may be given verbally. One representative of each boat shall attend the arbitration hearing. The arbitrator shall decide the manner in which testimony is given. 14.3 After taking testimony at the arbitration hearing the arbitrator shall make one of the following conclusions: a. The protest does not comply with Rule 61 and the protestor may withdraw the protest. b. The matter shall proceed to a protest hearing. This may be because the rules other than Part 2 or Part 4 or Rule 31 are involved or may be involved, or because the evidence is too complex or divergent to reach a reasonable and timely conclusion, or due to the apparent severity of the alleged infringement, or for any other reason as decided by the arbitrator. c. No rule was broken and the protestor may withdraw the protest. d. A rule was broken by one or more of the boats involved, the infringing boat(s) may accept scoring points equal to a finishing place mid-way between the boat's actual finish and a disqualification, and if so accepted the protestor shall withdraw the protest. Half points shall be disregarded and the points of other boats shall not be adjusted. If not accepted the protest shall proceed to a hearing of the Jury. This changes RRS 63.1. 14.4 An arbitration hearing shall not be re-opened. No conclusion of an arbitrator shall be subject to appeal or be grounds for redress. 14.5 Should the protest proceed to a protest hearing then the arbitrator may be a member of the Protest Committee. Any evidence given by an arbitrator during a protest hearing shall be given only in the presence of the parties to the hearing. 15 PROTESTS 15.1 Rule 60.2 is amended in that the Race Officer or their nominated representative shall represent the Race Committee. 15.2 Protest forms are available at the race office. Protests are to be delivered there within the protest time limit. 15.3 The protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day.