2009 Race Rules and Program

The Instructions, Rules and Program set out herein are for the Newcastle Yacht Club’s Racing Fleet, for the 2009 season.
They are based upon, and in compliance with, the “Racing Rules of Sailing 2009 - 2012 “(abbreviated: RRS) as adopted by the Canadian Yachting Association.

In an effort to ensure all Club activities are inclusive and to assist in sailing-skills development, every member of the Newcastle Yacht club is welcome and encouraged to participate in any club race; without scoring, regardless of whether or not the member has decided to fully participate in the Race Award Program.

1.0 Rules

1.1

Races will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009 - 2012, except any of those that are altered by the racing prescriptions of the Newcastle Yacht Club and set out in these instructions.

1.2

It is the sole responsibility of the skipper of each yacht to decide whether or not to start, continue in, or retire from any race.

1.3

All boats will be handicapped and racing under the PHRF-LO system.
To ensure maximum fairness, all skippers are encouraged to have their boat officially measured for handicap assignment.

1.4

The Rear-commodore of Sail, in consultation with the Club Commodore, reserves the right to establish multiple race starts dependent upon boat size and/or handicap.
This provision is to address a situation whereby our racing fleet becomes so large or varied that it is not considered fair or safe to start all yachts in the same race.

2.0 Series Racing Area, Course, and Time Limits

2.1

Race area and set marks as set out:

1. N43° 53.2 W78° 34.6
2. N43° 53.0 W78° 35.9
3. N43° 52.3 W78° 35.0

Race Marks as of Aug 23, 2009:

1. N43° 53.198 W78° 34.741
2. N43° 53.004 W78° 35.909
3. N43° 52.341 W78° 34.911

1 → 2 ≈ 260°T
2 → 3 ≈ 140°T
3 → 1 ≈ 020°T
Each leg approximately 1.0 nm

2.2

Specific race course instructions will be given at the Skippers meeting.
It is the desire of the club to introduce a number of race formats including “Windward-Leeward”, “Olympic”, and “Triangle” courses; dependent upon wind, wave, and current conditions.

2.3

Races may be shortened or declared as abandoned in accordance with Section 32.1 of the Racing Rules of Sailing. Whenever possible, the terms of this declaration shall be determined at the time of the Skippers meeting based on predicted sailing conditions and the course chosen.

3.0 Skippers Meeting

3.1

Within one hour of a race start, a skippers meeting will be held in the vicinity of the marina basin.

3.2

Race Cancellations: Races may be cancelled if any or all of the following hold true:

• Fewer than 5 boats commit to participating in the race or less than 3 boats make the start.
• No boat rounds the first mark in less than 1 hour
• No boat completes the race in less than 2.5 hours
• Pre-cautionary or actual weather-related condition prior to, or during the race

Note: Cancelled Races will be considered as a fleet throw-out, and will not be rescheduled.

3.3

Starting Procedures; NYC Racing Fleet will use the 5 minute starting procedure as outlined in the ‘Official Starting Procedure’, RRS, part 3, #26:

• Warning: @ 5 minutes: one (1) sound
• Preparatory: @ 4 minutes: one (1) sound
• One minute: @ 1 minute: one long sound
• Starting: @ 0 minute: one sound.

4.0 2009 Schedule of Races

4.1

The 2009 (regular) race program is divided into a ‘Tuesday Nite’ and a ‘Sunday AM/PM’ racing series.

• These races shall be considered and handicapped as “white sail only”.
• Each series will contain the opportunity for 16 races.
• The ‘Tuesday Nite’ series will take place from May 19th to September 1st. The start will be scheduled for 1900 hrs.
• The ‘Sunday AM/PM’ series will have two starts scheduled for 1030 hrs and 1400 hrs and will take place on the following dates: May 31, June 21, July 26, August 30, September 13, 20, 27, October 4th.

4.2

Apart from the Tuesday and Sunday White Sail races, the following Cup Races (no sail restrictions) have been scheduled:

• Saturday June 20th - The ‘Saltire Cup’ race to Darlington
• Sunday July 12th – The ‘Sea Cup’ ladies only race
• Saturday July 25th - The ‘Newcastle Cup’ race to Oshawa and return
• Saturday August 8th - The ‘Agar Cup’ race to Cobourg
• Saturday Sep. 19th - The ‘Vanguard Cup’ race to Darlington and return

For these individual races, spinnakers and drifters may be used.
The appropriate PHRF-LO handicaps shall be applied to participating boats.

5.0 Scoring

5.1

Finishing times will be scored as follows: (Low Point Scoring System)

• 1st = 1 point
• 2nd = 2 points
• 3rd = 3 points
• and so on.

Any boat participating in the series that does not start (DNS), does not finish (DNF) within 2.5 hours of the start, or is disqualified (DSQ) shall be scored one point more than the total number of boats qualifying for award in the series. Boats not competing (DNC) in a particular race will receive one additional point. These point assignments may need to be adjusted at the end of the series based on the final number of qualifying boats.

5.2

Scoring and Awards. Point scoring for each of the two racing series shall be based on the “low point system” as outlined below. • In order for any boat to be considered eligible for a series award or for the overall club series championship, each boat shall needs to participate in at least 8 races in each series of 16. • Total point scores for each series will be based on the 10 best results. • In the case of a point tie, the series winner shall be determined as the boat that participated in the greater number of races. • The overall club series champion shall be determined as being the boat with the lowest overall “combined” point score for boats that qualified as eligible for award in “both” series. Without limitation to other methods, weekly results of races and the point standing for each participating yacht will be posted on the Club website.

6.0 Safety and Communications

6.1

Mandatory Coast Guard equipment (Small Vessel Regulations) is considered the minimum safety equipment required on all NYC Racing Fleet yachts.

6.2

A VHF radio in good working order is considered mandatory equipment.
The Racing Fleet will monitor and broadcast on VHF channel 09.

6.3

All vessels shall observe and follow correct rules of the road.
Prudent seamanship mandates that collision avoidance is everyone’s responsibility.

6.4

Any yacht retiring from the race shall promptly notify the committee boat of her intentions, if unable to do so via VHF a relay should be sent via another yacht.

7.0 Disclaimer of Liability

7.1

Competitors participate entirely on their own risk (see rule 4, decision to race in the Racing Rules of Sailing.)

7.2

Newcastle Yacht Club will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after racing.