2011 Race Rules and Program

The Instructions, Rules and Program set out herein are for the Newcastle Yacht Club’s Racing Fleet, for the 2011 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 Speed Potential (SP) assignment. In the event that a boat wishes to compete in the race program, and does not have a PHRH-LO certificate, the Rear-Commodore of Sail in consultation with the Club Handicapper will assign a SP rating based on published base numbers.

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

Below you will find the race area and marks as set out:

1. N43° 53.258 W78° 34.538 (North/Start)
2. N43° 53.073 W78° 35.883 (West)
3. N43° 52.314 W78° 34.990 (South)
4. N43° 52.483 W78° 33.640 (East)

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

Races may be cancelled if any 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 45 minutes
• No boat completes the race in less than 2 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 2010 Schedule of Races

4.1

The 2011 (regular) race program will consist of both "Tuesday Nite" (14) and "Sunday Afternoon" (6) races.
There will be a total of 20 scheduled races.

• 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 24th to August 30th
  The start will be scheduled for 1900 hrs.
• The ‘Sunday Afternoon’ series will have two starts scheduled for 1300 hrs and will take place on the following dates: June 5, July 2, July 31, August 28, September 11, September 25

4.2

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

• Saturday July 23rd - The ‘Vanguard Cup’ pursuit race to Darlington & return
• Saturday August 6th - The ‘Agar Cup’ race to Cobourg
• Monday September 5th - The ‘Sea Cup’ ladies only race
• Saturday September 10th - The ‘Newcastle Cup’ race to Oshawa & 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 2.0 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 to be considered eligible for a series award, a boat needs to participate in at least 11 of the 21 scheduled Tuesday and Sunday Races.
• • For series award purposes, the fleet will be split between those boats 30 feet LOA and over, and those less than 30 feet. For the overall club championship, fleets will be merged based on handicapped race times.
• • Total point scores for each series will be based on the 11 best results.
• • Points for ‘Cup’ races shall be assigned on the same low point scoring system
• • The overall club series champion shall be determined as being the boat with the lowest overall “combined” point score for placement in the club series (weighted twice) and best 2 of the 3 ‘Cup’ races.
• • In the case of a point tie, the series winner shall be determined as the boat that participated in the greater number of races

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.