Race Instructions

RACES WILL BE STARTED AS FOLLOWS:

START TIMES – Unless otherwise posted, all races preparatory signal will be at 1025 hours with the start at 1030 hours. The Skippers’ meeting is on the breakwater 30 minutes prior to the start (1000 hours). A GPS synchronized start is used, supported by audible signals (horns) at 5 minutes (preparatory), 4 minutes (warning) and 1 minute prior, and at the start. This changes Rule 26.

THE STARTING LINE – is formed between two spar buoys to the east of the Club breakwater. Rule 11 applies at these spar buoys.

STARTING PENALTIES – for all races the “I” flag rule 30.1 is in effect. Boats over the line within 1 minute of the start must sail around either end of the start line and re-cross the start line.

COURSES – In all races, the Chain Islands including Deadman Island and all of the Sisters shall be left to port on leaving the Harbour, and to starboard on returning to the Harbour. Except where noted in the schedule of races and courses, Welbury Spar buoy is not a limiting mark.

(P) means the previously stated mark(s) shall be left to port.
(S) means the previously stated mark(s) shall be left to starboard.
(P or S) means the previously stated mark(s) may be left to port or starboard.
(RH) means a Reverse Handicap race. Races scheduled to be reverse handicapped will include a posted list of individual starting times.

TIME LIMIT (TL) – will be DISTANCE (NM) x 0.5 HOURS (rounded up to the nearest half hour). A boat crossing within the time limit will extend the limit for a further two hours after which all boats still racing will be scored DNF.

SHORTENED COURSES – A short course may be set, at the discretion of the Race Committee, usually not before the second attempt to run any given race. The short course for all races, unless specifically noted in the schedule, will be set by the Race Committee at the Skipper’ meeting immediately prior to the race. The Race Committee may decide to start a race from a line between the Second Sister light and the Ganges Shoal mark, e.g., if wind conditions in the Harbour make a reasonable start at the Club start line unlikely. Course distances and time limits will be adjusted in each such event.

THE FINISH LINE – will be the transit of the red and black diamond marker on the breakwater and the gable end roof peak of the clubhouse. Boats must also pass between the two spar buoys, which form the starting line. It may be necessary for finishers to take their own times if no official is present. If an official is present, the time will be recorded as the boats pass the transit. A target range for the official (finisher) will be provided to facilitate this.

PENALTIES – the standard penalty for infractions will be a 720 degree turn including two gybes and two tacks. Penalty turns must be completed well clear of all other competitors as soon as possible after the incident. Rules 44.1 / 44.2

PROTESTS – Any protest, including details of the infraction, must be reported to the Fleet Captain or his designate within one hour after the last boat finishes in each race.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND NOTES

SAFETY – A boat’s equipment shall comply with the current Canadian Coast Guard Safe Boating Guide and the lights shall comply with current Collision Regulations. The Racing Committee recommends that racers wear flotation devices at all times, that man-overboard drills are practiced regularly enough to be proficient, and that radios are used to monitor VHF channels 16 and 72.

A RACE – can only take place when three or more boats are present at the start at the scheduled time. In the event that fewer than three boats are present, the race will be rescheduled. Both trophy and points will be awarded for the rescheduled race. If fewer than three boats are present for the rescheduled race, or if the race cannot be completed, then the race will be cancelled, and neither trophy nor points will be awarded for that race for the current racing season.

THE RACING SEASON – is the calendar year beginning immediately after the Season’s End Race. The Total Points Trophy is awarded to the boat that has the highest point total for all races in the 2012 Racing Schedule, subject to the following conditions:

The year is divided into three series: A, B and C as indicated in the Racing Schedule. The two lowest point results from each of a boat’s three series will not be counted towards the Total Points Trophy (note that not participating in a race earns a result of zero points).

Results for each race of each of the three Wednesday Evening Series will be combined to determine the winner for each series. Each series counts as one race towards the Total Points Trophy.

• The Vendee Saltspring has two legs, and these are combined to count as one race towards the Total Points Trophy.
• The Round Penders has two legs, and these are combined to count as one race towards the Total Points Trophy.
• The Snowflake Series, Hot Rum, Round Prevost Challenge and Annual Sailpast No Flying Sails races are not counted in the Total Points Award.

 SKIPPER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

1. RRS Rule 3 states that – By participating in a race conducted under these racing rules each competitor and boat owner agrees:
1. to be governed by the rules,
2. to accept penalties imposed and other action taken under the rules, subject to appeal and review provided in them, as the final determination of any matter arising under the rules; and
3. with respect to any such determination, not to resort to any court of law or tribunal.
2. RRS Rule 4 states that – The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is the Skipper’s alone.
3. The Skipper is responsible for the welfare of the boat and crew. All persons participating in Saltspring Island Sailing Club events do so entirely at their own risk. Skippers participating in Club races are required to carry liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000.
4. All Skippers and crew must be wearing an approved life preserver at the start of every Club race. Violators must re-start wearing the proper equipment or be scored Did Not Start (DNS).
5. Skippers are expected to attend all Skippers’ meetings. At pre-race meetings, race details are agreed upon, and a declaration received if the boat will be racing No Flying Sails (NFS).
6. Skippers to monitor VHF channel 72 during races.
7. Skippers are ultimately responsible for recording their finish times using GPS time, and submitting them to the timekeeper or scoring officer immediately after each race. Failure to do so may cause a Did Not Finish result (DNF).
8. Skippers retiring from any race shall report to the Fleet Captain or his designate for each race.
9. Skippers must report new sails and boat modifications to Club Handicapper.

USE OF ENGINES – Engines shall be turned off before the 5 minute race warning signal. Boats which are late at the start and which use their engines after the 5 minute warning may not cross the start line while still carrying momentum from the engine; they may avoid a penalty for using their engine after the warning signal by completing a 360 degree turn immediately after crossing the start line. Boats which use their engines to avoid collision or grounding, to remove themselves from peril, or in other emergency or safety related instances, may not use their engines for any strategic gain, and upon turning their engines off, must make a 360 degree turn away from the direction of the next mark.

HANDICAP RATING – The purpose of handicapping is to allow dissimilar boats to compete on a ‘level playing field’. The Club Handicapper calculates a locally adapted PHRF-NW ‘Cruising Class’ handicap for all participating race boats based on PHRF-NW base ratings and information supplied by each boat owner. The full criteria for this local rating calculation is available from the SISC Club Handicapper, Roger Kibble, or from the SISC website. These adapted PHRF-NW ‘Cruising Class’ handicaps will be used to score all Club races and for calculating the Total Points Trophy for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place boats each year. All sailboats wishing to participate regularly in local racing should also obtain a valid current PHRF-NW Handicap certificate. PHRF-NW rating application forms may be obtained from the PHRF-NW website and then submitted to Roger Kibble, who is also the official local PHRF-NW handicapper. The fee is $48.00 per year, which will qualify for a 50 per cent refund from SISC.

The Club’s invitational races – Round Saltspring, Vendée Saltspring and Interclub – will be handicapped using standard PHRF handicaps. In addition, for the Kibble Cup which is given to the aggregate point winner of the five major races on the roster (i.e., Walker Rock, Moresby/Portland, Round Saltspring, Montague Harbour and Round Prevost) results will be scored using standard PHRF handicaps. Skippers who elect to be scored under No Flying Sails must declare NFS to the timekeeper/scorer before starting the race. Once on the course, they may not change back to flying sails or they will be scored as DSQ. Skippers may use flying sails except in those races designated as NFS (Hot Rum, Annual Sailpast, Visitor’s Race). Boats using flying sails in a NFS race will be scored DSQ.

TIME ON TIME – method of scoring will be used for all Club Points Races during the 2012 season, except as specified in the Notice of Race, and in the case of reverse handicapping, which is time on distance.

TIME ON DISTANCE SCORING – Corrected Time = Elapsed Time in seconds – (PHRF CC rating x Distance in NM)

TIME ON TIME SCORING – Corrected Time = Elapsed Time in seconds x (650/(520 + PHRF CC rating))

Example: In a 10.0 NM race, RAPIDO (Club Handicap 130), SORTAFAST (220) and REALSLO (294) are competing. The results are:

The race results are different depending on which scoring system is used.

SCORING – for the Total Points Trophy will be done using the system adopted by the Vancouver Area Racing Council (VARC). Disqualified boats (DSQ) will get 0 points. All other boats will be scored as follows:

(100 ⁄ number of boats starting) x (number of boats beaten + 1)

In races where boats from other clubs participate, points will be awarded to Club boats in order of their finish as Club boats. For example:

Should they miss a Club race due to their participation in an invitational event hosted by other clubs, Club boats participating as legitimate representatives of SISC (legitimacy is established by prior approval from the Fleet Captain Racing) will be awarded a redress of the average of their year-to-date aggregate points.

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