RACE INSTRUCTIONS

Please note that the official race instructions (and anything else related to the Racing Program) reside on the racing website, where changes and updates will be regularly posted. Racers are advised to check the race website frequently.

The complete Racing Rules of Sailing can be downloaded from the International Sailing Federation website

RACE SCHEDULE

To access the current race schedule, please click the following link:  2019 Racing Calendar

Weather conditions may not be conducive to completing some of the longer courses on their scheduled dates. In these cases, a shorter race that has a better chance of being completed may be substituted, with the longer race being rescheduled as appropriate.

RACE STARTS

Start Times

Unless otherwise posted, the preparatory signal for all races will be at 1025 hours with the start at 1030 hours. The Skippers’ Meeting will be at 1000 hours (30 minutes prior to the start) on the breakwater.

Rule 26 is modified as follows: A GPS synchronized start is used, which may be supported by audible signals (horns) at 5 minutes (preparatory), 4 minutes (warning) and 1 minute prior, and at the start, only if a non-competitor is available to sound them. If no suitable party is available to sound horns, the Fleet Captain – Racing (or his designate) may waive their use for a given race. In all cases, GPS time governs the start time.

Starting Line

The Starting Line is formed between two buoys to the northeast of the Club breakwater.

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.

If wind conditions in the Harbour make a reasonable start at the Club start line unlikely, the Race Committee may decide to start a race in an alternative location. Course distances and time limits will be adjusted accordingly in each such event.

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.

(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.

Alternative Courses

At the discretion of the Race Committee, the schedule of race courses may be adjusted by substituting Alternative Courses to facilitate the completion of all races. Local racing conditions often suggest that a shorter course (e.g. Round Prevost or MacMillan Trophy) could be substituted — and more likely be completed — for a longer course (e.g. Walker Rock and Moresby-Portland) at the discretion of the Race Committee at the Skippers’ meeting immediately prior to the race. If such is the case, the scheduled dates will simply be switched, where practicable.

Short 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 Skippers’ meeting immediately prior to the race.

RACE FINISHES

Time Limit (TL)

A race’s Time Limit 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.

The Finish Line

The Finish Line will be the transit of the red and black diamond marker on the breakwater and the flag pole at the end of the pier. Boats must also pass between the two buoys which form the starting line.

For most Club races, there will be no official present and it will be the responsibility of skippers to take their own finish times. For the 2016 racing season, a Record Book will be made available at the Visitors’ Kiosk on the breakwater for this purpose.. If weather or other conditions preclude convenient use of the Record Book for a given race, skippers may email their finish time to the Fleet Captain – Racing (racing@saltspringsailing.ca) within one hour of the limit time of the race. Unrecorded or unreported times will be scored DNF.

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 & PROTESTS

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. See ISF Racing Rules of Sailing Rules 44.1 / 44.2

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.

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. Saltspring Island Sailing Club strongly encourages racers to:

• wear appropriate flotation devices at all times;
• practice man-overboard drills regularly enough to be proficient; and
• monitor VHF channels 16 and 72.

SCORING

A Race

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 may 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.

Race Series & Throw Outs

The races for which Points are awarded are divided into three series. Series A (Spring) has 7 races. Series B (Summer) has 17 events, many of which are combined into a single result, for a total of 6 races. Series C (Fall) has 7 points races. Each series has two throw outs.

The Kibble Challenge is a 5-race series which includes Round Saltspring, Round Prevost, Moresby-Portland, Walker Rock, and Montague Harbour. It has one throw out.

PHRF-BC Certification

All sailboats wishing to participate regularly in local racing are encouraged to obtain a valid current PHRF-BC Certificate. PHRF-BC rating application forms may be obtained from the PHRF-BC website and then submitted directly to PHRF-BC. Sailboats which purchase a PHRF-BC certificate will qualify for a 50% refund from SISC.

Divisions

In order to address the diversity of construction and preparation in the fleet, and to encourage new, less experienced entrants, we introduce a “Cruising Class” division in the scoring, which skippers can opt for at the beginning of each series (A, B, C). Standings in that division will be kept in addition to overall standings, and awards given in that division for each series, and for the whole year.

Cruising Class boats will still be eligible to be scored for the podium in individual races, and for the full season awards, if they find themselves sailing above their expectations. The only limitation is that boats cannot win an award in both divisions in one series. A boat can graduate out of the Cruising Class by informing the Fleet Captain – Racing at least one week before the end of a series, and that boat’s standing in the Cruising Class will then be deleted.No Flying Sails

Skippers who elect to be scored under No Flying Sails must declare NFS to the timekeeper/scorer  or Fleet Captain 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 (e.g. Hot Rum, Annual Sailpast, etc.). Boats using flying sails in a NFS race will be scored DSQ.

Time on Time

The Time on Time method of scoring will be used for all Club Points Races during the current season, except as specified in the Notice of Race, and in the case of reverse handicapping, which is scored Time on Distance.

TIME ON DISTANCE SCORING Formula

Corrected Time = Elapsed Time in seconds – (PHRF-BC rating x Distance in NM)

TIME ON TIME SCORING Formula

Corrected Time = Elapsed Time in seconds x (650/(520 + PHRF BC 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.

Total Points Trophy

Scoring for the Total Points Trophy will be done using formula:

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

Disqualified boats (DSQ) will get 0 points, but will be considered to be among the boats beaten. DNF boats will get last place points. 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:

Participation in other events

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.

SKIPPER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing 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. Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing 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. 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).
5. Skippers to monitor VHF channel 72 during races.
6. Skippers retiring from any race shall report to the Fleet Captain or his designate for each race.
7. 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.