RBSA Sailing Instructions (revised 2009)

1| RULES

1.1 Round Bay Sailing Association (RBSA) races will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 as adopted by US Sailing (except where modified).

Participants are reminded of the RRS’ Basic Principle of Sportsmanship and the Rules: “Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty or retire.”

2| NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

2.1 Information regarding membership, social events, committees, and other club matters will be announced in the club’s periodic newsletters that are sent to members in good standing, and broadcast on the internet at www.roundbaysailing.com.

3| CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be announced in the club’s periodic newsletters that are sent to members in good standing, and broadcast on the internet at www.roundbaysailing.com.

4| SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

4.1 Since RBSA does not have a yacht club or sailing association property, all signals germane to a specific event will be made by the Race Committee on Linstead Community Pier or onboard a Committee Boat prior to the warning signal.

5| SCHEDULE OF RACES

5.1 The Schedule of Races for each season will be announced in the club’s periodic newsletters that are sent to members in good standing, and broadcast on the internet at www.roundbaysailing.com.

5.2 For a race to take place there must be at least three starters.

5.3 Canceled or abandoned Sunday or Wednesday races will not be made up unless there are less than three races at the scheduled end of a series. Make up races will be announced by email and posted on the club’s website.

6| CLASS FLAGS

6.1 Boats participating in an RBSA race are requested to display a class flag from the backstay a minimum of 4 feet above the transom while racing.

6.2 Wednesday evening races will feature two classes. Class One participants are requested to display Code Flag One. Class Two participants are requested to display Code Flag Two.

6.3 Sunday races will feature one class. Participants are requested to display the club burgee or suitable white flag until they receive their burgee.

7| RACING AREAS

7.1 Unless otherwise specified, club races will take place on the Severn River.

7.2 Boats racing in the vicinity of Linstead pier may not sail into the boat mooring area on the west side of the pier.

8| COURSES

8.1 A board on a Committee Boat (or Linstead Community pier) will display the course prior to the warning signal (five minutes). Letters displayed will correspond to rounding marks listed below, and are shown graphically on a map in the yearbook.

8.2 Marks will be rounded in the posted order reading left to right. A red background indicates a mark will be left to port and a green background indicates the mark will be left to starboard. Mark “D”, when indicated on the course board by a red/green background, may be rounded either way. The number of laps will be indicated by a numeral listed after the finishing mark.

8.4 Members of the elected RBSA Race Committee may confer with the on-water committee regarding course selection and other race management issues.

8.4 The Race Committee may shorten a course at any posted mark prior to the arrival of the lead boat. The course may be shortened by displaying the “S” Flag with One Sound, then hailing “over” to each boat as it crosses the line.

8.5 Postponement will be signaled by display of the “AP” Flag with Two Sounds. When ready, the Race Committee will lower the “AP” Flag with One Sound and restart the starting sequence at the warning signal (five minutes) approximately one minute later.

8.6 Recalls: Display of “X” Flag with One Sound will be used when boats have started prematurely. The Race Committee will attempt to hail early starters. However, it is the sole responsibility of each skipper to return and restart when over early. When the Race Committee is unable to identify premature starters, a display of the “First Substitute” Flag and Two Sounds will be made to recall an entire start. The warning signal for a new start of the recalled class shall be made one minute after the “First Substitute” is removed with One Sound, and the starts for a succeeding class shall follow the new start.

9| MARKS

9.1 All government navigational marks will always be honored in any RBSA event.

9.2 Racing marks will normally be orange and white cans or orange buoys. Marks will be located approximately as follows:

A - South of Linstead community pier

B - West of Eaglenest Point near R 10

C - Northeast of Sherwood Forest community Pier

D - St. Helena Island (may always be rounded either way)

E - Southeast of R 12 near Herald Harbor

N - Southeast of R 10 near Swan Point

S - Inside of Sullivan’s Cove

V - Southeast of G 9 near Long Point

DISTANCE MATRIX

This is the approximate distance in nautical miles between marks on the course (applies as follows: Corrected Time = Elapsed Time - PHRF Handicap x Course Length).

A B C D E N S V

A 0.64 1.94 1.74 0.37 1.20 0.35 0.91

B * 1.37 1.40 0.91 0.57 0.46 0.57

C * 1.46 2.06 0.86 1.83 1.10

D * 1.75 1.37 1.76 0.84

E * 1.42 0.71 0.96

N * 1.02 0.66

S * 0.93

V *

9.2 These distances may be changed during the year but no distances will be changed during a series.

10| CHECKING IN

10.1 Prior to the warning signal boats must check in and be recognized by the Race Committee by stating the boat’s name and sail number.

10.2 Boats must notify their intention to sail non-spinnaker by hail and acknowledgement of the Race Committee when checking in.

11| STARTS

11.1 Wednesday Races will start using the following signals, and the sequence beginning approximately 1815 hours. Times shall be taken from visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded. Class Two begins first.

Signal Flag & Sound Minutes before

starting signal

Warning Class Flag; One Sound 5

Preparatory “P” Flag hoisted; One Sound 4

One-Minute “P” Flag removed; One long Sound 1

Starting Class Flag removed; One Sound 0

The starting signal of Class Two shall be the warning signal for Class One.

11.2 Approximately one minute before the warning signal the Race Committee may make a series of sounds to announce their intention to begin the starting sequence. This is not a timed signal and failure to receive such cannot be grounds for protest or redress.

11.3 Boats not starting must keep clear of those in another fleet attempting to start.

11.4 Sunday Races shall be started using the following signals, beginning approximately 1500 hours. There is a single class racing on Sundays.

Signal Flag & Sound Minutes before

starting signal

Warning Class Flag; One Sound 5

Preparatory “P” Flag hoisted; One Sound 4

One-Minute “P” Flag removed; One long Sound 1

Starting Class Flag removed; One Sound 0

11.5 Unless otherwise specified, the starting line will be between the “R” Flag hoisted by the Race Committee and Mark A. The Race Committee may be stationed on a committee boat or on the Linstead Community pier.

12| CHANGES TO THE COURSE

12.1 With the exception to shortening the course length, no changes will be made to any mark on the course once the race has begun.

13| FINISHES

13.1 Unless otherwise specified, finishes will be at the same line as the start. If a course has been shortened prior to a boat’s arrival at the finish, skippers must take note of the race committee signals prior to the finish and cross the line appropriately. The required side of a mark may change when a shortened course is signaled. See RRS rule 28.

13.2 If there is no Race Committee on station at the finish, the first boat should stand by and record all finish times.

14| PENALTY SYSTEM

14.1 A boat that has taken a penalty under rule 31.2 or 44.1 shall notify the Race Committee upon finishing.

15| TIME LIMIT

15.1 A race in which no boat has finished by 2030 hours on Wednesdays or 1830 hours on Sundays shall be abandoned.

16| PROTESTS AND REQUEST FOR REDRESS

16.1 The format for submitting a Protest can be found in the club yearbook, and must be delivered to the club mailbox (P.O. Box 963, Severna Park, MD 21146) or to the Race Committee Chair.

16.2 The time limit for submitting a Protest or Request for Redress is 48 hours after the conclusion of the race or incident (whichever comes later).

16.3 Protest and Redress hearings will be scheduled at the discretion of the Race Committee and the procedure will be in accordance with US Sailing Rules. Notice will be given to anyone involved.

17| SCORING

17.1 Boats will be scored against each other using PHRF handicaps.

17.2 A boat cannot be scored non-spinnaker if there are no spinnakers flown by any other boat in a race in the fleet.

17.3 Racing will be scored using the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 including the Low Point Scoring System and tie-breaking procedures.

17.4 Each series will be scored on the basis of a boat’s best races. For each six races sailed in a series, boats earn one throw-out. DSQs may be thrown out. If there are less than six races none will be thrown out.

17.5 If a skipper provides the Race Committee personnel for a race in which his boat does not compete, this will count as participation in that race. Points will be awarded equal to the boat’s average score in her races in that series (excluding throw-outs). Only one such award may be made per series.

17.6 If the first boat to finish in each class does not average two knots over the length of a course, that race shall not count in the club’s annual High Point calculation.

17.7 Designated "Fun Races", when held as part of a racing series, will not count toward series or High Point standings. The Annual CRaSH Race will not count towards qualification or standings for Weekend High Point or Grand High Point.

17.8 Any boat not finishing within 30 minutes of the finish of the first boat in her class will be scored TLE (time limit expired). This changes RRS 35.

17.9 The Race Committee, without hearing, will assign boats scored TLE points equal to the number of boats in the fleet finishing within the time limit plus 2 points, except that they will not be scored worse than the number of boats starting that race.

18| COURTESY BROADCASTS

18.1 The Race Committee may make announcements on VHF Channel 69 as a courtesy to competitors. However it is the responsibility of each skipper to follow visual instructions and signals, and failure to receive such shall not be grounds for protest or redress.

19| SAFETY REGULATIONS

19.1 All U.S. Coast Guard required safety equipment (and minimum PHRF of the Chesapeake mandated safety equipment) must be aboard and available. The safety of each boat is the sole responsibility of the boat’s skipper.

19.2 U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation devices must be worn by anyone on deck between the warning signal and the finish signal from November 15th until April 1st.

19.3 The Race Committee may direct competitors to wear flotation devices by displaying Flag “Y”. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

19.4 Boats retiring from a race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.