2008 Sailing Instructions
(1/27/08)
SBC* Classic Boat Rally
*Savannah – Beaufort – Charleston
1. Rules
Races will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions
of U.S. Sailing, and the rules of the classes sailing, except that any of these rules are changed by these sailing instructions.
2. Entry and Registration: See
Notice of Race
3. Safety: See Notice of Race
4. Participants’ Briefings, Notices,
and Signals
4.1
There will be a Participants’ Briefing each morning approximately
30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure from the dock. The briefing will serve the purpose of discussing weather and tidal
conditions, the race courses, and other updates for the day. Any changes to the rules will be announced and discussed at the
Briefings. At least one representative from each participating vessel must attend for the duration of the Briefing. Failure
to attend will not be a basis for redress regarding information disseminated at the Participants’ Meeting.
4.2
Due to the nature of the SBC Rally, there will not be a pre-determined place for notices to participants. The Race
Committee will make their best efforts to communicate changes and updates to all participants at the Briefings and on the
water via flags and VHF radio.
4.3
Signals on the water will be displayed by the Race Committee boat in accordance with the RRS unless modified by these
instructions.
4.4
The principal Race Committee boat will fly a green flag.
5. Area,
Format, and Handicapping of Races
5.1
The races will be on the Intracoastal Waterway except as otherwise noted. All navigational buoys must be obeyed unless otherwise instructed by the Race
Committee. Participants must stay clear of any and all commercial traffic.
5.2
There will be two or three races scheduled for each leg of the event. On Classic Boat Day in Beaufort, a single race
will be held, starting and ending near BYSC and going around a marker near the “swing” bridge in downtown Beaufort.
Two laps are scheduled, although the Race Committee may decide to make the race a single lap if winds are light.
5.3
The “pursuit” format will be used in all races. The boats with the highest PHRF (the slowest) will start
first, and the lowest PHRF (the fastest) will start last. The time differential between the start of the participating boats
will be determined by the Race Committee based on the estimated length of the race.
5.4
For more detail on PHRF handicapping in this event, see Notice of Race.
5.1
The start sequence of first race each day will be at the times shown in the schedule, if near the docks, or as soon
as the boats with the highest PHRF handicap are ready following a timely departure from the dock (as shown in the schedule).
The starts of the subsequent races each day will begin as soon as practical following the completion of the preceding race.
5.7
A race will be considered started if three or more participating boats cross the staring line. The fact that the RC
starts a race shall not be construed by the participants as an indication that
the RC has judged that the conditions are safe for all participants. Each participant is the sole judge of whether it is safe
to be sailing.
5.8
The Race Committee may grant time adjustments for boats that are delayed by bridge openings or by helping another boat
that is in distress.
6. Starts and Finishes
6.1
Starts will be between an orange flag on the RC boat and a red tomato buoy or an alternate
marker selected by the Race Committee.
6.2
If the direction of the race would otherwise be downwind, the RC may elect
to set a first rounding buoy approximately 50 yards to windward, which must be rounded to port after the start, to enable
participants to cross the start the race in a windward direction. After rounding the windward buoy, the starting line is “closed”,
meaning that boats which have started to windward and rounded the windward buoy may not again pass between the RC and the
starting mark.
6.3
A three-minute starting sequence
will be used for the start of the boat(s) having the highest PHRF handicap rating.
At one minute
before the Warning Signal of the first start a heads up signal consisting of four quick blasts of the RC horn may be made.
The Warning
Signal, three minutes before the start, shall be the raising of the start flag and one horn.
The Preparatory
Signal, two minutes before the start, shall be the raising of code flag P (white square on blue) with one horn.
One minute
before the Start, code flag P shall be removed with one long horn.
At the start,
the Starting flag shall be dipped momentarily with one horn.
6.4
Subsequent starts for the remaining participants, based on PHRF ratings
and the length of the course, will be announced over VHF radio by the Race Committee. The time difference of each boat from
the previous starter will be posted on the RC boat as well.
6.5
Once the start sequence has begun it will continue uninterrupted until all participants have started the race. This
is because most starts are with the tide and it is impractical to restart boats that have started several minutes previously.
The Race Committee may, however, abandon after the sequence has begun and re-start at a buoy further in the direction of the
destination.
6.6
Individual recalls shall be signaled in accordance with rule 29.2, and the Race Committee will attempt to hail premature
starters by voice and VHF radio as a courtesy. Failure of the RC to hail, or failure of a participant to hear his hail, the
order that boats are hailed, and failure to identify all premature starters shall not be a cause for protest or redress.
6.7
There will be no General recalls.
6.8
The finish will be between the blue flag on the RC boat (or a designated
support boat) and a red tomato at the port end (or other marker selected by the Race Committee). A race may be ended between
a marker on shore and the Race Committee or alternate support boat.
7. Shortening course, Abandonment,
and Time Limits
7.1
The RC may shorten the course of any race by audible and flag signals and will promptly announce by VHF radio the location
new finish line. The RC will make an estimate of the distance by which the race has been shortened and give proportional time
corrections for each boat that finishes.
7.2
The RC may abandon a race at any time, using audible and flag signals and promptly announcing abandonment by VHF radio.
7.3
While there is no predetermined time limit for a race, there is a time limit for all boats to finish after the first
boat finishes. That time limit is 20 minutes. If a boat’s skipper, after starting,
makes a determination that he is unlikely to finish the race within 20 minutes of the lead boat, he may abandon the race and
be granted one place below the last place of a finisher within the 20 minute limit.
8. Crews
8.1
A participating boat may have as many or as few on board as the skipper deems to be appropriate for the conditions.
8.2
There is no restriction on changing crews between races.
8.3
The skipper may put any crew at the helm who the skipper judges to be capable at the helm.
9. Protests
9.1
Protests will be heard by the Race Committee at the end of each day.
9.2
Decisions of the race Committee are not subject to redress.
10. Schedule of Races and Race Areas
Note: the distances, all
in nautical miles, are approximate and subject to refinement by the race committee. Inaccuracies regarding distances as communicated
in these instructions and/or amended by the RC do not constitute grounds for redress.
Date Day
Time Description
___________________________________
4/17 Thu 9 to 1 Launch and rig at Savannah Yacht Club
1 PM Lunch and Briefing
at Savannah Yacht Club
3 PM Practice race to
Thunderbolt Bridge (2.2nm) and return
7:00 Dinner (to be announced)
Upon arrival check in with the Dockmaster. Launch at Hogan’s Marina
at Turner Creek unless you bring your own lifting bridle or straps. Try to be rigged by 1 PM. Attend the lunch and Participants’
Briefing at the SYC dock house.
The race to Thunderbolt Bridge is 4.4 nautical miles round trip.
4/18 Fri 8 AM Participants’ Meeting, the hoist at SYC
8:30 Depart SYC; first race starts 10 AM at Buoy #32
(Total Distance 23.4 nm)
5 to 6 Arrival at SCYC, Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head
7 Seafood Dinner and awards
at SCYC ($40.00 per person)
The first race (“Savannah”) will begin at Red Buoy #32 just north of Thunderbolt Bridge, approximately 3 nm from SCY and just offshore from Bonaventure
Cemetery. The finish will be at Green Buoy #43, 8.4 nm from the start, at the entrance to Walls Cut. Note: at about
1.5 nm into the race, Causton Bluff
Bridge has a 21 foot vertical clearance at high tide. The bridge will
open when notified by VHF radio (Channel 13) but may wait to open for several boats to go through at the same time. Boats
that are delayed by the bridge may be given redress by the Race Committee. The route goes up the Wilmington River through Elba Island Cut, across
the Savannah River, up Field’s Cut to Wright
River, finishing at Walls Cut.
The second race (“Hilton Head”) will start at Green Buoy #43 and go 11.4 nm to Green
Buoy #28 on the west side of Calibogue Sound. The route is through Walls Cut to New River
to Ramshorn Creek to Cooper River
on the west side of Daufuskee Island,
and into Calibogue Sound. From the finish it is 0.6 nm to Windmill Harbor and South Carolina Yacht Club, on the east side
of Calibogue Sound about 0.3 nm before Red #24 and Green #27. Note: Beafore entering Wind
Mill Harbour, each boat must
call in on VHF channel 14, identifying your boat by name and length overall, to request permission to use the lock. You must
wait for a response from the lock master and proceed only when permission is granted.
4/19 Sat 10 AM Participants’ Meeting, the dock at SCYC
10:30 Depart SCYC; first race starts 11:00 AM
Total Distance 17.4 nm
5 to 6 Arrival at BYSC, Beaufort
Dinner on your own or at BYSC
The first Race (“Port Royal Sound”) will start just outside
of Windmill Harbour and finish 9.7 nm later at Green Buoy #27 at the entrance to the Beaufort River. Note: Do not
take the Skull Creek short cut. Stay on the official ICW route. The crossing of Port Royal Sound (about 4.2 nm) can be challenging
in a stiff wind, particularly if the wind is from the southeast, which is open to the Atlantic, and against the ebbing tide.
On the east side of the Sound stay south of Red buoy # 246.
The second race (“Beaufort River”) will start at Green Buoy #27, conditions permitting. If conditions are too rough, the RC may move the start further into the
River. From Green Buoy #27, the race is 7.9
nm to the finish in front of Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.
4/20 Sun 1:00 Concurs d’Elegance Judging
1:30
Participants’ Meeting (CLASSIC BOAT DAY)
2:15 Start Race at BYSC to Bridge and Return (2 laps)
Total distance sailing is 8.8 miles
6:30 Low
Country Boil (Chicken Option) Dinner at BYSC $28.00 per
person includes liquid refreshments (informal).
This is Classic Boat Day in
Beaufort. The race will be between the club, which is about 2.5 miles south of town, and a racing buoy between the downtown
(“swing”) bridge and downtown marina. Leave the buoy to port. Note: No short-cuts through the marsh; all boats
must take the ICW channel.
4/21 Mon 8 AM Participants’ Meeting, the dock at BYSC
8:30 Depart dock at BYSC, race starts 8:45 AM
Total Distance 28.7 nm
5 to 6 Arrive Edisto Marina, Edisto Island
Dinner at Sunset Grille, Edisto Marina
The first race (“Brickyards”) starts in front of BYSC and
goes up the Beaufort River 9.2 nm to Green
Buoy #206 at the entrance to the Coosaw River. The RC may permit a departure from the ICW near the Brickyards between
Red Buoy 214 and the finish, giving participants the option of taking the eastern loops which could be advantageous in an
adverse wind direction.
The second race (“Coosaw”) starts at Red Buoy #206 and goes 14.1 nm to Red Buoy #164, at the entrance to Fenwick Cut. The route is East on the Coosaw to the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cutoff which
leads to the Ashepoo River.
Sail the Ashepoo River
to the finish at Fenwick Cut.
[Note: The ICW is relatively narrow
for 5.5 miles of the A-C Cutoff. If the prevailing wind is out of the direction of 45 to 75 degrees or the wind is light in
the judgment of the Race Committee, then Coosaw (B) may be substituted, starting at Red Buoy #206 and sailing 8.6 nautical
miles to Red Buoy #186. If this alternative is selected by the RC, participants will be notified by the RC by VHF radio prior
to the start of this race.]
After finishing, proceed to Edisto Marina via Fenwick Cut to the South Edisto River
and turn south. The destination is 5 nm from Fenwick Cut down the S. Edisto River, around Red Buoy #2, into Big Bay Creek
and Edisto Marina.
4/22 Tue 8:00 Participants’ Meeting, the dock at Edisto Marina
8:30 Depart the dock; first race starts 9 AM
Total Distance 26.2 nm
5 to 6 Arrival at Bohicket Marina, Seabrook Island
The first race (“South Edisto”) will start at Red buoy #2 just outside the entrance to Big Boy Creek, and go 10.7 miles (past Fenwick Cut) to Green Buoy #143, at the entrance to Watts Cut.
The second race (“The Dawho”) will start at Green Buoy #143
and go 12.3 nm to Red Buoy #4 in Bohicket
Creek across from Rockville. The route will go through Watts Cut (a narrow channel) to the Dawho River and down the North
Edisto River, rounding up into Bohicket Creek. Do not short cut the red buoy at the entrance to the Creek.
[Note:If the wind is from the
direction 45 to 120 degrees or if the wind is light in the judgment of the Race Committee, the course may be changed to the
following (Course Dowho B): Proceed to start at Green Buoy #121, and end 7.8 nautical miles later at Red Buoy #4 in Bohickett
Creek.
After finishing, proceed to Bohicket Marina. Bohicket Marina is 2.3
nm up Bohicket Creek from the red buoy #4.
4/23 Wed 8:00 Participants’ Meeting, sidewalk above the docks
8:30 Depart from docks; first race starts 9:30
Total Distance 33.6 nm
5 to 6 Arrive at Carolina Yacht Club, 50 E Bay St., Charleston
7:45 Victory Celebration at CYC (Coat and Tie Required)
The first race (“North Edisto”) will start at the red marker at the entrance to Bohicket Creek, about 3.5 miles from Bohicket Marina, and go 10.8 nm, past the Dawho, to Green Buoy #81 on the Wadmalaw River.
The second race (“Church Flats”) starts at Green Buoy #81 and goes 10.8 nm, past Church Flats where the tide
changes, to Green Buoy #25. Note:
If the fleet is behind schedule and winds are light, the Race Committee may abandon this race and suggest the use of motors
to get to the start of the third (and final) race.
The third (and final) race (“The Charleston”) will start
at Green Buoy #25 and go 8.4 nm on
the beautiful Stono River, through Elliot Cut, where the tides can run 6 kts, and Wapoo Creek to the Ashley River and Charleston
Bay, finishing at the Battery, in the bay near Carolina Yacht Club.
Boats may be taken out of the water upon finishing or left tied up until
the following morning. A late arrival will dictate a haul-out the following day.
5/10 Thu
9 to 12 Haul out and depart
11. Scoring and Awards
11.1 Every day of the event will be considered a “Regatta”, and the races of
each day will determine the scores for that day’s Regatta.
11.2 A
“high Pont” system will be used. A “Finisher” is a boat
that, having properly started, finishes within twenty minutes of the first boat to finish. The “Time Limit” for each race is twenty minutes after the first boat finishes. Each “finisher” within the “time limit” is awarded
one point plus one point for every boat beaten. All others that properly started the race will be scored as
having finished one place behind the last boat to finish within the time limit.
Illustration: Suppose 10 boats start properly and 7 finish within
20 minutes of the first boat. The points awarded would be as follows:
Finish Points
1
11
2
10
3
9
4
8
5
7
6
5
7
4
8, 9, and 10 (DNF)
3 each
Therefore, if any participant judges that he will be more than twenty
minutes behind the leader, he is requested to use his motor to catch up with the fleet, reporting by VHF radio that he is
doing so, and the boat will be awarded DNF points by the Race Committee. The Race Committee may also make such a judgment
and may request the participant to catch up and will award DNF points to the subject boat. Any boat that does not properly
start will be awarded zero points for the race. OCS and DSQ will be awarded zero points, the same as not starting.
11.3 Ties
in each Regatta will be broken first in favor of the boat beating the other in races in which both competed, and, if that
does not break the tie, then in favor of the finishes in the last race of the day.
11.4 Regatta
Awards, granted at the end of each day, will recognize the top finisher in each day’s Regatta.
11.5 Event
Awards, granted at the Victory Celebration in Charleston, will recognize the top three finishers for the entire Event based
on cumulative total points. Ties in the Event Awards will be decided based on the respective Regatta finishes in which the
tied boats participated.
11.6 Event
awards will also recognize the following (judged by the Race Committee):
Most helpful participant
Most “Bristol” boat more than one year old*
Most “authentic” classic boat*
Most Positive Spirit (The Bunky Helfrich Award)
*To be awarded at the Beaufort
Classic Boat Day dinner
12. Liability
Sailing on the Intracoastal Waterway is inherently dangerous due to commercial
traffic and swift tidal currents. Additionally, during parts of the day, participants will be distant from a nearby port for
shelter in adverse weather conditions. The registrant of each participating boat is responsible for the proper handling of
his boat and the safety of himself and all on board. Damage to other boats or property, whether the damage is to participants
in the Event or not, is the registrant’s responsibility unless the damage resulted from contact during a race, in which
case the Racing Rules of Sailing apply. Neither the members of the Event Committee, nor the members of the Race Committee,
nor the host clubs in the event, nor its members, assume responsibility for participants’ safety or damages to participating
boats or the health and safety of the occupants of the participating boats.
13. Race Committee
S. W. “Woody” Norwood, Chairman
W. L. “Bill” Tumlin, PRO April 17, 18 and 19
Frank Pontious, PRO April 21, 22, and 23
