2010 Sailing Instructions

 (2/28/2010)

Classic Boat Rally

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.  The Notice of Race will also detail equipment required for entering this event.

3. Safety:

 Study the Notice of Race for numerous safety requirements.   Note: Engines may be used to avoid danger, and assistance to other participants must be given in obvious need or on request. Time adjustments may be made by the RC.  

In addition, it should be understood that participation as a sailor in this event is inherently dangerous. The racing area is on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) which is open to commercial traffic which has rights of way. Additionally, the courses of the races are, at times, distant from shelter in the event of the development of adverse weather conditions. Further, the ICW is subject to shifts in the bottom contours (shoaling) which may not be accurately shown on charts or electronic navigation aids. In addition, tides are typically 7 to 9 feet vertically in this area, and tidal currents typically run 1 to 4 knots, causing hazards entering and leaving harbors and sailing under bridges, and often causing significant differences, under sail, between the directions of bearing and heading.

In light of the foregoing, the following will apply to all participants, to be relaxed only on Beaufort Classic Boat Day when the racing will be round the buoys near BYSC:

The tide takes approximately 6 hours each way to go from low to high and high to low. Going aground can be particularly problematic on an ebbing tide, so getting off a shoal, if grounded, must be done quickly to avoid having to wait for the next rising tide. Each skipper is responsible for making sure he and his crew are prepared, in the event of a solid, immovable grounding, to spend some time on a shoal, unassisted, until the boat is refloated by the next rising tide.   Consequently, the following should be noted:

1) Every participating vessel is responsible for being able to dislodge from a shoal; (2) if a vessel becomes lodged on a shoal, neither the RC nor the "buddy" will be obligated to render assistance for longer than 15 minutes; and (3) effective in 2010, every boat must be equipped with navigation lights (fixed or portable) and a waterproof flashlight with sufficient battery power for 8 hours of burning time.

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 Classic Boat 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. Based on PHRF handicaps and the judgment of the Race Committee, the fleet will be divided into Classes, with Class 1 being the slowest and Class 6 being the fastest. The boats in Class 1 will start first, and the boats in higher classes will start in sequence based on the anticipated length of the race. 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            The Race Committee will be empowered to make the following adjustments:

5.4(a) At the beginning of each day the RC may make changes in the Class ratings of individual boats based on such factors as wind direction (recognizing that those with spinnakers will have a speed advantage over those without when the predominant wind is expected to make a significant portion of the courses a reach or run; wind velocity (recognizing that heavy-displacement boats are materially disadvantaged in light wind conditions; and any other factor that the Race Committee, in its sole discretion, deems to be a material factor in ensuring that the competition will be fair  and balanced with the objective of having all boats having an equal opportunity to finish first.

5.4(b) Prior to any race, the RC may extend the anticipated distance of the race if the predominant wind direction is anticipated to cause the fleet to be tacking to windward, thereby extending the distance actually sailed through the water to reach the finish.

5.5            For more detail on PHRF and Class handicapping in this event, see Notice of Race.

5.6            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 lowest handicap Classes (slowest) 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 (a) two red tomato buoys or (b) an orange flag on the RC boat and a red tomato buoy or an alternate marker selected by the Race Committee. 

6.2            A five-minute starting sequence will be used for the start of the boat(s) having the slowest handicap rating (Class 1).

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, five minutes before the start, shall be the raising of the start flag and one horn.

The Preparatory Signal, four 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.

6.3            The start sequence will begin as though there is a Class 1 start even if there are no Class 1 participants in a race. That is, every race will be started as though there is a Class 1 starter.

6.4            Subsequent starts for the remaining participants, based on Class handicap ratings and the length of the course, will be announced over VHF radio by the Race Committee. The time difference of each Class from the Class 1 start will be posted on the RC boat as well.   It is imperative that each competitor monitor the RC channel using a radio that is easily heard and accessible so that communications are received without the RC losing time trying for contact.  A hand held VHF radio is the best solution.

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 in the direction of the tidal current and it is impractical to restart boats that have started several minutes previously. If tidal conditions make it impractical for a premature starter to return to the starting line, the RC may penalize such premature starter by five (5) minutes plus twice the time by which the infringing boat is over the starting line early.

6.6             The Race Committee may abandon after the sequence has begun and re-start at a buoy further in the direction of the destination as an option to penalizing boats that have started prematurely.

6.7            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.

6.8            There will be no General recalls.

6.9            The finish will be between (a) two red tomatoes or (b) a red tomato and another marker selected by the Race Committee, The blue flag on the nearby RC boat (or a designated support boat) will indicate that this is a finish. A race also 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. Additionally, the RC may make such determination regarding probable finish times and require lagging boats to abandon and use engines to finish promptly, in which case any such boats will be granted one point below the last place finisher. The reason for these time limit considerations is that we are on a schedule during the day that is governed by the tides and we need to stay somewhat close to scheduled start and finish times.

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______________________________________

3/27            Sat            Arrival at the Classic boat Rally

9 to 1            Arrive, rig, launch, practice at Beaufort YSC

                        1 PM            Lunch at BYSC ($10)

                        1:30            Participants’ Briefing

                        2:30            Practice race to Downtown and back to BYSC (approx 5 nm)

                        6:00               Reception at BYSC (beer and wine, light hors d’oevres)

3/28            Sun            Classic Boat day in Beaufort

Noon            Concurs d’Elegance judging at the dock.

                        1:00     Participants’ Briefing

                        2:00            Start of Round the Buoys Race (2 laps scheduled, approx 10 nm)

                        6:30            Lowcountry Boil Dinner at BYSC, informal            $28 includes beer and wine                                                Concurs d’ Elegance and race day awards.

3/29            Mon            Beaufort to Hilton head

10 AM            Participants’ Meeting, the dock BYSC

10:30             Depart BYSC

11:00   Race starts (Total Daily Distance 20 nm)

                        5:30            Arrive at SCYC, Windmill Harbor, Hilton Head

7 PM             Dinner at a local Restaurant (TBA) Informal

The first race will begin in front of BYSC, sailing south to Green Buoy #29 approximately 8.3 nm down the Beaufort River at the entrance to Port Royal Sound. The second race will begin at Green #29 and finish at Green #27, about 0.4 nm past Green #27, in front of Windmill Harbor. Distance of the second race is about 11.7 nm. Expected arrival at Windmill Harbor is 5 to 5:30 PM. SCYC has showers and participants can stay on their boat overnight or at nearby Hilton Garden Inn.

3/30            Tues            Hilton Head to Savannah

8 AM            Participants’ Meeting, the dock at SCYC

                        8:30            Depart SCYC; first race starts 9:00 AM

                                    Total Distance 26.9 nm

                        5 to 6            Arrive at Savannah Yacht Club

                        7 PM            Dinner at Savannah restaurant, to be announced

3/31            Wed            Savannah to Hilton Head

8:00            participants’ Meeting

8:30            Depart Dock

9:00            Start First race (Total distance sailing 26.6 nm)

                        5:00             Arrive SCYC

4/1            Thurs            Hilton Head to Beaufort

10 AM            Participants’ Meeting, the dock at SCYC

                        10:30             Depart dock

                        11:00            Start first race (Total daily distance 20 nm)

                     5:30 to 6 Arrive at BYSC           

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.

Non-returning premature starters (OCS) will be penalized five (5) minutes plus twice the elapsed time of the premature start. DSQ will be awarded zero points, the same as not starting.

For the purposes of scoring, boats that do not sail a race will be scored as having zero points for that race.

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 Beaufort, 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)

                        Crab Pot Award (for the most navigationally challenged)

*To be awarded at the Beaufort Classic Boat Day dinner

12. Liability

Sailing on the Intracoastal Waterway and the coastal waters offshore is inherently dangerous due to commercial traffic, swift tidal currents, shoaling, and changeable weather and sea conditions. Additionally, during parts of the day, participants will be distant from a nearby port for shelter in adverse weather conditions or mechanical or rigging breakdown. 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 owners of support craft, 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

            Woody Norwood: Event Co-Chairman

            Frank Pontious: Event Co-Chairman and Race Committee Chairman