Sailing instructions
RULES
1.1 The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the RYA, these Sailing Instructions and the appropriate class rules.
2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located within the clubhouse.
3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled race start, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect.
4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
No signals will be made ashore, other than race abandonment signals.
5 SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 Dates and start times of racing are shown in the SWSC yearbook. Changes will be notified to members. Open events are also posted on the club website. www.swsailing.co.uk
6 CLASS FLAGS
Handicap racing will be started with an orange rectangular flag. Individual class starts will be indicated by flags as determined by the race officer.
7 RACING AREAS
The course will be laid in the southern part of Windermere between Fell Foot and Blake Holme Island, except for the long distance races.
8 THE COURSES
The course will be displayed as a list of marks, together with the side on which they are to be rounded, either on the Course Board in the Clubhouse or from the Committee Boat. When a course is displayed from the Committee Boat then this will be the authoritative course and overrides any course displayed in the Clubhouse. A diagram showing the course to be sailed may be displayed in the Clubhouse for guidance only.
8.1 Number of Rounds. The number of rounds to be sailed will be displayed on the Course Board or on the Committee Boat.
9 MARKS
9.1 Description of Course Marks. Course Marks 0 to 9, A & B are green spherical, conical or can buoys with white numbers/letters and their approximate positions are shown on the map on the notice board in the Club House. A green spherical buoy marked with a black letter 'X' may be laid. The yellow buoy with a speed limit sign, designated 'S', may also be used. Any other marks used will be described on the Course Board.
10 AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS
The areas that are designated as obstructions are marked by individual or grouped red marks, laid and managed by the Lake Wardens.
11 THE START
11.1 Races will be started by using RRS 26 as follows:
Signal Flag and Sound Minutes Before
Warning Class flag; 1 sound5
Preparatory Code flag P; 1 sound4
One Minute Preparatory flag removed; 1 long sound 1
Starting Class flag removed; 1 sound0
The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with, or after, the starting signal of the preceding class. When a class is recalled, the warning signal of the next class shall be lowered after the general recall has been signalled.
11.2 The starting line is defined as the line between a post carrying the class flag board, mounted either on the Committee Boat or on shore, and a mark as described in SI 9.1.
11.3 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.
11.4 Individual Recalls. One sound signal made immediately after the starting sound signal, accompanied by display of Code Flag Board X in accordance with RRS 29.1, will indicate that one or more boats were over the line at the start.
11.5 General Recalls. Two consecutive sound signals made immediately after the starting sound signal accompanied by display of Code Flag Board 'First Substitute' will indicate a general recall in accordance with RRS 29.2. A new preparatory signal will be made one minute after the lowering of Code Flag Board 'First Substitute'. The starts of later classes will be postponed automatically.
11.6 Starting Penalties. At the discretion of the OOD RRS 30.1, the I Flag Rule (the "Round-an-End Rule") may be implemented, Code Flag Board I will be displayed.
12 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE—Not Applicable.
13 THE FINISH
13.1 The finishing line is defined as the line between a signal post mounted either on the Committee Boat or ashore and a mark of the course as described in SI 9.1.
13.2 Shortening Course (normal club races). Shorten course signals will be made by displaying Code Flag Board S accompanied by two sound signals from the Committee Boat or ashore. The signal will be given as, or after, the leading competitor rounds a course mark, and will mean, "now sail to the finishing line, directly crossing the line between a course mark and the committee boat without rounding even if this course mark is passed on the opposite side to that used during the race." The shorten course signal may be accompanied by a class flag board in which case the shortened course will apply to that class only.
13.3 Shortening Course (Mirrors, Toppers or other similar slow handicap boats). In races where there are Mirrors, Toppers or other slow handicap boats, (PN 1290 or above) they will finish when next they cross the finishing line (in accordance with the Definitions in the RRS) even though this may be one or more laps less than the rest of the fleet. They will be scored in accordance with SI 13.2.
13.4 Shortening Course (Long Distance Races). In long distance races the course may be shortened for some boats by attaching a club flag to one or more of the designated marks on the lake. Competitors still on the outward leg of the course when they pass such a mark must round the mark to port and sail to the finish line.
14 PENALTY SYSTEM
As per the RRS 44.1 and 44.2.
15 TIME LIMITS AND TARGET TIMES
RRS 35 does not apply
15.1 Target Times. For normal adult club racing (i.e. Standard Saturday and Sunday racing) the target time is one hour. For the Frostbite series, the target time is ninety minutes, and for the Eiger Series, the target time is thirty minutes.
15.2 Time Limits.
a) For Saturday series and Frostbite Races: boats failing to finish within 45 minutes of the first boat to finish will be scored DNF.
b) For all other series: boats failing to finish within 30 minutes of the first boat to finish will be scored DNF.
c) For long distance races the time limits, from the start time, will be as follows:
Grass Holme & Storrs Park - 3 hours; Ramp Holme - 4 hours; Belle Isle - 5 hours and Waterhead - 7 hours
Boats failing to finish within the time limit will be scored DNF.
d) (All racing). If there is more than one start the time limit will be from the finishing time of the first boat in the same fleet.
16 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
16.1 Protest forms are available at the race office, located in the clubhouse. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered there within the appropriate time limit.
16.2 For each class, the protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day or the race committee signals no more racing today, whichever is later.
16.3 Decisions of the protest committee will be final as provided in RRS 70.5.
17 SCORING SYSTEM
17.1 The Low Point System of scoring described in Appendix A to the RRS shall be used. The Declared Entry shall be determined by the Sailing Committee. Any ties shall be broken by the procedure set out in section A8 of the RRS. The number of race results to be counted in each series shall be half of those completed plus one, fractions being ignored. Points will normally be awarded to the helmsman.
17.2 To calculate race results for races including boats finishing in accordance with SI 13.3, the elapsed time of each such boat will be increased by the ratio of the number of legs of the course sailed by the rest of the fleet to the number of legs of the course sailed by that boat.
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS continued
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17.3 For long distance races affected by SI 13.4, boats sailing a shortened course will be given finishes, calculated according to handicap, sequentially after boats sailing a longer course.
18 SAFETY REGULATIONS
18.1 Competitors should sign on in the SWSC Clubhouse. There is no need to sign off, unless required by the OOD (usually required for long distance races).
18.2 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race officer as soon as possible of their intention to retire.
18.3 RRS 40 is amended to the following: Competitors shall wear personal flotation devices at all times whilst on the water, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Wet suits and dry suits are not personal flotation devices.
19-22—Not Applicable.
23 SUPPORT BOATS
23.1 Team leaders, coaches and other support persons shall stay outside areas where boats are racing from the time of the preparatory signal for the first class to start until all boats have finished or retired or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment.
24-28—Not Applicable.
29 RISK STATEMENT
Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone."
Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in an event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that
(a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
(b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
(c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
(d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
(e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
(f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;
(g) It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event;
30 INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3 million per incident or the equivalent.
Last updated 14:36 on 2 March 2024