WESTON BAY YACHT CLUB

United by the love of sailing, sea, and socialising

Racing Rules

Applicable ISAF Rules

Races will be sailed under ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and RYA Prescriptions with the exceptions given below:

  1. RRS 29.1. The signals for Individual Recalls do not apply
  2. Under RRS Part 2 Preamble, Rrs 48 And Rrs J 2.2(3), the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea will prevail instead of RRS Part 2 between the hours of sunset and sunrise.

Mandatory Equipment

  • Manual bilge pump
  • Bucket of at least 7 litres capacity on a stout lanyard
  • Compass (hand-held is acceptable)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Fire blanket
  • Lifebuoy with drogue
  • Buoyant heaving line, 15m minimum, readily accessible
  • Foul weather clothing each crew member.
  • Suitable harness clipping on points
  • A VHF radio
  • Anchor and chain or warp suitable for the size of yacht
  • Strong attachment point suitable for anchoring or towing.

Use of Engines

Engines may be used anywhere up to the 5 minute preparatory announcement and at any time thereafter if, while approaching the start line, the yacht is south of a transit line subtended by the Tropicana. Until the boat has started?

If a yacht uses its engine during a race for emergency purposes, the circumstances are to be logged and reported. Any resulting penalty shall be at the discretion of the Race Committee.

Visitors

Visitors are welcome to take part in Club events.

However, to be eligible for any of the trophies associated with the above events, the following conditions apply :-

  1. The participating boat must be owned in whole or in part, by a Full Member of WBYC;
  2. There must be at least one Full Member of WBYC in the crew, who will be nominated as the helmsman or helmswoman for the event.

All boats entering a race must be equipped with a VHF radio with Channel 37 (M1) capability.

A listening watch must be kept on this channel from 20 minutes before the published start time until the boat concerned has either retired or finished the race.

Radio Use

The precise protocol for starting is given in Racing Instruction 6, but a summary of the radio traffic to be expected is:

There will be an announcement and count down to the 10 minute warning:

WESTON BAY BOATS STAND BY FOR YOUR 10 MINUTE WARNING (a short pause) (10 ………5–4–3–2–1-0).

The 10 minute warning announcement will be made either on the hour, or at intervals of 5 minutes after the hour.

There will be an announcement and count down to the 5 minute warning:

WESTON BAY BOATS STAND BY FOR YOUR 5 MINUTE WARNING (a short pause) (10 ………5–4–3–2–1-0).

There will be an announcement and count down of to the Start:

WESTON BAY BOATS STAND BY TO START (a short pause) (10–5–4–3–2–1- Start).

Finishing

Retiring boats shall notify their retirement to the OOD by radio, and where possible avoid calling at times when other boats are about to finish.

A boat finishing will call the ODD on CH37 (M1) approximately 3 minutes before it expects to finish and make the following call:

RACE CONTROL – THIS IS Boat Name APPROACHING THE LINE – OVER.

The OOD will respond as follows:

Boat Name – THIS IS RACE CONTROL – STANDING BY.


In cases where two or more boats are approaching the line in quick succession, the protocol will be for boats to call in, in order of approach, so that the leading boat’s call is not blocked.

On crossing the line each competing boat will call the OOD on CH37 (M1) and announce its finish with the following call:

RACE CONTROL – THIS IS Boat Name CROSSING THE LINE – NOW – OVER.

The OOD will respond as follows:

Boat Name – THIS IS RACE CONTROL – TIME TAKEN – OUT.

OFFICER OF THE DAY

CODE OF PRACTICE

INTRODUCTION

This Code of Practice has been developed due to the need to standardise race practice, in particular in view of increased numbers of members undertaking the OOD role. OODs should familiarise themselves with the Club’s Racing Instructions and Rules. This COP is intended to compliment those rules and instructions. The OOD should aim to ensure that there is a result for each class of boat, accept in exceptional cases, such as deteriorating weather. Clear instructions will ensure few disputes.

Course Selection

Select the course to be raced based on the following considerations:

  1. Weather – Consider actual conditions (wind strength and direction, visibility etc) at the time and the forecast conditions for the duration of the race.
  2. Tides – Consider whether the tide is a spring or neap, especially in the case of channel races and access to and from moorings.
  3. Make a course long enough, you can always shorten it for slower classes, so as to give faster boats a decent race. The very earliest a race should finish in normal conditions is an hour after HW.
  4. Close hauled start – Set the start of the course with a beat to windward where possible.
  5. Make the course varied and interesting – where possible include a beat, reach and run.
  6. Avoid a beat to windward finish, particularly with a foul tide in ‘B’ series events. Aim for a homeward leg with the wind is abeam or behind. Remember that slower boats participating (where possible) should be able to finish and get back to their moorings safely.

Race Boards

Display “race boards” – on the Clubhouse a minimum of 1 hour before the start and leave them in place until 1 hour after the first boat crosses the finish line.

Starting, Finishing And Running Events

Follow the protocols detailed in the “Racing Instructions” in WBYC Sailing Program or the special rules which apply to the Regatta.

Shortening Course

Observe the fleet’s progress in each class, if the course needs to be shortened to obtain a result, do so. If the course needs to be shortened for a second time, shorten again. There is no point racing with no results.

Decision to Race

The responsibility for a boats decision to participate in a race or to continue a racing is hers alone. ISAF Part 1 rule 4.

Results

Complete the race result spread sheet, save a copy in the space allocated on the Club PC and email copies to the Sailing Secretary and Race Officer. A paragraph detailing the cut and thrust of the event for the press would also be helpful.

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