Adopted 2009 Racing Standing Instructions

Things will be slightly different this year for each of the specific series set out in the Standing Instructions.  Boats will be tracked instead of skippers as has been the case in the past for each of the race series.  Therefore, awards will be presented to the owner of the boat or in the case of a club boat - the individual who checked out that specific boat. Members in good standing will be allowed to check out an individual boat for an entire regatta series to compete if they so wish.  There are a number of valid reasons why this is being done so please ask if you have any questions or concerns.   

Tom Harrison

1 Rules
1.1  The Regattas will be governed by rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (2009 -  2012 Rules).

1.2  No national authority prescriptions will apply.
1.3  Any changes to Racing Rule(s) or Standing Sailing Instructions for a race event will be   identified in the Notices to Competitors and posted in the Alaska Sailing Club clubhouse prior to a race.

1.4  Specific boat class rules will not apply.

2 Notices to Competitors
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the Alaska Sailing Club clubhouse.

3 Changes to Sailing Instructions
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 1100 Local on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 Local on the day before it will take effect.

4 Signals Made Ashore
4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from the dock.
4.2 When flag Y is displayed ashore, rule 40.1 applies at all times while afloat. (Competitors shall wear life-jackets or other adequate personal buoyancy)

5 Schedule of Races
5.1 Dates of racing for Small & Large Boat Classes:
Ice Breaker Regatta (Memorial Weekend)                      23-24 (25)* May
Firecracker Regatta (4th of July Weekend)                     3-4 (5)* July
Fireweed Regatta                                                          15-16 August
Governor’s Cup Regatta (Labor Day Weekend)             5-6 (7)* September
Frostbite Regatta                                                          19-20 September (wx permitting)

5.2 Dates of racing for Small Boat Class:
Wet Wednesday 1st Series                                        10, 17 & 24 June
Wet Wednesday 2nd Series                                       5, 12, & 19 August
One Design Bucc 18 Class Series                              15 & 29 July

()* Denotes reserve days that may be used if races are not completed as scheduled or if the race committee considers it necessary that races will be completed on a reserve day.

5.2 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first regatta race each day will be posted in the individual event’s sailing instructions. Generally, efforts will be made to signal the start of the first Regatta race at 1000 Local and Wet Wednesday races at 1915 Local.

6 Class Flags
Class Flags will be:
Large Boats (Cabin)                                       Numeral Pennant Number 1
Small Boats (Centerboard/Catamaran)           Numeral Pennant Number 2
One Design Bucc 18                                      Numeral Pennant Number 3

7 Racing Area
Attachment A shows the general location of the racing areas.

8 The Courses
8.1 There are three potential types of courses that may be utilized. The order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left will be announced by the Race Committee prior to race. Courses may be windward/leeward, Triangle or Mixed.

9 Marks
Marks will be announced by the committed boat prior to the race. A race committee boat may signal a change to the course during a race.

10 Areas That Are Obstructions
The following areas are designated as obstructions: Shallow waters (less than 110% keel/centerboard depth) around Alonis Island, Saddleback Island, Burston Island and Bird Island.

11 The Start
Races will be started as follows: The race committee will sound and or display a 5 minute warning signal, a 4 minute preparatory signal, a one minute signal and the starting signal. This changes rule 26. Race Officials will attempt to notify vessels when they are over the starting line before the staring signal.
11.1 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.
11.2 A boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start.

12 Change of the Next Leg of the Course
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. In addition, he race committee may choose to shorten the race by deleting required course legs, or lengthen the race by increasing the number of course legs.

13 The Finish
The finishing line will be determined and announced by the race committee prior to the start of the race.

14 Penalty System
The Scoring Penalty, rule 44.3, will apply. The penalty will be 2 places.

15 Time Limits
Time limits are as follows:

Class                                                               Time Limit                 Mark 1 Time Limit
Portsmouth Large Boats                                 1.5 hours                         45 minutes
Portsmouth Small Boats                                  1.5 hours                         45 minutes
One Design Bucc 18                                       1.5 hours                         45 minutes

If no boat has passed Mark 1 within the Mark 1 time limit, the race will be abandoned at the discretion of the Race Committee.

16 Protests and Request for Redress
16.1 Protests shall be presented to race committee official within the protest time limit.
16.2 For all classes, the protest time limit is 15 minutes after the last boat has finished the race at hand. Protests do not have to be submitted in writing. This changes rules 61.2-3 & 62.2.

16.3 Competitors in which they are parties or named as witnesses will be notified by a race committee official. Hearings will be held in the vicinity of the Alaska Sailing Club clubhouse as soon as practical.

16.4 Decisions of the protest committee will be final as provided in rule 70.4

17 Scoring
The Low Point System of Appendix A of the racing rules will apply. Scores will be calculated using the 2008 Portsmouth Yardstick DPN rating for each vessel make and SailWave software will be used to calculate results.

18 Safety Regulations
18.1 Race Participants shall wear appropriate personal flotation devices at all times while racing.

18.2 All vessels must check in with the race committee prior to a race.
18.3 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

19 Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the boats placing first, second and third in the regattas.

20 Disclaimer of Liability
Competitors participate in the regatta and series races entirely at their own risk. See rule 4 Decision to Race in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damages or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after the regatta or series.