Sailing instructions
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Tawara Sailing Regatta
Welcome to our tenth annual sailing regatta. We aim to provide a fun, enjoyable and safe event but, as with all sporting activities, there is a risk to
anyone taking part. A full risk assessment has been carried out and will be displayed in the registration area. We take your safety very seriously.
Competitors agree to compete in compliance with the rules defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing. Any boat that infringes these rules may be
disqualified. Notices to competitors will be posted on the noticeboard in the clubhouse. Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted there no
later than 08:30 each day. Course details will be advised during the skippers’ briefing on opening day of the regatta.
easily read. Courses will be windward-leeward with a race target time
Schedule of 90 minutes. The Low Points Scoring System will apply. Boats will
Registration and boat inspection will take place on Thursday 4 August score points equal to their finishing position in the race and those not
at the clubhouse and marina, from 09:00 to 13:00 hours. All skippers finishing will be scored 1 greater than the number of boats in the race.
must register to confirm arrival and to receive the up to date regatta All boats will race with a handicap; those without a handicap will be
documents. Late registrations will not receive free promotional given one by the race committee.
materials. The racing schedule is as follows: At the start of each race a warning signal will be given 5 minutes
before the start time. The orange flag ‘attention signal’ will be
4 09:00 Registration and boat
Racing Schedule
displayed on the starting line and competitors should get ready to
August inspection
race. The starting line will be between the orange flag displayed on
14:00 Practice races, warning signal
the committee boat and a green outer buoy. An inner distance marker
17:00 Opening ceremony
will be placed off the committee boat. Any boat passing between this
19:30 Skippers’ briefing mark and the committee boat will be disqualified. If any part of the
5 10:00 Race 1 boat’s hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line
August the race committee will promptly display flag X with one sound. The
6 10:00 Race 2 flag will be displayed until the offending boats have returned to the
August pre-start side of the starting line.
7 10:00 Race 3
August Boats must use only the wind and water to increase, maintain or
8 11:00 Race 4 decrease their speed. They must not receive help from any outside
August source except in an emergency. The crew may adjust the trim of sails
and hull, but must not move their bodies to propel the boat. Under
normal circumstances pumping, rocking, ooching, sculling and
Other social events include: welcome party, dock party, owners’ party, repeated tacks or gybes unrelated to changes in the wind are
music night, parade of classics, prize giving, cream teas and more. prohibited actions. This may change during the race if the wind speed
changes. Boats must avoid contact with another boat if reasonably
Racing possible. The course marking buoys must be passed on the correct
All boats must clearly display their sail numbers and class flags. The side
sail numbers must be in a suitable contrast to the sail so they can be and not be touched at any time. Any boat retiring from a race must
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Sailing instructions
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inform the race committee as soon as possible. interfere with another boat. Those that deliberately take unfair
advantage of this, or behave in an inappropriate manner either on or
The finishing line will be the same as the starting line for all races.
off the water, can expect official action to be taken against them.
After finishing, all boats must clear the line and not interfere with
others that are still racing. All races have a time limit of 2 hours unless Whilst the benefit of doubt remains with the competitor, once the
otherwise notified. Boats awaiting the start of the next race must stay umpires are sure of an infringement they will act promptly to protect
clear of the start/finish area. the fairness of the competition. A boat that acknowledges and
enforces their own penalty for breaking a rule must get well clear of
Safety other boats as soon after the incident as possible, make one turn,
All boats must carry sufficient personal flotation devices for each crew including one tack and one gybe. A boat that is penalised by an
member. These must be worn at all times whilst racing. Wet or dry umpire must promptly get clear of other boats and then make two
suits are not acceptable as substitutes. Competitors must not wear or turns in the same direction, including two tacks and two gybes. A boat
carry clothing or equipment for the purpose of increasing their weight. that is penalised by an umpire, but fails to take a penalty when
The maximum weight for clothing and equipment is 8 kilograms. The instructed, may be required to make one or more additional penalty
race committee can inspect any boat or personal equipment at any turns, or may be black flagged from the race.
time for compliance with the sailing instructions and class rules.
Protests
First aid facilities are located at the clubhouse. In the event of an
Boats that break a rule must take a penalty on the water. If they do
incident that involves personal injury or severe illness, or where the
not, the boats that were fouled can protest. To make a valid protest
boat is in danger and needs assistance, crews should contact the race
against another boat you must promptly hail ‘Protest!’ and fly a red
committee on VHF Channel 16. They will initiate the appropriate
protest flag at the other boat involved. The other boat must be in no
action.
doubt about your protest and have the chance to acknowledge and
Prizes exonerate the error by taking a penalty. If your protest is disputed or
ignored, then you can formally protest at the end of the race.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three placings in each race. Class
trophies will be awarded to: Requests for redress must be given in writing and delivered to the
race officer within the 60 minutes protest time at the end of a race.
overall team with the lowest score Protests will be heard by the protest committee as soon as possible in
top female team the order they were received. Protest notifications will be posted 30
minutes after the protest time limit to inform the parties involved, and
top junior team (must all be born in 2003 or later). those named as witnesses, when and where the hearing will be heard.
All prizes will be awarded at the closing ceremony at 16:00 on the final A boat that is found to have broken a rule will receive a penalty of
day. 40% of their race score with a minimum of 3 points. However, if the
boat caused injury or serious damage, or gained a significant
On-The-Water Penalties advantage by her breach, the penalty will be retirement. Decisions of
the protest committee are final.
Sailing is a self-policing sport and relies on the good faith of
competitors to do the right thing by completing penalty turns if they
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Sailing instructions
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Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. Tawara Sailing Club will not accept any liability for material damage, personal injury or
death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta. Each participating boat must be insured with valid third party liability
insurance with a value of not less than £3,000,000. Failure to comply with this instruction will lead to disqualification from all races.