PUGET SOUND LARGE BOAT RACING PROGRAM
GENERAL SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
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These General Sailing Instructions are to be read together with the Specific Sailing Instructions for the Puget Sound Large Boat Racing Program. In case of conflict, the Specific Sailing Instructions govern.
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1. REGISTRATION
1.1 To enter an event, submit a completed registration form and pay the appropriate fee (See Race Schedule and Fees).
1.2 Registration forms and fees must be received at the CYC office at least three days prior to the first race entered.
2. RULES
Races will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (‘RRS’), the prescriptions of US SAILING, these sailing instructions, and the specific sailing instructions for each event. In case of conflict between these sailing instructions and the specific sailing instructions for an event, the specific sailing instructions will govern. Also, as appropriate, the rules of PHRF Northwest or the rules adopted by local one-design fleets apply.
3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices will be posted inside the door of the CYC Shilshole Clubhouse or on the window next to the door. Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted at least 90 minutes before the first race in which it will take effect.
4. RESPONSIBILITY
4.1 The skipper of each boat is responsible for any unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of his or her crew. If action is taken under RRS rule 69, Allegations of Gross Misconduct, it may result in a competitor being excluded from further participation in the CYC racing program.
4.2 Occasionally, sailboat racing has resulted in injury or loss of life. All competitors in CYC events participate at their own risk. It shall be the responsibility of the skipper to inform the crew of the risks of sailboat racing, to make sure they understand and accept those risks, to decide whether the crew is competent and adequate for the event, and to decide whether to start or continue in a race.
4.3 When a boat is notified that she has been selected for an inspection of required safety equipment, she shall report for and submit to the inspection.
5. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
Signals made ashore will be displayed from the CYC clubhouse or from the race committee boat moored alongside the clubhouse.
6. SAFETY
6.1 All boats shall comply with the PIYA Category III equipment requirements. A PIYA form listing these requirements is available from the CYC office.
6.2 Boats with outboard auxiliary engines shall have their engine attached to its permanent mounting and ready for immediate immersion.
6.3 The Special Sailboat Safety Regulations apply. These can be found at the end of these Sailing Instructions.
6.4 A boat that breaks this sailing instruction could receive a warning, be disqualified or not accepted in future competition, depending on the severity of her offense. This changes RRS rule 64.1(a).
7. CHANGES IN RATING
A change in a PHRF rating takes effect on the day it is recorded by the local handicapper. If a change in a boat's rating occurs during a series, then, for that series only, the boat shall continue to sail in the fleet in which she was sailing before her rating was changed, and she will be eligible for awards in that fleet. After the date on which the rating change takes effect, the boat's corrected time will be calculated using her new rating.
8. STARTING ORDER
Classes will start in the order in which class placards are displayed, reading from left to right and from the top line to the bottom line on the race committee boat readerboard. When a plus sign ("+") is displayed between two class placards, those two classes will start together at the same time.
9. COURSES
9.1 Each course will be signaled by a row of letters following the placards of the classes that are to sail that course. Each letter designates a mark. The first letter displayed is the starting buoy, the last is the finishing buoy, and those in between are the rounding marks. A special Slalom Course and its readerboard placard are shown below the mark descriptions on the page facing the inside back cover of this book.
9.2 Mark descriptions and locations are inside the back cover of this book.
9.3 Start between the starting buoy and the orange flag on the race committee boat. Pass each rounding mark in the order displayed and on the same side as the starting buoy. (Exception: For the special Slalom Course, pass marks as shown in the diagram of that course.) Finish between the finishing buoy and the orange flag on the race committee boat. When a number, such as "2" or "3", follows the designation of a course, it signals a multiple-lap course. Sail the course as many times as is indicated by that number, crossing the finishing line at the completion of each lap.
9.4 Gate at leeward mark: If flag "G" is displayed between the preparatory and the starting signals for a class, there will be a gate (two marks) instead of a single leeward mark for that class, and boats shall pass between the two gate marks and then round either the port gate mark to port or the starboard gate mark to starboard.
9.5 Warning: The race committee may use its engine to hold position, and it may do so even when apparently anchored.
9.6 When boats are finishing after dark, the race committee boat may display a yellow/green beacon.
10. SHIP CANAL RESTRICTED AREA
Boats shall not enter the area defined by the following three lines:
A boat that enters this area may not correct her error. This changes RRS rule 28.1. This area ranks as an obstruction.
11. POSTPONEMENT
If the warning signal has been made and, thereafter, flag "AP", the postponement signal, is displayed for less than 15 minutes, the preparatory signal will be made one minute after "AP" is lowered.
12. THE START
Races will be started in accordance with RRS rule 26.1, System 2.
13. RECALLS
13.1 Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with RRS rule 29.2. The race committee will also try to hail the sail numbers of all recalled boats that it can identify.
13.2 General recall will be signaled by the display of the "First Substitute" flag and two horn signals. Recalled classes will start after the last scheduled start in the order in which they were recalled. This changes RRS rule 29.3.
14. USE OF ENGINE
A boat late for her start may use her engine after her preparatory signal, but only to motor directly to the starting area, and she may not start until five minutes after turning off her engine. This changes RRS rule 42.1.
15. PENALTY FOR BREAKING A RULE IN PART 2 OF THE RACING RULES
The Scoring Penalty, RRS rule 44.3, will apply. The penalty will be three points.
16. PROTESTS
Protests shall be sent to the CYC office by mail with a U.S. Postal Service postmark date no later than the first weekday following the race in which the incident occurred or hand delivered before the end of office hours on that day. Parties to a hearing will be notified of the date, location and time of the hearing. If the protested boat elects to acknowledge breaking a rule, she should notify the protest committee chairman so that the hearing can be canceled.
17. SCORING
17.1 PHRF corrected times will be calculated using the time-on-distance method, unless the Specific Sailing Instructions for an event specify the time-on-time method.
17.2 Boats score points as follows: 1 for first place in class, 2 for second, 3 for third, etc. Boats that do not finish or are disqualified score points equal to one more than the number of boats that competed In their class in that race. Boats that do not start score points equal to two more than the number of boats that competed in their class in that race.
17.3 A boat's series score is the sum of her race scores. However, if five races are completed, her poorest score will be discarded when determining her series score and, if eight races are completed, her two poorest scores will be discarded.
17.4 Ties will be resolved in favor of the boat most often defeating the others tied. If this does not resolve a tie, it will be resolved in favor of the boat with the most first places, then second places, etc. If the tie is still unresolved, it will be resolved in favor of the boat with the lowest score in the last race of the series in which the tied boats all started.
18. AWARDS
CYC plaques will be awarded at the annual awards party to the top finishers in each class in the Center Sound Series, the Fall Series, the Windjammer Series, and each Wednesday Evening Series.
19. MOVABLE BALLAST
A boat designed to use and constructed with equipment to pump on board, discharge and move water ballast may use that equipment, provided her PHRF rating assumes its use. This changes RRS rule 51.
SPECIAL SAILBOAT SAFETY REGULATIONS
Introduction: We must share Puget Sound with its commercial traffic, including many deep-water vessels and long tows. It is sobering to note that, if your boat is one mile dead ahead of a freighter coming down the Sound at normal speed, and the freighter's helm is put hard over to avoid you, the freighter's bow will miss you, but her stern will not! Obviously this implies that early and decisive action is required to keep your boat out of the path of a large oncoming vessel or tow.
1. Boats must not sail across a tow line, too close ahead or too close alongside of commercial traffic. Deep vessels have limited ability to change course and speed. Barges under tow can yaw unexpectedly well out to the side at speeds essentially the same as they are being towed. Recommendations for a safe distance (danger area) are at least 1/2 mile ahead and 1/4 mile to the side.
2. A boat in position where it may impede commercial traffic must exit from the "danger area" immediately, under auxiliary power if necessary. If power is used, it must be reported to the race committee at the finish line, and a written report must be lodged during protest time on a protest form showing the location, time, duration of power use, speed, direction of exit and that the competitive position of the boat was not improved. If the protest committee decides that a boat's competitive position was improved, they may impose a time penalty. IMPORTANT: In order to meet this requirement, your engine must be able to start promptly. If an outboard, it must be mounted and ready to start.
3. Commercial vessels are asked to hold their course and sound whistle signals the same as for restricted visibility (i.e., one prolonged blast or one prolonged and two short blasts when towing per 33 CFR 165.1301) at intervals of not more than one minute whenever they need more clearance for a safe passage. This allows the sailboat skippers to change course as required and makes possible a reasonable judgment of the commercial vessel's course even when obscured by sails of other sailboats.
4. Radar reflectors must be flown at all times when racing. They must meet IMO recommendations (i.e., of metal plates of sufficient rigidity to maintain 90 degree angle), not less than 12 1/2 inches in diameter and be installed not less than 4 meters (13 ft.) above the water.
5. Navigation lights must be shown between sunset and sunrise as required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
6. Observed and/or reported violations of the safety regulations will be handled by the race committee with the exception that the race committee shall have the option of issuing a "warning" when deemed appropriate. Warnings are recorded and may be considered when judging any future reports. A boat may be disqualified without a protest hearing for infringing these safety regulations. This changes RRS rules 63.1 and 64.1(a).
7. The above safety regulations shall not be changed without coordination with other organizations involved, such as U.S. Coast Guard, Puget Sound Pilots, Washington State Ferries and Northwest Towboat Association.
PUGET SOUND LARGE BOAT RACING PROGRAM
SPECIFIC SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
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These Specific Sailing Instructions are to be read together with the General Sailing Instructions for the Puget Sound Large Boat Program. In case of conflict, the Specific Sailing Instructions govern.
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NORTHWEST CHALLENGE CUP
The Northwest Challenge Cup, will be awarded to the boat with the best record in the Center Sound Series, Puget Sound Spring Regatta, and the Puget Sound Sailing Championships.
SCORING: A boat's Challenge Cup Score is the sum of her finishing positions in her class in each of the three series on which the Challenge Cup is based. Ties will be resolved in favor of the boat with the highest average number of starters in her class in the races of the three series, except that a tie among boats that win their class in all three series will not be broken.
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CENTER SOUND SERIES
Includes the Blakely Rock Light, Possession Point, and Pully Point Races
ELIGIBILITY: Open to boats with valid PHRF ratings, one design classes with five or more entrants, and multi-hulls.
REGISTRATION: A boat intending to race must submit a completed registration form to the CYC office no later than 1600 the Wednesday prior to the race or races she is entering.
RATING BREAKS, STARTING ORDER & STARTING TIME: Rating breaks and starting order will be posted at the Shilshole clubhouse 48 hours prior to the start of each race. First start at 0900.
SAFETY: When near the Puget Sound Traffic Lanes, boats should monitor VHS Channel 14.
SAFETY INSPECTIONS: If a boat is hailed by the race committee at the finish and instructed to report for a safety inspection, she shall directly report to the CYC Safety Inspectors at the North end of the Shilshole Bay Marina.
SCORING: Corrected times will be calculated using the time-on-time method (See Chapter III, PHRF/NW Yearbook). The scoring system for the Center Sound Series PHRF "Fog Horn Overall Perpetual Trophy" is as follows: A boat's score for a race is:
100 (N + 1 - P)/(N + 1) points,
where P is her place in her class in that race and N is the number of starters in her class in that race. A boat that does not finish scores 2/3(N + 1) points, a disqualified boat scores: 1/3(N + 1) points, and a boat that does not start scores 0 points. A boat's series score is the sum of her score in all races in the series. High score wins.
AWARDS: CYC plaques for first, second, and third place for each class in each race. The Fog Horn Overall Performance Perpetual Trophy for first PHRF boat in the series. The Blakely Rock Light Trophy, Possession Point Trophy and the Pully Point Trophy for first overall PHRF boat based on corrected time. Trophies will be awarded at the Shilshole Clubhouse, Fri., April 3, 1900 hrs.
MOORAGE: Available for appropriate fees at Shilshole Bay Marina on J and V docks. Please contact the Shilshole Bay Marina Office at 728-3385 for further information.
PARTY TIME / RACE RESULTS: The CYC clubhouse will be open during and after each race. Preliminary race results will be posted by early evening.
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BLAKELY ROCK LIGHT RACE
STARTING AND FINISHING AREA: In the vicinity of the Shilshole breakwater.
COURSE--For all boats: A special temporary mark will be set 1 mile East (magnetic) of mid-channel VTS buoy "SF" off President Point. After starting, leave the temporary mark and mark K to port (north wind), or mark K and the temporary mark to starboard (south wind). Then finish. Course length: approximately 21.5 miles.
Alternate courses may be signaled from the race committee boat.
TIME LIMIT--Eight hours for the first boat in each class. If one boat in a class finishes within eight hours, the time limit is nine hours for all other boats in her class. This changes RRS rule 35.
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POSSESSION POINT RACE
STARTING AND FINISHING AREA: In the vicinity of Meadow Point.
COURSE--For all boats: After starting, leave the gong buoy off Scatchet Head to port, and then finish. Course length: approximately 27 miles.
An alternate course may be signaled from the race committee boat.
TIME LIMIT--Nine hours for the first boat in each class. If one boat in a class finishes within nine hours, the time limit is ten hours for all other boats in her class. This changes RRS rule 35.
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PULLY POINT RACE
STARTING AND FINISHING AREA: In the vicinity of West Point.
COURSES--For all boats except San Juan 24s: After starting, leave a special temporary yellow inflated mark (set approximately 0.25 mile north of Three Tree Point) to port, and then finish. Course length: approximately 29.5 miles. For San Juan 24s: After starting, leave Blake Island to starboard, and then finish. Course length for San Juan 24s: approximately 20 miles.
Alternate courses may be signaled from the race committee boat.
TIME LIMIT--Nine hours for the first boat in each class. If one boat in a class finishes within nine hours, the time limit is ten hours for all other boats in her class. This changes RRS rule 35.
PUGET SOUND SPRING REGATTA, LEUKEMIA CUP
and
PUGET SOUND SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS
These are level-rating regattas for PHRF-rated boats grouped into classes with small rating spreads. When it is impractical to race level due to an insufficient number of boats with similar ratings, some classes will race on handicap using the time-on-time method. There will be prizes and, if practicable, one-design starts for classes that have five or more boats registered and planning to compete.
ELIGIBILITY: PHRF rated boats that meet the PIYA Category III requirements are eligible, except that an Olson 30, J-24, Thunderbird, Merit 25, or San Juan 24 is eligible if she complies with her class safety requirements and with the safety requirements in the sailing instructions.
REGISTRATION: Registrations are due in the CYC Shilshole office by Noon on the Wednesday before the event. However, late registrations will be accepted until Saturday morning at 0800, provided that a late registration fee of $20 is paid in addition to the regular registration fee.
RATING BREAKS: Rating breaks will be posted at the Shilshole clubhouse 48 hours prior to the first start of each regatta.
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS: For each of these regattas, special sailing instructions shall be picked up at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse between 0830 and 0900 on Saturday.
FIRST START: First start at 1000 each day.
AWARDS: First, second and third place trophies will be awarded for each class. Awards will be presented at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse on Sunday after the races.
MOORAGE: Available for appropriate fee at Shilshole Bay Marina on J and V docks. Please contact the Shilshole Bay Marina Office at 728-3385 for further information.
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PUGET SOUND WEDNESDAY EVENING SERIES
These instructions apply to the Spring, Summer, and Vacation Series.
ELIGIBILITY: PHRF-rated boats.
RATING BREAKS: Rating breaks will be posted at the Shilshole clubhouse 48 hours prior to the first race of each series. If practicable, a one-design class with five or more boats competing will be given its own start.
STARTING AREA: In the vicinity of the Shilshole breakwater.
STARTING TIMES: Spring Series First start at 1810.
Summer Series First start at 1825.
Vacation Series First start at 1810.
TIME LIMIT: Two hours and thirty minutes for the first boat in each class. A boat that does not finish within thirty minutes of the first boat in her class will be scored DNF. This changes RRS rule 35.
PUGET SOUND JACK 'N JILL DOUBLE-HANDED RACE
ELIGIBILITY: Any PHRF rated boat using the rating she normally sails under when racing with a full crew (or the NFS rating described below), and with a crew consisting of one female and one male.
REGISTRATION POSTING: A list of boats entered will be posted at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse 24 hours before the first start.
SKIPPERS' MEETING: A mandatory skippers' meeting will be held at 1000 at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse.
CLASSES: Classes will be announced at the skipper's meeting. There will be a flying-sail (FS) division and a no-flying-sail (NFS) division. A boat with a rating based on flying sails (FS) may register in the NFS division, in which case her NFS rating will be her FS rating plus 18 seconds. This changes PHRF Handicapper's Manual, Paragraph 9g. An NFS registrant should enter this adjusted rating on her entry form and use this rating to determine the NFS class in which she starts. It is the responsibility of the skipper to race with the appropriate rating.
STARTING AREA: In the vicinity of the Shilshole breakwater.
COURSE: After starting, leave Blake Island to starboard. The course length is approximately 21 miles. An alternate course may be signaled from the race committee boat.
SAFETY:
TIME LIMIT: Eight hours for the first boat in each class. If one boat in a class finishes within eight hours, the time limit is nine hours for all other boats in her class. This changes RRS rule 35.
AWARDS: CYC trophies for first, second and third place for each class. The Stuarts at Shilshole Trophy for overall performance will be based on corrected time. The awards presentation will be held at 1900. A party at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse will commence after the race.
NOTICE: This regatta is part of the Puget Sound Jack and Jill Series. See the Race Schedule for the dates of the other races in this series.
MOORAGE: Available for appropriate fees at Shilshole Bay Marina on J and V docks. Please contact the Shilshole Bay Marina Office at 728-3385 for further information.
PUGET SOUND WOMEN'S KEELBOAT REGATTA
ELIGIBILITY: PHRF rated boats. All members of the crew shall be women.
SKIPPER'S MEETING: There will be a mandatory skipper's meeting at 0900 Saturday at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse.
CLASSES & STARTING ORDER: To be announced at the skipper's meeting.
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Special sailing instructions shall be picked up at the CYC Shilshole clubhouse at the skipper's meeting.
AWARDS: Trophies for all classes, Best Performance and Overall Corrected Time will be awarded immediately following racing.
NOTICE: In even numbered years, this regatta is part of the Puget Sound Women's Sailing Championship Series. See the Race Schedule for the dates of all the regattas in this series.
MOORAGE: Available for appropriate fees at Shilshole Bay Marina on J and V docks. Please contact the Shilshole Bay Marina Office at 728-3385 for further information.
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PUGET SOUND FALL SERIES
and
PUGET SOUND WINDJAMMER SERIES
ELIGIBILITY: PHRF rated boats.
RATING BREAKS: Rating breaks will be posted at the Shilshole clubhouse 48 hours prior to the first race of the series.
STARTING TIMES: First start at 1100.
STARTING AREA: In the vicinity of the Shilshole breakwater.
ADDITIONAL RACES: At its discretion, the race committee may run more than one race per day.
TIME LIMIT: Two hours and thirty minutes for the first boat in each class. A boat that does not finish within thirty minutes of the first boat in her class will be scored DNF. This changes RRS rule 35.