1    Definitions

BTB - Two races are said to be back-to-back (BTB) when their scheduled start times are within 100 minutes of each other. 

Certain instructions are modified when races are BTB; these modifications are shown in the appropriate sections.

2    Rules

All competitors shall comply with the rules of Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club, on display in the clubhouse. All races shall be sailed according to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2009-2013 with latest amendments, the RYA Racing Charter, the prescriptions of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and the rules of the individual classes being sailed, except as any of these are changed by these sailing instructions.

3    Advertising

All boats and competitors shall comply with the advertising standards laid out in ISAF Regulation 20.

4    Eligibility

All paid up club members are eligible for entry to events, but Day Members will not have their result counted towards an ongoing series. An entrant may change boats between races and may be the helm or crew in any race in the series. Points will only be awarded to one entrant per boat.

5    Safety

Change to RRS rule 40. Adequate personal buoyancy shall be worn at all times when afloat.

6    Changes to the Sailing Instructions

Any changes to the sailing instructions will be posted on the Race Board in the clubhouse at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Entrant’s attention will be drawn to this by the display of code flag “L” from the race box and one sound signal.

7    Entry for Races

Entry shall be effected by transferring the entrant’s race card to the entry rack. No race points will be awarded to a boat not entered, although its race position will be recorded. Retrospective entry will be allowed, within two hours of the finish of the race, upon payment of a penalty in the club charity box. The list of penalty charges will be displayed in the clubhouse. For BTB races entry for the second race is assumed from entry for the first. In the case of a boat that has sailed in, but not correctly entered for the first race, then correct entry for the second race will be assumed.

8    Distinguishing Numbers

Permission to deviate from RRS Rule 77 must be obtained from the Race Officer before starting in a race.

9    Courses

The course to be sailed will be indicated by a list of marks bearing a number or letter, showing the order and side of rounding or passing. Red backgrounds shall indicate buoys to be left to port, and green backgrounds those to be left to starboard. The course will be displayed inside the clubhouse at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the race. The course shall also be displayed at the start line. In the event of a mismatch between the two, the course shown at the start line shall take precedence. The number of laps and a diagram of the course will be shown in the clubhouse. A lap is completed on each occasion that a boat crosses the finishing line. The intended position of the finishing line will normally be shown on the diagram, but in the absence of this will be mark “F”, if used, or at the final mark of the course otherwise.

Course marks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and X are red spherical buoys.

Course marks 2, 4, 6, 8 and F are yellow cans.

Starting marks are pink spherical buoys marked appropriately.

If the course is changed at any time before the scheduled start time flag “N” will be displayed with three sound signals. The new course will be displayed at the start mast and a 30 minute display period shall not be required. An orange diamond will also be displayed on the course board, to indicate a changed course. Flag “N” will be lowered with one sound signal at 1 minute before the first warning signal of the start sequence.

For the second race in a BTB series the 30 minute display period shall not be required. The correct course will be displayed on a board at the start line, and if different from the first race this shall be signified by the presence of an orange diamond on the course board. In this case the numbers inside the clubhouse may not be accurate.

A change of course during the race will be signalled near the mark beginning the change of course by a race committee boat displaying code flag “C” and making periodic sound signals.

10 Starting Times

The starting times will be specified on the Race Board. The sailing programme will provide a guide for the start times. For all races the start time shall be no earlier than that advertised.

11 Starting Line

The starting line will normally be a line between the orange mast on the committee boat or the start mast on the bank, and the outer limit mark. The race officer can elect to use a mark of the course as the outer limit mark, and if doing so will make this clear to all competitors. An inner line mark may be laid. To start a boat shall cross this line in the direction of the first mark, but shall not pass between the mast and the inner line mark if laid. When a “round the ends” rule applies, and the starting line is from the shore, boats prematurely over the line may return by passing between the inner mark and the bank

12 Starting Signals

Starting signals will not follow RRS rule 26, but shall be according to the following procedure:

Each race start will have a warning signal followed by a preparatory signal, the warning flag being as advised in the clubhouse near the course board, and the preparatory being code flag “P”. Each signal will consist of the flag and one sound signal. Times shall be taken from the visual signals and the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded. The warning and preparatory flags shall remain flying until the start time.

For a race with a single start, both flags shall be lowered at the start time. In a multiple start sequence, where the start of one race is the preparatory signal for a succeeding start, then the preparatory flag shall remain flying, while the warning flag for the race which is starting is lowered.

Starting penalty flags, if required, will be displayed alongside the preparatory flag.

The interval between starting signals will be advised separately, but is normally two minutes.

For pursuit races separate instructions apply.

13 Recalls

Individual Recall – This instruction changes RRS rule 29.1. For individual recalls, boats may comply with rule 29.1 or 30.1, at any time while the race officer is on station at the start line. The time periods in 29.1 do not apply.

General Recalls - This instruction changes RRS rule 29.2. A general recall shall be signalled in the same way and for the same reasons stated in RRS rule 29.2. The preparatory signal, accompanied by the warning flag and any start penalty flag, shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed with one sound signal.

During a multiple start sequence, where the recalled fleet is not the last fleet to be started, the recalled fleet shall go to the back of the queue of fleets to be started. The code flag “First Substitute” shall be lowered 1 minute after the unsuccessful start without an accompanying sound signal. The preparatory signal for the recalled fleet, accompanied by the class warning flag and any start penalty flag, shall be made at the start signal of the fleet previously at the back of the queue.

14 Start Penalties

Change to RRS rule 30. Following a general recall the race officer can elect to either:

enforce a one minute round the ends flag “I” rule, as per RRS rule 30.1 or

enforce a 20% penalty flag “Z” rule, as per RRS rule 30.2

15 Finishing

The finishing line can be at any mark of the course. If finishing at mark “F”, the line will be between the black line on the race box and the mark. If the intended finishing line is at another mark, then this mark will be designated on the clubhouse diagram. The race may be finished at any mark other than that originally intended. In all cases other than finishing at “F” the Committee boat, displaying either code flag “S” or a blue flag, will position itself near a mark and the finishing line will be between the mast of the Committee boat and the mark.

Pursuit races will be finished in accordance with separate instructions.

After finishing a boat shall clear the finish line in the direction of the course and shall not re-cross the line in either direction before the last boat has finished. Where the Race Officer or his team observe a breach of this instruction the penalty shall be a payment into the club charity box or disqualification from the race. RRS 63.1 is modified to allow this. The list of current penalty charges will be displayed in the clubhouse.

16 Shortening Course

Change to RRS Rule 32.1. The Race Officer is permitted to shorten the course for any reason. 

Once the first boat is finished following a shorten course signal then all boats will finish as they next complete a lap.

17 Time Limit

Change to RRS Rule 35. The Race Officer can elect to enforce a time limit for boats which have not finished within the specified time after the first finishing boat. The minimum time limit is 20 minutes for normal races and 10 minutes for BTB races. The time limit signals the end of the race and will be signalled by the display of code flag “T” accompanied by two long sound signals. For boats that are still racing when the time limit is invoked, the Race Officer will use his judgement to give a finishing position.

18 Protests

The Race Officer must be informed of the intention to protest within 30 minutes of the last boat finishing the race. The completed protest form must be lodged within another 30 minutes for normal races. For BTB races the protest form shall be lodged within 60 minutes of the last boat finishing the last race. Protests will be heard as soon as possible. RRS Rule 63.1 (Requirement for a Hearing) is modified to allow disqualification without a hearing when the Race Officer or his team observe a breach of RRS Rule 28.1 (Sailing the Course).

19 Handicap Races

Corrected time for each boat will be calculated using the Portsmouth Yardstick system, but Club Numbers may be allocated to classes based on their performance in Club races. A list of Club numbers, plus commonly used Portsmouth Numbers, will be posted on the Race Board. All other classes will use numbers in the current RYA YR2 publication. If a personal handicap system is being used for a series, then these numbers will be posted on the Race Board.

To ensure relative parity of racing time in a fleet with widely varying boat speeds it is often necessary to have boats sailing different numbers of laps. In this case an “Average Lap” method is used to compute the time it would have taken a boat to sail the full length of race. Details of this method are posted on the Race Board and in the race box.

20 Scoring

20.1 Series Racing

For series racing the scoring system will be indicated on the notice board. Common ones are:

i.      League system. All races count. In each race an entrant scores one point for starting, plus one point for each entrant he/she beats. The highest total score wins the series. Only one starter is required to constitute a race.

ii.     “O” league system. All races count. A critical factor is selected for the series. In each race an entrant scores one point for starting, plus one point for each entrant he/she beats whose total score at the beginning of the race is not less than his/her own score minus the critical factor. The highest total score wins the series. Only one starter is required to constitute a race.

iii.   The low point system described in Appendix A of the RRS, following the provisions of RRS A9 except where varied by the following. The number of races to count shall be equal to half the number of qualifying races for the series, rounded down to the nearest integer, unless clearly stated otherwise on the results notice board. The score for a boat that did not come to the start area (DNC), shall be determined separately and stated on the results notice board. Only one starter is required to constitute a race. Further deviations from RRS A9 are allowable, provide they are clearly stated on the results notice board.

20.2 Special Events

For special events points will be awarded according to the low points system described in Appendix A of RRS, except that: A boat that comes to the starting area (considered a starter), but does not finish shall be scored the number of starters for that race plus one. A boat not considered a starter, or a disqualified boat shall be scored the number of entrants for the event plus one. The number of races to count shall be one less than the number of races sailed unless only one or two races are sailed. In this case all races shall count.

21 RRS Rule 45.

RRS rule 45 will not apply in that a boat need not be off moorings before her preparatory signal.