Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions - DRAFT

These are the draft Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions that I sent to LJ to review. They try to preserve everything that can be salvaged from our obsolete 2001 "Racing Instructions", while making them legal and conforming to the modern racing rules and state laws, and more in agreement with RGSC current practice.

They're still a little rough and clumsy and probably need some tweaking and maybe streamlining. The Race Committee probably will want to decide on whether a couple of things belong and how they should be worded.



Spring and Fall Series
March 10 – April 29, 2007, and September 22 – November 17, 2007
Rio Grande Sailing Club
Elephant Butte Lake, NM

DRAFT NOTICE OF RACE

1 RULES

1.1 The spring and fall series, and all individual regattas and races conducted by the Rio Grande Sailing Club, will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005–2008, except as modified or supplemented herein.

1.2 Skippers are reminded to review the current edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing, including the opening sections, definitions, and prescriptions. The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions do not limit or reduce the responsibility of individual participants to be solely and entirely responsible for their own conduct and the operation of the boats they sail. Final responsibility for the safe operation of any yacht participating in any activity belongs solely to the skipper of that yacht.

1.3 The use of handicap systems (PHRF, Portsmouth Yardstick, etc.) will comply with the rules and guidelines of US Sailing. Skippers are reminded that class and handicap rules are part of the Rules.

1.4 The Race Committee is authorized, if sufficient interest is expressed, to form a “Club”, “Novice”, or “Cruise” fleet. Special rules may be published for this fleet, and local handicaps may be assigned or adjusted. Results for this fleet will be recorded separately from those for other fleets and will not be reported to handicapping authorities. A skipper may not participate in this fleet and in one of the regular racing fleets during the same race or regatta. The race committee may limit eligibility to participate in this fleet based upon skipper and crew experience levels or other criteria.

1.5 A leeward boat does not have luffing rights over a windward boat after sunset. This changes rule 11.

2 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

2.1 Eligibility to Participate:

Skippers desiring to participate in RGSC sponsored races shall: (a) be a current member of US Sailing or a US Sailing-affiliated club; (b) properly complete and submit to the Race Committee the race entry form, including the release of liability, prior to the warning signal of the first race; (c) pay the required registration fee.

The Race Committee may elect to subscribe to the US Sailing differential entry fee and add a registration surcharge, of 10% or $5.00, whichever is greater, on each entry that is made by a skipper who is not a member of US Sailing.

The Race Committee, for any spring or fall series race, may also impose a temporary membership fee of $5.00 from any skipper who is not a member of the RGSC. This fee will be applicable to a club membership if the skipper joins the RGSC within 30 days.
The temporary membership fee is waived for current dues-paid members of the New Mexico Sailing Club.

2.2 Yacht Configuration and Equipment

Each regatta in the spring and fall series is open to monohull keel or cabin sailboats. Eligibility for other types of boats may be offered depending upon sufficient demand and available facilities.
Yacht configuration will be declared by each skipper. The skipper shall provide the necessary handicap information to be entered into the RGSC Yacht Rating Form and is responsible for the accuracy of this information. The skipper is responsible for declaring any modifications to a yacht or its equipment that would affect its rating under handicap or one-design class rules and is subject to penalty for any undeclared modification. Any modification of a yacht’s original design not allowed by class regulations may incur an additional handicap adjustment at the discretion of the Race Committee, and additional penalties as appropriate. Any such modifications shall be reported on the RGSC Yacht Rating Form

Each skipper is responsible for complying with the requirements of handicap rules, class rules, and all other applicable rules. If a yacht is to be raced under PHRF or any other system which requires a certificate for the yacht, then the skipper is responsible for obtaining and providing a valid certificate from US Sailing’s regional sailing association, the Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes. If a yacht lacks a valid certificate, the Race Committee may, at its option, assign a temporary local handicap number that is valid only locally and within limits determined by the Race Committee.

Each skipper is responsible for complying with local, state, and federal laws and regulations and for carrying safety equipment and other items required by the State of New Mexico.
In addition, the RGSC requires any boats raced at night to be equipped with running lights, spotlights or flashlights, and whistles and lights on PFDs.

Each skipper and crew member will wear PFDs as required by local, state, or federal law. Additionally, except when below decks or for brief periods when changing clothing or equipment, each skipper and crew member will wear PFDs during full white capping conditions, or when the “Y” flag is flown from the committee boat.

Except for night racing, outboard motors may be removed from their usual position and properly stowed prior to the preparatory signal. However, should the outboard motor be moved following the preparatory signal, RRS Rule 51, Moving Ballast shall be enforced.

2.3 Skippers’ Meeting

A skippers’ meeting will be held (See Notice of Race or club publications for location) on the initial day of a scheduled race event, for the purpose of completing entry forms, signing release forms, paying racing fees, and receiving special race instructions.

Eligible boats may enter by sending a representative to attend the skipper/crew meeting at the time and location designated for each regatta in Elephant Butte, paying the $15 registration fee, and signing the registration form and release of liability form.

Pre-registered boats may elect not to send a representative to the skipper/crew meeting, but must pay race fees prior to the first warning signal, sign the registration form and release of liability form, and abide by all applicable rules and instructions.

2.3 Eligible boats will be divided into the following classes for purposes of scoring and awards:
Etchells Class, International Etchells Class Association members
A Fleet, Portsmouth D-PN of 84.0 or lower
B Fleet, Portsmouth D-PN of 84.1 or higher

Full-displacement cruising boats with a D-PN of 84.0 or lower may be entered in the B Fleet at the race committee’s discretion.

2.4 Serving as Committee Boat
All participants in racing are required to provide a boat and crew to serve as Race Committee Signal Boat on an equitable basis. The committee boat and crew are to be present in the center of the race course start area well prior to the scheduled first warning signal on each day of a regatta. The committee boat crew, in consultation with the race committee chairman or designated race committee members, is responsible for registering late entries prior to the first warning signal, setting a starting line, signaling courses and other information, conducting and signaling each starting sequence, recording finish times and all other pertinent information, and doing what is necessary to provide a fair and safe regatta to all racers. As provided for in The Racing Rules of Sailing, a committee boat may postpone the start of any race, if it appears that the sailing conditions would not allow a fair contest among competitors.

If a volunteer cannot be located, the Race Committee will determine the skipper with the largest number of races since last serving as Committee Boat. That skipper will be responsible for arranging a Committee Boat and is ineligible for further racing until the Committee duty is satisfied.

A skipper who does not provide a committee boat as scheduled, is ineligible for further racing until the committee boat duty is satisfied, or unless and until an alternate penalty is imposed upon the skipper by the race committee, protest committee, jury, or club board, as appropriate.

3 FEES

3.1 Required fees are $15 per boat for each regatta within the series.


4 SCHEDULE


4.1 Registration is as follows
10:00 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Casa Taco.
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2007, at Casa Taco
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 14, 2007, at the Dam Site
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 28, 2007, at the Dam Site
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 22, at the old Dam Site marina at Rock Canyon
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 13, at the old Dam Site marina at Rock Canyon
11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 27, at the Dam Site restaurant
10:00 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 17, at Casa Taco

These times, dates, and places may be changed by prior announcement in club publications, the club website, or by mail or e-mail. Except in extraordinary circumstances, such changes will be announced at least 72 hours in advance.

4.2 Starting Time: The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on each Saturday is 2:00 p.m., except for the Spring Series 1 and Fall Series 4 races, which start with a warning signal at 1:00 p.m.

5 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The Sailing Instructions will be made available to each boat at the skippers’ meeting.
The Sailing Instructions may optionally be made available prior to a regatta via mail, club publications, electronic mail, or web publication.

6 VENUE

6.1 Attachment A shows the racing area, including the channel marker buoys to be used in racing, designated by number.

7 THE COURSES
The diagrams in Attachment B show the Olympic courses, including the order in which marks are to be passed. All marks are to be left to port.

The courses to be sailed will be as follows: For each race, the race committee signal boat will display flags to indicate the configuration of the course, as designated by letter on the chart of Olympic courses, and the first mark of the course, as indicated by number on the race area map.
8 SCORING

8.1 Individual Events
The scoring system will follow the low-point system in Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing except as follows: For an individual regatta or race that is not part of a series, the race committee will determine whether to allow throw-outs and the number of throw-outs, if any. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

For individual events or regattas, or series of two or fewer events or regattas, the race committee may at its option choose to use the following schedule of throw-outs:
0 – 3 races no throw-outs 4
– 6 races one throw-out
7 – 9 races two throw-outs 10 or more three throw-outs

8.2 Series Scoring
The scoring system will follow the low-point system in Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing except as follows:

A yacht that did not participate in an event (individual race or regatta), but which otherwise qualifies to be scored for a series, will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of yachts qualifying for the series.

All other yachts, including a yacht that finishes but thereafter withdraws or is disqualified, will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the total number of yachts that are entered in that event.

The number of throw-outs for the series will be set by the race committee, which will allow throw-outs (from scores eligible for a throw-out) equal to 20% of the number of races completed by a boat. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

When a club member serves as or supplies the Committee Boat for a series event, his/her points for that event will be calculated as equal to the average points earned for all races in the series which the member’s yacht finished without subsequent withdrawal or disqualification in other races of the series.

Should the assigned Committee Boat fail to appear at the scheduled start time, the Race Committee may, at its discretion, penalize the assigned Committee Boat or its club sponsor in such a manner that the places awarded the boat or sponsor in series standing will be penalized by not more than 1.5 places for each race completed in the absence of the assigned committee boat.

8.3 One race is required to be completed to constitute a regatta for each spring series regatta.

8.4 A yacht must finish without subsequent withdrawal or disqualification in at least 50% of the races in a series to qualify for overall placement in that series and to be eligible for series awards. Service as committee boat counts as one, but no more than one, regatta for purposes of eligibility for series awards. A yacht that does not qualify for series placement will not be scored for the series.

8.5 A Fleet boats will be scored on Portsmouth handicap with wind modifiers. B Fleet boats will be scored on Portsmouth handicap with the addition of headsail modifiers.

8.6 For any fleets in which headsail modifiers are allowed, each skipper will declare before each event, and before his/her first series race of a season, whether a spinnaker will be used while racing. A non-spinnaker rating will be used for scoring if the skipper waives spinnaker use for an event through a “no spinnaker” declaration on the sign-up sheet. This option is not available for the Etchells or A Fleets.

8.7 Overall awards combined across all fleets may be given for the spring and fall series. The overall series awards will be scored on DP-N only. Overall awards will be scored based on races in which all boats were able to start at the same time. Depending upon how starts are scheduled, this number may be smaller than the number of races that is used for scoring within each class or fleet.

9 PRIZES
Prizes will be given as follows:
Each regatta: trophies for the top two yachts in each fleet.
Series Awards: Etchells Class: top two or three, according to participation A Fleet: top two or three, according to participation B Fleet: top two or three, according to participation

Overall trophies across all fleets may be awarded, at the discretion of the race committee and depending upon participation and interest. If these awards are given, they will be given to the top two boats overall, with the number subject to modification depending upon participation.
The number of awards given for each regatta and for the series may be modified based upon participation.
The Race Committee may use the following general guidelines at its discretion:
Qualifying boats per fleet and number of trophies:
1 – 2 1 trophy or award
3 – 4 2 trophies or awards
5 or more 3 or more trophies or awards

10 DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

11 INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum coverage sufficient to meet New Mexico State Parks requirements.

12 FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information please contact the following:
Larry Jessee, Race Committee Chairman Pat Byrnes, Vice Commodore
Rio Grande Sailing Club PO Box 13953 Albuquerque, NM 87192
*************** *************** ***************
Spring and Fall Series March 10 – April 29, 2007
September 22 – November 18, 2007
Rio Grande Sailing Club
Elephant Butte Lake, NM
DRAFT SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1 RULES

1.1 The spring and fall series, and all individual regattas and races conducted by the Rio Grande Sailing Club, will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, 2005–2008, except as modified or supplemented herein.

1.2 Skippers are reminded to review the current edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing, including the opening sections, definitions, and prescriptions. The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions do not limit or reduce the responsibility of individual participants to be solely and entirely responsible for their own conduct and the operation of the boats they sail. Final responsibility for the safe operation of any yacht participating in any activity belongs solely to the skipper of that yacht.

1.3 The use of handicap systems (PHRF, Portsmouth Yardstick, etc.) will comply with the rules and guidelines of US Sailing. Skippers are reminded that class and handicap rules are part of the Rules.

1.4 The Race Committee is authorized, if sufficient interest is expressed, to form a “Club”, “Novice”, or “Cruise” fleet. Special rules may be published for this fleet, and local handicaps may be assigned or adjusted. Results for this fleet will be recorded separately from those for other fleets and will not be reported to handicapping authorities. A skipper may not participate in this fleet and in one of the regular racing fleets during the same race or regatta. The race committee may limit eligibility to participate in this fleet based upon skipper and crew experience levels or other criteria.

1.5 A leeward boat does not have luffing rights over a windward boat after sunset. This changes rule 11.

2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS/CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1 The Sailing Instructions will be made available to each boat at the skippers’ meeting. The Sailing Instructions may optionally be made available prior to the regatta via mail, club publications, electronic mail, or web publication.

2.2 Changes to sailing instructions may not be made orally at the skippers’ meeting. Should unusual circumstances require that the SIs be changed, the changes will either be posted at the skippers’ meeting or announced from the race committee signal boat as described below.
Notices to competitors and changes to sailing instructions will be made from the racing committee signal boat. If a notice or change is to be made, the boat will fly flag L, and competitors are to come within hailing distance.

3 SCHEDULE OF REGATTAS:

3.1 Dates of racing: Spring Series: March 10–11, March 24–25, April 14–15, and April 28–29, 2007. Fall Series: September 22–23, October 13–14, October 27–28, and November 17, 2007.
3.2 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race on each Saturday is 2:00 p.m. (except 1:00 p.m. for spring series 1 and fall series 4).

3.3 No warning signal will be made after 5:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. for Spring Series 1 and fall series 4) unless the race committee elects to invoke the optional one-hour before sunset limit.

3.4 The race committee may elect to invoke replace the limit stated in section 3.3 with a one-hour before sunset limit by amending the SIs for any race to replace section 3.3 with this section.

If so, no warning signal may be made after one hour before sunset. For convenience, the times of the hour before sunset in Elephant Butte, New Mexico, are listed below for each race Saturday in 2007:
5:13 MST, March 10 (6:13 sunset) (time change 2nd Sunday in Mar.)
6:23 MDT, March 24 (7:23 sunset)
6:39 MDT, April 14 (7:39 sunset)
6:49 MDT, April 28 (7:49 sunset)
6:06 MDT, September 22 (7:06 sunset)
5:38 MDT, October 13 (6:38 sunset)
5:23 MDT, October 27 (6:23 sunset)
4:06 MST, November 17 (5:06 sunset) (time change 1st Sunday in Nov.)
4 CLASS FLAGS

A yellow flag shall be used as the default class flag for a combined start of multiple fleets.
If each fleet is to be started separately, then class flags may be used as designated from the committee boat prior to the warning signal for a race. When feasible, the following flags may be used to designate the separate fleets:

Etchells Class: code flag E or Etchells flag A Fleet: yellow flag, code flag A, or J fleet flag B Fleet: red flag or code flag B
5 RACING AREA

Attachment A shows the racing area, including the channel marker buoys to be used for series races.

6 THE COURSES

6.1 The diagrams in Attachment B show the Olympic courses, including the order in which marks are to be passed. All marks are to be left to port.

6.2 No later than the warning signal, the race committee signal boat will display flags for the letter designating the course and the number designating the first mark as shown on the race area map. The letter flag will designate the course(s) chosen from one of fifteen Olympic Circle courses (see Race Course Sheet).

If a common start is used for multiple fleets or classes that are to have different courses, then the following sequence will apply, displayed from top to bottom: Fleet or class flag for the first fleet or class, first mark number flag for the first fleet or class, course number flag for the first fleet or class; then fleet or class flag for the second fleet or class above its mark number flag and course number flag, and so forth for each succeeding fleet.

If course “E” (“small triangle”) is signaled, the start-finish line will be set for a reaching finish. Boats are to finish upwind, in the same direction and position as used for the original start of the course.

7 MARKS

7.1 Turning marks 1 through 8 are designated channel marker buoys as shown on the race area map. The race committee may, as an alternative, use temporary (“drop”) marks in place of the channel marker buoys.

7.2 The starting and finishing marks will be a staff displaying an orange flag on the race committee signal boat at the starboard end, and a round orange buoy at the port end, looking upwind.
8 TIME LIMITS

8.1 If no boat has finished the first leg within 45 minutes, or a course of four or fewer legs within 120 minutes, the race will be abandoned. This changes rule 35.

8.2 A boat failing to finish within 45 minutes after the first boat within her fleet or class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish. This changes rules 35 and A4.

8.3 A race course may be changed, shortened, or abandoned in accordance with The Racing Rules of Sailing.

9 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

9.1 Protest forms are available at the race committee signal boat or from the race committee chairman. Protests shall be submitted to the race chairman for review by the protest committee within the protest time limit.

9.2 The protest time limit is 45 minutes after the race committee signal boat reaches the dock. The same time limit applies to protests by the race committee and protest committee about incidents they observe in the racing area and to requests for redress. This changes rules 61.3 and 62.2.
10 SCORING

10.1 Individual Events

The scoring system will follow the low-point system in Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing except as follows: For an individual regatta or race that is not part of a series, the race committee will determine whether to allow throw-outs and the number of throw-outs, if any. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

For individual events or regattas, or series of two or fewer events or regattas, the race committee may at its option choose to use the following schedule of throw-outs:
0 – 3 races no throw-outs
4 – 6 races one throw-out
7 – 9 races two throw-outs
10 or more three throw-outs
10.2 Series Scoring

The scoring system will follow the low-point system in Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing except as follows:

A yacht that did not participate in an event (individual race or regatta), but which otherwise qualifies to be scored for a series, will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of yachts qualifying for the series.

All other yachts, including a yacht that finishes but thereafter withdraws or is disqualified, will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the total number of yachts that are entered in that event.

The number of throw-outs for the series will be set by the race committee, which will allow throw-outs (from scores eligible for a throw-out) equal to 20% of the number of races completed by a boat. This changes Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

10.3 One race is required to be completed to constitute a regatta.

10.4 A yacht must finish without subsequent withdrawal or disqualification in at least 50% of the races in a series to qualify for overall placement in that series and to be eligible for series awards. Service as committee boat is counted for eligibility during one regatta for purposes of eligibility for series awards. A yacht that does not qualify for series placement will not be scored for the series. Service as committee boat counts as one, but no more than one, regatta for purposes of eligibility for series awards.

10.5 A Fleet boats will be scored on Portsmouth handicap with wind modifiers. B Fleet boats will be scored on Portsmouth handicap with the addition of headsail modifiers.

10.6 For any fleets in which headsail modifiers are allowed, each skipper will declare before each event, and before his/her first series race of a season, whether a spinnaker will be used while racing. A non-spinnaker rating will be used for scoring if the skipper waives spinnaker use for an event through a “no spinnaker” declaration on the sign-up sheet. This option is not available for the Etchells or A Fleets.

10.7 Overall awards combined across all fleets may be given for the spring and fall series. The overall series awards will be scored on DP-N only. Overall awards will be scored based on races in which all boats were able to start at the same time. Depending upon how starts are scheduled, this number may be smaller than the number of races that is used for scoring within each class or fleet.

10.6 Boats that serve as committee boat during a regatta will have average scores calculated for purposes of series scoring. Points for an event will be calculated as equal to the average points earned for all races in the series which the member’s yacht finished without subsequent withdrawal or disqualification in other races of the series.

10.7 Boats that are scheduled by the race committee to serve as committee boat, but fail to appear, may be penalized as follows. Should the assigned Committee Boat fail to appear at the scheduled start time, the Race Committee may, at its discretion, penalize the assigned Committee Boat or its club sponsor in such a manner that the places awarded the boat or sponsor in series standing will be penalized by not more than 1.5 places for each race completed in the absence of the assigned committee boat.

11 PRIZES
Prizes will be given as follows:
Each regatta: trophies for the top two yachts in each fleet.

Series Awards: Etchells Class: top two or three, according to participation A Fleet: top two or three, according to participation B Fleet: top two or three, according to participation
Overall trophies across all fleets may be awarded, at the discretion of the race committee and depending upon participation and interest. If these awards are given, they will be given to the top two boats overall, with the number subject to modification depending upon participation.
The number of awards given for each regatta and for the series may be modified based upon participation. The Race Committee may use the following general guidelines at its discretion:
Qualifying boats per fleet and number of trophies:
1 – 2 1 trophy or award
3 – 4 2 trophies or awards
5 or more 3 or more trophies or awards

12 DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. Rio Grande Sailing Club will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

13 INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum coverage sufficient to meet New Mexico State Parks requirements.



******************** ******************** ********************
COMMENTS AND CHANGES FOR OLD RACE INSTRUCTIONS
General:
Rules have changed since 2001. Telling people that they are required to use the obsolete rules is a big no-no. An unethical racer could try to stir up trouble by deliberately relying upon an obsolete and invalid rule, i.e. trying to get away with “hunting” or some other practice that is now prohibited.
The document is titled “Race Instructions”, but then is called “sailing instructions” in paragraph 2 of the prologue, but doesn’t follow the US Sailing format or requirements for SIs (RRS 89.2, RRS Appendix J, RRS Appendix K).

US Sailing RRS requires NORs and SIs for a race or series and does not recognize a document called “Race Instructions”. See RRS 25, 88.2, 89.2. Having a document that applies to all of our races is cumbersome, makes it hard to meet RRS requirements, and increases the chance of a rules conflict with our practices for non-series regattas and races. Normal practice would be to write separate NORs and SIs for each series or special event, which makes it much easier to make sure we are providing correct, accurate information to racers that follows our current practices and the special requirements of specific events. We could keep a generic set of SIs for the series races, but would still need separate SIs for distance races, Slocum, Sunrise, etc.
Many items in the race instructions duplicate or overlap the racing rules of sailing in whole or part, creating potential confusion and opportunities for a protestee to exploit the confusion in a protest hearing. This greatly increases the risk of a decision by the RGSC protest committee being rejected upon appeal.

The Race Instructions document fails to use the correct practice required by US Sailing to make a change to a racing rule (when that rule is one that is allowed to be changed). The SIs must specifically reference each rule that is to be changed and state each change. “This changes rule xx.x.” Because this has not been done, the changes are not in effect (invalid, null) and any club position or action based on them would be thrown out by US Sailing if any of our decisions were appealed (RRS 86).

NORs and SIs are to be made available to competitors (RRS 25). The “Race Instructions” have not been made available to competitors at any of the regattas we have attended; this violates RRS 25, 88, and 89.

The Race Instructions mentions the Race Committee issuing a DSQ under certain circumstances. This violates the RRS. DSQs can only be issued by a Protest Committee or Jury (RRS Appendix A, A5, Scores Determined by the Race Committee).

The list of equipment required by state law is not complete and also incorrectly includes items not required by state law. Re-write correctly and separate out what’s really required by law, by class rules, and by the club.

The stated PFD requirements are in conflict with state law and have not been followed in current practice.

Several items do not seem to reflect current RGSC race committee practice. The start/finish line is no longer an obstruction. Do we still do 10% differential entry fees, $5 temporary memberships, club fleet, etc.? Do we still do throw-outs for individual regattas that are not part of a series? Do you want to be bound by the trophy formula in 3.4? NORs and SIs should reflect current practice.
The document mentions specific times that are significantly different from current practice (9:30 AM Skippers’ Meeting, 12:15 PM Saturday start, 9:00 AM Sunday start).
The document refers to a Racing Instruction Rule 6, but the copy I saw only went through rule 4.5. Is there more?

Details: See below.

RIO GRANDE SAILING CLUB
RACE INSTRUCTIONS
1-1-2001
The Rio Grande Sailing Club (RGSC) is a member of the US Sailing Association
[United States Sailing Association, “US Sailing” to use correct name]. The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), 2001-2005
[no such RRS ever existed; old ones were for 2001–2004]
[use 2005-2008]
, except as modified or supplemented herein, shall govern the conduct of club sponsored races. Final responsibility for the safe operation of any yacht participating in any activity belongs solely to the skipper of that yacht.
[repeats RRS 4, 3]

The Rio Grande Sailing Club, its officers and members, are not liable for loss of life or injury to persons participating in club sponsored events or for damage to property.
These sailing instructions do not limit or reduce the responsibility of individual participants to be solely and entirely responsible for their own conduct and the operation of the boats they sail [overlaps/duplicates RRS 4]. Skippers are reminded to review the Racing Rules of Sailing, including the opening sections [and definitions].

RULE 1. REGISTRATION, SKIPPERS MEETING

RULE 1.1 SKIPPERS’ MEETING: A skippers’ meeting will be held (See Notice of Race or club publications for location) on the initial day of a scheduled race event, for the purpose of completing entry forms, signing release forms, paying racing fees, and receiving special race instructions. Pre-registered skippers need not be represented; however, skippers without representation bear a responsibility to adhere to any special rules or circumstances applicable to the event which are announced at the meeting.
[Caution: NORs and SIs may not be changed orally during a pre-race meeting. Re-word to keep legal.]
The Race Committee shall not announce changes to the written instructions, except in unusual circumstances. The meeting will begin at 9:30 AM, [Not our standard time. This may be too specific for a document that tries to apply to all RGSC races.] unless specified in the Notice of Race. If a yacht participates in any race during an event, the fee for the entire event is due and payable.

RULE 1.2 ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE: Skippers desiring to participate in RGSC sponsored races shall: (a) be a current member of US Sailing or a US Sailing affiliated club; (b) properly fill out and submit to the Race Committee the race entry form, including the release of liability, prior to the warning signal of the first race; (c) pay the required registration fee; (The RGSC subscribes to the US Sailing differential entry fee policy. Skippers who are not members of US Sailing are subject to an additional 10% of the registration fee.) (d) for a series race, pay $5.00 for a temporary non-voting membership, if the skipper is not a current member of the RGSC. (This fee may be applied towards the full membership fee, if the skipper joins the RGSC within 30 days.)
[Are the differential entry fee and temporary membership still being collected?]

RULE 1.3 HANDICAP SYSTEMS: The use of handicap systems will comply with the rules and guidelines of US Sailing (PHRF, Portsmouth Yardstick, etc.). If PHRF is used to handicap any fleet, handicap ratings for boats participating in that fleet will be established through the recognized regional authority of US Sailing (Currently Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes). The Race Committee may establish a “Club” fleet. Handicaps and race courses for the Club Fleet may be adjusted and/or adapted for cruise-racing, according to the desires of Club Fleet participants.

RULE 1.4 PRE-REGISTRATION: It is not necessary for skippers to attend the skippers’ meeting, provided: (a) they report necessary information to the Committee Boat prior to the start of the race sequence of the first race in which the yacht intends to participate and sign the race entry form; (b) they pay the race fee prior to the first race of the event in which they intend to participate.

RULE 1.5 FLEETS: Three or more yachts may participate in a regatta or a series as a separate fleet. Fewer than three yachts may participate as a fleet in a given race in a series, if it is anticipated that three or more yachts will qualify for the entire series. Three or more skippers wishing to race as a separate fleet must notify the Race Committee two weeks in advance of the event, to allow for adequate preparations. If at least three yachts are present in a fleet, separate starts may be conducted for that fleet at the discretion of the Committee Boat.

RULE 1.6 SERVING AS COMMITTEE BOAT: All participants in racing are expected to serve as Committee Boat on an equitable basis. If a volunteer cannot be located, the Race Committee will determine the skipper with the largest number of races since last serving as Committee Boat. That skipper will be responsible for arranging a Committee Boat and is ineligible for further racing until the Committee duty is satisfied.

RULE 2. STARTS, COURSES, FINISHES

RULE 2.1 STARTING TIMES: The preparatory signal for the first race of a weekend event will be at 12:15 PM Saturday, unless a different time is announced at the Skippers’ Meeting or in the Notice of Race. Sunday racing will begin at 9:00 AM. Late yachts may start the course upon arrival; however, to avoid disqualification, they must cease motoring five minutes before the start signal for their fleet. No race will be started less than one hour before sundown, unless previously scheduled as a night race. Should the assigned Committee Boat fail to appear at the scheduled start time, the Race Committee may, at its discretion, penalize the assigned Committee Boat or its club sponsor in such a manner that the places awarded the boat or sponsor in series standing will be increased by not more than 1.5 places for each race during the weekend.
[Re-word to make this clear and to conform to desired current practice.]

RULE 2.2 DELAYING THE START: The Committee Boat may delay the start of any race, if it appears that the sailing conditions would not allow a fair contest among competitors.
[This is already in the RRS and therefore need not and should not be stated here.]

RULE 2.3 RECALLS: In the absence of an error in the start procedures, general recalls will be issued only when the Committee Boat is either unable to determine which yachts are over early or so many yachts are over early that the number of returning yachts will create a significant hazard of collision.
[This partly duplicates and partly conflicts with the RRS.]

RULE 2.4 SETTING COURSES: If the Olympic Circle is used for racing (see RI Rule 6), [My copy only goes through RI Rule 4.5!] [and we no longer have the original Olympic Circle] the race course will be designated by International Code Flags and Pennants flown from the Committee Boat or by use of a marker board affixed to the Committee Boat. The number pennant, flown at the top, will designate the first mark of the course to be sailed. The letter flag or flags will designate the course(s) chosen from one of fifteen Olympic Circle courses (see Race Course Sheet).

If multiple letter flags are flown, the letter flags should read from top to bottom , with the first letter flag applicable to “A” fleet, and so forth. If the marker board is used, the number of the first mark and course designation will be spelled out. If course “E” is designated, a yacht shall finish by crossing the finish line in either direction.
[E is the little triangle. Is this either-way rule needed? Or does it cause more trouble to have yachts able to be pointed at each other while finishing and having the possibility of mixed upwind and downwind finishes?]
[Race committee equipment does not include a marker board.]

RULE 2.5 START/FINISH LINE AS AN OBSTRUCTION: After a yacht starts and until that yacht approaches to finish, the finish line or a combined start/finish line shall be considered an obstruction. A yacht prematurely crossing such a line may exonerate herself by retracing her path back across the line. Prior to their fleet start and after finishing, yachts have a duty to remain clear of the line.
[Obsolete – We changed this. We do not treat the line as an obstruction.]
RULES 2.6 CANCELING, POSTPONING, OR SHORTENING A RACE: At any time, races, may be cancelled, postponed, abandoned, or shortened at the discretion of the Committee Boat by flag signal. Races should be shortened at rounding marks of the race course.
[Duplicates, overlaps, and conflicts with RRS 32, 33, 34.]
[The phrase “any time” is not really true and violates RRS in some circumstances. The rules for postponing or abandoning a race, and the rules for shortening or changing races are different and must not be lumped together. Permitted actions vary depending on whether the race has started, where boats are on the course, and whether someone has finished. Get back to the real rules.]

RULE 2.7 TERMINATION OF A RACE: Unless otherwise announced at the Skippers’ Meeting or in the Notice of Race, the time limit for “A” fleet to finish will be 45 minutes after the first boat in “A” fleet has finished. For “B” fleet the time limit for finishing will be one hour after the first boat in “B” fleet has finished. Those yachts still racing may use their motor up to the preparatory signal of the subsequent race, without disqualification, but will be accorded a DNF in the current race.
[We have not been giving the B fleet a separate one-hour limit in current practice.]
[Wording about motoring needs to be written to be clear.]

RULE 2.8 LUFFING AFTER SUNSET: A leeward boat does not have luffing rights over a windward boat after sunset.
[History of this?]

RULE 3. SCORING OF RACES AND SERIES

RULE 3.1 YACHT CONFIGURATION, RATINGS: Yacht configuration will be declared by each skipper. The skipper shall provide the necessary handicap information on the RGSC Yacht Rating Form. [Current practice: is the RGSC Yacht Rating Form something skippers fill out or is it treated as an internal Race Committee document? If the Rating Form isn’t being signed by skippers, then we are at risk. This was demonstrated several years ago when RGSC protest committee actions were not upheld upon appeal.]

If the yacht meets Portsmouth class configuration or one design racer configuration, that will be so noted on the Rating Form. If the yacht is raced under Portsmouth, the Race Committee will assign Wind Dependent Handicap Factors, along with appropriate allowance modifiers. If the yacht is raced under PHRF, the Race Committee will assign as appropriate, through unofficial, rating.
[This simulated rating isn’t valid for reporting scores and wouldn’t conform to PHRF; it would only be locally valid. If we have a PHRF race, why not just make people fill out the proper form and pay the small fee to get a real PHRF certificate?.]
Official PHRF ratings are obtained through application to the US Sailing regional authority, as stated in RI Rule 1.3. The skipper will declare before each event, and before his/her first series race of a season, whether a spinnaker will be used while racing. A non-spinnaker rating will be used for scoring if the skipper waives spinnaker use for an event through a “no spinnaker” declaration on the sign-up sheet.
[Is this current practice to let skippers switch between spinnaker and non-spinnaker during a series?]

RULE 3.2 SCORING A RACE: Unless otherwise indicated in the Notice of Race, each yacht racing in an event or series will be scored using a handicap factor. Points for placing in a race shall be based on the following: 1st: 1 point, 2nd: 2 points, 3rd: 3 points, etc.
[This duplicates RRS Appendix A Low Point System. Simply refer to RRS Appendix. A.]
A skipper who does not provide the necessary information required in R1 Rule 3.1 may race, but will not be officially scored.

RULE 3.3 SCORING A SERIES: A yacht that did not participate in an event will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of yachts qualifying for the series. All other yachts, including a yacht that finishes but thereafter withdraws or is disqualified, will be scored points for the finishing place one more than the total number of yachts that are entered in that event. A yacht must finish without subsequent withdrawal or disqualification in at least 50% of the races in a series to qualify for overall placement in that series.

When a club member serves as or supplies the Committee Boat for a series event, his/her points for that event will be calculated as equal to the average points earned for all races in which the member’s yacht finished without subsequent withdrawal or disqualification in other races of the series.

A yacht placing below another yacht that does not qualify for a series will have her place in that race adjusted accordingly (as if the non-qualifying yacht had not raced) for the purpose of scoring the series.
[Delete info that overlaps RRS Appendix A and state which parts of Appendix A are changed.]

RULE 3.4 PRIZES: Fleets up to and including three (3) yachts: one (1) trophy. Fleets up to and including five (5) yachts: two (2) trophies. Fleets of six (6) yachts or more: a minimum of three (3) trophies.
[Re-word to give the club and race committee more flexibility in establishing trophies.]

RULE 3.5 TIE RACE: When the corrected times for two or more yachts are the same when rounded to the nearest hundredth of a minute, the yachts shall be considered tied. The points for the place for which the yachts have tied and for the place immediately below shall be added together and divided equally.
[Duplicates/overlaps RRS A7.]

RULE 3.6 TIE SERIES: When two or more yachts accumulate exactly the same number of points for any event, regatta, or series, the following method of breaking ties shall be employed: (a) The boat with the greatest number of first places in individual races shall be awarded the higher place. If first place comparison fails to resolve the tie, second place finishes shall be compared and so forth until all ties are resolved or all potential comparison places are exhausted. (b) If the above fails to resolve a tie, the series shall be declared a tie for the place at issue. If duplicate trophies or other awards cannot be made, a flip of a coin shall decide to whom the awards will be given.
[Mostly duplicates RRS A8, A9, some conflict with RRS. It would be much better to just refer to the RRS.]

RULE 3.7 THROW OUTS: For series of two events or less, the following number of throw outs shall be allowed:
NUMBER OF RACES THROW OUTS
[Are we still using this?]
1 – 3 0
4 – 6 1
7 – 9 2
10 or more 3
For series of more than two events in length, the number of throw outs shall be equal to 20% of the number of races, rounded to the nearest whole number, or the number of races run during the event of the series during which the most races were run, whichever is greater.


RULE 4. EQUIPMENT, MODIFICATIONS

RULE 4.1 MODIFICATIONS: Any modification of a yacht’s original design not allowed by class regulations may incur an additional handicap adjustment at the discretion of the Race Committee. Any such modifications shall be reported on the RGSC Yacht Rating Form.
[Are skippers using Yacht Rating Form or is it an internal race committee document? Make sure this doesn’t conflict with RRS 78, 75 and make sure that skippers sign off on their configuration and class-compliant status. ]

RULE 4.2 EQUIPMENT: All yachts intending to race shall carry the equipment required by the State of New Mexico, including Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFD) for each person on board, a sound device (whistle or horn), an adequate anchor and rode, and fire extinguisher, plus any required class items. Night racing equipment will include whistles and lights on PFD’s, running lights, and spotlights or flashlights.

[This needs to be corrected. List above is incomplete and incorrect. NM also requires a throwable Type IV (cushion, lifering, Lifesling, etc.), paddle, bucket, and rope. The anchor and rode are not required by the state.

The “required class items” should be in a separate sentence from the list of state requirements – as the sentence now reads it appears that the state of NM is who is requiring them as well as the anchor. Club should decide as to whether we require all class-required equipment and, if so, be prepared to enforce such requirements and have a statement to resolve any discrepancy between government, class, and club required equipment.

And, should a competitor be able to protest a fellow competitor for not meeting some of the finer points of class configurations or only those related to performance and/or safety?]

RULE 4.3 WEARING OF PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES: The wearing of PFD’s as detailed here is, in all cases, mandatory when a person is not below deck in an enclosed cabin. A PFD must be sized adequately for the person wearing it. Infractions will be judged by the Race Committee and, if found in violation, a yacht will be given a DSQ. The wearing of PFD’s is mandatory for (a) all persons under eight years of age under all conditions; (b) all persons when full white capping conditions are present or when the mandatory life preserver pennant (Y flag) is flown by the Committee Boat; and (c) all persons after sunset.

[Conflicts and changes:
State of NM requires wearing of PFDs for children age twelve (12) and under, not eight (8) (though not in a cabin below deck or when the boat is parked at a dock).
State of NM requires PFDs for boat races or regattas. (See State of New Mexico Statues, Annotated, NMSA Chapter 6, Article 12, Section 7; and New Mexico Administrative Code, Chapter 17, Part 2, Boating Operations & Safety, 9 Equipment Required to Operate a Boat Vessel, paragraph 9-1-4).
State of NM and RRS both make an exception for temporarily removing PFDs for clothing changes.
The Race Committee is prohibited by the RRS from issuing a DSQ; DSQ’s must come from a Protest Committee.
Committee Boats volunteers must be trained to fly Y flag during full white-capping conditions. ]

RULE 4.4 KEEL POSITION: The position of a keel comprising less than 10% of the yacht’s total weight may be changed during a race at the discretion of the skipper. Otherwise, the keel shall be kept locked down in accordance with RRS Rule 51, Moving Ballast. [This is confusing; what is its history? Is this meant to apply to retractable centerboards, which are designed to be raised and lowered?]

RULE 4.5 OUTBOARD MOTORS: Except for night racing, outboard motors may be removed from their usual position and properly stowed prior to the preparatory signal. However, should the outboard motor be moved following the preparatory signal, RRS Rule 51, Moving Ballast shall be enforced.