1. Rules

1.1. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.

1.2. The RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme as set out in the current YR2 will be used.

1.3. Carrickfergus Sailing Club Dinghy Sailing Procedures shall apply.

2. Notices to Competitors

2.1. Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the foyer of the clubhouse.

3. Changes to Sailing Instructions

3.1. Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted 30 minutes before the scheduled time of the warning signal on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect.

4. Signals Made Ashore

4.1. Signals made ashore will be displayed at the club battery.

5. Schedule of Races

5.1. Dates of Racing and Number of Races: 2nd May to 29th August (excluding 11th July) – 17 races.

5.2. The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race each day is 19:10.

6. Class Flags

6.1. The Class flag will be Flag F

7. Racing Areas

7.1. The Racing Area will be on Belfast Lough to the south of Carrickfergus Sailing Club.

8. The Courses

8.1. The course will be posted at the Club Battery before boats go afloat.

9. Marks

9.1. Marks will be as described at the Club Battery before boats go afloat.

10. The Start

10.1. Races will be started by using rule 26 with the warning signal given 5 minutes before the starting signal.

10.2. A boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes rules A4 and A5.

10.3. The start line will be between the orange pole at the Club Battery and a white mark, unless a notice is posted at the Club Battery before boats go afloat when it will be between a staff displaying a blue flag on a committee boat and a white mark.

11. The Finish

11.1. The finishing line will be between the orange pole at the Club Battery and a white mark, unless a notice is posted at the Club Battery before boats go afloat when it will be between a staff displaying a blue flag on a committee boat and a white mark.

12. Time Limits

12.1. The time limit will be 2 hours from the starting signal for each class.

12.2. Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat in each class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish. This changes rules 35, A4 and A5.

12.3. In the event of a second or subsequent round being designated, should no boat finish that round within the time limit for their class, or should the race be abandoned, the time of boats taken at the end of the last round completed shall be used for the result of the race. Boats not racing at the time limit or the time of abandonment will be recorded as Did Not Finish. This changes rule 35, A4 and A5.

13. Protests and Requests for Redress

13.1. Protest forms are available at the race office. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered there within the appropriate time limit.

13.2. For each class, the protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day.

13.3. Notices will be posted no later than 30 minutes after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held in the protest room, located at the Race Office, beginning at the time posted.

13.4. Notices of protests by the race committee or protest committee will be posted to inform boats under rule 61.1(b).

13.5. Breaches of instructions 15 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties for these breaches may be less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides. The scoring abbreviation for a discretionary penalty imposed under this instruction will be DPI.

13.6. On the last scheduled day of racing a request for reopening a hearing shall be delivered
(a) within the protest time limit if the requesting party was informed of the decision on the previous day;
(b) no later than 30 minutes after the requesting party was informed of the decision on that day.
This changes rule 66.

13.7. On the last scheduled day of racing a request for redress based on a protest committee decision shall be delivered no later than 30 minutes after the decision was posted. This changes rule 62.2.

14. Scoring

14.1. Portsmouth Numbers will be those published in the current YR2 for each class, adjusted as necessary for variations from Base Rig.

14.2. Boats without Portsmouth Numbers published in the current YR2 will be allocated an estimated Trial Number.

14.3. Three races are required to be completed to constitute a series.

14.4. When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.

14.5. When four or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

15. Safety Regulations

15.1. A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

15.2. Personal Flotation Devices shall be worn at all times when afloat in accordance with the provisions of rule 40 except that flag Y will not be displayed and no sound signal will be made. This changes rule 40 and the preamble to part 4 of the RRS.

15.3. Before going afloat each day a representative of each boat on behalf of that boat, shall sign a “Sign Out” Declaration at the Race Office. When returning to shore a representative of each boat shall on behalf of that boat, sign a “Sign In” Declaration at the Race Office before the expiration of Protest time. Failure to sign in by the one and half hour limit after the last boat finishes will result in that boat being scored “DNF” for all races sailed on that day when either Declaration was not signed.

16. Prizes

16.1. Prizes will be given as follows: 1st place 3 or more entries, 2nd place 4 or more entries, 3rd place 5 or more entries.

17. Disclaimer of Liability and Insurance

17.1. A boat is entirely responsible for her own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility.

17.2. It is for the boat to decide whether she is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself. By launching or going to sea, the boat confirms that she is fit for those conditions and her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.

17.3. The boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £2m sterling.

17.4. Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and include the organising authority, the race committee, the race officer, patrol boats and beach masters.

17.5. The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of her responsibilities.