Greenwich Yacht Club

1 Pear Tree Way SE10

 

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

 

1            RULES

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

1.2        In addition all watercraft shell abide by PORT OF LONDON RIVER BYELAWS 1978.(as amended)       

1.3       Rule 44.1 of the The Racing Rules of Sailing is changed as follows: “Her penalty shall be One-Turn"  replaces "Her penalty shall be Two-Turns".

1.4        Know and understand Rule 8 of the PORT OF LONDON RIVER BYELAWS.

 

Action to avoid collision

(a) Any action taken to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.

(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar; a succession of small alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided.

(c) If there is sufficient sea room, alteration of course alone may be the most effective action to avoid a close-quarters situation provided that it is made in good time, is substantial and does not result in another close-quarters situation.

(d) Action taken to avoid collision with another vessel shall be such as to result in passing at a safe distance. The effectiveness of the action shall be carefully checked until the other vessel is finally past and clear.

(e) If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel shall slacken her speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion.

(f)

(i) a vessel which, by any of these Rules, is required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel shall, when required by the circumstances of the case, take early action to allow sufficient sea-room for the safe passage of the other vessel.

(ii) a vessel required not to impede the passage or safe passage of another vessel is not relieved of this obligation if approaching the other vessel so as to involve risk of collision and shall, when taking action, have full regard to the action which may be required by the Rules of this part.

(iii) a vessel the passage of which is not to be impeded remains fully obliged to comply with the Rules of this part when the two vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision.

1.5        Failure to follow PORT OF LONDON RIVER BYELAWS will result in immediate disqualification and may also be followed by a ban from competing in the entire series.

 

2            NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

              Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board(s) located in GYC Club Bar

 

3            MINIMUM FLEET SIZE

              The racing fleet must have at least three boats registered and willing to race.  Two boats will not constitute a fleet, therefore the officer of the day is obliged to postpone the race to another date due to lack of interest.

 

4            CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

              Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted 2 hours before High Water 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.

 

5            SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

5.1         Signals made ashore will be displayed at the club race hut's flag pole and light board.           

 

 

6            CLASS FLAGS

              Class flags will be:    

Class	Flags
Dinghy	Pennant 1
Cruiser	Pennant 2
Bosun	Flag B

 

7            THE COURSES

7.1         Courses, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left will be discussed at the skippers briefing.

7.2         When there is a gate, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and round either gate mark.

 

8            MARKS

8.1         Marks will be specified at skippers briefing.

8.2         The starting and finishing marks will be on the GYC club line unless stated differently in at the Skippers Briefing

 

9          THE START

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

 

10          CHANGE OF THE POSITION OF THE NEXT MARK

10.1       To change the position of the next mark, the race committee will move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position. The change will be signaled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the mark may not yet be in the new position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the moved mark may be relocated without further signaling to maintain the course configuration.

 

11          THE FINISH

11.1               The finishing line will be specified at the skippers briefing

 

12          PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

12.1       Protest forms are available at the race office. Protests shall be delivered there within the protest time limit.               

12.2       For each class, the protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day. [The same protest time limit applies to all protests by the race committee and [jury] [protest committee] and to requests for redress. This changes rules 61.3 and 62.2.

12.3       Decisions of the jury will be final as provided in rule 70.4.

 

13          SCORING

13.1       The scoring system is as follows: Low Point System ISAF Appendix A (Sequential) 

 

14          SAFETY REGULATIONS

14.1       Check-in and check-out: Dinghy and Bosun fleets must check in and out via the signing in/out form. The cruiser fleet will be allowed to use radios to do so.

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

 

15          REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT

15.1       Substitution of competitors will not be allowed without prior approval of the race committee.                                  

15.2       Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless approved by the race committee. Requests for substitution shall be made to the committee at the first reasonable opportunity.

 

16          EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS

              A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions. On the water, a boat can be instructed by a race committee measurer to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection.

 

17          SAFETY BOATS

              Safety boats will be marked as follows: GYC on port and starboard.

 

18          RADIO COMMUNICATION

              A boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.

 

19          PRIZES

              Prizes will be given as follows:  During the club's annual dinner and dance.

 

20          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.

 

21          INSURANCE

              Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance.