2019 NSW Hobie® States

Sailing Instructions

The organising authority is Palm Beach Sailing Club in conjunction with the NSW Hobie Cat Association

Revised 29/11/2019

1. RACING RULES

1.1

The regatta will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing.

1.2

The prescriptions of Australian Sailing will apply.

1.3

The Class Rules of the International Hobie Class Association (IHCA) will apply.

1.4

Racing rule 40 will be changed as follows:

Competitors shall wear personal flotation devices whilst afloat, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Wet suits and dry suits are not personal flotation devices. Changes RRS Rule 40.

1.5

It is requirement of entry that compliance with current COVID19 restrictions are observed. This includes, but is not limited to every competitor signing in to our Covid Check-in page each day with the QR code provided. Failure to do so or not comply with requests from the Organising Authority may result in disqualification.

1.6

Booms MUST be removed from sails when boat is unattended. This is a local council requirement.

1.7

IHCA Class Rule Penalty Policy shall apply.

2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS AND SKIPPER'S MEETING

2.1

Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in regatta overflow parking area.

2.2

Changes to the Sailing Instructions will be posted before 09:00 hours on the day they will take effect. Schedule changes will be posted by 20:00 hours on the day before they are to take effect.

2.3

There will be a competitors meeting in the clubhouse on Saturday 28th November at 1000 at regatta overflow parking area. Other skippers’ meetings may be scheduled as required.

2.4

Competitors must be aware of other classes racing, and keep clear of boats racing when sailing to and from the course.

3. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

3.1

Signals made ashore will be displayed on the Flag pole at the end of Sand point Lane adjacent the rigging area

3.2

When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’ in race signal AP.

4. SCHEDULE

All Classes

Registration and Weigh-in:

Saturday

28th November 2020

0900 to 0930

Sailors Meeting:

Saturday

28th November 2020

1000

Dates of racing:

Day

Date

All Classes

Saturday

28th November 2020

First Warning not before 1100

Sunday

29th November 2020

First Warning not before 0900, Last warning not after 1500

4.1

Racing may be back to back (max of 4 races per session) with a maximum of 12 races for the series.

4.2

When back-to-back races are to be held, the Race Committee Signals Vessel will display the Answering Pennant at the finish line. The warning signal for the next race will be made as soon as practicable after the finish of the preceding race. This changes race signals Answering Pennant.

4.3

On the last day of the regatta, no warning signal will be made after 15:00 hours.

5. CLASS FLAGS

Class flags will be as follows:

FLAG

CLASS

White Class Flag

Hobie 14

Pink Class Flag

Hobie 16

Maroon Class Flag

Hobie 18

Green Class Flag

Tiger, Wildcat

6. RACE AREA

The race area will be on the waters in the vicinity of PBSC. See Attachment A.

7. PROHIBITED SAILING

7.1

Passing between any mooring and the nearest shore regardless of whether there is a boat attached to the mooring is prohibited.

8. COURSES

8.1

The International Hobie Cat Class Courses will be used as shown in Attachment B.

8.2

All marks, except gates are to be left to port.

8.3

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

8.4

The offset mark, if used, is defined as a mark located approximately 50 to 100 metres from the windward mark and approximately at right angles to the wind direction. It applies both at the beginning of downwind legs and at reaches.

9. MARKS

9.1

Mark A will be a blue inflatable buoy. Mark A1 will be a white inflatable buoy.

9.2

Marks O and O1 will be orange cylindrical buoys.

9.3

Marks C and G will be orange cylindrical buoys.

9.4

New marks, as provided in instruction 11.1, will be an orange spherical mark

9.5

The starting and finishing line port end mark will be an orange cylindrical mark.

9.6

Mark A1 - if used - is for spinnaker classes only and will be laid 0.1 to 0.3 nautical miles to windward of Mark A.

9.7

A Race Committee boat signalling a change of course is a mark as provided in instruction 11.2.

10. THE START

10.1

Races will be started by using rule 26 with the warning signal given 3 minutes before the starting signal.

10.2

The starting line will be between a staff displaying an Orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Vessel at the starboard end and the port end start mark.

10.3

Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area.

10.4

A boat starting later than 4 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4.2

10.5

Start line obstruction: The start line shall rank as an obstruction for classes previously started while other classes are starting and in sequence until after the last class has successfully started.

10.6

Minimum wind conditions: No race will be started in under 5 knots of wind at all marks of the course as determined by the Race Committee.

11. CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

11.1

To change the next leg of the course, the Race Committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

11.2

Except at a gate, boats shall pass between the Race Committee boat signalling the change of course and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the Race Committee boat to starboard. This changes rule 28.1.

12. THE FINISH

12.1

The finish line will be between a staff displaying an Orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Vessel and the finish mark.

12.2

Finish Line Obstruction: The finish line shall rank as an obstruction when a blue flag or shape is displayed on the Race Committee Signal Boat at the finish line.

13. PENALTY SYSTEM

Rule 44.1 is changed so that only one turn, including one tack and one gybe, is required.

14. TIME LIMITS

There will be no time limit. Boats may be ‘Finished On Course’ (FOC) at the discretion of the race committee. All boats notified ‘FOC’ shall return immediately to the start area while avoiding any boats still racing. This changes rules 28.1, 35 and A4.1

15. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

15.1

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

15.2

For each class, the protest time limit is 60 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 Protest Committee and to requests for redress.

15.3

Notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties. Hearings will be held in the TSC clubhouse beginning at the first reasonable opportunity after the completion of racing.

16. SCORING

16.1

The Low Point scoring system of Appendix A4.1 of the Racing Rules of Sailing will be used.

16.2

1 race is required to be completed to constitute a series.

16.3

When fewer than 5 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of its race scores.

16.4

When 5 to 10 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

16.5

When 11 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst.

16.5

All boat weight, crew weight, and equipment violations will be scored Disqualification Not Excludable. Whenever possible, competitors should be warned of potential equipment violations on the beach before racing when observed by other competitors, the protest committee, or regatta officials.

16.6

Unless otherwise prescribed in these Sailing Instructions, The Jury may award a scoring penalty as an alternative to DSQ. The penalty will be at the discretion of the Jury. This changes Rule 64.1.

17. SAFETY REGULATIONS

17.1

A boat that retires from racing shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.

18. REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT

18.1

Crew substitution will not be allowed without prior written approval of the Race Committee under the provisions of General Class Rule 17

18.2

For substitution of sails, General Class Rule 12.3 applies.

18.3

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

19. 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 shall comply with an instruction by a Race Committee measurer to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection.

20. RUBBISH DISPOSAL

Boats shall not put rubbish in the water. Rubbish may be placed aboard support and Race Committee boats.

21. RACE COMMITTEE BOATS

All race committee boats will identified at the sailors meeting.

22. 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.

23. PRIZES

Prizes will be awarded according to number of entries at the discretion of the organising authority.

24. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

24.1

It is the competitor's decision to enter an event or to start and continue in any race. Competitors shall accept that their participation in an event is at their exclusive risk in every respect. Attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 4 – Decision to Race. The Organising Authority, and the respective host class association(s), their officers, members, servants and agents accept no liability in respect of loss of life, personal injury or loss or damage to property which may be sustained by reason of their participation or intended participation in an event or how so ever arising in connection with an event.

24.2

The sponsors, organising authority and their officers, members, servants and agents and all parties involved in the organisation and conduct of the regatta shall not be liable in respect of loss of life, personal injury or loss or damage howsoever caused which may occur whether ashore or afloat during or in conjunction with the regatta.

24.3

The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions do not limit or reduce the complete and unlimited responsibilities of each competitor for the management and care of a boat that he or she has entered in the regatta.

25. INSURANCE

25.1

All boats competing shall have third party insurance cover of not less than AUD$5,000,000 or equivalent thereof in any other currency for any accident.

25.2

All owners/competitors who sign the Entry Form are deemed to have made a declaration that they hold such cover. Competitors may be required to produce evidence of such insurance and any competitor not holding this cover shall withdraw their entry. Adequate race insurance is also recommended for this event.

26. SPECIAL NOTES

26.1

Race Committee boats shall rank as obstructions.

26.2

The Race Committee will not answer any questions on the water.

26.3

Any boat receiving ‘hands on’ assistance, whilst racing, from a Race Committee boat will be scored Did Not Finish. The Race Committee may decide when a boat or crew needs assistance.

27. IHCA safety notes to competitors

27.1

If wind, wave or water conditions make you doubtful of your ability to handle the conditions, retire from the race.

27.2

Before raising the mast and always whilst sailing, check for and avoid low overhead electrical power lines. If you see a power line, avoid it. A mast coming in contact or even near an electrical power line can cause serious injury or death to people on or touching the boat.

27.3

Sailors are strongly recommended to use trapeze harnesses with a quick release hookless system or a quick release hook, which meets the ISO 10862 standard

27.4

If sailors wish to wear head protection it is strongly recommend they use helmets of European standard EN1385

28. Advertising

28.1

Advertising will be as defined by ISAF Regulation 20.

28.2

Boats may be provided with, and required to display and maintain sponsors advertising on port and starboard hulls, in a location acceptable to the organizing authority.

Attachment A

Attachment B - Illustrating the course

No.	Course	Finish	Options for the Race Committee
1	(S) A C A	(F) Downwind	1 G 1 O 1 GO
2	(S) A C A C A	(F) Downwind	2 G 2 O 2 GO
3	(S) A C A B C	(F) Upwind	3 O
4	(S) A C A B C A	(F) Downwind	4 O
5	(S) A C	(F) Upwind	5 G 5 O 5 GO
6	(S) A C A C	(F) Upwind	6 G 6 O 6 GO
7	(S) A C A B C A C	(F) Upwind	7 O

S = start, A = weather mark, B = reaching mark, C = leeward mark, G = gate, F = finish, O = offset mark

"B" MARK LOCATION: The Race Committee will endeavour to locate "B" Mark, the reaching mark, at either the windward or leeward end of the course approximately 90 to 105 degrees abeam of the windward or leeward mark.