Racing Rules and Sailing Instructions

Notice Of Races 2024

1
RULES
1.1
The regattas will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
1.2
No national prescriptions will apply.
1.3
Section 5 of the HBSC Rules, Regulations and Procedures will apply.
2
ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
2.1
The regattas are open to all boats of the Albacore class owned and maintained by the HBSC.
2.2
Eligible Members may enter by signing up on the posted registration form for the regatta prior to the end of the check in period for the regatta.
2.3
Late entries will be accepted after check in is over provided there are boats available to sail.
2.4
The following restrictions apply:
(i) This Notice of Race applies to the following:
a) – Doug Kelley Regatta
b) – Summer Regatta (Women’s Helm, New Skippers and First Mates’ Regatta)
c) – HBSC Club Championship
d) – Turkey Regatta
e) – Practice Race(s)
(ii) A minimum of three entries are required for any regatta;
(iii) Boat draws will be used for all regattas; and
(iv) Crew draws will be used for all regattas other than the HBSC Club Championship.

3
SCHEDULE
3.1
Registration for Regattas is open from the time the Regatta Registration Notice is posted until the close of the check in period for the Regatta.
3.2
The check in period begins at 9:00 AM on the day of the Regatta.
The check in period ends at 10:00 AM on the day of the Regatta. Crew draw and boat draw (if applicable) will begin at 10:00 AM on the day of the Regatta.
3.3
Dates of Regattas are posted in the HBSC schedule.
3.4
There will be a minimum of one race and a maximum of five races per Regatta. The Race Committee will attempt to complete three races.
3.5
The scheduled time of the starting signal for the first race is 11:15 AM.
3.6
No warning signal will be made after 3:00 PM.
4
The sailing instructions will be available on the Racing page of the HBSC website.
5
Racing shall take place in the western end of Hamilton Harbour.
6
The courses to be sailed will be Triangle-Windward-Leeward or Windward-Leeward.
7
SCORING
7.1
One race is required to be completed to constitute a series.
7.2
(a) When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.(b) When from four to five races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
8
Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.
9
Prizes will be given as outlined in Section 5 of the HBSC RRP.
10
Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See RRS 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
For further information please contact the HBSC Racing Coordinator.

2024 Sailing Instructions for Club Races

HBSC REGATTAS

a) – Practice race(s) – Date June 8, 2024 and June 22, 2024
b) – Doug Kelley Regatta – Date July 6, 2024
c) – Summer Regatta (Women’s Helm/New Skippers/First Mates) – Date Aug. 17, 2024
d) – HBSC Club Championship – Date Sept. 14, 2024
e) – Turkey Regatta – Date Oct. 5, 2024

Organized by the Hamilton Bay Sailing Club

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
1 RULES
1.1
The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
1.2
No national prescriptions will apply.
1.3
Section 5 of the HBSC Rules, Regulations and Procedures will apply.
2
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the HBSC.
3
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 9:00 AM on the day it will take effect.
4
Signals made ashore will be displayed at the HBSC.

5
SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1
Dates of regattas will be published in emails sent by the HBSC Secretary to Club Members.
5.2
There will be a minimum of one race and a maximum of five races per regatta. The Race Committee will attempt to complete three races.
5.3
The scheduled time of the starting signal for the first race each day is 11:15 AM.
5.4
To alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, the Race Committee flag will be displayed with one sound at least five minutes before a warning signal is made.
5.5
On the last scheduled day of racing no warning signal will be made after 3:0 PM.
6
Races will be started with the Albacore Class flag.
7
Racing shall be conducted in western end of the Hamilton Harbour.
8
The courses to be sailed will be Triangle-Windward-Leeward or Windward-Leeward.
9
MARKS
9.1
Marks 1, 2, and 3 will be orange tetrahedrons.
9.2
The starting and finishing marks will be the race committee signal vessel at the starboard end and a buoy at the port end.
10
THE START
10.1
Races will be started by using RRS 26 with the warning signal made five minutes before the starting signal.
10.2
The starting line will be the orange mark on the committee signal vessel mast and the orange buoy on the port side of the committee signal vessel.
10.3
Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.
10.4
A boat that does not start within five minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS A4 and A5.
11
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will move the original mark or the finishing line to a new position.
12
The finishing line will be between the orange mark on the committee signal vessel mast and the orange buoy on the port side of the committee signal vessel.
13
TIME LIMITS AND TARGET TIMES
13.1
Time limits and target times are as follows:
Time limit: 60 minutes
Mark 1 time limit: 30 minutes
If no boat has passed Mark 1 within the Mark 1 time limit the race will be abandoned.
If no boat has finished the race within the Time limit the race may be abandoned.
13.2
Boats failing to finish within 10 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, A4 and A5.
14
PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
14.1
Protest forms are available from the race committee. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered to the race committee chair within the appropriate time limit.
14.2
The protest time limit is 20 minutes after the committee signal vessel has docked.
15
SCORING
15.1
The scoring system is the Low Point System of Appendix A.
15.2
One race is required to be completed to constitute a series.

15.3
(a) When fewer than four races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores.(b) When from four to five races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.
16
SAFETY REGULATIONS
16.1
Check-Out and Check-In:
– Boats shall sign out and sign in at the club log book.
– Boats shall check-in with the race committee vessel prior to the first race.
16.2
A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.
17
REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT
17.1
Substitution of competitors will not be allowed without prior approval of the race committee.
17.2
Substitution of damaged or lost equipment will not be allowed unless authorized by the race committee. Requests for substitution shall be made to the committee at the first reasonable opportunity.
18
Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.
19
Perpetual trophies will be presented to the winning boat for all regattas other than the practice race. Additional prizes may be presented to the top three finishing boats at the discretion of the race committee.
20
Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See RRS 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.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: 3 Minute Justice, What is it?

Three minute justice is a protest hearing system that takes the burden off of the race organizers. It is a system that has been around for years. The former head coach of the Old Dominion Sailing Team, K.C. Fullmer, was the first to introduce it to the USTRA. Currently, the system has been used at many regattas including the USTRA midwinters. The race organizers do not have to form a protest committee. The burden of forming a committee is put on the shoulders of the parties involved in the protest.

Lets use an example. Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble are in a collision. Fred and Barney both decided not to take a 360 degree penalty turn to exonerate themselves. Fred felt that Barney’s alleged rule infringement played a part in the outcome of the race, i.e. Fred felt that his team would have won if he wasn’t in a collision with Barney. Fred decides to protest. Fred reports that he is protesting to the finish boat.

When is it held?

The three minute justice hearing can be held at the end of the day, after lunch, or between rotations if there is time. Fred needs to find a person (who is not on his team) to represent him, Barney needs to also find someone (who is not on his team) to represent him. Fred asks Mr. Slate and Barney asks Kazoo. Basically, Fred has a minute to tell Mr. Slate and Kazoo his side of the story. Barney then has a minute to tell Mr. Slate and Kazoo his side off the story. After the two sides have had a minute each (which should be timed), Fred and Barney are excused and Mr. Slate and Kazoo have a minute to make a decision. We strongly encourage the jury to make a decision. Their decision is final, if they can not make a decision then the protest is disallowed. The jury then reports the decision to the race organizers and the case is closed.

Why?

Three minute justice is a fair and equitable way to run protest hearings, it is at least as good as 50/50 which is what most people believe their chances are in a standard protest hearing. Complex situations and obscure appeals do not come into play. Sailors soon realize that the decision is usually made against the person who has the burden of proof (ONUS).

The USTRA suggest using the system at any regatta that does not have the luxury of on the water umpiring. These hearings have been held on a beach under a palm tree, in the shower of a locker room, and even standing over the keg of beer er, ah, soda! So give it a try it saves a ton of headaches.