CYC_burgee_t.gif (3194 bytes)Clearwater Yacht Club
 Sailing Instructions: Laser Master Midwinter’s
February 22-23, 2003

1.  Rules
1.1  The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the rules of the International Laser Class Association (ILCA), the Notice of Race, except as any of these are changed by the Sailing Instructions, and by these Sailing Instructions. 

1.2  The organizing authority is the Clearwater Yacht Club (CYC). This event will be held at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center (CCSC), 1001 Gulf Boulevard, Clearwater, Florida.

1.3  The regatta is designated Category C in accordance with RRS Appendix 1, ISAF Regulation 20.

2. Eligibility and Entry
All competitors must meet the eligibility requirements as stated in the Notice of Race and have filed valid entries in accordance with the Notice of Race.

3.  Notices To Competitors
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board at the Sailing Center.

4.  Changes In Sailing Instructions
Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted before 0930 on the day it will take effect, except that any change in the schedule of races will be posted by 1800 on the day before it will take effect.

5.  Signals Made Ashore
5.1  Signals made ashore will be displayed from the flagpole at the Sailing Center.

5.2  When Flag AP is displayed ashore, '1 minute' is replaced with 'not less than 45 minutes' in Race Signal AP.

6.  Schedule of Events
6.1
Saturday, February 22
0800 Registration
0930 Skippers Meeting
1045 1st warning signal, races to follow
Dinner served after racing

Sunday, February 23
1030 1st warning signal, races to follow
Awards to follow ASAP after last race

6.2  No race shall start after 1500 on Sunday.

6.3  Seven (7) races are scheduled for this event. The finish boat will signal when the last race of the day has been completed.

7.  Racing Area
The racing area will be the Gulf of Mexico just south of the Clearwater Pass. The race committee reserves the right to race in Clearwater Bay should conditions prohibit racing in the Gulf.

8.  Courses
8.1  The courses to be sailed will be either course "T" or "W" as shown in appendix A.

8.2  The approximate compass bearing from the starting line to the first Mark will be displayed from the RC signal boat, together with an "T" or "W" to indicate the course to be sailed.

9.  Marks
9.1  Marks 1, 2 & 3 will be large triangular yellow "PYRA" marks.

9.2  The start and finishing marks will be a round orange balls.

9.3  New marks, when used in accordance with instruction 11, Change of Course, will be identified by a black band. When in a subsequent change of course a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced with an original mark.

10.  The Start
10.1  Races will be started in accordance with RRS 26.

10.2  The Class Flag will be the numeral code "1" (one) pennant.

10.3  The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the RC signal boat at the starboard end and the course side of the port end starting mark.

10.4  No race shall be started unless there is a minimum consistent wind speed of 3 knots throughout the racing area.

10.5  A boat shall not start later than 5 minutes after her starting signal. Such boat will be scored DNS, this changes RRS A4.1.

11.  Change Of Course
A change of course will be signalled in accordance with RRS 33, although the new mark may not yet be in position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated to maintain the original course configuration. When in a subsequent change of course a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

12.  The Finish
The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the RC finish boat and the course side of the port end finishing mark.

13.  Abandonment
13.1  The time limit for a race will be 2 hours. Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat finishes or within the time limit, will be scored DNF. This changes RRS 35 and A4.1.

13.2  The Race Committee will abandon any race it judges not to be a fair test of sailing skill.

14.  Measurement & Equipment
Each competitor is responsible for ensuring their equipment is in compliance with the ILCA rules. Failure to do so may result in disqualification from the regatta.

15.  Protests
15.1  Competitors intending to protest shall inform the Race Committee immediately after finishing and before communicating with coaches or spectators. Boats should first sail to the non-course side of the Finish Boat and report to the Finish Boat. Boats that do not finish shall report their intent to protest to any Race Committee Boat at the first possible opportunity. This adds to RRS 61.1(a).

15.2  Protests should be lodged at the CCSC main office within 45 minutes of the time the Race Committee Finish Boat docks. The Race Committee will post the docking (beginning of protest) time on the official notice board as soon as practical after docking.

15.3  Protests will be heard in the approximate order of receipt. The time and place of protest hearings will be posted within 30 minutes after the end of the protest time. This is the notice required by RRS 63.2.

16.  Scoring
16.1  The Low Point scoring system RRS A2 will apply, except as modified below.

16.2  A minimum of one race must be completed to constitute a regatta.

16.3  Each boat's series score will be the total of her race scores, with her worst score discarded if 5 or more races are completed.

16.4  To determine the overall masters winner, for each individual race that counts, 3 points shall be added to Apprentice Masters (35-44), 2 points to Masters (45-54), 1 point to Grand Masters (55-64) and no points to Great Grand Masters (65 & over). Ties shall be broken in favor of sailors in the older age category. In the case of a tie between competitors in the same age category it shall be broken in accordance with RRS A2.

17.  Safety
17.1  Life jackets shall be worn at all times while racing, failure to do so will result in disqualification. This changes RRS 40.

17.2  A competitor that withdraws from a race or intends not to start a race shall inform the nearest safety or race committee boat as soon as possible.

18.  Disclaimer of Liability
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, prior to, during, or after the regatta.

19.  Awards
Overall Top 5, 1st Apprentice Master (35 to 44), 1st Master (45 to 54), 1st Grand Master (55 to 64), 1st Great Grand master (65+),

Masters shall have reached the masters age category on or before the first scheduled day of racing.

Appendix A Courses

  Course “W”    (Start – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – Finish)


  Course “T”    (Start – 1 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 3 – Finish)