Mamaroneck Frostbite Association 2011-2012 Season Sailing from Beach Point Yacht Club in Mamaroneck Bay SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 1 RULES 1.1 The series of frostbite races will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. 1.2 The Mamaroneck Frostbite Association (“MFA”) Class Rules will apply. 1.3 Racing rule Rule 44.1 is altered so that a One Turn Penalty is required instead of a Two Turns Penalty. Rule 30.1 (the "one-minute" rule) is modified to be in effect only when announced by the race committee for that particular start. Changes have also been made in this Notice of Race to Rules 26, 27.3, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 30.1, 32.1, 35, 61.2, 61.3, 62.1a, 70, A4, and A5. The sailing instructions may also change other racing rules. 2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS AND CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Notices to competitors and changes to sailing instructions may be made on the Beach Point Club dock or by loud hailer from the race committee boat on the race course. 3 SIGNALS PRIOR TO RACING The race committee will indicate which size of sail will be used for the day’s races by hoisting either a green flag (indicating that large sails will be used) or an orange flag (indicating that small sails will be used). If the race committee hoists both a green and an orange flag, this will indicate that the A Division will use large sails and the B Division will use small sails. 4 SCHEDULE Schedule information may be found in the Notice of Race. 5 VENUE Venue information may be found in the Notice of Race 6 COURSES 6.1 The race committee will determine the course for each race in advance of the start and announce the course by displaying one of the course letters described in 6.5, below. The race committee may also announce the course letter using a loud hailer system on the race committee boat. At its discretion, the race committee may seek input on the choice of course from the Chairperson of the Day or from Fleet Officers. It is the responsibility of competitors to hear and understand this announcement and no competitor may claim recourse for sailing the wrong course because they do not know the race committee’s course decision. This provision changes rule 62.1a of the Racing Rules of Sailing. 6.2 A race committee will typically place the following marks:
6.3 Marks will be inflatable balls of various sizes and colors, each anchored with a small weight. The race committee may also, at its discretion, use government marks or other fixed bouys, as necessary. The race committee may choose to place more than one mark in a given direction—for instance two windward marks at different angles from the starting line. When two windward marks have been placed, the race committee will indicate the mark that is to be rounded by displaying a flag of that color. The race committee may also announce the color of the windward mark using the loud hailer. The race committee is not required to change the color or shape of a mark if it decides to change a leg of a course, during a race. In the case of a change in the direction of a leg of the course, the race committee is not required to comply with the flag and sound provisions of rule 33 in the Racing Rules of Sailing but should attempt to make any change before a boat has begun sailing the changed leg. 6.4 There will be a 30 minute time limit on all races. Should the race committee decide to postpone, restart, decide on a general recall, or abandon a race, it may do so by an announcement over the loud hailer system on the race committee boat. This changes the flag and sound provisions of rule 27.3, 29.2, and 32.1 in the Racing Rules of Sailing. Boats failing to finish within 20 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes rules 35, A4 and A5. At its discretion, the race committee may announce over the loud speaker system that specified boats have been scored as finished and should return to the starting area. Boats that comply with a race committee request to return to the starting area will not be scored DNF. 6.5 The race committee may choose not to set a separate finish line. All marks will be rounded to port, unless otherwise specified. The following courses are permitted:
No redress will be granted to competitors for claims made regarding insufficient notice of the course that has been selected or insufficient warning that the course has been changed. This changes Rule 62.1a. 6.6 The starting signals for races have been changed in the Sailing Instructions, and no longer conform to those in rule 26. 6.7 Should the race committee deem it necessary, it may announce on the race committee boat loud hailer that rule 30.1 (the I Flag or “Around the ends” rule) is in effect. Rule 30.1 is hereby changed to remove any requirement for the race committee to raise or lower Flag I. 6.8 The race committee will attempt to promptly use the loud speaker to hail by sail number any boat that makes a premature start and will attempt to promptly hail as cleared any premature starting boats who have returned to the pre-start side of the starting line. Rules 29.1 and 29.2 are modified such that neither code flag "X" nor a sound signal is required. No competitor may claim recourse based on a failure of the race committee to inform them that they had made a premature start, that they had failed to return to the pre-start side of the line, or for any delay in the hails described in this section. This provision changes rule 62.1a of the Racing Rules of Sailing. 6.9 Unless otherwise announced by the Race Committee, after completing the first leg of the course, a boat shall not cross the starting line. A boat shall not cross the finishing line until she is completing the last leg of the course and finishes. A boat that breaks this rule shall not correct her error and will be disqualified for this race. This changes rule 28.1. On a leg of the course from windward to leeward or from leeward to windward, boats may leave the line between the starting pin and the finishing pin either to port or to starboard. For reasons of safety, on legs of the course from windward to leeward or from leeward to windward, the starting and finishing lines and any buoys at their ends are, taken together, one obstruction, and therefore rules 19 and 20 may apply between boats while they are approaching and passing them. 7 AREAS THAT ARE OBSTRUCTIONS After starting, the starting and finishing lines may not be crossed and should be considered an obstruction, except when finishing, unless the race committee advises otherwise. 8 THE START 8.1 Races will be started in accordance with United States Sailing Association Appendix T (Sound-Signal Starting System) except as modified below. STARTING SIGNALS: To be given by horn and/or voice as follows: WARNING: Several short blasts on horn PREPARATORY: 2 long blasts 2 minutes 1 long and 1 short blast 1-1/2 minutes 1 long blast 1 minutes 3 short blasts 30 seconds 2 short blasts 20 seconds 1 short blast 10 seconds 1 blast for each remaining sec 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 START: 1 long blast 8.2 The starting line will be between the starting mark and a red line on the nearest side of the race committee boat. 8.3 Boats who are not starting shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races. 8.4 A boat starting more than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes rules A4 and A5. 8.5 If any part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line at the time of her starting signal and she is identified, the race committee will attempt to hail her using the race committee loud hailer. Failure to make a hail or to notify a boat in a timely fashion that it has returned to the non-course side of the line in the appropriate manner and is ready to re-start will not be grounds for a request for redress. This changes rule 62.1(a). 9 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position. At its discretion, the race committee may make a hail over the loud speaker system regarding any course changes it makes. 10 THE FINISH The finish line will be between the finish mark and a red line on the nearest side of the race committee boat. 11 PENALTY SYSTEM 11.1 Rule 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty. 11.2 A boat that is disqualified due to a protest will receive a score in that race equal to the total number of boats competing in the division on that race day, plus one. 12 TIME LIMITS 12.1 There will be a 30 minute time limit on all races. Should the race committee decide to postpone, restart, decide on a general recall, or abandon a race, it may do so by an announcement over the loud hailer system on the race committee boat. This changes the flag and sound provisions of rule 27.3, 29.2, and 32.1 in the Racing Rules of Sailing. 12.2 Boats failing to finish within 20 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes rules 35, A4 and A5. At its discretion, the race committee may announce over the loud speaker system that specified boats have been finished and should return to the starting area. 13 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS 13.1 A protesting skipper must immediately and loudly hail the boat(s) he is protesting. The word "protest" must be used along with the sail number of the protested boat. The protesting skipper does not need to show a red flag and this is a change of Rule 61.1a of the Rules of Racing. 13.2 As soon as the protestor has finished the race, he must also notify the race committee of his protest. A written protest is not required. Protests will be heard at post-race gatherings. Participants and witnesses in a protest hearing must be available to appear before the protest committee within 1/2 hour after the committee boat docks. These provisions change Rules 61.2 and 61.3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing. 13.3 A protest committee will be appointed by the chairman of the day. The committee shall consist of three sailors, all of whom shall not be witnesses or otherwise involved in the protest. The chairman of the day will appoint one of the committee members to be the head of the protest committee. 13.4 The protest committee may grant redress to a sailor whose standing in a race or for a race day have been materially affected by another boat’s misconduct. 13.5 Should a competitor wish to appeal a protest committee decision, he or she must make a written request to the Fleet Captain within five days after the date of the decision. The president will then request the protest committee to provide a written version of its decision, to be used in the appeals process. If this written decision is not provided within one month of the receipt of the competitor’s request, the competitor’s appeal will be summarily granted. This provision is an addition to rule 70 of the Rules of Racing. 14 DIVISIONS ASSIGNMENTS, QUALIFICATION AND SCORING 14.1 Division assignments, and season and regatta qualification and scoring shall be determined according to the Notice of Race. 15 SAFETY REGULATIONS 15.1 Competitors are required by Mamaroneck Frostbite Association’s class rules to wear a Coast Guard approved Type II or better life preserver or float coat at all times. 15.2 IT IS MANDATORY THAT ASSISTANCE BE RENDERED TO A SAILOR WHOSE BOAT CAPSIZES IF IT IS POSSIBLE. A BOAT THAT ASSISTS ANOTHER BOAT WILL BE AWARDED A FINISH EQUAL TO ITS POSITION AT THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, OR ANOTHER EQUITABLE MEASURE AS DETERMINED BY THE RACE COMMITTEE. 15.3 No boat shall leave the dock until at least one crash boat is in the water, with its engine running. 15.4 No boat shall sail out to the racing area or return to the racing area unless it is accompanied by a crash boat. 15.5 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible and must remain in the racing area, if it is at all possible. 15.6 Failure to follow these safety measures may result in a competitor being disqualified for a race day or expulsion from the Fleet. The decision to disqualify a sailor under this provision will be made by the Fleet Safety Officer after consultation with the chair of the Race Committee and this decision may only be appealed through the appeal process described in section 14.4. This provision changes Rules 60 and 63.1. 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 the race committee or a measurer to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection. 17 TRASH DISPOSAL Boats shall not put trash in the water. Trash may be placed aboard support and race committee boats. 18 PRIZES Prizes will be given as described in the Notice of Race. 19 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. |