Sailing Instructions (SIs) - Club Racing 2025

DERWENT RESERVOIR SAILING CLUB

CLUB RACING 2025

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

The notation '[NP]' means that a boat may not protest another boat for breaking that rule. This changes RRS 60.1(a). The notation '[DP]' denotes a rule for which the penalty is at the discretion of the protest committee.

1 RULES

1.1 Racing is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).

1.2 RRS 40.1 shall apply at all times on the water. Competitors are required to wear personal flotation devices while afloat, except while briefly adjusting clothing or personal equipment.

1.3 Where there is a conflict between the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail. This changes RRS 63.7.

1.4 Competitors may receive training and instruction from coaches during racing. This changes RRS 41.

2 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1 Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted at least 30 minutes before the start time of the first race to which it applies.

3 COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMPETITORS

3.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the DRSC Club Racing Whatsapp group.

4 CODE OF CONDUCT

4.1 [DP] Competitors shall comply with reasonable requests from race officials.

4.2 [DP] Competitors should note that the Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club implements the RYA Racing Charter and that they will be expected to sail in compliance with it. The charter can be found at the front of the RYA edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, or on the RYA website at www.rya.org.uk/racingrules.

5 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the flagpole located in front of the club.

5.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, '1 minute' is replaced with 'not less than 30 minutes'. This changes RRS 'Race Signals'.

6 SCHEDULE OF RACES

6.1 Competitors should refer to the Notice of Race and the calendar published on the club website at https://www.drsc.co.uk/events for the schedule of races.

7 CLASS FLAGS

7.1 The class flag for the handicap start is flag K.

7.2 Additional class flags will not be shown for pursuit races.

8 RACING AREA

8.1 Racing may be on any part of Derwent Reservoir excluding the nature reserve.

9 COURSES

9.1 Committee boat starts: The order in which marks are to be passed and the side which each mark is to be left will be displayed on the committee boat course board. A red background means: Pass this mark to port. A green background means: Pass this mark to starboard.

9.2 Shore based starts: The order in which marks are to be passed and the side which each mark is to be left will be indicated on a white board displayed outside the safety office.

9.3 Boats should sail through the start / finish line at the end of each lap.

9.4 Boats should not sail through the start / finish line on a downwind leg.

9.5 The number of laps to be sailed is not predetermined. Boats, even of the same class, may sail a different number of laps.

10 MARKS

10.1 Rounding marks will be the fixed club marks. The positions of the fixed marks are shown on the reservoir map available on the website and on the sign at the front of the clubhouse.

10.2 An inflatable mark, identified as mark X, may be used as a rounding mark.

10.3 Committee boat starts: The port end of the start / finish line will be an orange cylindrical mark.

10.4 Shore based starts: An orange cylindrical mark may form either the port or starboard end of the start / finish line.

11 OBSTRUCTIONS & EXCLUDED AREAS

11.1 Obstructions include:

11.1.1 A submerged wall, which protrudes from the south shoreline, close to club mark H (Hunter) and is marked by a buoy. This must be passed to the north.

11.1.2 Rescue boats or committee boats which do not form part of the course.

11.2 Excluded areas include:

11.2.1 The nature reserve to the west of club mark R (Ruffside).

11.2.2 The swimming area to the east of the jetty.

12 THE START

12.1 Races started from a committee boat will started using RRS 26.

12.2 Races started from the shore will be started as follows. This changes RRS 26.

12.3 The Preparatory Signal (4 minutes prior to the start) will be a P flag. The green light is the equivalent of a P flag for shore-based starts. Starting penalties will not be used. This changes RRS 30.

12.4 Committee boat start: The start line is between a staff displaying an orange flag on the race committee boat at the starboard end, and the course side of the port-end start / finish mark.

12.5 Shore based start: The start line is between the course side of a club racing mark, and the course side of the start / finish mark. The location of the start line will be identified on the white board at the front of the club.

12.6 Pursuit race start: The pursuit race shall be started by using SI 12.1 to signify datum. Boats start according to start times allocated to each class which indicate the minutes from datum that they start; the start time indicates that the class starts that many minutes after datum. The start times allocated to classes can be found on the club website.

12.7 A boat that does not start within 4 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start (DNS) without a hearing. This changes RRS A5.1 and A5.2.

12.8 A race may not be started if, in the opinion of the race officer, there is excessive or insufficient wind.

13 CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

13.1 Legs of the course will not be changed after the warning signal. This changes RRS 33.

13.2 Courses may be changed between races. Competitors should check the committee boat course board after each race. If the course is changed for a shore based start the new course will be communicated to competitors verbally by the RIB crew.

14 THE FINISH

14.1 Committee boat finish: The finish line is between the staff displaying an orange flag on the race committee boat at the starboard end, and the course side of the port end start / finish mark.

14.2 Shore based finish: The finish line is between the course side of a club racing mark and the course side of the start / finish mark.

14.3 For a committee boat finish, flag S will be displayed on the committee boat accompanied by two sound signals. For a shore-based finish, two sound signals will be made. Boats will finish the race when they next pass through the start / finish line. Finishing position shall be determined on an average lap basis.

14.4 Pursuit race finish: The pursuit race will finish either 90 or 60 minutes after datum; this will be communicated at a briefing prior to the start of the race. The end of the race time will be signalled by one long sound signal from the committee boat. Positions on the water at finish time will be recorded; boats are not required to cross a finishing line. Boats should endeavour to maintain their relative positions when the finish signal has been sounded until they have been acknowledged by the finishing boat. Boats are advised to take note of the class and sail number of the boats immediately in front of and behind them in case of any queries regarding the results.

15 ADDITIONAL LIGHT SIGNALS FOR SHORE BASED STARTS

15.1 A shortened course is signalled by a green flashing light. This changes RRS RACE SIGNALS.

15.2 An individual recall is signalled by a red flashing light. This changes RRS 29.1.

15.3 A general recall is signalled by red and green flashing lights. This changes RRS 29.2.

15.4 An abandoned race is signalled by red, green and amber flashing lights. This changes RRS RACE SIGNALS.

15.5 A postponed race is signalled by red and green lights alternating with an amber light. This changes RRS RACE SIGNALS.

16 TIME LIMITS AND TARGET TIMES

16.1 The Mark 1 Time Limit, Race Target Time, Race Time Limit, and the Finishing Window are shown in the table below in minutes. These times do not apply to pursuit races.

16.2 If no boat has passed the first mark within the Mark 1 Time Limit, the race will be abandoned.

16.3 The Finishing Window is the time for boats to finish after the first boat sails the course and finishes. Boats failing to finish within the Finishing Window may be scored DNF without a hearing.

16.4 At the absolute discretion of the Race Officer, boats failing to finish within the Finishing Window may receive a finishing position based on their last previously completed lap.

16.5 If no boat finishes within the Race Time Limit, or is likely to reach the finish within the time limit, the Race Committee will abandon the race with three sound signals. Boats will receive finishing positions based on their last previously completed lap. Any boats who have not completed one lap will be scored DNF.

16.6 Failure to meet the Target Time will not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

17 HEARING REQUESTS

17.1 Competitors should inform the Race Officer as soon as possible if they retire or wish to protest.

17.2 Advisory Meeting and RYA Arbitration procedures of the RYA Rules Disputes procedures shall apply. The outcome of an RYA Arbitration can be referred to a protest committee, but an arbitration cannot be reopened or appealed. For information on the procedures go to www.rya.org.uk/go/rulesdisputes.

17.3 Protests shall be written on forms available at the office, and should be delivered to the Race Committee, within one hour after the finish time of the last boat in the last race of the day.

17.4 Hearings may take place on the same day or at another time to be agreed. Hearings may be held in person on Club premises, or by video conference, email or a combination of any of these.

18 SCORING

18.1 One race is required to constitute a series.

18.2 A boat's series score shall be the total of her race scores excluding the worst 50% of the total races in the series. For an odd number of races scored in a series, the races to count will be rounded down to the nearest integer.

18.3 Members who undertake a race committee duty will be awarded average points of all races they started for the races missed because of the duty. The race committee must mark the results sheets with a score of OOD for their own boat to receive the average points.

18.4 Races will be scored using the Great Lakes Handicaps.

18.5 The Sailing Committee may, in their absolute discretion, allocate a rating to any class not listed in the Great Lakes Handicaps.

19 SAFETY REGULATIONS

19.1 [DP] A boat shall not interfere with nor try to pass between a RIB and a boat that is capsized or otherwise needing assistance or persons in the water. Sailors racing and contravening this requirement may be disqualified without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1.

20 REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT

20.1 [DP] Sailors with boats with multiple rig options should highlight to the Race Officer if they are sailing a rig which they do not usually sail.

21 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS

21.1 No boat shall sail with the same sail number as another boat in the same class.

21.2 Laser / ILCA dinghies are permitted to use replica sails and spars. The Sailing Committee reserves the right to challenge the use of inappropriate sails.

22 RUBBISH DISPOSAL

22.1 [DP] [NP] Rubbish shall not be discarded into the water.

23 RISK STATEMENT

23.1 Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: 'The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.'

Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

(a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;

(b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;

(c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;

(d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;

(e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organizer does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;

(f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;

(g) It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event.

24 INSURANCE

24.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3 million per incident or the equivalent.

25 FURTHER INFORMATION

25.1 Further information can be obtained from the club website or by contacting sailing@drsc.co.uk.

Last updated 12:49 on 9 March 2025