NYRA Parrothead Race

    SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

July  28, 2007

 

 

Part I.  General Instructions

 

MANAGEMENT AND RULES

The Parrothead Race shall be conducted and managed by NYRA.  It shall be governed by the 2005- 2008 Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of US Sailing, except as altered by these sailing instructions. All skippers should have a copy of and be familiar with the US Sailing Racing Rules which govern the conduct of this event. If there is a conflict between the Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Entries shall be accepted from mono-hull boat owners who possess a CURRENT VALID PHRF RATING from an acceptable NC State rating organization.  Upon request of the Race Committee, the owner or skipper shall provide a signed, dated copy of the yacht's rating certificate as proof of currency and validity. Cruisers and others without a valid NC-PHRF certificate will be assigned a PHRF rating by the Principal Race Officer (PRO).

 

NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

All notices to competitors shall be posted on the official bulletin boards at North West Creek Marina.

 

CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Changes to sailing instructions, if any, shall be posted on the official bulletin board.

 

SCHEDULE

Saturday July 28.  First Class signal 10:55 am. One completed race will constitute the race. 

 

POSTPONEMENT

If the PRO determines that the race should be postponed, the Answering Pennant (alternating red and white vertical stripes) shall be displayed and two sound signals made. When it is determined that the starting sequence can begin, the Answering Pennant shall be lowered 60 seconds before hoisting the new class warning signal flag and shall be accompanied by one sound signal.

 

ABANDONMENT

The PRO may abandon or cancel the race in progress, or it may cancel the race not yet started, when existing conditions, in his/her judgment, make the race an unsatisfactory test of skill or constitute sufficient hazard to participants to warrant discontinuance. When such is the case, the PRO shall display code flag N (blue and white checkered) and make three sound signals.

 

PENALTIES

If a yacht infringes a rule of Part 2 of the Right of Way Rules, she may exonerate herself by making use of the 720 Degree Turn Penalty as per Part 4, Rule 44. 

 

Part II.  The Race

 

CLASSES

There shall be classes for spinnaker, non-spinnaker and cruising boats.

 

Before the Warning Signal for the first starting group, all yachts must sail past the PRO's boat and identify themselves to  by hailing the yacht's name, sail number and class or division entered.

The Race Committee reserves the right to not score any boat that cannot be identified by its sail numbers.

 

STARTING SIGNALS

Races will be started according to Rule 26. The warning signal for the first class will be at or after 10:55 am. The start will use a Pursuit format with slower boats starting first. Each boat’s approximate start time will be given at the Skipper’s Meeting. There will be a 5 minute starting sequence for the first boat(s) to start. All other boats will start at their assigned time offset after the first boat starts. The race committee will attempt to notify boats 1 minute prior to their start via VHF Channel 72.

 

                        First Start  --  Red flag

                         

Rule 30.1, the around the ends rule, is in effect at all starts without the”I” flag being displayed.

 

AFTER THE STARTING SEQUENCE HAS BEGUN, ALL YACHTS IN CLASSES WHO’S WARNING SIGNAL HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN SHALL REMAIN CLEAR OF THE STARTING AREA.  YACHTS THAT FAIL TO KEEP CLEAR ARE SUBJECT TO DISQUALIFICATION.

 

THE COURSE

The race course will be located on the Neuse River. The course will start around marker #17, toward Oriental regardless of wind direction, leave marker # 8 to port, leave marker # 1AC to port and finish within 100 feet of marker Oriental # 1. A committee boat may not be on site at the finish. Participants are expected to record their own finish time at Oriental # 1 and report to the PRO.

 

SCORING

The scoring system will be a Pursuit Start using Time on Distance handicapping. Each boat will be given a start time offset at the Skipper’s Meeting.

 

PROTESTS

All protests must be in writing and shall be handled in accordance with the specific instructions contained in Part II of these Race Instructions. Notice of the protest must also be given to the PRO by hail or VHF Channel 72 immediately upon finishing the race and shall be acknowledged by the PRO.  All protests must be presented to the PRO in writing within one hour after the PRO's boat docks. Docking location shall be announced at the Skippers' Meeting. All protests shall be heard on the same day, or as soon as practicable, at a time and place to be announced.  It is the responsibility of all skippers involved in the protest to be present at that hearing.

 

AWARDS

Awards will be given for the first three finishers in each class. Awards will be given at the Raft-up/Dock party as soon as practical after the race is scored.

 

 

Disclaimer of Liability Competitors participate in the Regatta entirely at their own risk. See Racing Rules Part 1- Fundamental Rule 4, Decision to Race. Each competitor is responsible for any and all liability claims which may result from their participation and should be adequately self insured or covered by third party insurance.  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 each day’s racing.