Brown’s Creek Sailing Association

(BCSA)

 

2004 Sailing Instructions

 

Effective January 1, 2004

 

 

 

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Browns Creek Sailing Association (BCSA)

2004

 

1             Rules

               

                Effective April 1, 2001, all races will be governed by the latest revision to the 2001-2004 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of US Sailing, class rules (except as any of these are altered by these sailing instructions) and by these sailing instructions.  All races are designated advertising Category A.

 

2             Entries

 

2.1           Eligible boats may be entered by

 

                (a)  completing registration, including sail declaration, at Brown’s Creek Sailing Association clubhouse prior to the skipper’s meeting or

 

                (b)  by notifying the Race Committee and making sail declarations prior to the skipper's meeting

 

                (c)  by notifying the Race Committee prior to the lowering of the answering pennant.  This method is not allowed for pursuit fastnet races.

 

2.2           Boats entering by 2.1(c) will be registered with 155% genoa and spinnaker.  Boats with genoas greater than 155% will be registered with the appropriate genoa size.

 

2.3           Three or more boats must enter an event; otherwise it will be canceled.

 

3             Notices to Competitors

 

                Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the BCSA clubhouse.

 

4             Changes in Sailing Instructions

 

                Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted on the notice board at the BCSA clubhouse or published in the BCSA newsletter with an effective date.

 

5             Skipper's Meetings

 

                All skipper’s meetings will be held one hour before the start of the first race or at the time and place noted in the race schedule.

 

6             Schedule of Races

 

6.1           The race schedule is shown in Appendix A.

 

6.2           Regatta Schedule

                Race 1 (Saturday)                                 10:00 a.m.               Skipper's Meeting

                                                                                Approx.  11:00 a.m.               First Race Starts Additional races to follow

                Race 1 (Sunday)                                   10:00 a.m.               First Race Starts Additional races to follow

 

6.3           For Saturday night races the skippers meeting is at 4:00 p.m. and the first race will be at 5:00 p.m.

 

6.4           Wednesday night races will start at 6:00 p.m. near Lower Guntersville Light with a 5:00PM skippers meeting.

 

6.5           Except for night events, no races will be started after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday or after 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

               

7             Racing Area

 

                The racing area will be as shown in Illustration 1, attached.  Combined LGSC/BCSA races may be held in the vicinity of Upper Guntersville Light.

 

8             The Course

 

8.1           The course will be described in the Notice of Race or displayed on a signboard on the Race Committee boat.  The Race Committee may choose to designate the course by the use of letter or shape signals.  Commonly used courses and corresponding signboard displays are shown in Illustration 2, attached.

 

8.2           The approximate compass bearing from the starboard end of the start line to the first Mark shall be displayed from the race committee signal boat.  The first mark will be the “A” mark unless otherwise designated and will normally be the windward mark.

 

8.3           A boat may cross the finishing line while racing even if she is not finishing.  This is sometimes called an open gate.  If no designation is made by the race committee, then the gate shall be assumed to be "open".

 

8.4           The Race Committee may shorten or alter the course.  Code flag 'S' will be displayed from the Race Committee boat to signify a shortened course.  The race committee will  continue to display the S flag at the finish line of the shortened course.  Boats shall finish between the Race Committee boat and the mark she is standing by in a natural way. 

 

9             Marks

 

9.1           Marks will normally be orange inflatable tetrahedrons although the Race Committee may choose a Navigation Mark such as Lower Guntersville Light as one of the marks.  Dinghy races will normally be conducted closer to the Browns Creek Marina.  An orange barrel may also be used as a mark.  The starting and finishing marks will be the mainmast of the committee boat or a flag staff with an orange flag and a pin with flag or one of the marks listed above.  Illustration 1 shows the approximate distances from Lower Guntersville Light.???

 

9.2           The Race Committee may choose to place a barging mark close behind the committee boat.  The purpose of the barging mark is to prevent boats from colliding with the committee boat prior to and during a race.  This mark shall be considered to be an extension of the committee boat and therefore no boats may pass between the barging mark and the committee boat.

10           The Start

 

10.1         Races will be started in accordance with Rule 26 of the Racing Rules of Sailing. The Answering Pennant shall be a red and white striped flag or shape. The Warning Signal (class flag) shall be a white flag or shape. The Preparatory Signal shall be code flag P or a blue shape with white squares, If more than one class is racing, additional class flags shall be designated.

               

Signal

Flag / Shape

Sound

Time / Event

 

Answering Pennant Up

2 sounds

When RC on station

 

Answering Pennant Down

1 sound

Approx. 6 min. before start

Warning

White Flag/Shape Up

1 sound

5 min. before start

 

 

 

 

Preparatory

Blue Shape with white square Up

1 sound

4 min. before start

 

Blue Shape with white square Down

1 sound

1 min. before start

Starting

WhiteShape

Down

1 sound

Start

 

                Except in series races identified in the race schedule, if a single class is represented by 4 or more boats, the race committee may provide separate starts for that class.  Classes will start at 5 minute intervals and in the order specified by the race committee.  Races with more than one fleet or class starting will be started in accordance with Rule 26.

 

10.2         Time is taken from the visual signals (flags/shapes).  The failure of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

 

10.3         The start line is between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the committee boat at the starboard end and a mark at the port end. The port end of the starting line will be one of the following course marks A,B, C or D or a pin. The barging mark is an extension of the committee boat and not part of the starting line.

 

10.4         Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made will keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose preparatory signal has been made.

 

11           Recalls

 

11.1         Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with racing rule 29.2.

 

11.2         When a general recall has been signaled a new warning signal for a new start of the recalled class  will be made one minute after the lowering of the first substitute flag.

 

12           The Finish

 

                If the Race Committee boat is a sailboat, the finishing line will be between the main mast of the committee boat and one of the following the course marks A,B, C or D or a pin.  If the committee boat is a pontoon boat, the finish line will be between a flag staff with an orange flag on the committee boat and one of the following:  the course marks A,B, C or D or a pin.  The Committee boat should also hoist a blue flag or shape to designate that the finish line is set. Once finished, boats should clear the area of the finish line.

 

13           Time Limit

 

                The time limit is two hours.  When no boat finishes within the prescribed time limit, the race shall be abandoned.  The two hour time limit does not apply to pursuit fastnet races or the Great River Race in which case the time limit is at the discretion of the race committee.

 

14           Protests

 

14.1         Protests shall be written on forms available at the BCSA clubhouse and lodged there within 30 minutes after the race committee or  representative docks.  The race committee will give a sound signal when they dock.

 

14.2         The protest committee will hear protests in approximately the order of receipt as soon as possible.

 

14.3         Protest notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors where and when there is a hearing in which they are parties to a protest or named as witnesses.

 

15           Handicapping

               

15.1         The US Sailing Association 2001 Portsmouth Yardstick shall be used to determine handicaps to the extent that the handicaps are specified therein. Handicaps not specified therein shall be the applicable numbers from the the handicap sheet used in 2001.

 

15.2         The following allowance modification factors from Table V shall be used with the D-PN and Wind Handicap to calculate handicaps:

                a)    Class normally with spinnaker, not equipped with one

                b)    Class normally without spinnaker, carrying one

c)       Headsail allowances will be used

d)   Other allowances may be employed at the discretion of the Race Committee (e.g. spinnaker     pole deviations, unusual prop orientation allowance)

 

15.3         Corrected times will be calculated by dividing the elapsed time (in decimal minutes) by the handicap then multiplying by 100.

 

15.4         Boats will be scored in order of corrected time with the smallest corrected time first, the next larger corrected time second, and so forth.

 

16           Scoring

 

16.1         Individual Races

 

Each boat starting and finishing a race, and not thereafter retiring or being disqualified, will be scored points equal to her finishing place, as follows:

 

Finishing Place

Points

First

1

Second

2

Third

3

 

 

Each place thereafter shall add 1 point.  Except in series races, all other boats, including a boat that finishes and thereafter retires or is disqualified, will be scored points equal to one more than the total number of boats entered.

 

16.2         Day or Regatta Score

 

A.      Each race will be scored according to 16.1.

 

B.       Each boat's day or regatta score will be determined by finding the sum of her scores for all races held, excluding any throw-outs.  Beginning with the lowest total sum, each boat will then be scored points equal to her relative standing [or rank], as follows:

 

 

Standing

Points

First

1

Second

2

Third

3

 

 

16.3         Series Scoring

 

A.      Each race will be scored according to 16.1 with the following modifications:  Boats that came to the starting area but retired, were disqualified, or did not finish will be scored points equal to one more than the number of all boats that came to the starting area.

 

B.       Each day will be scored according to 16.2.  Boats that did not come to the starting area will be scored points equal to one more than the number of boats entered in the series.

 

C.       Except for the 2004 Spring Series-Competing boats must participate in the number of race days minus one race day to be scored for the series.  The series scores for each boat will be the sum of her race scores for each race day, excluding the throw-out(s).  The qualified boat with the lowest series score is the winner and others are ranked accordingly.

 

D.      For the 2004 Spring Series( 6 races) -the series scores for each boat will be the sum of her race scores for each race day, excluding 3 throw-outs. The qualified boat with the lowest series score is the winner and others are ranked accordingly. For this series dinghy’s will have a separate start. Note; it is possible for a skipper to compete in both the dinghy class and cruiser class.

 

 

16.4              Ties

 

A.      Day Races or Regattas – When there is a tie on total points between two or more boats, the tie will be broken in favor of the boat with the most first place finishes in individual races, and if the tie remains, the most second place finishes, and so on for such races as count for total points.  If a tie still exists it will be broken in favor of the boat with the better finish in the last race in which the tied boats competed and did not throw-out the race’s score.

 

B.       Series Races – When there is a tie on total points between two or more boats, the tie will be broken in favor of the boat with the most first place day’s scores, and if the tie remains, the most second place scores, and so on, using only the scores for each boat that count for her series score.  If a tie still exists it will be broken in favor of the boat with the better day’s score for the last day on which the tied boats competed and did not throw-out the day’s score.

 

C.       Rule A7 of the Racing Rules of Sailing, regarding sharing and equal prizes for ties, shall only apply when all other practical means of breaking the tie are exhausted.

 

 

17                 Throw-outs

 

17.1              For regattas, a boat may throw-out one of her scores if the total number of races exceed 5.  If the total number of races exceed 8, there will be 2 throw-outs.

 

17.2              Excluding the 2004 Spring series-For series races, a boat shall throw-out one entire day’s score.  The race day not included in the scoring shall be the highest race day score.  A boat’s throw-out shall not be used to break a tie.

 

17.3              For the 2004 Spring Series, a boat will be allowed 3 days scores.

 

18           Penalties

 

                A boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 of the Racing Rules while racing may take a penalty at the time of the incident.  Her penalty shall be a 720° turn penalty.  However, if she caused serious damage or gained a significant advantage in the race or series by her breach she shall retire.

 

19           Prizes

 

                Prizes will be awarded as follows:

 

Entrants

Trophies

3 to 4

1

5 to 7

2

8 or more

3

 

20           Boat Number

 

                A boat's identifying number shall be its mainsail number.  No two boats of the same type shall possess the same mainsail number.  In the event that two boats of the same type have the same mainsail number, the boat whose mainsail does not match that of the hull shall be penalized unless there are other identifying features by which the race committee may easily distinguish between competing boats.


Appendix A

2004 BCSA Racing Calendar

 

Appendix B - Pursuit Fastnet Races

 

10            When this instruction is used it will replace instructions 10 and 15 of the sailing instructions.

 

10.1                         Races will be started in accordance with Rule 26 (See section 10.1 of these sailing instructions.)

 

                                Each boat’s start time will be specified by the race committee as minutes and seconds after the starting signal..

 

10.2         The starting line will be between the main mast of the committee boat at the starboard end and the port end starting mark.

 

10.3         Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made will keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose preparatory signal has been made.

 

15           Handicapping

               

15.1         The US Sailing Association 1999 Portsmouth Yardstick shall be used to determine handicaps.   The 2000 numbers will be in effect as soon as they become available.

 

15.2         The following allowance modification factors from Table V shall be used with the D-PN and Wind Handicap to calculate handicaps:

                a)    Class normally with spinnaker, not equipped with one

                b)    Class normally without spinnaker, carrying one

c)       Headsail allowances will be used

d)   Other allowances may be employed at the discretion of the Race Committee (e.g. spinnaker     pole deviations, unusual prop orientation allowance)

 

15.3         The Portsmouth handicap shall be converted to time-on-distance handicaps based on Table VI in the Portsmouth Yardstick.

                PHRF = (DPN - 55) x 6

 

15.5         The PHRF handicap of each boat shall be multiplied by the course length in miles to obtain the time allowance in seconds.  The boat(s) with the largest time allowance will start at the red flag.  The start time for each remaining boat is obtained by subtracting its time allowance from the time allowance of the scratch boat.  This is the time in seconds after the red flag that a boat is allowed to start.

 

15.4         Boats will be scored in order of finish.