RACING RULES

AMENDED 2004

1.       RULES: Races will be sailed under the current ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing, the RYA Prescriptions thereto and the Conditions of the CYCA, as modified by These Racing Rules.

2.       COURSES: As prescribed in the Sailing Instructions.

3.       SOUND SIGNALS: There will be 10 and 5-minute signals.

4.       CLASSES:

Classes may be altered, amalgamated or divided at the discretion of the Officer of the Day, and will be announced on VHF.

5.       IDENTIFICATION: All yachts racing must fly the appropriate number pendant together with a SYC Burgee from their backstay.

6.       START/FINISH LINE: As prescribed in the Sailing Instructions

7.       SHORTENED COURSES: The Officer of the Day reserves the power to finish the race on a shortened course at any mark of the course or point as he may deem expedient. The Committee Vessel will make two sound signals at appropriate intervals and fly flag ‘S’, together with either a red or green flag. An announcement will be made on VHF channel ‘M/37’. In the event that the race is to be finished at a mark of the course, the Committee Vessel will take station by that mark of the course and yachts must round the mark on the proper hand as specified in the racing instructions. If, however, the race cannot be finished at a mark of the course, the finish line will be as directed by the Committee Vessel.

Whether or not a conspicuous shore object or mark of the course is to be used to indicate the finish line, the Committee Vessel will fly a red or green flag.

A red flag will indicate that the Committee Vessel has to be left to port and a green flag will indicate that the Committee Vessel has to be left to starboard.

8.       TIME LIMIT: This will be as specified in the Sailing Instructions.

9.       RECALL: No recall numbers will be allotted or displayed.

10.   PROTESTS: Written protests must be lodged with the Officer of the Day within one hour of the last yacht finishing the race, using the standard form available from the RYA.

11.   ELIGIBILITY: Entries will only be accepted for yachts with a Club Member on board.

12.   LADIES’ RACE: only a lady must helm. All yachts must have a member of the S.Y.C. on board.

13.   NOTES:

i.           Insurance: All yachts must have adequate insurance cover against third party and passenger liability to cover participation in SYC Races.

ii.         Liability: The Serpent Yacht Club does not accept any liability for loss, damage or injury of any description whatever which may be sustained by Yachts, Owners, Crews and Guests of Yachts taking part or using or accepting assistance from launches by them or otherwise, however occasioned, whether by negligence of their servants or not. It shall be the sole responsibility of each yacht to decide whether or not to race.

iii.       Handicaps: Yachts will race under CYCA handicaps. If any yacht does not have one at present, please apply to the CYCA for one. This service is available to all Clyde Yachtsmen. Under exceptional circumstances the Sailing Secretary may allocate a handicap based on the generic C.Y.C.A. handicap for that class of yacht. No additional allowances will be included. In the event of there being no C.Y.C.A. handicap, either the I.M.S. or I.R.C handicap may be used as a guide to the likely C.Y.C.A. handicap. It is the responsibility of the owner to provide handicap details. The handicap allocated by the Sailing Secretary will be used for the race, or series. No appeal will be accepted.

iv.      Late starting: A Yacht which has not reached the vicinity of the start line when the signal to start is made, may proceed under power until it reaches the vicinity of the starting line when the yacht’s engine must be stopped and the yacht made to turn through 720 deg before crossing the line. A yacht acting as a committee vessel may start to race, ten minutes after the last class start. The time between the committee vessel starting and the class start time that the committee vessel would normally race in, will be deducted from the finish time.

v.        Navigation Marks: Unless otherwise stated in the Sailing Instructions or when being used as a course mark, navigational and other marks may be left on either hand at the sole discretion of the Skipper.

vi.      Sail Numbers: All yachts should have one of the recognised series of Sail Numbers, ‘C’, ‘K’, ‘Y’, GBR etc.

14.   NARROW CHANNELS: Attention is drawn to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, in particular Rules 9, 10 and 18.

While Racing, any yacht, which is unable for reason of lack of wind, or any other cause, to sail clear of a large power driven vessel shall start her engine or paddle in order to get clear and thereafter shall retire from the race and notify the Officer of the Day. In the event of a yacht obstructing the safe passage of a power driven vessel in the channels, the race committee may proceed against the yacht in accordance with Rule 60.2.

15.   USE OF RADIO: The Committee Vessel will keep a watch on VHF Channel M (37) during the course of the race and any alteration to the Sailing Instructions will be advised on this channel before the 10 minute signal. An appropriate signal flag will be flown by the committee vessel. The decision to shorten course may also be advised on this channel and members are therefore recommended to watch this channel during the course of the race. All of the foregoing is in addition to the normal procedures for altering the Sailing Instructions and shortening the Course.

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