GENERAL
INFORMATION
1. There will be a skippers’ meeting at 1030 Saturday.
2. The race schedule will be subject to revision due to weather conditions or other criteria beyond the control of the race committee. Please check the board on the day of the race for special instructions.
3. The race instructions may be subject to change by the race committee by way of verbal notification whether at the skippers’ meeting or on the race course. Changes will be announced as far in advance as is practicable and will be made by the Race Committee as conditions dictate. With regard to such changes, all reasonable consideration will be given to participating yachts so as not to prejudice any yacht participating in the series.
4. All yachts participating in the regatta must have on board and in working order all of the safety equipment that is required for PHRF certification. The Race Committee reserves the right to inspect a boat without prior notification at any time to assure compliance with safety requirements.
5. The Race Committee will monitor channel 16 for emergencies and will use channel 68 to communicate to racers, if necessary.
6. It is the responsibility of each racer to decide whether or not to start or continue a race. Each racer assumes sole responsibility for any loss, damage, or personal injury that may occur while participating in any race.
RULES
1. The series will be governed by the 2009-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), by these sailing instructions, and any properly posted addendum.
2. Eligibility is open to any boat that has a current PHRF rating issued by the Apalachee Bay Yacht Club Performance Handicapped Rating Formula. All yachts must have a current PHRF rating to establish eligibility. A current PHRF rating, for this Regatta, may be obtained at no charge as a part of the registration process.
3. Courses will be displayed on the Race Committee boat once the boat is on station at the starting line.
4. Courses will be selected from the menu of courses that appears in the section entitled
“Race Courses.” Courses will either be around the ABYC race course buoys or longer distances around governmental navigational aids.
5. Races will be started pursuant to RRS 26.
6. All yachts shall stay clear of the starting line until the warning signal for the start of their class has been displayed.
7. The official time shall be that time indicated by the Race Committee’s sound signals relative to the start of a race.
8. Individual recalls shall be signaled in accordance with RRS Rule 29.1 (individual
recall). The Race Committee shall attempt to notify premature starters by broadcasting their sail numbers on Channel 68.
NOTE AUTHORIZED RULE CHANGE
If a fleet receives a General Recall, that fleet shall start at the end of the sequence (behind the other fleets) as if it was the last fleet in the sequence.
9. The Starting Sequence will be:
Multi-hull
Fleet A
Fleet B
Spinnaker Mono-hull
Non-spinnaker Mono-hull
Cruisers
| Signal |
Flag/Sound |
Minutes Before Start |
| Warning |
White flag; 1 long sound |
5 |
| Preparatory |
Blue flag; 1 sound |
4 |
| One Minute |
No flag; 1 long sound |
1 |
| Start |
Red flag; 1 sound |
0 |
NOTE AUTHORIZED RULE CHANGE
Except for the first fleet in the sequence, the start flag will be the warning flag for the next fleet. Each fleet will start in the sequence noted above. If no fleet exists in the sequence, each fleet will move up according in the sequence.
10. The start and finish line will be between an orange flag displayed on the Race Committee boat and an orange ABYC race buoy (or other mark set by the Race Committee).
11. If the committee boat is part of the start/finish line, the boat and a buoy/float attached to its stern by a line are parts of the mark.
If the race committee boat is damaged as a result of a boat breaking a rule, that boat shall pay for the repairs.
12. A yacht that retires from a race or does not intend to start a scheduled race shall promptly report this fact to the Race Committee on station via hailing or on Channel 68. If this is not possible, the boat shall report her withdrawal on the regatta board or contact the Race Committee directly. Yachts that do not contact the Race Committee shall be scored a DSQ.
PROTESTS AND PENALTIES
1. A yacht that may have broken a rule while racing may take a penalty at the time of the incident by taking a 720-degree turns penalty in compliance with RRS 44.2, or a 360-degree penalty turn in compliance with RRS 31.2. No other alternate penalty will be allowed in the series. A yacht executing the penalty turn must move clear of other yachts racing so as not to cause or require other such yachts to change or alter their course and must take the penalty turns on the leg where the foul occurred. Protesting yachts must notify the fouling yacht immediately of their intent to protest and must raise a red protest flag (code flag “B”).
2. Protesting yachts are requested to notify the Race Committee by hail or by VHF radio, Channel 68, of their intent to protest immediately following the finish of the race. There is a 1-hour time limit after the finish of a race to submit the required protest form.
3. Protest shall be submitted to the Race Committee on forms available from the Race Committee.
4. The protest hearing will be held at the Apalachee Bay Yacht Club. When a yacht has been involved in any incident that may be subject to protest, it is her sole responsibility to check with the Race Committee to see if she is cited in a protest. Failure of such a yacht to appear when called for a protest hearing will be considered by the protest committee as grounds for proceeding under RRS Rule 63.3(b).
SCORING
1. The low point scoring system as described in Appendix “A” of the RRS will apply. Each boat’s regatta score will be the total of her individual race scores. The lowest score wins.
2. First, second, and third prizes will be awarded for each PHRF fleet in the series.
3. Yachts that start a race but do not finish (DNF) or yachts that came to the starting area but did not start (DNS) will be scored points equal to the number of yachts that started the race in their fleet plus one. Yachts that registered for the series but did not come to the starting area (DNC) will be scored points equal to the number of yachts that started the race in their fleet plus two. Yachts that were disqualified (DSQ) will be scored points equal to the number of yachts registered for the series plus one. Furthermore, if a yacht receives a DSQ in a race, the score for that race may not be dropped when calculating the score for the series.
4. Ties will be broken as prescribed in the RRS Appendix A7 and A8.
5. There will be 1 discard if 4 races are held and 2 discards if 5 races are held.
1.
GENERAL INFORMATION - The 35th Annual Stephen C. Smith Memorial
Regatta is being held at Shell Point Beach, Florida, April 25-27, 2008. The Regatta is organized by the Stephen C. Smith Memorial
Regatta Foundation (a not-for-profit, direct support organization
for the American Cancer Society) and the Regatta Committees. The
Regatta Chairs are Lee Chapin and Ann Getman; the Race Director
for Windsurfing On-the-Water Management and A-Fleet Race Captain
is Joe Quimby, with Deb Berlinger or an alternate serving as C-Fleet
Race Captain. This event shall count as an event in the US Windsurfing-recognized
Southeast Series. Each competitor who is a member in good standing
of US Windsurfing will be scored for the Series.
2.
GENERAL RULES - The regatta will be governed by the "rules"
as defined by the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing 2005 -- 2008, including
Appendix B - Sailboard Racing Rules, the amendment to Rule 3(c),
and, where applicable, the Formula 3-1 Class Rules, the Mistral
Prodigy Class Rules, the IMCO Class Rules, and any other class
rules for one design classes, these sailing instructions, instructions
posted on the official race notice board, and verbal instructions
given at any official Skipper's Meeting. Note: Formula 3-1 will
follow all of the current strictures of the International Formula
Windsurfing Class (FW), including allowable sail and fin sizes
and numbers, with the only exception being that custom (i.e.,
non-production) boards adhering to the width and weight prescriptions
of FW but not officially certified by FW will be allowed.
The
sailing portion of this event lasts two days; all competitors
shall be required to compete both days to be eligible for final
placing in the regatta. Sailing will consist of course and/or
slalom racing, and/or one or more long distance races. Course/slalom
races shall count as one (1) race each, while the long distance
race shall normally count as two (2) separate races (i.e., for
scoring purposes, finishing place in long distance race is doubled).
Rule
Reminders:
a. Pumping is allowed in all fleets/classes, with the exception
of "C" or Novice Fleet.
b. There is no penalty for hitting any of the marks in any fleet/class,
except a starting mark before the red flag.
c. To exonerate yourself from an on-the-water foul to another
sailor, do your 720º turn.
3.
NOTICES - Notices to competitors will consist of these written
sailing instructions, verbal instructions issued at the official
Skipper's Meeting, and any information posted on the official
race notice board, located on shore at the front of the Crack
House. Any changes to these Sailing Instructions shall be posted
on the official notice board or given at the Skipper's Meeting
at least 30 minutes prior to the start of any race the change
would affect.
4.
SCHEDULE OF RACES - The schedule of races shall be announced at
the Skipper's Meeting both days and posted on the official notice
board.
5.
RACE CONDITIONS AND WIND MINIMUMS - The Race Director will be
the sole judge of fair racing conditions. It is the Race Director's
intention that no racing will be held in which pumping is the
only means of propulsion. Wind minimum for the Formula Fleet and
any other shortboard (i.e., non-centerboard) fleets/classes will
be eight (8) mph or greater, as determined by the Race Director.
If a race is started and the wind drops below planing conditions
for all participants (sustained), the race may be abandoned. There
is normally a five (5) mph wind minimum for all other fleets.
6.
POSSIBLE FLEETS/CLASSES:
Note - The following fleets will be offered (pending a sufficient
number of entries) at the event, in keeping with the Southeast
Series Fleets. Classes will be broken out based on number and
demographics of entrants. The Race Committee reserves the right
to eliminate or combine certain fleets/classes if participation
is insufficient.
1. Longboard
2. Formula 3-1
3. Prodigy
4. Hybrid
5. Sport
6. Novice
Sail
Size Limits: Longboard and Hybrid Unlimited = 12.5 m2, Longboard
and Hybrid Limited = 7.5 m2, Formula Men = 12.5 m2, Formula Women
= 11.0 m2, Mistral Prodigy = 8.4 m2, Sport = 7.5 m2, Novice =
6.5 m2. Weight Breaks applied as required; please weigh-in at
Registration.
7.
SPECIFIC CLASS RULES:
" Formula will follow all of the strictures of the International
Formula Windsurfing Class (FW), including allowable sail and fin
sizes and numbers. The only exception is that custom (i.e., non-production)
boards adhering to the width and weight prescriptions of FW but
not certified by FW will be allowed. The current rules allow three
specific sails from 12.5 m2 ? 6.5 m2; unrestricted sails <
6.5 m2.
" Mistral Prodigy -- All equipment must be class legal according
to the Mistral Prodigy rules.
" IMCO - All equipment must be class legal according to IMCO
rules (no separate IMCO class is planned at this time).
8.
SAIL NUMBERS - All sails must have a unique sail number that is
easily legible on both sides of the sail. Registered US Windsurfing
numbers are given priority over all other non-registered numbers.
Any competitor who changes sail numbers MUST notify the Race Committee
before the preparatory signal is given for their fleet. Any competitor
who races with an improper sail number, or who fails to notify
the Race Committee of a sail number change, or has an unregistered
or unreadable sail number, will be scored as a "Did Not Start"
for the events raced.
9.
WEIGH-IN - All competitors must weigh-in at registration. Weight
breaks will be made as required. The Race Committee reserves the
right to eliminate or combine certain classes if lack of participation
warrants.
10.
COURSES - The courses to be used are shown in these sailing instructions
and shall also be posted on the official notice board. All racers
in a designated Fleet will start at the same time and sail the
same course. If courses are designated with code letters, the
code letter for the course to be sailed will be displayed on the
committee boat before the warning signal for each race.
11.
MARKS - All rounding marks shall be orange buoys. Hitting the
course marks or anchor line with your board/rig is not illegal
but is highly discouraged.
12.
THE START - The starting line will be between the designated committee
boat on the starboard eng and an orange or red mark on the port
end. The order of starts shall be announced at the Skipper's Meeting
and posted on the official notice board. If the wind is 5 mph
or higher but below the Formula minimum (8 mph), the warning signal
flag will be YELLOW, and there will not be a third start.
1. Warning Signal - White Flag & 1 horn blast - 6 minutes
before the first start.
White Flag lowered - no horn blast - 4 minutes before the first
start.
2. Preparatory Signal - Blue Flag & 1 horn blast - 3 minutes
before the first start.
Blue Flag lowered - no horn blast - 1 minute before the first
start.
3. Starting Signal - Red Flag & 1 horn blast - First fleet
starts (0 minutes).
Red flag lowered - no horn blast - 2 minutes after the first start
and 1 minute before
the second start.
4. Starting Signal - Red Flag & 1 horn blast - Second fleet
starts (+3 minutes).
5. Red flag lowered - no horn blast - 2 minutes after the second
start and 1 minute
before the third start.
6. Starting Signal - Red Flag & 1 horn blast - Third fleet
starts (+6 minutes).
Times
shall be taken from the visual starting signals. A failure or
mistiming of the sound signal shall be disregarded. Boards whose
preparatory signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting
area and of all boards whose preparatory signal has been made.
13.
CLOSED GATE - The "start" and "finish" lines
must not be crossed in either direction unless starting or finishing
a race, as appropriate. Violators are subject to disqualification
by the Race Committee.
14.
ABANDONMENT - The Race Committee may abandon the race while in
progress by displaying the abandonment flag when a change in weather
conditions has, in its judgment, made race conditions hazardous
or threatening, or an unsatisfactory test of skill.
15.
CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START - The Race Committee may change
the course after the start by laying a new mark and lifting the
original mark as soon as possible. This change shall be completed
before the leading board has begun the leg that the new mark ends.
Code flag "C" may be displayed, but is not an enabling
condition for course changes.
16.
SHORTENED COURSE - The Race Committee may shorten the course at
any rounding mark, or at the start/finish line, by displaying
Code Flag "S."
17.
THE FINISH -- The finishing line will be between the designated
committee boat and an orange or red marker as shown on the course
diagrams.
18.
TIME LIMIT - The maximum time limit for all races other than the
long distance race is forty-five (45) minutes. The first board
must finish within a 45 minute time limit, or the race will be
abandoned. Boards finishing more than thirty (30) minutes after
the first finisher in their fleet, or after the absolute time
limit (t = 1.25 hours) will be scored "Did Not Finish."
19.
BOARDS NOT FINISHING - Any board that retires from a race is absolutely
required to notify the Race Committee as soon as possible. It
is the sole responsibility of each racer to decide whether or
not to start/finish a race. Boards not notifying the Race Committee
of their retirement within one hour of the finish of a race will
be scored Did Not Start (DNS).
20.
SCORING - The Low-Point Scoring System (Rule A4.2) shall apply:
First Place - 1 point (or 0.75 points as announced by the Race
Committee)
Second Place - 2 points
Third Place - 3 points (and so on)
Did Not Finish (DNF) - the number of registered racers, plus 1
point
Did Not Start (DNS) - the number of registered racers, plus 1
point
Disqualified (DSQ) - the number of registered racers, plus 1 point
Scores
will be reported to the Southeast Series representative for inclusion
in the Series results.
21.
TIES - If racers are tied at the end of the race series, the tie
shall be resolved in the favor of the competitor who had the lowest
score in the last race of the series.
22.
THROWOUTS - A minimum of two (2) races must occur to constitute
a series. If less than 5 races are completed, there will be no
throwouts. If a minimum of five (5) races are completed, each
racer will exclude their worst score (i.e., one [1] throwout).
If there are seven or more races, there may be two throwouts.
The throwout score may come from any race counted as a single
race (i.e., one course or slalom, or one-half of a long distance
race score).
23.
PROTESTS - Formal protests are discouraged, as most on-the-water
fouls can be resolved by the offending sailor doing their penalty
turns (720°). In the event of an on-the-water infraction,
protesting skippers must immediately notify the skipper of the
board they are protesting, at the time of the infraction. The
offending skipper may choose to exonerate him/herself by completing
a 720º turn. If the conflict is not resolved by the offending
skipper doing his/her 720°, upon finishing, the protesting
skipper must notify the Race Committee of their intent to protest.
All protests must be in writing on a form furnished by the Race
Committee, and the completed form must be in the hands of the
Race Committee within one (1) hour of the time the Race Committee
returns to shore after the last race of the day. The Protest Committee
will meet immediately after the one hour time limit, and upon
reaching a decision will present their findings to the parties
involved and to the Race Committee.
