2002 Wednesday Night Sailing Instructions

RULES

Daylight yacht racing rules of the 2001-2004 Racing Rules of Sailing will govern except as modified herein or in the Notice of Race. Boats racing shall not violate the right of way of commercial traffic or other vessels not racing.

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

The races take place each Wednesday from May 15, 2002 to September 18, 2002. The start line will be in the vicinity of 46A. The first gun will be at 7:05 PM.

ELIGIBILITY

The series is open to all sailing boats, spinnaker and non-spinnaker, with a valid 2002 YRALIS or local (EBYRA) PHRF certificate. YRALIS crew weight limitations will not be in effect. 

STARTING AND FINISHING

The starting line will be between an orange flag on the committee boat (always to starboard) and the "S" mark, always to port.  Boats must stay well clear of the starting line until their preparatory signal. Any boat not crossing the starting line within 4 minutes of her starting signal will be scored DNS. This modifies rule A4.1. After starting and before finishing, a boat shall not sail through the finish line, but may sail to either side of it.  Any boat sailing through the finish line may correct her error by sailing out the same side from which she entered, or is subject to protest by the Race Committee. The "Z" mark may be used as an alternate start-finish mark.  An orange "Z" will be shown on the course board if the Z starting mark is being used.  The RC boat may use an anti-barging buoy.  The boat, buoy, lines and fittings shall collectively constitute a starting mark.  No boat may pass between the buoy and the RC boat.

RESTRICTED AREAS

There are 3 restricted areas depicted on the course graphic: 1) The triangle bounded by R "2" Fl R 4s "Big Tom", N "4", and Belden Point, 2) the triangle bounded by Stepping Stones lighthouse, N "2", and N "4", and 3) between Fl R 4s "46" and the southern tip of Hart Island. Boats racing shall not sail through these areas except area #1 when rounding "B" as a specified mark of the course. Any boat straying into a restricted area must sail out the same side of the area from which it entered.  Note that boats are allowed to sail through the channel bounded by N "2" and N "4" to the northwest and Kings Point to the southeast.

STARTING TIME AND SIGNAL

The warning signal for the starting sequence will be at 7:05 PM.  The starting sequence shall be according to Rule 26. The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.  While the RC will make every effort to do “rolling starts”, they are not obligated to do so.  The absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded. 

Note:  See scratch sheet for division assignment and course selection slot.

COURSE SIGNALS

Courses will be signaled from the committee boat using the group codes letter and course letters. See race course side of these SI. 

COURSE CHANGE

Posted course codes for all divisions may be revised up to the warning signal for the first start without an accompanying visual or audible signal. A course change after the warning signal must include a postponement and an accompanying "C" flag.  This modifies Rule 27.1.

POSTPONEMENT

Postponement will be signaled by the answering pennant and two sound signals. Lowering of the postponement signal will be accompanied by one sound signal. The next warning signal will be made 1 minute later, accompanied by the appropriate class flag.

INDIVIDUAL RECALL

The race committee shall display the "X" flag and make one sound signal.  The race committee will attempt to hail premature starters using VHF channel 72. Failure to notify a boat does not relieve the boat of her obligation to make a proper start.

GENERAL RECALL

The race committee shall display the “First Substitute” flag and make two sound signals.  The warning signal for a new start for the recalled division shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is lowered. The starts for any succeeding divisions shall follow the new start.

TIME LIMIT

The first boat in each division must finish by 9:45 PM. If a boat finishes by 9:45 PM, the rest of the boats in that division have until 10:00 PM to finish. Those boats not finishing will be scored DNF.

PROTESTS 

A boat protesting shall so inform the race committee upon or immediately after finishing.  The protesting boat shall file its written protest with an EBYRA representative within one hour and fifteen minutes (clock time) of finishing.  The RC boat will not accept written protests on the water.  Pending protests will be listed on the score sheet and posted on the EBYRA web site, www.ebyra.org.  Protest hearings will be automatically scheduled for the following Wednesday, after racing, at one of the clubs according to the following schedule.  

                                                                                    DATE OF PROTEST HEARING

Stuyvesant Yacht Club                       May 22, May 29, June 5, June 12, June 19

Harlem Yacht Club                             June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24

City Island Yacht Club                        July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28, Sept 4, Sept 11, Sept 18, Sept 25

RETIREMENT

Boats retiring from racing are requested to notify the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity. 

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

The Race Committee will monitor VHF channel 72 and will broadcast recalls, abandonment and other race-pertinent information.  Racers are strongly recommended to carry a VHF radio capable of receiving and transmitting on channel 72.

THROWOUTS

A boat will earn one throwout for every two races beyond nine in which she starts and in which there is a finisher in her division.  A score of DSQ resulting from a protest hearing may not be thrown out.

SPECIAL NOTE TO COMPETITORS

Boats sailing in the vicinity of the racecourse but not intending to race are requested to so notify the Race Committee prior to their preparatory signal, or risk being scored as a starter.