1 RULE
1.1
Races will be governed by the following documents, given in their order of precedence: Individual Series or Race Instructions b) These Standing Race Instructions, c) The Current US Sailing Association Rules.
1.2
Yachts shall not interfere with the navigation of: a) large vessels with limited maneuverability, b) tugs and their tows, c) vessels of the United States government.
1.3
Non-spinnaker division yachts may fly only one headsail at a time from the headstay regardless of the point of sail. Cutters may fly one jib on the forestay and one on the headstay, but total area may not exceed that of a 155% jib.
1.4
Non-spinnaker division yachts with headfoils or double forestays shall drop their in-use jib to the deck prior to raising a new one. NCPHRF ratings will be adjusted for the Non Spinnaker Divisions in accordance with the YRA NCPHRF Rules and Guidelines for Boats Racing in Non Spinnaker Divisions Part 1 Article VII.
1.5
Auto-helms are allowed.
2 YACHTS
2.1
All yachts shall: a) be monohulls, b) have a length on board of at least 19 feet, c) have at least 600 pounds of ballast in a keel, d) comply with US Coast Guard requirements.
2.2
All yachts must also have a valid NCPHRF rating. There shall be a valid NCPHRF certificate for the entered yacht or an identical sistership on file with the YRA of Northern California. The SBYRA Handicapper will review the ratings for accuracy and make adjustments as per NCPHRF Rules and Guidelines to reflect the as sailed configuration specified on the signed SBYRA Registration Form.
2.3
In the event that the rating of a yacht is protested, the skipper of the yacht being protested shall provide to the Protest Committee evidence that the requirements of Section 2.2 are met.
3 STARTING LINE
3.1
The Starting Line shall be between an orange flag on the Race Committee boat and the starting buoy.
3.2
The Finish Line shall be the same as the Starting Line.
3.3
A Preventer Buoy may be set near the Race Committee boat and, when set, shall limit the length of the line such that a starting yacht shall not pass between this buoy and the Race Committee boat. The buoy may or may not be on the line, is not a mark of the course and is to be considered an obstruction.
3.4
Yachts shall not cross the Starting Line except when: a) preparing to start, b) starting, c) finishing, d) starting the second lap of a twice-around course, or e) after finishing.
3.5
The Starting Area shall be an oval extending 100 yards in all directions from the Starting Line. Yachts whose preparatory signal has not been given shall keep clear of the Starting Area and of all yachts whose preparatory signal has been given.
3.6
Yachts shall not Anchor in the Starting Area while the Race Committee boat is flying a preparatory signal.
3.7
The “I” flag will always be assumed to fly, US Sailing Association Rule 30.1 will be in play at all times.
3.8
The “Z” flag and the “Black” flag will not be used for SBYRA races.
4 SIGNALS
4.1
Visual signals shall be made from the Race Committee boat by means of international code flags and colored flags or shapes. The Race Committee may, at its discretion, announce the hoisting of any visual signals on VHF Ch 71.
4.2
Sound signals will be made with a: a) gun, b) horn c) whistle, or d) siren.
4.3
Starting Signals shall be in accordance with US Sailing Association Rule 26.
4.4
The Course for each division shall be signaled by the display of the corresponding International Code number pennants read top to bottom. As per US Sailing Association Rule 27.1, the course flag for a division shall be raised no later than the warning signal. As an alternate a placard may be used to display the course for each Division.
4.5
A Twice-around Course shall be signaled by code flag “T” below the course number pennant(s). All boats shall cross the Starting line to start the second lap of the course.
4.6
Code flag “R” under the course number pennant(s) shall signal a Reverse Course. A Reverse Course is sailed in the opposite direction, leaving all marks to the opposite side indicated on the course sheet.
4.7
A Shortened Course will be signaled by the Race Committee announcing its intent to do so on VHF channel 71 and by code flag “S” flying from the RC boat which will be anchored opposite any mark of the course. The finish line shall be perpendicular to the last leg of the course. To finish, a yacht shall pass between the mark and the RC boat without rounding the mark, regardless of what side the RC boat is on or what side the course sheet says to leave the mark. If a twice around course is shortened to a once-around course, this rule applies and the “S” flag under the “T” flag will be flown from the RC boat.
4.8
Postponements are signaled by the hoisting of the answering pennant along with 2 sound signals. The postponement period will end with the lowering of the answering pennant accompanied by 1 sound signal. Approximately 1 minute after the ending of the postponement period, the warning sound and visual signals will be made, signifying the resumption of the regular starting sequence.
4.9
Individual Recalls are signaled by displaying code flag “X” accompanied by 1 sound signal, and/or hailing the yachts concerned on VHF channel 71. However, nothing relieves a yacht from making a proper start. The recalled yacht shall return around either end of the start line to the pre-start side of the line.
4.10
General Recalls are signaled by hoisting the first substitute code flag and making 2 sound signals. After a general recall has been signaled, US Sailing Association Rule 29.2 will not apply and the recalled division will move to the end of the starting sequence so as not to put the other divisions off their intended starting time/position.
4.11
Other Signals may be used in accordance with US Sailing Association Race Signals except as modified by these instructions.
4.12
The Race Committee will monitor VHF channel 71 for check-in and retirement from the race. Communications on starting order and course information with the Race Committee on VHF Ch 71 is permitted in SBYRA. However, the Race Committee will not respond to radio contact from the first warning signal until after the last division start signal.
5 INFRACTIONS OF THE RULES
5.1 Alternate Penalties: The alternative penalties of US Sailing Association Rules 31.2, 44.1 and 44.2 (as limited by Rule 44.4) shall apply to infractions of the right-of-way rules in Part 2 thereof.
5.2 Protests shall be: a) submitted on US Sailing Association protest forms or electronic facsimiles thereof, b) addressed to SBYRA chairman, c) received no later than Wednesday following the race, and d) heard by the Protest Committee no later than three weeks from the date of the race. The SBYRA Chairman or his designee will serve as chairman of the Protest Committee.
6 TIME LIMIT
6.1 The time limit for each division is four hours from its Starting Signal. If one boat in a division finishes in time, then all boats of that division shall have a time limit of four hours thirty minutes. If a racer retires from a race he/she should notify the Race Committee via VHF channel 71 or verbally when sailing by the Race Committee boat.
7 SCORING FOR SERIES RACES
7.1 The Low Point Scoring System will be used. Each yacht finishing a race, and not thereafter retiring or being disqualified, shall score points as follows: First place - .75 point, Second place - 2 points, Third place - 3 points, etc.
7.2
Other yachts shall score points as follows: Did Not Finish - Number of finishers plus
1 point. Did Not Start - # of sign-ups in division plus 1 point. Disqualified - # of starters in division plus 2 points.
7.3
Tie Breaking shall be done by first including throw out races. If still tied, then the
yacht with the most first place finishes wins. If still tied, then the yacht with the most second place finishes wins. If the tie is still not broken, dual trophies will be awarded.
7.4
A registered race entrant who serves as Race Committee will receive
points equal to his series average after throw outs. However, if no boats in his division complete the race, he will receive 1 point.
South Bay Yacht Racing Association