2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS 2.1 Official notices and addenda to these sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board adjacent to Acura Race Headquarters. The jury notice board will be located at the jury tent adjacent to Acura Race Headquarters. 2.2 Any questions concerning these sailing instructions, scoring, or any other racing issues shall be submitted in writing to Acura Race Headquarters. Forms to submit inquiries are available there. All written inquiries and responses will be posted on the official notice board. 3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board before 0830 on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 1900 on the day before it will take effect. Copies of changes will be available at Acura Race Headquarters. 4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE 4.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from a flagpole located at Acura Race Headquarters. 4.2 One sound signal at 0900 will signal that races will start as scheduled for at least one of the four divisions. 4.3 Code Flag AP with two sound signals means “the race is postponed.” Code Flag AP over the appropriate numeral pennant(s) or class flags with two sound signals means “the race is postponed for those specific divisions or classes.” The warning signal for postponed divisions or classes will be made not less than 90 minutes after AP is lowered with one sound signal. This modifies Race Signal Flag AP. 4.4 The race committee will broadcast its intent to the four divisions on VHF Channels 69, 72, 73 and 74 at 0830 and again at 0900. 5 SCHEDULE OF RACES 5.1 Racing is scheduled each day from Monday, January 21 through Friday, January 25. There are no scheduled Lay Days. Ten races are scheduled of which three must be completed to constitute a series. 5.2 The scheduled time for the warning signal for the first class in each division for the first race each day is 1030. 5.3 The maximum number of races that may be run on any given day is three. The race committee will signal its intent to run another race that day by displaying Flag R from the signal boat at the finish of the previous race. After finishing, competitors shall stand clear of the finishing line and observe the starting area boundaries as stated in sailing instruction 10.1.3 until their new starting sequence has commenced. Flag R will be lowered with one sound signal five minutes before the warning signal is signaled for the next race of the day. The race committee will also attempt to broadcast its intentions over the designated VHF channel. 6 CLASS FLAGS / EVENT BOW STICKERS / BOW NUMBERS / SAIL NUMBERS 6.1 Boats will be separated into four divisions and individual classes within each division. A list of boats by division and class will be posted on the official notice board along with the designated class starting flag. Class flags, furnished to the handicap classes in Divisions 2 and 4, shall be displayed in the aft part of the boat, at least four feet above deck, at all times while the boat is racing. If such display is not feasible, class flags shall be displayed from the stern pulpit. 6.2 Event bow stickers shall be attached to both sides of the boat’s hull at all times while racing. For those boats not issued bow numbers, the stickers are to be mounted approximately 6-10 inches below deck level and 8-14 inches aft of the bow. For those boats issued bow numbers see paragraph 6.3. Instructions will be included with the bow stickers and in the Skipper’s Package. Boats failing to display bow stickers may be subject to protest by the race committee only. 6.3 Bow numbers will be required for the Farr 40, Melges 32, M 30, J/105, J/80 and Melges 24 classes only. Each boat in these classes will be assigned a bow number. These bow numbers shall be displayed on both sides of the bow approximately 6-10 inches below deck level and between 8-14 inches aft of the bow. Event bow stickers shall be displayed approximately 10 inches aft of the bow numbers. Instructions will be included with the bow stickers and in the Skipper’s Package. Boats failing to display bow numbers and event bow stickers may be subject to protest by the race committee only. 6.4 All boats shall display only those racing numbers (on all sails requiring numbers) under which she has entered, unless prior written approval is obtained from the Race Chairman. 7 RACING AREAS There will be four separate racing areas, one for each division. See Exhibit 1 for rendezvous locations for each division. The assigned classes for each division will be posted on the official notice board and available at registration. 8 COURSES 8.1 Courses for each race will be selected by the race committee from those outlined in Exhibit 2 (see below). The windward marks are to be rounded to port. Two windward marks may be laid (differentiated on the course board by distance to the windward mark for specific classes). 8.2 The course for each class, with the magnetic bearing and distance to the windward mark from the middle of the starting line, will be displayed on the starboard side of the starboard end signal boat before the warning signal. If course, bearing or distance are unchanged for the succeeding class(es), there will be a blank space rather than repetition on the course board (see sample board, Exhibit 3). The race committee will attempt to broadcast the courses on the designated VHF channel prior to the warning signal for the first class. 8.3 Leeward Gate, Windward Offset Mark 8.3.1 For all classes a leeward gate (two marks) will be used. The gate will be located to windward of the starting line. Boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and round either gate mark. If one of the leeward gate marks is missing, boats shall round the one existing leeward mark to port. 8.3.2 For Divisions 1 and 3 only, a windward offset mark(s) will be laid to port of the windward mark(s), approximately perpendicular to the course axis and approximately 150-200 feet distant. The windward offset mark(s) are to be rounded to port (not depicted in the course diagrams). 9 MARKS 9.1 Marks 1, 2S and 2P will be orange inflatable tetrahedrons. 9.2 For Divisions 1 and 3 only, the windward offset marks will be orange balls. 10 THE START 10.1 Races will be started by using Rule 26. 10.1.1 The timing of the warning signal for those classes following the first class to start will vary by division depending on the number of classes in the division, wind conditions, the sailing characteristics of the boats racing and/or the need to adjust the starting line. The race committee will attempt to broadcast its intentions over the designated VHF channel. 10.1.2 An inflatable buoy may be tethered to the stern of the committee boat(s). Any boat touching this buoy will have broken rule 31.1 and shall act in accordance with rule 31.2. 10.1.3 The Starting Area will extend 300 feet perpendicularly (to windward and leeward) from the starting line and radially from its ends. Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made shall stand clear of the starting area and of all boats whose preparatory signal has been made. Boats which fail to abide by these restrictions may be subject to protest by the race committee only. 10.2 The Start (Division 1 and 3 only) 10.2.1 The starting line will consist of three committee boats; starboard end signal boat, mid-line boat and port end line boat. The mid-line boat might not be on a straight line between the starboard end signal boat and the port end line boat. 10.2.2 For the Farr 40, Melges 32, Melges 24, and J/105 classes only, the starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the starboard end signal boat and a staff displaying an orange flag on the mid-line boat and between staffs displaying orange flags on the mid-line boat and the port end line boat (not depicted in course diagrams). 10.2.3 For the M 30 and J/80 classes only, the starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the starboard end signal boat and a staff displaying an orange flag on the mid-line boat.
10.3 The Start (Divisions 2 and 4 only) The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the starboard end signal boat and a staff displaying an orange flag on the port end line boat. 11 RECALLS 11.1 The race committee will attempt to identify recalled boats by broadcast over the designated VHF channel. Failure of a boat to see or hear her recall notification and the timing and order of such hails will not be grounds for redress. For the Farr 40, Melges 32, Melges 24 and J/105 Classes only, Flag X will be displayed from both the starboard end signal boat and the port end line boat to signal that boats are OCS. 11.2 For those classes with bow numbers, the race committee will attempt to hail each boat by her bow number. 12 CHANGING THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE 12.1 Rule 33 is amended by adding the following: 12.1.1 A signal board with the letters for the classes for which the change of course applies will be used. If the change is for the windward leg, the new mark will be a yellow inflatable tetrahedron for the first change unless the first change is for the final leg. When subsequent changes of course are signaled, the yellow and orange marks will be alternated. If the change is for a leeward leg, the original gate marks will be moved into the new position, unless the change is for the final leg. 12.1.2 A course change for the final leg of a race will be signaled by a race committee boat in the vicinity of the last rounding mark(s). It will display code flags C over Q, and a signal board with the direction and/or leg length change to the finish line and make repetitive sounds. This signal (C over Q) applies only to boats sailing their final (finishing) leg. The change will be signaled before the leading boat of a class has begun the leg, although the finishing line may not yet be in position. 12.2 The race committee will attempt to broadcast any course changes over the appropriate VHF channel. 13 THE FINISH 13.1 For downwind finishes, the finishing line will be on the opposite side of signal boat from the starting line. The finishing line will be either between a staff displaying an orange flag on the finishing line boat and a nearby tetrahedron or between a staff displaying an orange flag on the finishing line boat and a staff displaying an orange flag on a nearby race committee boat. 13.2 For windward finishes, the finishing line will be either between a staff displaying an orange flag on the finishing line boat and a nearby tetrahedron or between a staff displaying an orange flag on the finishing line boat and a staff displaying an orange flag on a nearby committee boat. The finishing line will be located approximately 600 feet beyond the weather-most windward mark. 13.3 In the interest of starting another race in a timely fashion on multiple-race days, the race committee may assign a finish position to the last finisher(s) in a division provided that the position(s) can be determined in a reasonable manner. 14 PENALTY SYSTEMS 14.1.1 For all classes except the Farr 40, Melges 32, Melges 24, M 30, and Swan 42 Classes, a boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 while racing may take a penalty by making Two Turns in compliance with rule 44.2 or by taking a 20% Scoring Penalty in compliance with rule 44.3 as changed by sailing instruction 14.1.3 However, if a boat breaks a rule of Part 2 within the two-length zone of any rounding or passing marks, rule 44.3, Scoring Penalty, shall not apply. 14.1.2 For the Farr 40, Melges 32, Melges 24, M 30, and Swan 42 Classes only, a boat that may have broken a rule of Part 2 while racing may take a penalty by making One Turn including one tack and one gybe that, in all other respects, complies with rule 44.2. However, if a boat breaks a rule of Part 2 within the two-length zone of any rounding or finishing marks, her penalty shall be a Two-Turns Penalty in compliance with rule 44.2. Rule 44.3, Scoring Penalty, shall not apply. 14.1.3 The 20% Scoring Penalty shall be not less than 2 places. All boats that have taken a Scoring Penalty in accordance with rule 44.3 shall submit a written declaration on a form at the jury desk prior to the end of protest time. Submitting a written declaration within the protest time limit shall satisfy the requirement of rule 44.3(a) to inform the race committee at the finishing line. This changes rule 44.3(a), Scoring Penalty. 14.2 Rule 44.1 is modified to allow a boat to take an Arbitration Penalty for a breach of a rule of Part 2 after the incident but prior to the protest hearing by acknowledging the breach before arbitration or by accepting the opinion of an arbitrator. This Scoring Penalty shall be 40% of the number of boats entered as calculated in rule 44.3 (c) but shall not be less than four places. 14.3 If a breach of Class Rules is found in a One Design, PHRF or IRC class, penalties shall be at the discretion of the jury, in consultation with the Class Management Group or a non-competing Class Representative. 15 PROTESTS 15.1 A boat intending to protest is requested to notify the finishing line boat of its intention and the identity of the protested boat(s) as soon as possible after finishing. 15.2 Protest forms are available at the jury desk. Completed protests shall be delivered to the jury desk as soon as possible but not later than one hour after the division signal boat docks, except for those boats moored at Stock Island, for which the protest time limit will be 90 minutes after the division signal boat docks. The protest time limit for each division will be posted on the jury notice board. 15.3 Protest notices will be posted as soon as possible after they are delivered to the jury desk to inform competitors where and when there is a hearing to which they are party. Protest hearings will be scheduled to start as soon as possible after the notices are posted. The jury will attempt to hear protests in the order of receipt. Representatives of boats who are parties to hearings and their witnesses shall remain on call in the vicinity of the jury desk. 15.4 It is each boat’s sole responsibility to check the jury notice board at the end of the protest filing time to see if she is cited in a protest. Failure of any party to appear when called for a hearing will be considered by the jury as grounds for proceeding under rule 63.3(b). 15.5 An international jury will be appointed in accordance with rule 90(b) and Appendix N. The jury will comprise 9 members and may be split into panels as envisaged by rule N1.4(b). The time limit for filing a written request for a hearing under rule N1.4(b) is one hour after the decision is announced. Decisions of the international jury will be final in accordance with rule 70.4. 16 ARBITRATION 16.1 For protests involving an alleged breach of a rule of Part 2, a short arbitration hearing will be held prior to a protest hearing. This changes Part 5, Section B of the RRS. 16.2 After a written protest is delivered to the jury desk, one representative from each boat who was onboard at the time of the incident will meet with the arbitrator unless the protestor requests that the protest be withdrawn. No witnesses will be allowed. Protests not resolved by arbitration will be forwarded to the jury. 16.3 A boat that accepts the arbitrator’s opinion that she broke a rule of Part 2 shall receive a penalty score of 40% as detailed in sailing instruction 14.2. 16.4 The acceptance of an arbitrator’s opinion cannot be grounds for redress or be appealed. 16.5 The arbitrator will not be a member of the jury that hears the protest but will be permitted to observe the testimony given to the jury and offer testimony. This changes rule 63.3(a). 17 SCORING 17.1 For the Farr 40, J/105, M 30, and Swan 42 Classes only, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores without exclusion. For all other classes, a boat’s worst score will be excluded from her series score if seven or more races have been completed subject to rule 89.3(b). 17.2 Handicap scoring will be performed as follows: 17.2.1 PHRF classes will be scored using the handicaps provided by the Event PHRF Consortium. The actual course distances will be used. 17.2.2 IRC Classes will be scored using IRC Time Correction Factor using time on time scoring. 17.2.3 The last sentence of rule A3 is replaced with, “However, a boat’s finish position in PHRF will be determined by her corrected time calculated in seconds to two decimal places.” 17.3 International Team Competition scoring will be based on the lowest cumulative points scored by each team for the entire series. For the purpose of team scoring, the individual boats on each team will be scored only against other boats on teams within their individual classes. 17.4 The PHRF National Championship scoring will be based on two criteria; 1) fleet performance using corrected boat speed and; 2) how competitive and closely contested the individual class was. The criteria, with applicable formulas, are posted on the event web site. 18 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 18.1 Boats shall comply with Premiere Racing’s Safety Requirements for this event (posted on the event web site and available from Premiere Racing). In the event that Class Rules for an eligible One Design class conflict with the Safety Requirements for this event, then the Class Rules will take precedence. 18.2 All persons in the Melges 24 and Corsair 28R Classes shall wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) while racing. 18.3 The “Quick-Stop” man-overboard procedure (see Appendix D in the 2006 - 2007 ISAF Special Regulations) shall be practiced aboard each boat at least once by the crew racing in the regatta prior to the first race of the series. A dated record of such practice should be signed by participating crew members and kept aboard the boat (Section 5 of Premiere Racing’s Safety Requirements for Acura Key West 2008 posted on the event web site and available from Premiere Racing). 18.4 Retiring. A boat that retires from a race or does not intend to start a scheduled race shall promptly report this to the race committee on station via hailing or the designated VHF channel and receive acknowledgement. If this is not possible she shall promptly report her actions to Acura Race Headquarters on shore. 19 CREW WEIGH-IN / REPLACEMENT OF CREW 19.1 PHRF boats shall sail with the same crew in all races unless written permission to change crew has been granted by the Race Chairman. Any request for changes in crew or crew numbers must be submitted to the Race Chairman in writing prior to the race in which the change is to take place. Any approved crew change for a PHRF boat must stay within the boat’s Base Crew Weight Limitations. 19.2 Entrants in the One-Design Classes that have an established crew weight limit and require weigh-ins must have their crews weighed-in by 1800 Sunday, January 20. 19.3 Crew substitutions are allowed in all one-design classes. In classes that require crew weigh-ins, entrants desiring to substitute crew must have substitute crew members weighed-in prior to 0830 on race day (Tuesday–Friday) at Acura Race Headquarters. A crew substitution card, with the name of the substitute (who meets all One-Design Class requirements) and crew member replaced, must be submitted when being weighed-in and signed by a designated race committee official. Crew substitution cards are available at Acura Race Headquarters. 19.4 A cameraman, approved by Premiere Racing and the class, for video taping aboard a boat while racing, will not be counted against the crew weight limits or maximum crew limits. This modifies rules pertaining to crew weight limits. 20 EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with Class Rules, Safety Requirements, submitted PHRF handicap information (if applicable) or the sailing instructions. On the water a boat can be instructed by the race committee to proceed immediately to a designated area for inspection. 21 SUPPORT BOATS Skippers/Owners are responsible for the actions of their support boats. Media, support, and spectator boats shall stay clear of the starting area and shall not interfere in any way with boats racing or with the race committee. Media, support, and spectator boats shall comply with this instruction and with the oral directives of the race committee on the water. Failure to comply may result in the protest and disqualification of a racing boat associated with any offending ancillary boat. 22 HAUL-OUT RESTRICTIONS There are no haul-out restrictions for the Melges 24, Corsair 28R or PHRF Classes. 23 RADIO COMMUNICATION 23.1 The race committee may not respond to transmissions from competitors except to acknowledge retirements, protests, penalties reported, or requests for emergency assistance. The race committee will use the following VHF Channels for communication: Division 1 – Channel 69 Division 2 – Channel 72 Division 3 – Channel 73 Division 4 – Channel 74 23.2 Race committee broadcasts concerning its intentions, the course to be sailed, starting times, course changes, etc. are a courtesy only. Failure of the race committee to make a broadcast, the timing of a broadcast, or the failure of a boat to hear a broadcast shall not be grounds for redress under rule 62.1(a). 23.3 Competitors shall not use any electronic device (including scanners), with the exception of cell phones, which can receive UHF frequencies from 0930 until racing has concluded on each of the five race days. See rule 41. No competitor shall make radio, cell phone or computer transmissions, or receive radio, cell phone or computer communications during that time frame, except in the case of an emergency. The only other exception is that a crew member may place or receive a cell phone call of a personal nature that does not involve the exchange of information that could affect the boat’s outcome in the race. The Skipper/Owner shall be responsible for all communications activity aboard his/her boat. Boats that do not comply with this instruction will be subject to disqualification from the regatta. 24 PRIZES 24.1 Class awards for first, second and third place will be presented daily. Smaller classes will receive first and second place awards. On multiple race days, class awards will be presented based on combined scores for the day. 24.2 A “Boat of the Day” award will be presented to the class winner in the class with the closest, most competitive racing each day. 24.3 Class awards for first, second and third place in the series will be presented on Friday, January 25, 2008. 24.4 The following one design championships trophies will be awarded to the class winners on Friday, January 25, 2008: * Corsair 28R Mid Winter Championship * Melges 32 Mid Winter Championship * Melges 24 Mid Winter Championship * J/105 Mid Winter Championship * J/109 Mid Winter Championship * J/80 Mid Winter Championship 24.5 The “PHRF National Championship Trophy” will be presented to the top scoring PHRF class winner based on the criteria posting on the event web site. 24.6 The Nautica Watches Trophy will be awarded to the team that wins the International Team Competition. 24.7 The Acura Trophy, awarded to the “Boat of the Week,” will be presented to the class winner whose Class featured the closest, most competitive racing for the series. 24.8 The Paul Washburn Sportsmanship Award will be presented at the Skippers’ Meeting on Sunday, January 20, 2008. 25 DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.
Please note: The Sailing Instructions provided here are for informational purposes. You should ultimately rely on the official printed version and any printed addendums. |
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