General Information

SAILING STANDARDS and INFORMATION 2006

GENERAL

Three registered classes are established at PYC; L.M.P.H.R.F, Sunfish Fleet No. 218, and Ensign Fleet No. 70. PYC also sponsors an Offshore Fleet and an Open Fleet.

The Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, published by US Sailing, will govern the racing rules, scoring system, and protest procedures. Course charts, sailing instructions, special notices, and changes to these rules will be printed in this book, posted on the Club bulletin board, posted on the website, and/or announced at the skippers meeting before the affected race(s). Generally, there will be a small race fee charged for each race in which an offshore yacht participates. Current race standings will be posted on the Club bulletin board. Trophies are awarded by each fleet to qualifying members who have met all current obligations to the club.

Scoring in all fleets except Sunfish will be by boat. Sunfish scoring will be based on the skipper, NOT the boat.

If a Sunfish sailor, or any yacht, starts in one race of a series, that sailor (or yacht) will be considered entered in all races for that series, and will receive DNS for any race the sailor (yacht) does not sail in that series.

SCORING (ALL FLEETS)

Scoring will be as provided in Appendix A of the US Sailing Racing Rules using the Low Point System. One point will be awarded for first place, 2 for second, etc. The handicapping system used, if any, will be at the election of the individual fleets. If a race or series includes more that one fleet, the Regatta Committee will, if necessary, arbitrate the handicapping.

DNC (did not come to the starting area) will be one more point than the total number of boats in the race. If a race is missed because the boat is participating in a regional or national event for its fleet or class, for the missed race, the boat will be awarded the average of its other scores in the entire series.

DNS (did not start) will be one more point than the total number of boats in the race.

DNF (did not finish) will be one more point than the total number of boats in the race.

DSQ (disqualified) receives three more points than the last boat to finish the race in question.

The skipper of any racing yacht is required to be knowledgeable of the US Sailing rules, and agrees to race by these rules. The skipper is also responsible for the safe operation of his/her yacht and the safety of the crew. The Regatta Committee recommends that skippers familiarize their crews with all safety procedures, including man overboard drills, as often as necessary for the safe operation of the yacht.

PROTESTS AND ARBITRATION (ALL FLEETS)

Arbitration will be offered for all protests. The Arbitrator will be assigned by the Chairman of Protests or Chairman of the Regatta Committee. The Arbitrator will meet with both parties.  If he/she finds the protest to be invalid, or if significant damage occurred, then the session is ended.  If protest is valid, then both parties are given five minutes to present cases.   After five minute presentation time for each party and time for the Arbitrator to ask a few questions, The Arbitrator will state (1) no rule was broken (2) one or both boats broke a rule (3) Arbitrator is unable to reach a decision. It will not be revealed why any boat broke a rule or what rule was broken If the Arbitrator believes that one boat broke a rule such boat will be invited to accept a 40% scoring penalty.  If the protestor does not accept an invitation to withdraw the protest, or if the protested boat does not accept the penalty, or if the Mediator is unable to make a decision, then a full protest hearing is held.


PRINCIPAL RACE OFFICER (Ensign and Open Classes)
  1. A Principal Race Officer (PRO) will be assigned by the Regatta Committee for each race from a list of boat owners. In the event that more than one person owns a boat, the owners must assign one candidate.
  2. If the assigned person unable to serve, the Regatta Committee chairman or designate shall be notified no later than one day before the race. A successor will be selected from the list of owners.
  3. PRO duties
    1. Select course
    2. Set, or oversee the setting, of the starting line buoys.
    3. Contact race committee if race to be delayed or postponed
    4. Contact race committee if race to be shortened or abandoned.
    5. PRO must forward promptly any protests to the Chairman of the protest committee, or his designate.
  4. Default rules
    1. Races to start at 11 AM unless wind speed at starting line less than 5 mph or greater than 20 mph
    2. Races to start at location designated by Regatta Committee. There are two possibilities;
      • Start and end at PYC
      • Start near mark “D” and finish at PYC
    3. Course to be selected from the standard list of courses. The PRO will notify the Race Committee of the selected course.
    4. Races to be shortened only if first finisher unlikely to finish in 2 hours, or wind speed dropping substantially
    5. Only races with a leg that includes the turning buoy (T) can be shortened
    6. Races to be abandoned only if threatening weather or very low wind speed.
  5. Arbitration
    1. The PRO will serve as the arbitrator for the race for the race just completed, with the following exceptions:
      • The PRO is involved in the protest
      • The PRO refuses
    2. If the PRO does not serve as arbitrator, a replacement will be selected from a list of PROs for previous races, selected in reverse order (most recent race first).
SERIOUS DAMAGE

Regarding Rules 44.1, 60.3 and 63.5:
  1. Serious damage is the breakage of any part of the boat, including the hull, brightwork, standing rigging, or sails.
  2. Scuffing of the rubrail, or scratches which do not penetrate to the underlying fiberglass, are not considered serious damage.