Cruiser Class Sailing Instructions

Download and print the following files to help you and your crew get to grips with with our race setup

• The sailing area map
• Starting instructions and other flags
• Windward leeward course
• Slalom and Port Course

Classes

Racing is held under two classes:

Class 1
Any boat in possession of an IRC rating certificate. Unendorsed certificates are acceptable as are certificates up to 1 year old providing no modifications have been done to the boat.

Class 2, or Whitesails
Class 2 is made up of boats that do not wish to fly a spinnaker. Detail on the conditions for racing in class 2 are currently under review.

Organising Authority and Rules

The organizing authority for cruiser racing is Waterford Harbour Sailing Club. Cruiser Racing will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing [RRS], the prescriptions of the ISA, IRC and ECHO handicapping system Rules, except as any of these are changed by these Sailing Instructions [SIs]. Eligibility requirements for owners or owners representatives require that they must be current members of WHSC and the ISA. Competitors are reminded that no individual or body involved in the organisation of this racing accepts any liability for injury or damage. Each owner or owners representative must ensure that his/her boat is covered by a policy of Third Party Indemnity Insurance of not less than €2,000,000. Entries are accepted on the basis that in no circumstances will any liability for injury to person(s) or property attach to the Officers, Trustees, Committee or Members of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club. All competitors are subject to the rules of WHSC.

Notices to Competitors

All notices to competitors will be posted on the Notice Board, located outside the front door of the Clubhouse.

Certification and Eligibility

Class 1 racing will be for IRC certificated boats only, Progressive ECHO results may be given for whitesails class.

Courses

The daily courses for Classes 1 and 2 will be posted on the Notice Board at the Clubhouse. These will include the time of First Gun and the VHF Radio channel if any.

VHF Radio

All competitors are required to have a working VHF radio on board their boat and should have it tuned to the designated working channel. This will normally be Channel 13. Owners are advised to fit a deck speaker.

Marks

The Racing Marks may be designated on the Notice Board.

The sailing area has 4 fixed marks which can be used to make up part of a course.

• Curran – Red Barrel with a flag on the outer limits of the yacht moorings near the strand
• Mid Channel – The permanent channel marker in the center of the race area.
• Walls Cove – A red/white striped pole near creaden head.
• South Mark – A red/white striped pole to the southeast of the harbour

Start & Finish

The Committee Boat will normally be “Club Red”  or a RIB rigid rescue craft. The start line will be the flagpole on the Committee Boat and an outer limit mark. If an inner limit buoy is laid off the committee boat, no boat may pass between the inner limit buoy and the committee boat at any time.

Class Flags

Code Flags 1 & 2.

Starting Signals

Starting signals will be in accordance with RRS Rule 26 as follows:

• Five minutes before the starting signal, Class Flag(s) shall be displayed and a sound signal made.
• Four minutes before the starting signal, Code Flags “P, I or Black” shall be displayed & a sound signal
• One minute before the starting signal Code Flags “P, I or Black” shall be lowered and a long sound signal made.
• The starting signal shall be the lowering of Class Flag and the making of a sound signal.

A boat attempting to start later than 10 minutes after her starting signal will be deemed to have retired. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

In general, races will be finished at the Curran mark. Passing it to port.

Recalls

In the event of a General Recall the First Substitute pennant will be flown. For an Individual Recall Flag X will be shown. This may be announced on vhf

Shortened Course

Amendment to Rule 32.2 (a)
The race committee in so far as practicable, will signal a shortened course (displays flag S with
two sounds), the finishing line shall be at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S.

But if this is not practicable the race committee may shorten or change the course by communicating the changes of the course over VHF channel 13. The race committee will make reasonable effort to inform all competitors, but will not take responsibility for any boat not hearing course changes.

The Finish

The finishing line will be as determined by the Race officer.

Retirement

A boat which retires from a race shall inform the committee boat or a rescue boat as soon as possible.

Protests

Protests shall be written on forms available at the race office and delivered there within 60 minutes from the time of the last boat’s finish in the last race of that day. Sailors shall notify the Committee Boat of their intention to protest on completion of the race.

Protests will be heard as soon as possible after racing each day.

Sail Numbers

Boats shall show their correct sail numbers. Permission to sail under any other sail no. must be sought from the Race Officer before going afloat. All boats shall wear their appropriate pennants while racing:

Alterations to Sailing Instructions

Any alteration to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the Notice Board at the Clubhouse. It is the sole responsibility of each competitor to ensure that they have appraised themselves of any such alterations.

The Race Officer may postpone, abandon or restart races but may not cancel or re- schedule them. The Cruiser Captain or his nominee may re-schedule races or cancel them.

Scoring System

The low point scoring system in accordance with RRS Appendix A shall apply. OCS, RAF, DSQ and DNS = 1 point plus number of finishers for the race. DNC = 1 point plus number of entries for regatta. Ties will be in accordance with RRS Appendix A2.3. Boats which do not come to the start line (DNC) will be given a score which is 2 points lower than the score awarded to the last boat which successfully completes the race.

Safety

All competitors are required to wear Lifejackets/PFDs at all times when racing and to comply with Merchant Shipping (Pleasure Craft) Lifejackets and Operation)(Safety) Regulations 2004.

All competitors are required to have a working VHF radio with a licensed operator on board, in date flares and an adequate Man Overboard retrieval system.

Competing yachts may be subject to periodic inspections to ensure minimum safety requirements on the vessel.

The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the owner(s) or the owner’s representative whose obligation it is to ensure that the boat is fully found, seaworthy, manned by an experienced crew and equipped with all the necessary safety equipment. Neither these Sailing Instructions nor any action of the organising authority in any way limits or reduces the complete and unlimited responsibility of the owner(s) or owner’s representative.

Boat owners and competing crews undertake that they are adequately insured against loss, damage or injury to persons, boats or equipment at all times and however occurring and shall maintain adequate third party insurance cover.

No responsibility will be accepted by Waterford Harbour Sailing Club, its members, servants or agents, nor those officials or members connected with the event for any loss, damage, injury or other claim of whatever nature howsoever arising or caused in connection with participation in, or intended participation in, this racing.