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Sailing Instructions
Sailing Instructions
1. ORGANISING AUTHORITY
The Organising Authority (OA) is the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland (RWYCI).
2. RULES
2.1 The Event is governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2021-2024, the prescriptions of Irish Sailing, the IRC Rating Rule parts A-C, the Irish
Sailing ECHO Performance Handicap System, the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions and any changes thereto.
2.2 The races are open to all types of Cruiser, Racer Cruiser Type Yachts as well as local traditional sailing craft that hold a valid IRC and/or ECHO cert.
2.3 Commercial Shipping: Competitors are advised that all commercial shipping has absolute right of way within the Shannon Estuary. All competitors must keep away from any ship which is underway. Competitors failing to comply with these regulations may be disqualified.
3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
3.1 Notices to Competitors will be posted on the RWYCI October Series Whatsapp Group.
3.2 The Race Committee may draw attention to Race Signals given on the Committee Boat and communicate other information on VHF at any time. The Race Committee will transmit on VHF Channel 72 or other such channel as may be displayed on the Committee Boat. Failure to transmit or to receive such communication will not be grounds for redress by a boat. This changes rule 62.1(a).
4. COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
4.1 Briefing each day will take place on the water prior to warning signal on VHFchannel 72.
4.2 Social distancing requirements in line with current government and Irish Sailing requirements will be adhered to at all times.
5. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 0900hrs on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races
will be posted by 1200hrs on the day before it will take effect.
6. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
6.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the flagstaff in front of Kilrush Marina.
6.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 60 minutes’ in the race signal AP.
7. SCHEDULE
7.1 Nine races are scheduled in Spinnaker Division and Seven races are scheduled in White Sails Division.
7.2 One to three races may be run on any day in any division.
Date |
Warning Signal |
Low Water |
High Water |
Sun 3rd October |
1325 hrs |
1004hrs 1.4m |
1624hrs 4.4m |
Sun 10th October |
1225 hrs |
1444hrs 0.5m |
0841hrs 5.0m |
Sun 17th October |
1325 hrs |
1015hrs 1.1m |
1633hrs 4.5m |
Sunday 24th October |
1325 hrs |
1411hrs 1.1m |
0808hrs 4.7m |
Saturday 30th October |
1225hrs |
0700hrs 2.0m |
1345hrs 3.7m |
7.3 The warning signal for each succeeding race will be made as soon as practicable.
8. CLASS FLAG
8.1 The classes will be Spinnaker and White Sails.
8.2 Spinnaker Class Numeral Pennant 1
White Sails Class Numeral Pennant 4
9. RACING AREA
The racing area will be the Shannon Estuary.
10. THE COURSE
10.1 The course may be windward/leeward, olympic or round the cans type courses or as designated by the Race Committee on the day of racing and may be posted on the Whatsapp Group and/or may be called on VHF Channel 72. Failure to receive the radio broadcast shall not be grounds for redress.
10.2 Courses may be laid courses or fixed using a mix of temporary marks and Navigation buoys.
11. MARKS
Marks may be round inflatable buoys and Navigation Marks.
12. THE START
12.1 Races will be started in accordance with rule 26.
12.2 The starting line may be between a red and white pole on the Race Committee Vessel and an inflatable buoy or alternatively between the head of Cappa Pier and a shore mark on Hog Island.
13. CHANGE OF COURSE
The change will be signalled in accordance with rule 33. Minor adjustments of mark positions will not be signalled by the Race Committee.
14. THE FINISH
14.1 The finishing line will be between a red & white pole on the Race Committee Vessel flying a blue flag and an inflatable buoy at the pin end.
14.2 An alternative finishing line may be used; this will be advised by VHF.
16. TIME LIMITS
16.1 If two or more races are scheduled the time limit shall be one and a half hours for each race. If one race is scheduled the time limit shall be two and a half hours.
16.2 If two or more races are scheduled boats finishing 45 MINUTES or more after the first finishing boat of their division will be deemed not to have finished. If one race is scheduled boats finishing 60 MINUTES or more after the first finishing boat of their division will be deemed not to have finished.
17. PROTESTS, REQUESTS FOR REDRESS, ARBITRATION
17.1 Protest forms are available online on www.westernyachtclub.com and should be submitted online. Protests and request for redress shall be delivered there within the protest time limit.
17.2 The protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day.
17.3 Notices will be posted on the Whatsapp group within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held at Kilrush Marina Centre.
18. SCORING SYSTEM
18.1 The Low Points Scoring System of Appendix A shall apply.
18.2 Three (3) races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
18.3 When four (4) or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race score excluding her worst score. If three or less races are completed no score will be discarded
18.4 If seven (7) or more races are completed a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores.
19. SAFETY REGULATIONS
A boat that retires from a race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.
20. INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of €3,000,000 per event or the equivalent.
21. PRIZES
Overall prize giving will take place on the final Saturday. Venue and time will be announced during the series on the October Series Whatsapp group.
22. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
All competitors sailing in the Combined Clubs October Series shall be honorary members of the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland during the event and will be bound by the rules of the club. Competitors are reminded that personal effects, gear, trailers and other equipment are their own responsibility and neither the Race Committee nor the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland can be held liable for any claim, loss or damage.
24. RISK STATEMENT: Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone” Sailing by its nature is an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:(a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
(b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
(c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
(d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
(e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities.
(f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions as can be practically provided in the circumstances.
8. CLASS FLAG
8.1 The classes will be Spinnaker and White Sails.
8.2 Spinnaker Class Numeral Pennant 1
White Sails Class Numeral Pennant 4
9. RACING AREA
The racing area will be the Shannon Estuary.
10. THE COURSE
10.1 The course may be windward/leeward, olympic or round the cans type courses or as designated by the Race Committee on the day of racing and may be posted on the Whatsapp Group and/or may be called on VHF Channel 72. Failure to receive the radio broadcast shall not be grounds for redress.
10.2 Courses may be laid courses or fixed using a mix of temporary marks and Navigation buoys.
11. MARKS
Marks may be round inflatable buoys and Navigation Marks.
12. THE START
12.1 Races will be started in accordance with rule 26.
12.2 The starting line may be between a red and white pole on the Race Committee Vessel and an inflatable buoy or alternatively between the head of Cappa Pier and a shore mark on Hog Island.
13. CHANGE OF COURSE
The change will be signalled in accordance with rule 33. Minor adjustments of mark positions will not be signalled by the Race Committee.
14. THE FINISH
14.1 The finishing line will be between a red & white pole on the Race Committee Vessel flying a blue flag and an inflatable buoy at the pin end.
14.2 An alternative finishing line may be used; this will be advised by VHF.
16. TIME LIMITS
16.1 If two or more races are scheduled the time limit shall be one and a half hours for each race. If one race is scheduled the time limit shall be two and a half hours.
16.2 If two or more races are scheduled boats finishing 45 MINUTES or more after the first finishing boat of their division will be deemed not to have finished. If one race is scheduled boats finishing 60 MINUTES or more after the first finishing boat of their division will be deemed not to have finished.
17. PROTESTS, REQUESTS FOR REDRESS, ARBITRATION
17.1 Protest forms are available online on www.westernyachtclub.com and should be submitted online. Protests and request for redress shall be delivered there within the protest time limit.
17.2 The protest time limit is 90 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day.
17.3 Notices will be posted on the Whatsapp group within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held at Kilrush Marina Centre.
18. SCORING SYSTEM
18.1 The Low Points Scoring System of Appendix A shall apply.
18.2 Three (3) races are required to be completed to constitute a series.
18.3 When four (4) or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race score excluding her worst score. If three or less races are completed no score will be discarded
18.4 If seven (7) or more races are completed a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores.
19. SAFETY REGULATIONS
A boat that retires from a race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.
20. INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of €3,000,000 per event or the equivalent.
21. PRIZES
Overall prize giving will take place on the final Saturday. Venue and time will be announced during the series on the October Series Whatsapp group.
22. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
All competitors sailing in the Combined Clubs October Series shall be honorary members of the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland during the event and will be bound by the rules of the club. Competitors are reminded that personal effects, gear, trailers and other equipment are their own responsibility and neither the Race Committee nor the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland can be held liable for any claim, loss or damage.
24. RISK STATEMENT: Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone” Sailing by its nature is an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:(a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
(b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
(c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
(d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
(e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities.
(f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions as can be practically provided in the circumstances.
