Rules
1. The event is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing.
Changes to Sailing Instructions
1. Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 0900 on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect.
2. Changes to a sailing instruction may be made on the water by notification on VHF Channel 37.
Communications with Competitors
1. Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at www.carrickfergussc.org.
2. The race office is located at the Starting Battery, email sailing@carrickfergussc.org.
3. On the water, the race committee intends to monitor and communicate with competitors on VHF radio channel 37.
4. While racing, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.
Code of Conduct
1. Competitors and support persons shall comply with reasonable requests from race officials.
Signals made ashore
1. Signals made ashore will be displayed at the Starting Battery.
Schedule of Races
1. One race is scheduled per day.
2. One extra race per day may be sailed, provided that no class becomes more than one race ahead of schedule.
3. The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race each day is 1420.
Class flags
1. The class flags are:
  Unrestricted – Numeral pennant 1
  Restricted Sail – Numeral pennant 5
  Ruffian 23 – Numeral pennant 4
Racing Area
1. The racing area is on Belfast Lough near to Carrickfergus Sailing Club.
Courses
1. The diagrams in Addendum A show the approximate position of all the marks
2. The table in Addendum B shows the courses, including the course signals, the order in which marks are to be passed and the side on which each mark is to be left.
3. No later than the warning signal, the race committee will display the course board above the class designation mounted on the Club Battery indicating the course to be sailed.
4. Course direction will be indicated by a red or green board located under the class flags. A red board indicates starting East to West and leaving all marks to port. A green board indicates starting West to East and leaving all marks to starboard.
5. On completion of a round of a course, boats shall continue on a further round if the course letter is still displayed above their class designation. If the course letter has changed, boats shall complete a round of the new course displayed above their class designation.
6. When the letter ‘F’ is displayed above a class designation, that class shall finish..
Marks
1. Marks are:
  R Red Outer Limit of start line
  G Green Outer Limit of start line
  1 Round yellow N 54:42.5 W 005:47.5
  2 Round yellow N 54:41.9 W 005:47.1
  3 Round yellow N 54:41.5 W 005:48.8
  4 Round yellow N 54:42.2 W 005:49.2
  A Round red N 54:42.4 W 005:46.6
  B Round red N 54:41.6 W 005:49.7
  C Yellow conical buoy N 54:40.4 W 5:45.9
  D Round yellow N 54:41.7 W 005:47.9
2. The positions listed are approximate.
The Start
1. Unrestricted and Restricted Sail classes will start together using Numeral Pennant 1 as the class flag. This changes RRS 26.
2. Note: Competitors should be aware that although the individual classes have amalgamated into fleets for the start they will use course designations corresponding to their class.
3. The start line is formed between the orange pole at the front of the battery and a green limit mark (G) if the first mark is to be rounded to starboard, or a red limit mark (R) if the first mark is to be rounded to port.
4. Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.
5. If any part of a boat’s hull is on the course side of the starting line during the two minutes before her starting signal and she is identified, the race committee will attempt to broadcast her sail number on VHF channel 37. Failure to make a broadcast or to time it accurately will not be grounds for a request for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).
6. If any part of a boat’s hull is on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal and she is identified, the race committee will attempt to hail her sail number. Failure to hail her number, failure of her to hear such a hail, or the order in which boats are hailed will not be grounds for a redress for request. This changes RRS 62.1(a).
7. A boat that does not start within ten minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS A5.1 and A5.2.
The Finish
1. The finishing line will be formed between the orange pole at the battery and the red limit mark (R) if the previous mark was left to starboard, and the green limit mark (G) if the previous mark was left to port.
2. If the race committee is absent when a boat finishes, she should report her finishing time, and her position in relation to nearby boats, to the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity.
Penalty System
1. The Post-Race Penalty, Advisory Hearing and RYA Arbitration procedures of the RYA Rules Disputes procedures shall apply. The outcome of an RYA Arbitration can be referred to a protest committee, but an arbitration cannot be reopened or appealed. See the Official Notice Board for details.
Time Limits
1. The Race Time Limit (see RRS 35), and the Finishing Window are shown below:
  Race Time Limit – 90 minutes
  Finishing Window – 45 minutes
2. The Finishing Window is the time for boats to finish after the first boat sails the course and finishes. Boats failing to finish within the Finishing Window, and not subsequently retiring, penalized or given redress, will be scored Time Limit Expired (TLE) without a hearing. A boat scored TLE shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the points scored by the last boat that finished within the Finishing Window. This changes RRS 35, A5.1, A5.2 and A10.
Hearing Requests
1. For each class, the protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat in that class finishes the last race of the day or the race committee signals no more racing today, whichever is later. The time will be posted on the official notice board.
2. Hearing request forms are available from the race office at teh starting battery.
3. Notices will be posted no later than 30 minutes after the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held in the protest room, located as described in the notice, beginning at the time posted.
4. RRS 62.2(a) and 66.2(a) do not apply.
Scoring
1. As Notice of Race
Safety Regulations
1. A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity.
2. Boats shall not race with an anchor on the bow. Boats infringing this instruction shall be disqualified without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1
3. Personal Flotation Devices shall be worn at all times when afloat (except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment) in accordance with the provisions of rule 40 except that flag Y will not be displayed and no sound signal will be made. This changes rule 40 and the preamble to part 4 of the RRS.
4. Boats shall give way to any ship underway in the Victoria Channel.
Equipment and Measurement Checks
1. A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules, notice of race and sailing instructions.
Prizes
1. As Notice of Race
Risk Statement
1. Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: ‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.’
2. Sailing is by its nature 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 organizer 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.
  (g) It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event.
  (h) They are responsible for ensuring that their boat is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and is familiar to the crew.
  (i) Their boat is adequately insured, with cover of at least £3million against third party claims

Addendum A – Racing Area

Addendum B – Course List

Course
Letter

Green board
Starting West to East
Leave marks to starboard

Course
Letter

Red board
Starting East to West
Leave marks to port