Sailing Instructions

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Welcome to our seventh open Frensham Frenzy - a pair of pursuit races. We hope that you will enjoy this event - a day for all the family. We cannot organise the weather, but we have tried to organise everything else.

We are delighted that once again Guildford Marine are sponsoring this event.

All the usual legalistic-sounding stuff that you find in Sailing Instructions have been banished to the "small print" on the back page. However, these things remain important, and by entering this event you agree to be bound by them.

If you cannot be bothered to read further (because it is supposed to be a fun event), there will be a briefing at 10am on the Club veranda (inside if wet). However, you will find course details, start times and other important information in what follows.

Prize giving is planned for 16:15

The Start

The first number against your class of boat will be displayed on the starboard side of the start boat for one minute before your start (longer in the case of Cadets). The second and third numbers and are the planned clock times - your starts will not be earlier than these. Thus you start as your start number is removed from the start boat.

If any boats are over early, the 'X' flag will be flown for about half a minute. If a General Recall is required, then the General Recall flag will be flown for about half a minute, and the Recalled start will start exactly one minute after the planned start time.

The whole start sequence will be preceded by a Warning Signal (flag 'B' - red) 10 minutes before the Cadet start and a Preparatory Signal (Blue Peter) 5 minutes later. These will be removed at the Cadet start. The start times for the different classes are given below.

Start Times Clock Time
Minutes after Cadet Start
Start as this number is removed from the Start Boat 		First Race Second Race
Cadet 00 10:40 13:40
Mirror - no spinnaker 03 10:43 13:43
Gull, Mirror - with spinnaker 04 10:44 13:44
Heron 05 10:45 13:45
Topper 10 10:50 13:50
Otter 11 10:51 13:51
2.4, Fleetwind, Laser Pico S/H, Signet 12 10:52 13:52
Sprint 14 10:54 13:54
Bosun, Topaz Uno, YW Dayboat, Pacer, Splash, RS Feva 16 10:56 13:56
British Moth, Comet, Comet Duo, Laser 4.7, Miracle 17 10:57 13:57
Byte, Firefly, Graduate, Streaker 18 10:58 13:58
Solo 19 10:59 13:59
GP14, Wanderer, Europe 20 11:00 14:00
Enterprise, Leader, OK, Snipe 21 11:01 14:01
Laser Radial, Redwing, Wayfarer, Seafly 22 11:02 14:02
405, 420, Comet Trio, Laser 2000, Wineglass, National 12 23 11:03 14:03
Albacore, Finn, Lark, Laser 24 11:04 14:04
RS200, Scorpion, Sport 14, Supernova 25 11:05 14:05
Kestrel, Marauder, Phantom, Blaze 26 11:06 14:06
Merlin-Rocket, Tasar, Laser 3000, Laser II, RS Vareo 27 11:07 14:07
Laser EPS 28 11:08 14:08
Contender, RS300, Buzz 29 11:09 14:09
470, Hornet, International Moth, Fireball 30 11:10 14:10
Cherub 31 11:11 14:11
Laser Vortex, RS400 32 11:12 14:12
Finish Time 96 12:16 15:16

The Course

The course will be posted in the hall 30 minutes before the Cadet Start.

You keep going round the course until the finish gun is sounded - at that point, the Committee Boat - flying a blue flag - will have formed a finish line between itself and the mark which the leading boat is approaching. The next time you round that mark will be your finish, even if you have completed a different number of laps to the lead boat.

The Committee Boat may also finish boats at other parts of the course.

After the Finish

Important: If you finish and subsequently retire, you must sign a list posted in the Clubhouse for that purpose.

Points will be awarded based on the order of finishing (adjusted for the distance sailed, of course). Points for the two races will be totalled. Any ties will be resolved in accordance with Appendix 8 of the Racing Rules of Sailing (2005 - 2008).

There will be lots of prizes - including some for classes of boats for which there are at least five entries.

The Legalistic Bits

  1. Rules

    The event will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the RYA and the rules of the classes taking part, except as any of these are changed by these Sailing Instructions.

  2. Conditions of Entry

    Eligible boats may be entered by completing registration with the organising authority. Eligible boats are those boats which fulfil the condition of our lease. If requested, a valid Measurement Certificate for the boat must be presented to the organisers.

    The safety of a boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person in change who must ensure that the boat and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise in the course of the race. Neither these Sailing Instructions nor any inspection of the boat limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/person in charge for the crew, the boat and her management. The race organisers shall not be responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/person in charge or crew, as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover, every owner/person in charge warrants the suitability of the boat for the race or races.

  3. Helms

    A boat may be helmed by more than one person, but the points obtained by different helms will not be cumulative. A competitor may helm only one boat. Helm and crew may not exchange places during a race except temporarily in an emergency. The Race Office must be informed of any changes of helm.

  4. Club Membership

    All competitors are granted Honorary Membership of the Club during the meeting.

  5. Notices to Competitors

    Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board - next to the course board in the entrance lobby.

  6. Changes in Sailing Instructions

    Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted at least 30 minutes before the first race to which the change applies.

  7. Personal Buoyancy

    Personal buoyancy must be worn by all helms and crews as stipulated under Class rules or if directed by the Race Officer. The Race Officer will indicate this requirement by flying flay 'Y' ashore.

  8. Sails and Sail Numbers

    Except with the prior permission of the Race Officer no dinghy shall use any sails other than her own. Permission will be refused if the sail number is the same as one of the other entries in the same Class.

  9. Start Line

    The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the start boat at the starboard end and an orange buoy with a yellow flag at the port end.

  10. Finish Lines

    The Committee Boat (displaying a blue flag) and a mark of the course will form the finish line. The mark chosen will be that one which the leading boat is approaching as the time limit is passed. The finish will be signalled by two loud blasts.

  11. Protests

    Protest must be lodged within 20 minutes of finishing. To ensure that the event runs to schedule, protests will be held using "5 minute justice". This gives the protestor and the protestee a strict 5 minute time limit to present their evidence. Each witness also has only 5 minutes each to present their evidence. Questioning of protestor/protestee/witnesses is also limited to 5 minutes each. The protest committee shall also make their decision in a maximum of 5 minutes.

Frenzy Introduction