2010 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR PTSA SAILING EVENTS, revised 4/4/2010
All races will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, with no protests granted.
START/FINISH LINE:
The starting and finishing line will be between the committee boat and the orange inflatable Pin.
When races are started from City Dock, the S/F line will be between the dock and the permanent PTSA buoy “C”. (The buoy is considered the “pin”)
SHORTENING COURSE:
The only time a course will be shortened is when a multiple lap course is being used. The course can be changed to a single lap, indicated by flying the shortened course flag from the committee boat or dock. In a multi-lap race ALL BOATS MUST pass through the START-FINISH line on EACH LAP. This is the only time it is okay to cross the S/F line during a race.
STARTING ORDER:
There will be one start for all participating boats. Any boat over early must stay clear of other boats, round the pin or committee boat and restart. Dip-starts are permitted unless the “I” flag is used for preparatory signal.
COURSES:
Beginning with The Spring White Cap Series, more races will be on windward-leeward courses, generally using the Trestle Mark (Y) or the City Dock (C), and the Tower (T). If those marks do not afford an acceptable windward-leeward course, due to wind direction or speed, one or more Tetrahedrons will be used and designated as W (windward) or L (leeward) on the letter board.
The course will be signaled by a row of letters displayed from the committee boat or from City dock. The first letter displayed is the starting pin (“S”) and the last is the finishing pin (“F”), and those in between are the rounding marks, unless “F” is designated as a rounding mark. Start in the direction of the first mark after “S”. Pass each mark in the order displayed and pass it to Port unless the letter is underscored and striped, in which case it is to be passed to starboard.
All courses are to be sailed once around, except when a number, such as “2”, follows the designation of a course. A number signals a multiple-lap course. Sail the course as many times as is indicated by that number and cross the finish line in between laps, in case the course is shortened.
The red Point Hudson bell buoy is to be passed on the outside, or left to shoreward, except when being rounded (in which case the letter board will indicate how it is to be rounded)
TIME LIMIT:
A boat not finishing within 2 hours of its’ start will be score DNF (did not finish).
SCORING:
Across the line finish times will be posted for all boats racing. Rated boats will also have their results handicapped.
RADIOS:
All boats are encouraged to have radios and monitor 68. When there are long delays in starting, the RC will keep the fleet informed by radio in advance of a potential start time. Also, if a boat withdraws from a race or has difficulties they should notify the RC. The RC cannot respond to radio calls during a starting sequence.
FERRIES:
Any boat(s) suspected of being the cause of a Ferry’s 5 or more horns (danger) during a race, will be disqualified from that race.
A FEW REMINDERS FROM THE COAST GUARD:
Do not approach within 100 yards of any Washington State Ferry, tank ship, or naval vessel. If you need to pass within 100 yards, you must contact the vessel on channel 16 (or 13 if it is a tank.) You must operate at minimum speed (okay so we’re sail boats) within 500 yards of any of the above vessels. Offenses are punishable by up to 6 years in prison and/or up to $250,000 in fines. AND, if that’s not bad enough, you will also be disqualified from the race.
