U.K. Cherub Class Sailing Instructions 1999

Rules

The regatta will be governed by the International Sailing Federation Yacht Racing Rules, the prescriptions of the Royal Yachting Association, the rules of the Cherub Class and by these sailing instructions.
The regatta is designated category B.

Entries

Eligible yachts may only be entered by completing an official numbered registration/entry form available from the U.K. Cherub Class Association.
A Yacht is only eligible if at least one of its crew is a fully paid up member of the Cherub Class Association.

Notices to Competitors

Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at the race office.

Changes in the Sailing Instructions

Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted before 09.00 hrs on the day it will take effect, except that any change in the schedule of races will be posted by 19.00 hrs on the day before it will take effect.

Signals Made Ashore

Signals made ashore will be displayed at the Pier head.
Code flag "AP" with two sound signals (one horn sounded when lowered) means "The race is postponed". The warning signal will be made not less than 20 minutes after the "AP" is lowered".

Schedule of Races

Races are scheduled as follows:

Day One	13.00	3 races back to back	Course type 1
Day Two	11.30	2 races back to back	Course type 1
	14.00	2 races back to back	Course type 1
Day Three	11.30	2 races back to back	Course type 2
	14.00	2 races back to back	Course type 3
Day Four	10.30	3 races back to back	Course type 1

No warning signal will be made after 14.00 hrs on the last day of racing.

Class Flags

Class flag will be the Cherub Class Association Flag.

Weather Requirements

No race shall start in less than 5 Knots of wind.
No race shall start until the average windspeed, for 10 minutes prior to the warning signal, is more than 5 knots.
A race will be abandoned if the average windspeed, for 15 minutes at anytime during the race, falls below 5 knots unless a yacht has crossed the finish line. Any race abandoned will be rerun if time permits.

The Courses

The diagram on the Course Sheet attached shows the courses that may be used, the order in which marks are to be rounded or passed, and the side to which they must be rounded or passed.
For the definition of the start line see section headed The Start
The race committee shall comprise of the Race Officer and an Assistant Race Officer.
The committee boat will be defined as the vessel flying the host club burgee.
The Course number will be displayed on the committee boat in numerals.
The Course is to be repeated until the shortened course is sounded and displayed.

Course One Definitions

The Gate

The gate is used on all legs of the course.
The gate is defined as the distance between the gate buoy and a committee boat.
The gate length maybe altered at the Race Officers discretion at anytime.

The Finish

The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on a race committee boat and the gate mark, marking the outer end of the line. The outer distance starting marking is not the finishing line outer distance mark.

Course Two Definitions

This course contains no gate.

The Finish

The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on a race committee boat and the outer distance mark, marking the outer end of the line.

Course Three Definitions

The Gate

The gate is only used on legs between mark 1 & 2.
The gate is defined as the distance between the gate buoy and a committee boat.
The gate length may be altered at the Race Officers discretion at any time.

The Finish

The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on a race committee boat and the gate mark, marking the outer end of the line. The outer distance starting marking is not the finishing line outer distance mark.

Marks

Marks 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be orange or yellow inflatables. The start/finish outer distance mark will be an orange inflatable. The gate mark will be a spherical orange or yellow mark.

The Start

The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the committee boat at the starboard end of the line and the port end start outer distance mark.
If a gate buoy is laid it is ignored on the start line.
The committee boat may lay or remove an inner distance mark at its discretion at any time.
Races will be started using Rule 26, System 1. N.B. with 3-minute intervals
A yacht shall not start later than four minutes after her starting signal.
For information only: - "The starting sequence will be a 6-minute warning with Class flag hoisted, 3-minute preparatory signal with P flag hoisted. With a start signal 3 minutes after the preparatory signal, flags removed."

Recalls

Individual recalls will be signalled in accordance with racing rule 29.2. No hail will be made.
For information only: - Rule 29.2 "the race committee shall promptly display code flag "X" accompanied by one sound signal, until all such yachts that are over the startline are wholly on the pre-start side of the starting line or it's extensions and have complied with rule 30.1(round the ends)."
General recalls will be called when there is a number of unidentified premature starters in accordance with racing rule 29.3.
For information only: - Rule 29.3. "the race committee shall promptly display the First Substitute code flag accompanied by two sound signals".
The re-start procedure is then as follows. The lowering of the First Substitute accompanied by one sound signal. One minute after lowering a new preparatory signal is made.

Black flag Rule

When a black flag has been displayed before or with the preparatory signal, accompanied by one long sound signal. If any part of a yacht's hull, crew or equipment is identified within the triangle formed by both ends of the starting line and the position of the first mark during the last one minute before her starting signal, the yacht shall be disqualified from that race without a hearing and from any subsequent re-start or re-sail of it. No individual recall signals will be made.

Change of Course after the Start

When changing the course after the start, the race committee will lay a new mark and will lift the original mark as soon as practical. Any mark rounded after rounding the new mark will be relocated to maintain the original course configuration as soon as practicable.
A change of course will be signalled near the mark beginning the leg being altered by a race committee boat that will display Code flag "C" and an approximate compass bearing to the new mark. This vessel will also make a sound signal periodically to attract approaching yachts attention. The change will be signalled before the leading yacht has begun the new leg, although the new mark may not be in position.

Time Limit

The time limit will be 1 hour 15 minutes. A yacht failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first yacht finishes or after the time limit, whichever is later will be scored "Did not Finish".

Protests

A boat intending to protest because of an incident occurring in the racing area that she is aware of shall hail 'Protest' and conspicuously display a red flag by the end of the leg of the course immediately following the leg that the incident occurs on. She shall display the flag either until she finishes or retires, or, if the incident occurs near the finishing line, until the race committee acknowledges seeing her flag. In all other cases she shall inform the other boat as soon as reasonably possible.
Protests shall be written on forms available at the Race Office and lodged there within 1 hour 30 minutes after the time of the last yacht's finish on the last race on that day.
Protest notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors where and when there is a hearing in which they are parties to a protest or named as a witness.
Decisions of the jury will be final.

Scoring

The low-point scoring system, Appendix A2 of the racing rules, will apply. If a tie still remains then the boat with the lowest points in the final race is placed higher.

Discards

1-3 races no discards
4-5 races 1 discard
6-10 races 2 discards
11-14 races 3 discards

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third placed boats in the regatta

Safety

Adequate personal buoyancy shall be worn by all crewmembers whilst afloat. Wet suits and dry suits do not constitute adequate personal buoyancy.
A competitor may be ordered to abandon a disabled yacht and board a Rescue Boat. Failure to comply with safety instructions shall be grounds for disqualification from that race and/or the whole regatta.

Course Details

Course One "Windward/Leeward"

Start - 1 - gate - between marks 2&3 - gate - repeat

Course One will consist of windward and leeward legs.
The gate buoy is not a mark of the course at the start.
The windward mark 1 is rounded to port. All competing yachts must pass through the mid course gate both on the upwind legs and downwind legs. The gate is defined as the distance between the committee boat and the gate buoy. Yachts must pass through the leeward gate formed by marks 2 and 3. Mark 2 must be rounded to port and mark 3 to starboard. Return to mark 1 passing through via the mid course gate. Repeats until the course is shortened.
N.B. The finish line is between the gate buoy and the committee boat.

Course Two "P" Type

Start - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - line - repeat

Course Two will consist of a "P" type course.
Marks 1 and 2, to be taken to port. Mark 3 to be taken to starboard. Mark 4 to be taken to port. All yachts must pass through the start finish line at the end of each lap. Repeats until the course is shortened.

Course Three "Modified Olympic"

Start - 1 - gate - 2 - gate - 1 - 3 - 2 - line - repeat

Course Three will consist of a "Modified Olympic" type course.
The gate buoy is not a mark of the course at the start.
Mark 1 to be taken to port. All competing yachts must pass through the course gate on route to mark 2 from mark 1. The gate is defined as the distance between the committee boat and the gate buoy. Mark 2 to be taken to port. All competing yachts must pass through the course gate on route to mark 1 from mark 2. Mark 1 to be taken to port. Mark 3 to be taken to port.
Mark 2 to be taken to port. All yachts must pass through the finish line at the end of each lap.
Repeats until the course is shortened.
N.B. The finish line is between the gate buoy and the committee boat.