2016 SAIL NEWPORT YOUTH CHALLENGE
June 11-12, 2016
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
1. RULES
1.1. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).
1.2. In the event of a conflict between an online and hard copy version of these Sailing Instructions (SIs), the
hard copy shall prevail.
2. SAFETY
1.1. Boats are required to check in by sailing astern on starboard tack, hailing their sail number to the Race
Committee Signal Boat before the start of the first race each day and/or the first race following any
postponement ashore.
1.2. All class required safety equipment is mandatory.
1.3. Each competitor shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard (or home country Coast Guard equivalent) approved PFD,
properly secured at all times, from dock to dock, except briefly while adding or removing clothing. Wet
suits, dry suits and inflatable PFDs do not constitute adequate personal buoyancy. This changes RRS 40.
1.4. A waterproof safety whistle, to be used for emergency purposes only, must be attached with a line to the
PFD or clothing.
1.5. Boats leaving the racing area before the end of racing on any day shall notify the Race Committee ASAP.
1.6. The Race Committee intends to monitor VHF Ch. 77. Coach and support boats are required to check in
with the Race Committee Signal Boat prior to racing, and to be available for safety and rescue as needed.
3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS AND CHANGES TO THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
1.1. The Official Notice Board will be located on the window at the Sail Newport Main Office back deck.
1.2. Any change to the SIs will be posted not less than 60 minutes prior to the first scheduled race on the day it
will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted prior to 1900 on the day
before it will take effect.
4. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
1.1. Signals made ashore will be displayed from the flagpole located adjacent to the Youth Sailing Center at
Sail Newport.
1.2. When code flag “AP” is displayed ashore, “1 minute” is replaced with “not less than 30 minutes." This
changes Race Signal “AP.”
5. SCHEDULE OF RACES
1.1. It is the intention of the Race Committee to run as many races as practicable on each day of racing.
Saturday, June 11
0800 - 0900
0930
0945
1000
1100
After Racing
Late Registration and Check-in
Mandatory Skippers’ Meeting
Mandatory Coach/Support Boat Meeting
Harbor Start
Initial Warning Signal
Snack
Sunday, June 12
0830
0900
1000
1500
After Racing
Mandatory Skippers’ Meeting
Harbor Start
Initial Warning Signal
No initial Warning Signal will be made after this time
Social and Awards
6. RACING AREA, COURSES, AND MARKS
1.1. The racing area will be between Rose and Goat Islands or north of the Newport Bridge at the discretion of
the Race Committee.
1.2. Refer to the attached Course Diagram for a description of the courses and buoys to be used.
7. CLASS FLAGS
1.1. Class flags are as follows. There will be no set starting order.
•
•
Optimist (R, W, B)
29er
Numeral Pennant 1
Numeral Pennant 2
8. STARTING AND FINISHING
1.1. The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Boat and
the course side of a port-end inflatable buoy. The port-end inflatable buoy may be replaced with a pin-end
boat displaying an orange flag in which case the starting line will be between the two orange flags.
1.2. A boat starting later than five (5) minutes after her starting signal shall be scored Did Not Start (DNS)
without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1, A4, and A5.
1.3. The finishing line will be between a staff displaying a blue flag on the Race Committee Signal Boat and the
nearby inflatable buoy on the starboard side of the RC Signal Boat (facing upwind).
1.4. The start and finish lines will be open at all times. Boats not racing shall avoid the start and finish lines.
9. CHANGE OF COURSE
1.1. The Race Committee may change a leg of the course as needed with no visual or sound signals. Change
marks will not be used. This changes RRS 33.
10. TIME LIMIT
1.1. The time limit for the first boat in each class to sail the course and finish in accordance with RRS 28.1
shall be 60 minutes.
1.2. The Race Committee may award boats their positions should conditions make it impractical to await their
finish. This changes RRS 35, A4.1 and A5.
11. PENALTY SYSTEM AND PROTESTS
1.1. The first sentence of RRS 44.1 is altered so that “One-Turn Penalty” replaces “Two-Turns Penalty.”
1.2. RRS 61.1 (a)(2) is deleted. Protest flags are required for all classes.
1.3. A competitor shall inform the Race Committee of its intention to protest, including the sail number of the
protested boat, immediately after finishing and prior to any discussion with other competitors, coaches, or
support boats. This changes RRS 61.
1.4. Requests for Scoring Review (including OCS) shall be filed within the protest time limit on forms available
from the Jury Secretary. Such a request will be reviewed by the Race Committee before being scheduled
for a hearing by the Protest Committee. If unresolved, it shall be considered a request for redress and will
be considered to have met the protest time limit. This changes RRS 63.1.
1.5. The penalty, if any, for an infringement of a rule other than a rule of RRS Part 2 will be at the discretion of
the Protest Committee and may be other than disqualification. This changes RRS 64.1(a)
1.6. Infringements of SIs 2 are not protestable by another boat. This changes RRS 60.1(a).
1.7. All protests shall be filed with the Protest Committee Secretary at the protest desk inside the Sail Newport
Main Office no later than 30 minutes after the docking of the Race Committee Signal Boat.
1.8. Protests will be heard in the approximate order of receipt. Hearing times will be posted on the Official
Notice Board as soon as possible.
1.9. On the last scheduled day of racing, a request for reopening a hearing shall be delivered no later than 30
minutes after the requesting party was informed of the decision or within the protest time limit if the
requesting party was informed of the decision on the previous day. This changes RRS 66.
1.10. Requests for redress on the last scheduled day of racing shall be delivered no later than 30 minutes
after the decision was posted. This changes RRS 62.2.
12. SCORING
1.1. One race constitutes a series.
1.2. A boat’s worst score may be discarded after her class has completed five or more races. This changes
RRS A2.
13. PRIZES
1.1. Prizes for the Opti class will be awarded to the first three finishers in each fleet, and top three overall. For
the 29er classes, prizes will be given to the top three finishers.
1.2. Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the OA based on criteria other than scores.
14. SUPPORT BOATS
1.1. All coach and support boats are requested to carry a working VHF radio and to monitor the Race
Committee channel at all times.
1.2. Coach and support boats are expected to follow the instructions of the RC. Failure to follow such
instructions may result in Race Committee protests against associated competitors.
1.3. Refer to the Course Description for additional restrictions.
A reminder to competitors: Narragansett Bay is a restricted channel
and sailing vessels do not have the right of way over a vessel under
power which may be restricted in her ability to maneuver.
2016 Sail Newport Youth Challenge
presented by Helly Hansen
Course and Mark Descriptions
Number
Mark
AL
Course
Triangle Courses
T1
Start A B C Finish
T2
Start A B C A B C Finish
T1L
Start AL B C Finish
T2L
Start AL B C AL B C Finish
Mark A
Windward / Leeward Courses
W1
Start A C Finish
W2
Start A C A C Finish
W1L
Start AL C Finish
W2L
Start AL C AL C Finish
Mark B
Start
Finish
Gold Cup Courses
G1
Start A B C A C Finish
G2
Start A C A B C Finish
G1L
Start AL B C AL C Finish
G2L
Start AL C AL B C Finish
Mark C
A. COURSES AND MARKS
A.1. Refer to the diagram and table above for course descriptions. All marks shall be left to port.
A.2. Two weather marks may be used. A boat shall observe only the weather mark signaled by the RC
for her class; the second weather mark is not a mark of her course. (For example, for course T1L,
race around mark AL and ignore mark A.)
A.3. Marks A, B, C shall be orange inflatable buoys. Mark AL will be a yellow tetrahedron.
B. RACING AREA, WAITING AREA AND OTHER NOTES
B.1. The racing area is defined as within the perimeter of the marks, and any other area within 100 meters
of any boat racing. There is no Coaches Corridor for this event.
B.2. The waiting area for all sailors and coaches shall be to the starboard (right) of the start/finish lines, at
a distance of at least 100 meters from the starboard-most mark. Coach boats not anchored shall
exit the racing area immediately at the warning signal.
B.3. Drawing may not indicate actual mark descriptions. Drawing not to scale.
B.4. The relative distance and angles between all marks is approximate.