1. The Raritan Yacht Club races will be governed, in ascending order of precedence by: 1) the International Sailing Federation's 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS); 2) any prescriptions by US Sailing; 3) PHRF or one-design class rules (as appropriate); 4) these Sailing Instructions, and 5) the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions for each race or series.
2.1 The Raritan Yacht Club races are open to PHRF and various Race Committee (RC) approved One-Design classes. Eligible yachts may be entered by contacting the RC.
2.2 RC-approved One-Design classes may race in accordance with their class association rules if a minimum of three (3) competitors have registered with the RC as a One-Design fleet.
2.3 All yachts entering a PHRF division must have a valid 2005 PHRF-Mid Atlantic rating certificate on file with the RYC office or they will not be scored. It is strongly encouraged that the owner of each racing yacht shall be a member of US Sailing.
2.4 All RYC club members will be billed for their racing activity. All non-members are welcome as guests and will be responsible for their applicable entry fee, payable to the RC prior to the start.
3. Notices to competitors will be posted on the official RYC Race Notice Board on the lower deck of the clubhouse.
4.1 Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board two (2) hours before the scheduled start time of a race.
4.2 Divisions shall not be combined except as prescribed in the Notice of Race for a given race or series.
5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at the cupola.
5.2 The division starting will be signaled by a division flag of the same color as the corresponding division pennant described in 5.3.
5.3 All yachts, except one-design yachts under 17 feet overall, must fly a colored division pennant from the yacht's backstay. The pennant shall be a minimum of eight (8) inches high and ten (10) inches long. The pennant and division flag colors for each division are as follows:
Division A-1 White Gold Fleet White
Division A-2 Blue Silver Fleet Green
Division B Green
5.4 When "AP" Answering Pennant is flown from the staff of the cupola, the start is postponed at the dock. Before lowering the "AP" the time of the new warning signal may be posted on the Notice Board and Broadcast on VHF Channel 80.
6.1 Courses will be signaled using course numbers or letters signifying the marks. When the course is started from the RC Boat, the course must be signaled using a series of letters. When the race is started from the Cupola, either method may be used. A RED Letter indicates that the mark shall be left to PORT, a GREEN or BLACK letter indicates the mark is to be left to STARBOARD.
6.2 The courses, mark letters, and descriptions can be found in the 2005 RYC Race Book. Competitors are encouraged to verify the accuracy of this information. Neither the RC nor RYC assumes any responsibility for the accuracy of this data. The accuracy of the information shall not be grounds for redress. This modifies RRS 62.1(a).
6.3 When signaling the course, the last mark posted shall be the finish. When the last mark posted is "RYC," the finish will be at the cupola as described in 9 below.
7.1 The letter "M" designates a mobile mark set by the RC. Mark "M" may be used as a turning or finishing mark. If used as a turning mark, the magnetic course and approximate distance to the mark will be displayed by the RC.
7.2 Government marks 42, 52,54,56 and 58 shall be passed on the channel side.
7.3 All Skippers are responsible for reading the "Notice to Mariners" in case of changes to the location or characteristics of the marks.
7.4 The pin end of a starting line may be either a government mark or an orange or yellow inflatable.
8.1 Races will be started in accordance with RRS 26 with the warning signal given 5 minutes before the starting signal.
8.2 The RYC mooring area shall be defined as a continuing obstruction. For the purpose of these sailing instructions the boundary of the mooring field is defined as "the perimeter that encloses the mooring field by connecting adjacent outermost moorings or the outermost part of a boat on such a mooring."
8.3 The starting line for cupola starts will be between the course side of government mark "60" and the cupola mast. The starting line for bay starts will be between a staff on the committee boat displaying an orange flag and the course side of the nearest mark.
8.4 Yachts whose warning signal has not been made shall stay clear of the starting area.
8.5 A yacht starting later than 10 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This modifies RRS A4.1
9 The finish line for cupola finishes will be between the course side of government mark "60" and the mast of the cupola. The finishing line for all bay finishes will be between a staff on the committee boat displaying an orange flag and the course side of the nearest mark.
10 There is no time limit for auxiliary races. However, the RC may not be on-station after 1800 hours for weekend races or 2100 hours for Wednesday night races. Any yacht finishing without the RC on-station shall take its own elapsed time and report it to the RC as soon as possible. All yachts that retire shall notify the RC as soon as practicable before leaving the racing area.
11.1 Written protests shall be filed with the Protest Committee (PC)or RC no later than 2 hours after the last yacht finishes. If the PC or RC is not available, protests shall be delivered to the RYC bar and be dated, signed and time stamped by the bartender. This modifies RRS 61.3. Protest forms are available at the RYC bar.
11.2 Protest hearings will be scheduled by the PC in the order received. Protest hearings will be heard at RYC, and if practicable, on the same date submitted.
11.3 An arbitration meeting will be held prior to the protest hearing for all cases involving violations of RRS Part 2. After a protest form is delivered, one designated representative of each yacht will appear before one or more Arbiters. Each representative shall be permitted no more than 5 minutes of testimony. Testimony from witnesses is not permitted. After hearing the testimony of each representative, the arbiter(s) shall reach one of the following conclusions:
A. There was no breach of a rule. If the representatives agree, the protest is withdrawn and cannot be reopened. If any representative disagrees, the matter is referred to the PC for a hearing.
B. There was a breach of a rule by one or more of the yachts involved that did not include injury or serious damage. The representative of each offending yacht has the option of: i) accepting a 40% alternative penalty (using the general approach of RRS 44.3(c)) or; ii) submitting the matter to the PC for a hearing. If the penalty is accepted, the matter cannot be reopened or made the subject of redress by the yachts that were party to the arbitration.
C. The matter should go to the PC for a hearing. This conclusion is mandatory in cases where the designated parties of the yachts involved disagree as to whether there was injury or serious damage resulting from the incident.
11.4 The PC and Arbiters will be assigned by the RC Chairman.
12 RRS Appendix A2 is modified so that each yacht's series score will be the sum of her race scores. As a further modification, there will be no throwouts unless so stated in the Notice of Race for a specific series.
13.1 All yachts racing shall carry a VHF radio capable of transmitting and receiving on VHF Channels 80 and 16, and all yachts shall monitor VHF Channel 80.
13.2 A yacht shall neither make nor receive telecommunications while racing that are not available to all yachts.
13.3 Prior to the warning signal for each division, the RC may announce by radio on VHF Channel 80 the course to be sailed.
13.4 Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with RRS 29.2. As a courtesy, the RC will attempt to hail yachts on VHF Channel 80. The failure of any yacht to hear the hail, the hail of some but not all OCS yachts, the untimely hail of some or all OCS yachts, or failure to hail any or all yachts shall not be grounds for redress. This modifies Rule 62.1
14 A first place trophy will be awarded to a division with three (3) starters. A second place trophy shall be awarded to a division with five (5) starters. A third place trophy shall be awarded to a division with (7) starters.
15.1 All yachts shall carry the safety equipment required by applicable national, state, and local rules/regulations.
15.2 All yachts shall comply with the applicable international, national, state, and local navigation rules.
15.3 Suspected violations of 15.1 and/or 15.2 may result in protest by another competitor or by the RC in accordance with RRS 60, with a possible penalty of disqualification from the race, disqualification for all races sailed on the day of the infraction, or other disciplinary action consistent with the seriousness of the infraction.
16 Yachts shall not discharge trash over the side. Suspected violation of this provision may result in protest by another competitor, or by the RC in accordance with RRS 60, with a possible penalty of disqualification from the race, disqualification from all races sailed on the day of the infraction, or other disciplinary action consistent with the seriousness of the infraction.
17.1 The RYC, the RC, and/or their representatives assume no responsibility for accidents and/or injuries to persons suffered in any way or from any cause in any way related to the race or series.
17.2 The responsibility of the RC is to provide a start and to record positions and elapsed times at the finish. The decision to start, continue, or retire from a race is the sole responsibility of each competitor.