Berkeley Yacht Club Chowder Races 2007-2008

The Berkeley Yacht Club

Chowder Races

2007-2008

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Race Schedule

Every Sunday from October 7 through March 23, except when other BYC-sponsored race events conflict. These include The Midwinters on November 11, December 9, January 13, February 10 and the Wheeler Regatta in late March. (Friday Night Racing resumes on April 6 2007.)

SF-25 Class

On October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3 and March 2, the SF-25 class for boats 24-25 ft LOA and base PHRF rating 159-168 will start in accordance with Amendment 1 to these instructions.

Bad Weather Cancellation:

Races will be cancelled in the event of rain or unusually strong wind. The go/no-go decision for weather cancellation will be made by the Race Committee at 11:00 am on race day.

Racing Rules:

current ISAF Rules as adopted by US Sailing and as modified by these instructions. Appendix 2, the ISAF eligibility code, shall not apply. For the purpose of Appendix 1, the ISAF advertising code, this is Category A event.

Handicap

Northern California PHRF ratings shall apply, converted to "time-on-time" Time Correction Factors by the formula TCF = 800/(520+ PHRF). A valid PHRF certificate should accompany all entries, except provisional entries authorized by the Race Committee. (A copy of the PHRF certificate for an identical yacht may be acceptable for some classes - check to see if the RC already has one on file.)

No-spinnaker Allowance:

A rating credit of 0.04 will be subtracted from the TCF of boats rated with a spinnaker, but electing not to fly one during the race. To receive the credit, signal when crossing the finish line by waving a buoyant cushion or life jacket at the Race Committee.

Roller-Furling Allowance:

A rating credit of 0.02 will be subtracted from the TCF of boats using only roller-furling headsails for upwind legs of the race. Classes that normally use roller-furling for one-design racing and boats with recessed drums that allow full-hoist jibs are not eligible for this credit.

Class Divisions:

Except as modified by Amendment 1, All boats race in one division and will start together at exactly 1:00 pm unless postponed or recalled.

Starting Line:

Between the mast of the anchored RC boat and a temporary starting mark located within 1/4 mile of the entrance to the Berkeley Marina. A starting limit mark may be used.

Finish Line:

Between the chair nearest the northwest corner of the Berkeley Yacht Club deck and the speed limit sign on the opposite side of the marina entrance.

UTC Time:

Time shall be synchronized to UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) as indicated by the GPS system. No visual signals are used for precise timing, and all RC sound signals are optional and approximate.

Signals:

PREPARATORY 12:55 pm one sound signal START 1:00 pm one sound signal INDIVIDUAL RECALL Code flag X one additional sound signal GENERAL RECALL First substitute two additional sound signals New start exactly 5 minutes after scheduled start POSTPONEMENT Answering pennant two sound signals END OF POSTPONEMENT Answering pennant down one sound signal New preparatory signal at next UTC five-minute point, new start five minutes later. The P flag will be displayed approximately at the preparatory signal for the postponed start. COURSE SIGNALS Numeral pennants displayed at or prior to the warning signal. For multi-digit courses, read pennants from top to bottom. VHF RADIO AND VOICE COMMUNICATION The RC may use VHF channel 71 and/or amplified voice hails to supplement visual signals or to announce changes to courses or instructions. Courses: 1 2 3 4 12 13 14 21 23 24 31 32 34 ----------------------------------------------------------------- E-P E-S E-P E-S D-S D-S D-S D-S D-S D-S D-S F-P X-P X-S C-P B-P X-S C-S C-P B-P C-S B-P A-P D-P D-P D-P X-P D-S E-P X-P E-S E-P F-P X-S distance for time allowance 4.5 5.1 5.8 6.9 4.3 4.4 5.8 5.6 6.5 6.9 7.7 5.5 4.3 41 42 43 123 124 134 234 1234 --------------------------------------- G-P H-P A-P D-P A-P X-S X-S special D-P D-P C-P D-P B-P C-P course A-S X-P X-P posted at BYC distance for time allowance 5.9 5.8 4.1 3.0 7.2 5.6 5.6

Spinnaker Restrictions:

Spinnakers shall be doused immediately upon crossing the finish line.

Protests:

Protests shall be submitted to the Race Committee in writing within 90 minutes after the protesting yacht finishes or withdraws. Protest hearings shall begin approximately 90 minutes after the last yacht finishes. The hearings will be conducted in an open format for educational and entertainment purposes. Protests are not discouraged.

Commercial Vessels & Fishing Lines:

Competitors shall keep clear of commercial vessels, fishing boats and other right-of-way vessels not racing. Competitors shall also keep clear of fishing lines on the Berkeley Pier. The Race Committee may initiate protests on the basis of reported violations of this instruction. The time limit for receiving such reports and initiating action is 3:30 pm on the seventh day after the incident.

Changes to these instructions:

Changes or additions to these instructions shall be posted on the BYC bulletin board before 12:00 noon, or announced from the committee boat by loud hailer and/or VHF channel 71. Changes and notices may also be posted to the BYC web page at http://www.BerkeleyYC.org

After the Race:

Results will be posted at Berkeley Yacht Club shortly after the race. On most race dates there will be chowder and a trophy presentation. All participants are invited.