GP 14 Open
18 September 2022
Organised by Hampton Sailing Club on the River Thames
SAFETY
The safety of a boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/person racing the boat who must ensure that the yacht and crew are adequate to face the conditions that may arise in the course of the race. Nothing whether in the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions or elsewhere limits or reduces the absolute responsibility of the owner/person in charge of the crew, the boat and her management.
Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat, nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of a boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and event, and include but are not limited to the organising authority, the race committee, the race officer and patrol boats.
NB Please see supplementary sailing instructions at the end of this document **
1. Rules
The races will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2021 – 2024 (RRS), the prescriptions of the RYA, the Sailing Instructions, this Notice of Race and the rules of the Class Association.
2. Entries
Eligible boats may be entered by completing the entry form and by paying the entry fee of £10.00 (per event).
3. Noticeboard
Notices to competitors shall be posted on the official noticeboard located in the clubhouse adjacent to the course diagram. The Official Course will be that shown on the course board adjacent to the timekeepers’ box on the starting line.
4. Changes to the Sailing Instructions
Should be it necessary to change the sailing instructions, flag “L” over the class or heat flag will be displayed on the flagstaff at least 30 minutes before the start of the first race affected by the change.
5. Signals
Signals will be displayed from a mast adjacent to the starting line, normally the flagstaff at the timekeepers’ box.
6. Schedule of Races
3 Races, the warning signal for Race 1 will not be before 10.55 hours. The start time for each race will be displayed on the board in the clubhouse.
7. Class Flags
GP 14 – Flag A
8. Racing Area
Illustration. Note “out of bounds areas”. Competitors shall not sail in these areas at any time.
9. Course
Courses will be set by marks, which are buoys. For each class, the sequence and side in which these buoys shall be rounded during each lap together with the number of laps to be sailed will be indicated on the course board displayed at the timekeepers’ box on the starting line, before the class warning signal.
10. Marks
Letters are used to denote the marks and their approximate positions are shown on the illustration. Note – these letters are not painted on the marks, which are small yellow, red, pink or orange buoys.
11. Start
11.1 The Start
Races will be started using the 5, 4, 1 start system RRS 26. RRS 29.3 – in the event of a General Recall and heats or several classes are being started in a programme sequence; restarts after a general recall will be given after the last advertised race of the sequence has been made.
11.2 Starting Line
This will normally be a line across the river being the projection of the transit poles on the timekeepers’ box. The outer distance mark will be laid as close as practical to this line. When a fair start line and /or a satisfactory length for the first leg of the course cannot be provided by the length, angle or position of the club line, an alternative starting line will be defined on the Official Noticeboard.
12. The Finishing Line
This will be a line across the river, being the poles at the timekeepers’ box in transit. Once the first boat in the race has finished all the other boats in the race shall be finished as they cross the line in the same direction as the leading yacht irrespective of the number of laps that they have completed. This changes rule 28.1.
13. Penalties
The Scoring penalty system (RRS 44.3) shall not apply
14. Time Limit
The race time limit shall be 2 hours. Any boat failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat finishes will be scored “Did not Finish”.
15. Protests
Protests shall be written on forms available from the race officer / timekeeper and returned to them within 45 minutes of the boat which is making the protest finishing. The Race Officer or an assistant will advise parties to the protest of the time of the hearing.
16. Scoring
The low point system (RRS Appendix A4) will apply. Number of Races (RRS A1). When four or five races are sailed, the best three races shall count; when three races are sailed the best two races shall count; when only two races are sailed both shall count. RRS A2 and “scores not discardable” will apply. Boats that did not start, did not finish or retired after finishing will be scored according to RRS A4.2 save that a boat which does not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place two more than the number of boats entered in the series.
Ties will be broken according RRS A8.
17. Change of Helm
Any change of helm will be classifed as a new entry
18 Personal Buoyancy
All under 8 years of age must wear adequate personal buoyancy at all times when on club premises and on boats or when sailing except when inside the club house under supervision. All must wear personal buoyancy when sailing if Flag Y is displayed.
19. Declarations
Declarations are required to be signed within 30 minutes of finishing. A form will be posted on, or adjacent to, the Official Noticeboard in the clubhouse.
20. Notice of Race
The Notice of Race will be displayed on the club noticeboard and on the club website.
21. Temporary Membership
Competitors are welcomed as temporary members for the duration of the event.
Visitors can drive onto Hampton Wharf (through the barrier) and can now transport their boat on launching trolleys across a pontoon walkway to the new large pontoon whilst leaving their road trailers in the Wharf. The Club will arrange transport to and from the Club Island to the launching pontoon. See plan below.
HSC GP14 Open 18-9-2022 Supplimental