Racing Instructions

Our #1 goal is to have fun. We are grown adults playing with toy boats.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS (Special Note for Sailing at our Pond.- We do not go crazy on the rules. We are here to have fun. We do not call fouls because we "think we were going to have to change our course", "someone barely bumped me", etc.... The RD may change the race finish order is an over zealous foul is called. Remember, our number one rule is to have FUN.

1. PORMYC RULES

1.1. Our sailing will be governed by the ‘rules’ as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2021-2024 and where applicable, superseded by “NMMYC’s Simplified Racing Rules of Sailing”.

1.2. RRS 63.7, Conflict between Rules, is replaced by, “If there is a conflict between any rule and a rule in the NMMYC sailing instructions, the sailing instructions and any amendments or Club Rules, verbal or written shall take precedence.”

1.3 All competitors will follow all NMMYC rules and regulations regarding participation at “The Pond” or at any event coordinated by NMMYC.

2. ENTRIES – In order to be scored for the day or a series, a competitor must be a paid in full member of Point of Rocks Model Yacht Club. Non-members may race, but they are not eligible to earn points or prizes. They will be considered competitors only for fun purposes that day.

3. NOTICE TO COMPETITORS - Notice to competitors concerning racing will be discussed at the skippers’ meeting prior to the first race of each race day and may also be distributed to all participants electronically.

4. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS - Any change to the sailing instructions will be discussed at the Skipper’s meeting prior to the start of the first race on any given race day and may also be distributed to all participants electronically. Please remember, we are here to have fun.

5. ENTRANTS

5.1. Any class legal DF65, Compass or Hobby King Affinity in stock form may participate in the DF65 class and be scored. Others may be allowed to race with or without handicap at the Race Director's discretion. If entrants and conditions warrant, any class may be added, subdivided and scored separately.

5.2. Unique, easily read sail numbers must be displayed by all boats that are racing.

6. SCHEDULE OF RACES

6.1. Race Days will be held April through November according to the following schedule:

DF65s will compete every 1st Saturday of every month April through November, or any other day designated by the club.

6.2. For all classe(s), there will be a skippers’ meeting 15 minutes prior to the start of each class’ first race of every race day. All skippers or their designated delegate must attend.

6.3. On Race Days, four races will be attempted for each class with individual scoring. A break will be held, then four team races will be held. At the RD's discretion the sailors will be divided up by the individual race results. Usually, the best finisher will be paired with the worse to make the teams fair. The RD may choose to have as many or few teams, as they see fit.

6.4. The starting sequence for the first race of each race day for the Individual DF65 Class shall begin at 10:00 am, other classes or team racing will begin after those 4 races have been completed. If there is more than one class racing, then each Fleet Coordinator or his delegate will decide when to start each race. Racing will continue for a period not exceeding two hours for each class or type.

7. RACING AREA - The racing area will be the Pond located in Canal Run, Point of Rocks, Maryland or other properly designated location

8. COURSE

8.1. Various courses will be utilized (ideally windward leeward) and will be announced by the Fleet Coordinator, RD or his delegate at the Skipper’s meeting and/or before the starting sequence of any race., So as to accomplish the designated number of races in the allotted time, the length of each race will be wind/time determined.

8.2. All competitors must sail the required course to be scored. Any competitor not sailing the designated course will be scored DSQ. Any competitor not honoring (sailing on the proper side of a designated race mark) will be determined to have not sailed the designated course. A competitor will have been judged to have missed a mark or not sailed the proper course if two competitors verify the improper action. If two competitors do verify this, the competitor may exonerate himself by returning and honoring the mark or sailing the course correctly. He also may accept a DSQ, or retire from the race and accept a RAF. In those cases, the designation will result in zero points being awarded.

9. MARKS- Marks of the course will be standard NMMYC marks. For club racing, any mark may be touched during a race, with the exception of the starting line marks while starting, and the finish line marks while finishing.

10. THE START

10.1. The Fleet Coordinator, RD or his delegate will initiate each starting sequence. The Starting Sequence will be a timed one or two minute interval, unless it is decided by the Fleet Coordinator or his delegate and announced to all skippers that a different interval shall be used.

10.2. The starting line will be a line between two designated race marks.

RRS 31 (Touching a Mark) and RRS 28.1 (Sailing the Course) apply, with the exception that after the one minute mark, no boats may be on the course side of the starting line. A boat on the course side of the starting line, after the one minute mark, and prior to the race start, must exonerate herself by proceeding around either end of the starting line, and starting between the starting marks. No other requirements of RRS 31 or 28 are modified by this paragraph.

10.3. The Fleet Coordinator or his delegate will attempt to determine and announce boats identified as OCS by announcing their sail numbers and declaring them “OCS”. Boats identified as OCS and not exonerating themselves, will be scored OCS, and be given a score of zero for that particular race.

11. FINISH- The finishing line will be a line between two designated race marks. Upon finishing, each individual race winner will then assume the role of “Race Recorder” and will record the finishes of all remaining competitors. The second place finishing boat’s skipper will assist the Race Recorder by announcing the finishes of each remaining competitor.

12. TIME LIMITS AND ABANDONMENT

12.1. Races need to be completed in a reasonable time. In order to speed up racing, if, after a period of time, there are competitors still remaining on the course, they may be finished in place by the Race Recorder. However, this is providing there is no chance of any change in finish order. Being finished in place will result in the competitor being awarded scoring points the same as if he had finished in that position.

12.2 If, in the opinion of the Club Commodore, RD, Fleet Coordinator or his delegate, there is cause to not run a race or an entire race day, (Lack of wind, too much wind, bad weather, weeds) he may abandon one or all races for that day. A day that is abandoned will reduce the number of monthly races raced and may reduce the number of drops. A race that is abandoned may be dropped.

13. PENALTY SYSTEM – Protests will be addressed in section 15. However, if a competitor while breaking the RRS, caused injury or serious damage, or gained a significant advantage in a race by his breach, his penalty shall be to accept an additional One-Turn Penalty, retire or be scored DSQ by the Fleet Coordinator or his designated delegate. No sailor may gain an advantage by fouling another. Sometimes multiple turns or waiting on the other boat may be needed.

14. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

14.1. Protests, when hailed on the water, will not be refutable. There will be no protest hearings! The offender will accept a penalty and, at first opportunity, and before the next mark, execute a penalty turn consisting of one tack and one jibe or more if needed. The protestor must clearly announce “PROTEST”, call the offending boat’s sail number, and cite the rule in violation, so the offending boat may hear and understand the protest.

14.2. Requests for Redress for all but protests, will be accepted, but must be submitted in writing (following all the requirements noted in RRS 2021-2024), to the Fleet Coordinator within 24 hours of the race in question. The Fleet Coordinator will render a decision, and answer the request within seven days.

15. SCORING

15.1. A high point total of all race days will determine the winner.

15.2. Scoring points will be awarded as follows: One point for starting a race, one point for finishing a race, and one point for each competitor beaten that race. Any boat that starts any race during that day, will be considered a competitor for all races run that day.

15.3 Competitors scored Did Not Compete (DNC), “On Course Side”, abbreviated to “OCS”, means: “Did not start; on the course side of her starting signal and failed to start, or broke rule 30.1″, or Disqualified (DSQ), will be awarded zero points. A boat starting a race and not incurring any penalty, but not finishing a race will be awarded one point.

15.4 Any competitor given an OCS, DSQ, or Retired after Finishing (RAF) will still count as a competitor beaten based upon their actual finish position, but in no case will a competitor finishing behind them, move up a finishing position.

15.5 A competitor scored DNC for a race will be considered beaten by all other competitors finishing.

16. SHORESIDE ETIQUETTE-

16.1 Sailing is a Gentleperson’s sport, and we require all competitors and observers to conduct themselves in a mature, respectful manner. Vulgar language, yelling obscenities or other verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated. The PORMYC Commodore, Fleet Coordinators or their designated delegates will be empowered to warn and or remove from the days racing or the club, any person not following this vital PORMYC Rule.

16.2 Racing may also be terminated for the day by the Fleet Coordinator, RD or their designated delegate if their directions are not followed by competitors. Persons unable to control their behavior will forfeit their membership in NMMYC and will not be allowed to participate in future NMMYC sponsored events.

16.3 All persons in or on the Pond (in a dinghy) must wear a PFD/Life jacket.

16.4 Norther Maryland Model Yacht Club is a guest at the Pond/Lake. All instructions given by the Pond/Lake Owner or their representative (i.e. security) must be followed.

17. TRASH DISPOSAL AND STAGING AREA –Upon completion of each day’s racing, all competitors shall dispose of all their refuse in a proper manner, and while racing, shall keep their staging area free of tripping hazards and debris.

18. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY - Competitors participate entirely at their own risk. See RRS #4, Decision to Race. This organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with, or prior to, during, or after this Championship Series.

19. Racers are responsible for all guests and/or family in attendance and are responsible for their conduct.