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| Montpelier Oyster Regatta - Sailing Instructions |
| Wednesday, 28 June 2006 |
THE MONTPELIER OYSTER REGATTA
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON, COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT
3 – 7 JULY 2006
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
These Sailing Instructions should be used in conjunction with the Notice of Regatta and Programme. In the event of any conflict of information the Sailing Instructions will take precedence.
Amendments may be issued during the Skippers’ Briefing and during the Regatta, either in writing or by VHF, in which case they will take precedence over these instructions.
1 RACING AREAS AND PROHIBITIONS
The racing area for all races will be the Solent and its approaches using fixed navigation and racing marks as shown on the attached charts.
The Prohibitions below are mandatory for all Solent Racing and must be strictly adhered to.
Yachts shall not pass to the North of:
(a) Horse Sand Fort
(b) the obstruction of the row of iron piles off Durns Point, east of Lymington.
Yachts shall not anchor or kedge:
(a) within the area defined by the two hatched lines between Stone Point and Gurnard Bay shown on Admiralty Chart 2040 and attached appendices
(b) within the mining ground area north east of Ryde Sand.
Competitors shall avoid any close quarter situation with any large commercial vessel. Particular note shall be taken of Associated British Ports Southampton Harbour Bye-Laws 2003, Bye-Law no 11 which restricts anchoring in a main channel and Associated British Ports Notice to Mariners No.34 of 2003 (see attached appendix) giving details of a ‘moving prohibited zone’ which is an obstruction for the purposes of RRS 18 and 19.
The Bye-Laws laid down by the 1961 Public Health Act warn navigators of pleasure yachts that they shall not cause or suffer their vessel to be sailed within 880 yards of the shore in a dangerous manner or without due care and attention for persons bathing or using the foreshore.
If tacking close inshore yachts shall keep a very good lookout, keeping 50 to 100 metres from bathers and avoiding frightening the swimmers.
Yachts are asked to remember that although they may be navigating perfectly safely, swimmers may not know anything about sailing and may be worried by the close proximity of racing yachts.
Yachts have an individual responsibility to avoid damage to fishing gear and shall keep a special lookout for markers of such gear.
In order to avoid the risk of collision with commercial shipping that is under way, a yacht may use her engine, or any other means of propulsion, without retiring. Such use shall be reported immediately after racing, in writing, to the Race Committee at Regatta Headquarters, who may impose a penalty if it is deemed that an advantage was gained.
2 RACE MANAGEMENT
The Race Committee may postpone starts, alter the schedule of racing, or shorten courses.
All fixed navigation buoys and laid marks to be used have been allocated two digit numbers as shown in the appendices
The course to be sailed will be announced by race control (call-sign ‘Castle One’) on VHF Channel 28 with marks being identified by the allocated two digit numbers. These and other announcements will be read back by a race committee outstation (the call sign of which will be announced at the skippers briefing), giving yachts two opportunities per race control transmission to record the information. If for any reason this channel cannot be used code flag Third Substitute will be displayed and further transmissions will be made on VHF Channel 77 until this signal is lowered.
2.1 The start sequence
The start sequence is as follows:
| TIME | EVENT | SIGNAL | RADIO | | Ten minutes before the start | Warning signal | Class flag displayed with one gun | Course announced on VHF Ch 28 | | Five minutes before the start | Preparatory signal | Flag P displayed with one gun | Course repeated on VHF Ch 28 | | At the start | Starting signal | Flags lowered with one gun | |
Following Start No 1 there will be a ten-minute interval before the Warning Signal for Start No 2 (see Para 3 below Schedule of Racing).
2.2 Class Flags will be as follows:
Class 1 - Numeral pennant 1
Class 2 - Numeral pennant 2
Yachts shall at all times display on her permanent backstay her Class Flag.
In order to assist the race committee yachts are requested only to wear ensigns when they have retired or are not racing.
2.3 Signals after the start
Premature starters – should yachts be observed on the course side of the line at their starting signal the Race Committee will display Flag X with one sound signal followed by a long sound signal and will announce the identification of infringing yachts on VHF Channel 28. Yachts announced as premature starters will let their sails fly to slow or stop until they are, in the opinion of the Race Committee, at the back of the fleet. They will then be given the ‘all clear’ by the Race Committee also by announcement on VHF Channel 28 after which they may resume racing.
When the last infringing yacht is clear or four minutes after the starting signal, whichever is sooner, Flag X will be lowered. Any yacht not promptly following the Race Committee’s instructions may be penalised by a percentage of its elapsed time as decided by the Race Committee, whose decision will be final.
The object of this procedure is to eliminate the requirement for premature starters to return and re-cross the start line, thus avoiding any risk of collision.
If, as sometimes happens in strong tidal conditions, a large number of yachts are premature starters and the start cannot be judged fairly, two extra guns will be fired at the start, and Flag First Substitute will be displayed. This will be accompanied by an announcement on VHF that a GENERAL RECALL has been signalled. All yachts should immediately proceed safely, under power if necessary, to the non-course side of the line. The race committee will as soon as possible announce the time of the warning signal for the restart of the race.
Yachts not racing i.e. those whose preparatory signal has not been made are requested at all times to remain clear of the start line and clear of yachts racing.
2.4 The starting line
All races will be started from the RYS starting line, with the exception of the race from Portsmouth to Cowes planned for Wednesday 5 July, which will start from a committee vessel (CV) line off the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. Details of the arrangements for this race are attached to the Sailing Instructions.
The RYS starting line is an extension of the line formed by bringing the RYS flagstaff into line with the white line on the orange diamond on the Castle, limited by the inner and outer limit marks, which are starting marks. When either limit mark is on the pre-start side of the line yachts shall start between the points of the line nearest the limit marks.
Vertical light beams are installed at the RYS to identify the starting line transit. The intensity of the light beam increases as the transit is approached and at the approximate point of the transit the rear light is momentarily obscured by the flagstaff. This is a navigational aid only and does not constitute the starting line, nor will a start be postponed because of any failure of the equipment.
The inner limit mark of the starting line will be an orange inflatable mark positioned approximately 80 metres from the RYS flagstaff.
The outer limit mark of the starting line will be an orange inflatable mark labelled RYS.
2.5 Direction of Start:
Not less than fifteen minutes before the start of each race, a signal displayed at the RYS Lodge flagstaff will indicate the direction of the start.
(i) Green Flag - starting to the Westward
(ii) Red Flag - starting to the Eastward
A yacht shall not start later than ten minutes after her valid starting signal
2.6 The Finish
Unless shortened at a mark of the course the finishing line for all races will be between the RYS flagstaff and an orange inflatable mark labelled RYS approximately two cables northward of the RYS flagstaff. After finishing yachts shall immediately clear the finishing line and shall remain clear of yachts racing.
For Race 2 the finishing line will between a Committee Vessel at the starboard end of the line and either a Solent Racing mark or large orange inflatable marked RYS at the port end.
3 SCHEDULE OF RACING
| DATE | RACE | CLASS | START Nº | WARNING SIGNAL | PREPARATORY SIGNAL | START TIME | LINE | | Tue 4 July | Race 1 | 2 | 1 | 0950 | 0955 | 1000 | RYS | | HWP 1813 | | 1 | 2 | 1010 | 1015 | 1020 | | | Race 2 | 2 | 1 | 1350 | 1355 | 1400 | RYS | | Cowes to Portsmouth* | 1 | 2 | 1410 | 1415 | 1420 | | | Wed 5 July | Race 3 | 2 | 1 | 1650 | 1655 | 1700 | CV | | HWP 0626 & 1910 | Portsmouth to Cowes** | 1 | 2 | 1710 | 1715 | 1720 | | | Thur 6 July | Race 4 | 2 | 1 | 0950 | 0955 | 1000 | RYS | | HWP 0733 & 2014 | | 1 | 2 | 1010 | 1015 | 1020 | | | Fri 7 July | Race 5 | 2 | 1 | 0950 | 0955 | 1000 | RYS | | HWP 0844 & 2115 | Coastal Race
30-40 nm | 1 | 2 | 1010 | 1015 | 1020 | |
* After finishing Race 2, Gunwharf Quays MUST be approached via Ballast Buoy, which is situated in the Small Boat Channel located on the west side of the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour. All yachts must request permission to cross the harbour from Queen’s Harbour Master (QHM) on VHF Channel 11.
**Details of the arrangements for the passage race from Portsmouth to Cowes can be found at the appendices to the Sailing Instructions. All times are British Summer Time.
3.1 Postponements
Flag ‘AP’ displayed at the RYS yardarm or from the committee vessel with two sound signals (one sound signal, when lowered) means the race is postponed. The warning signal will be made not less than one minute after this signal is lowered.
Flag ‘AP’ over ‘AP’ with two sound signals displayed at the RYS yardarm or from the committee vessel (one sound signal, when lowered) means all racing is postponed indefinitely and crews are advised not to leave harbour. The first warning signal will be made not less than 50 minutes after the lowering of AP over AP, at a time which will be announced on Channel 28. The lowering of this signal with one sound signal may be followed by ‘AP’.
3.2 Time limits
For the race on 4 July the time limit for the first yacht in each class to finish will be 3 hours. All other yachts must finish within 60 minutes of the first yacht in her class.
For the race on 5 July the time limit for all yachts will be 20.00 hours.
For the races on 6 July the time limit for the first race will be 60 minutes after the first yacht in her class to finish. The time limit for a second race will be 17.00 hours for all yachts.
For the race on 7 July the time limit will be 17.30 hours for all yachts..
All yachts failing to finish within the time limit will be scored Did Not Finish.
4 COMMUNICATIONS
Yachts shall be equipped with VHF Channels 16, 28, 72 and 77. Race management including course announcements will be made by ‘Castle One’ on VHF Channel 28 (Simplex). Cowes Yacht Haven uses Channel 80, and Solent Coast Guard uses Channel 67.
Yachts shall not transmit on Channel 28 (N.B. In any case their transmission would not be heard by the Race Committee who will be listening on the other half of the duplex channel).
Yachts wishing to transmit to the race committee shall do so on VHF Channel 72.
If for any reason Channel 28 or Channel 72 cannot be used then Code Flag Third Substitute will be displayed from the RYS yardarm and VHF Channel 77 will be used in place of the defunct channel until this signal is lowered.
Yachts retiring are requested to inform the race committee on VHF Channel 72.
5 PRIZES
See page 5 of Notice of Regatta. A list of Competitions and Prizes will be distributed at Registration at Regatta Headquarters on 3 July.
6 DISCLAIMER
The Organising Authority and Race Organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the Owner/Skipper or crew, as a result of their taking part in races or any part of the regatta. Moreover, every Owner/Skipper warrants the suitability of his boat for the race or races.
The safety of a boat and her entire management including insurance shall be the sole responsibility of the Owner/Skipper who must ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy, manned by a crew sufficient in number and experience who are physically fit to face bad weather. The Owner/Skipper must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging and all gear. He must ensure that all safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know where it is kept and how it is to be used.
The Owner/Skipper bears full responsibility for the conduct and good behaviour of their crew and guests for the duration of the Regatta.
Neither the establishment of these conditions, nor their use by the Organising Authority and the Race Organisers, in any way limits the absolute responsibility of the Owner/Skipper. The crew is nonetheless advised to satisfy themselves as to the experience of the skipper and the adequacy of all safety equipment and insurance arrangements.
MONTPELIER OYSTER REGATTA – COWES 2006
NOTICE OF REGATTA
AMENDMENT - ISSUE #1
Dated: 22 June 2006
1 NOR 7.
Registration – The Committee Desk at Regatta Headquarters will be open
from 1300 –1600 hrs.
2 NOR 10.
The Skippers Briefing will be held at 1830 hrs on the Platform at the Royal Yacht Squadron.
3 NOR 25.2
1 discard will be allowed if all 5 races are sailed.
4 NOR 25.3
Prizes will be presented to the first 6 yachts in each class in each race and overall.
LIST OF APPENDICES ATTACHED
Central Solent Racing Chart
West Solent/East Solent Racing Chart
Course Marks and Symbols
High Voltage Cables and Pipelines
The Southampton Harbour Byelaws 2003 no 11
List of Marks with co-ordinates - Course Marks and Symbols
Instructions for Passage Race Portsmouth to Cowes
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