This guide provides a set of tested sailing instructions designed primarily for major championship regattas for one or more classes. They therefore will be particularly useful for world, continental and national championships and other events of similar importance. The guide can also be useful for other events; however, for such events some of these instructions will be unnecessary or undesirable. Race officers should therefore be careful in making their choices.The principles on which all sailing instructions should be based are as follows:
- They should include only two types of statement: the intentions of the race committee and the obligations of competitors.
- They should be concerned only with racing. Information about social events, assignment of moorings, etc., should be provided separately.
- They should not change the racing rules except when clearly desirable.
- They should not repeat or restate any of the racing rules.
- They should not repeat themselves.
- They should be in chronological order; that is, the order in which the competitor will use them.
- They should, when possible, use words or phrases from the racing rules.
To use this guide, first review rule M2, Sailing Instruction Contents. Then delete all optional instructions that will not be needed. Instructions that are required or strongly recommended are marked with an asterisk (*). Then select the paragraphs desired where more than one version is shown. Then fill in the spaces where a dot (¥) appears, following the directions in the left margin, and select the desired wording where a choice is indicated by alternatives in brackets ([ . . . ]). Finally, renumber all instructions in sequential order.
NOTE: The notes in this column contain guidance for preparing sailing instructions. Do not include them in the completed draft.
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_______________________________________On separate lines, insert the full name of the regatta, the inclusive dates from measurement or the practice race until the final race, the name of the organizing authority, and the city and country.
Sailing Instructions
*1 RulesThe regatta will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the *, the rules of the * class(es), except as any of these are changed by these sailing instructions, and by these sailing instructions. The regatta is designated Category *.
Insert the full name of the national authority, when applicable, the class(es) name(s), and the appropriate category (see Appendix G).
*2 Entries
Eligible boats may be entered by completing registration with the organizing authority. Eligibility requirements for boats are *. Eligibility requirements for competitors are *.
Insert the competitor eligibility conditions, if any.
*3 Notices to Competitors
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board(s) located *.
Insert the specific location(s).
*4 Changes in Sailing Instructions
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before * on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by * on the day before it will take effect.
Insert the times.
5 Signals Made Ashore
5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed at *.
Insert the specific location.
5.2 Flag AP with two * (one * when lowered) means 'The race is postponed. The warning signal will be made not less than * minutes after AP is lowered.'
Insert the sound signal and time.
5.3 Flag B fully hoisted with one * means 'Protest time has begun.' When lowered half way, it means 'There are less than 30 minutes remaining before protest time ends.' When lowered, it means 'Protest time has ended.'
Insert the sound signal.
*6 Schedule of Races
Races are scheduled as follows:
Race Day and
dateTime of
warning signal__ ________ _________ __ ________ _________ __ ________ _________ (etc.)
Insert the days, dates and times. Include any practice races.
No warning signal will be made after * on the last day of racing.
Insert the time.
7 Class Flags
Class flags will be:
Class Flag Insert the class names and names or descriptions of flags.
8 Racing Area
The racing area will be as shown in Illustration A, attached.
A section of a chart or other suitable map should be copied and marked for this purpose.
*9 The Course
*9.1 The diagram(s) in Illustration B show the course(s), including the approximate angles between legs, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left. Mark 1 will be approximately * nautical miles from Mark *. The first and last legs will be approximately * longer than the distance from Mark * to Mark 1.
Insert the distances and the number of the leeward mark. Delete the last sentence when not applicable.
Attach the course diagram(s). A method of illustrating various courses is shown in Addendum A. [Book designers: this note should run across the full width of the page.]
9.2 The approximate compass bearing from Mark * to Mark 1 will be displayed from the race committee signal boat.
Insert the number of the leeward mark. 9.3 If the race committee sets a gate instead of Mark *, boats shall sail between Mark *S and Mark *P from the direction of the last mark and round either Mark *S to starboard or Mark *P to port, as shown below.
Insert the number of the leeward mark. Include the gate in the diagram as shown below.
[Book designers: the gate diagram is to be inserted here.]
9.4 Courses will not be shortened. This changes rule 32.
Do not use if courses may be shortened.
*10 Marks
Marks 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be *. New marks, as provided in instruction *, Change of Course after the Start, will be *. The starting and finishing marks will be *.
Insert the descriptions of all marks and the instruction number. Delete any mark numbers that do not apply.
*11 The Start
*11.1 Races will be started using rule 26, System *, with classes starting at * minute intervals in the order *.
Use the last part of the sentence for a multi-class regatta. Insert the number of the system, the number of minutes and the class names in order of starting.
(OR)
*11.1 Races will be started as follows. This changes rules 26.1 and 30. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the failure of a sound signal shall be disregarded.
Title Signals Warning Class flag, 1 sound Preparatory Blue flag or flag P, I, Z, or black flag; 1 sound Starting Flags removed, 1 sound The preparatory signal will be displayed one minute after the warning signal and will be removed, with one sound, one minute before the starting signal. The starting signal will be displayed five minutes after the preparatory signal.
Succeeding classes will be started as follows:
(a) at five-minute intervals by displaying the warning and preparatory signals with the starting signal for the preceding class, or
(b) at any time after the starting signal for the preceding class by displaying the warning signal for the succeeding class.
(This is a new starting system that the ISAF hopes will be tried.)
*11.2 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the race committee boat at the starboard end and Mark * at the port end.
Insert the number of the leeward mark.
(OR)
*11.2 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the race committee boat at the starboard end and the port-end starting mark.
(OR)
*11.2 The starting line will be between staffs displaying orange flags or shapes on two race committee boats. Signals will be made from a race committee signal boat stationed to windward of the line.
Delete the last sentence when signals will be made from the starboard-end race committee boat.
(OR)
*11.2 The starting line will be between staffs displaying orange flags on Starting Marks A and B and between staffs displaying orange flags on Starting Marks B and C as shown below. Mark B may not be on a straight line between Mark A and Mark C. For the purpose of rule 30.1, the extensions of the starting line are the extensions beyond Marks A and C.
Mark A * * * Mark C
Mark B11.3 Boats whose * signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose * signal has been made.
Use only for a multi-class regatta. Insert ÔwarningÕ when classes start at ten- minute intervals, 'preparatoryÕ'when they start at five-minute intervals. 11.4 A boat shall not start later than * minutes after her starting signal.
Insert the number of minutes.
12 Mark Boats
Mark boats will be stationed beyond each mark. At the finish, the mark boat will be stationed beyond the finishing line. When on station only, each mark boat will display a *. Failure of a mark boat to be on station or to display her signal will not be grounds for redress. This changes rule 62.1(a).
Insert the description of the flag or shape.
13 Change of Course After the Start
A change of course after the start will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not then be in position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated to maintain the original course configuration. When in a subsequent change of course a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced with an original mark.
*14 The Finish
The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on a race committee boat and the nearby mark at the port end.
(OR)
The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on a race committee boat and the port-end finishing mark.
(OR)
The finishing line will be between staffs displaying orange flags or shapes on two race committee boats.
18 Penalty System
The Scoring Penalty, rule 44.3, will apply. The penalty will be * places.
Delete if the 720 degree Turns Penalty will be used. Insert the number of places.
*16 Time Limit
The time limit will be * for the * class and * for the * class. Boats failing to finish within * minutes after the first boat finishes or within the time limit, whichever is later, will be scored Did Not Finish. This changes rule 35.
Insert the time(s) and class(es). Adjust for a single class regatta or for a single time limit for all classes.
17 Protests
17.1 Protests shall be written on forms available at the race office and delivered there within * after the time of the last boat's finish.
Insert the time.
(OR)
17.1 Protests shall be written on forms available at the race office and delivered there within Protest Time which will begin at * and end at *.
Insert the times.
17.2 Protests will be heard in approximately the order of receipt as soon as possible.
(OR)
17.2 Protests will be heard in approximately the order of receipt beginning at *.
Insert the time.
17.3 Protest notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors where and when there is a hearing in which they are parties to a hearing or named as witnesses.
17.4 Decisions of the [jury] [protest committee] will be final as provided in rule 70.4.
Use only when the requirements of rule 70.4 are met.
17.5 Rule 66 is changed by adding this sentence: 'On the last day of racing, a party to the hearing may ask for a reopening no later than one hour after being informed of the decision.'
*18 Scoring
The [Bonus Point] [Low Point] scoring system, rule A2, will apply. * races are scheduled, of which * races shall be completed to constitute a series.
Insert the numbers.
(OR)
The [Bonus Point] [Low Point] scoring system, rule A2, will apply, modified so that each boatÕs series score will be the total of her race scores, with her worst score discarded if * or more races have been completed. * races are scheduled, of which * races shall be completed to constitute a series.
Insert the number of races.
(OR)
For the * class, the class scoring system, rule * of the class rules, will be used.
Insert the name of the class and the rule number.
19 Support Boats
Team leaders, coaches and other support personnel shall not be in the racing area from the time of the preparatory signal for the first class to start until all boats have finished or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment. The penalty for failing to comply with this requirement will be * all boats associated with the support personnel who do so.
Insert 'the disqualification of Õor 'points for * additional places added to the scores of'. In the latter case insert the number of places.
20 Haul-out Restrictions
All boats shall be afloat before * on the day preceding the first scheduled race and shall not be hauled out during the regatta except:
(a) with and according to the terms of prior written permission of the [jury] [protest committee]; or
(b) after the race preceding a reserve day, in which case they shall again be afloat before * on the day preceding the next race.
When this applies to some classes only, insert the name(s) of the class(es) between 'all' and 'boats'. Insert the time. Use (b) only when there is a scheduled reserve day.
21 Plastic Pools and Diving Equipment
Underwater breathing apparatus, plastic pools or their equivalent shall not be used around * class boats after * on the day preceding the first scheduled race.
Insert the class(es) and time.
22 Radio Communication
A boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats.
23 Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to each member of the crews placing first, second and third in the regatta.
Change as required. When perpetual trophies are to be awarded, refer to them by their complete names. State, when appropriate, that prizes or other benefits referred to in rule G5.3 will be awarded.