Blackpool  & Fleetwood Yacht Club

 1.    RULES

The race will be governed by the rules as defined in the World Sailing The Racing Rules of Sailing 2021 – 2024 & Laser Class Rules.

2.    NOTICES FOR COMPETITORS

Competitors intending to race shall complete an entry form and pay the appropriate fee.

3.    CLUB LIABILITY

The race organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/competitor, as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover every owner/competitor warrants the suitability of his yacht for the race or races.

4.    INSURANCE

It is the responsibility of the owner/competitor to ensure that their boat is adequately insured with a minimum 3^rd party insurance of £3,000,000.

5.    PERSONAL BUOYANCY

Must be worn by competitors. Wet Suits and/or Dry suits although highly recommended, are not in themselves considered adequate personal buoyancy.

6.    SCHEDULE OF RACES

It is intended to hold 3 races as published in the Notice of Race. 2 races shall count towards a boats result. One complete race is required to constitute a series.

7.    CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted on the notice board in the club foyer no later than 1 hour before the start of scheduled racing on the day it will take effect.

8.    SAIL NUMBERS

Any sail number differing from the hull number must be declared in writing on registration.

9.    CLASS CERTIFICATES

May be required by the race officer, on demand.

10. REPLACEMENT OF COMPETITORS OR EQUIPMENT

Requests for this shall be made to the race officer in advance.

11. SCORING

The low point scoring system of Appendix A will apply.

12. DECLARATIONS

12.1 Must be signed which will be situated outside the changing rooms within the time limit as for protests.

12.2 Competitors that retire from a race shall sign off as such.

13. RACE AREA

The race area shall be as illustrated on the back of the sailing instructions.

14. COURSE

The Course will be displayed on the committee boat on a course board, which will display the number of laps, and the order and direction marks are to be rounded. The direction of rounding will be indicated by colour, red for port, green for starboard. Letter G indicates a gate. The number of laps shall at the end of the course.

15. COURSE MARKS

15.1 Marks are spherical, black and numbered 1 to 12 clockwise around the basin in front of B&FYC, Mark 1 is adjacent to the clubhouse, except Club Mark which is in front of the clubhouse and is not black.

15.2 Additional mark A (large orange inflatable) may be used and generally acts as the first windward mark.

15.3 The Gate “G” (start line).

16. THE START

16.1 The starting Sequence will be as per ISAF Rule 26. The class flag will be ICF Flag ‘F’.

16.2 The starting line will be between a staff displaying a blue flag on the committee boat and an orange outer distance mark with a flag on it.

17. THE FINISH

17.1 The finish line will be the start line or the line between the committee boat displaying the ICF “S” flag and the nearest mark of the course.

17.2 The race committee may back finish boats sailing behind the main body of the fleet.

17.3 Boats failing to finish within 15 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be given a position under SI 17.2 This alters rule 35.and A4.1 and A5.

18. PROTESTS

18.1 With a £5 fee (will be returned, if not deemed frivolous) to be handed in to the Race Officer within 30 minutes of the last boat finishing the last race of the day.

18.2 Protest forms are available at the race office.

18.3 Protest hearing times will be posted at least 15 minutes before the time of the protest hearing to inform all parties and witnesses.

18.4 The Advisory Hearing and RYA Arbitration procedures of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedure will be available. For these purposes an exoneration penalty of 20% shall apply although the final position of a penalised boat shall be no worse than if she had retired. At informal hearing rules 61.2, 63.5, 63.6 RRS shall not apply.

19. ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES

The two turn alternative penalty shall apply in accordance with World Sailing Rule (44.2).