Club Sailing Instructions
It is vital that every competitor wishing to take part in club racing is familiar with these revised Sailing Instructions and the associated Risk Assessment documents. Club organised racing will only take place if Safety Cover can be provided.
1. Rules. Races organised by Hunts Sailing Club will be sailed under the current Racing Rules of Sailing unless amended in these sailing instructions or by posting any changes on the website at least 48 hours before the start of any race/series and by the Rules, by-laws and Risk Assessments of Hunts SC.
2. Starting Times
Summer Racing:
Days with 3 races:
Morning Races
First warning signal will not be before 10:55am.
Race 1 will be 1 start with results split between fast and slow handicap. This ius baqsed on the current handicap split.
Afternoon races:
Race 2 warning signal will not be before 12:55
Race 3 warning signal will not be before 14:25
Both races will have 2 starts as follows:
Start 1 Laser and Solo
Start 2 Handicap
If there are insufficient Lasers and Solos to have a race as defined in the RRS then the Handicap start may be moved to start 1.
Winter Racing:
2 handicap races with a single start for each race
Race 1 warning signal not before 10:55
Race 2 warning signal not before 12:55
Race length to be minimum 45 minutes for the leading boat.
The starting sequence will be as follows:
5 minutes to start - Sounds signal and appropriate fleet flag
4 minutes - Sound signal and prep flag
1 minute prep flag lowered
Start - Sound signal and class flag lowered
For multiple starts the start signal will be the 5 minute warning for the next start
For pursuit races a sound signal should be given for each start.
3. Courses. The course to be sailed, will be in the standard colour sequence order of Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Green, Purple, White. Not all colours may be used for a given race. The Safety boat may act as a lead boat if they are not engaged in other duties.
4. The Starting Line. Will be a virtual line drawn from the Race Box or Committee Boat flag pole to an outer limit buoy. When an inner distance mark is used, boats approaching the line to start, shall pass between this mark and the outer distance mark. Failure to do so will mean the boat has not started. Competitors not starting must keep clear of the start line.
5. Recalls.
a) If one or more identifiable boats are over the line at the start, a second sound signal will be made and the individual recall flag displayed.
b) If a number of boats are over the line at the start and cannot be identified, there will be two sound signals and the general recall flag displayed.
6. Shortening Course. The signal will be made when the leading boat is about to round the last mark. At the dicreatioon of the race officer they can shorten on a slower boat if it is about ot be lapped by faster boats.
The Race Officer may choose to shorten a fleet by displaying the appropriate flag along with the Shorten Course flag.
7. Finishing. A sound signal will indicate that a boat has finished. In handicap races, average lap times may be used at the discretion of the Race Officer. Slower boats may also be finished as long as lap times have been recorded without having to complete the lap they are currently on. In pursuit races the sound signal means all boats have finished.
8. Time limit. In the event of no boat completing one lap of the course in one hour, the race will be abandoned.
9. Declaration. All finishers will be assumed to have complied with the rules unless they inform the Race Officer that they wish to retire or protest. Any such notification should be as soon as possible after finishing.
10. Scoring System will be in accordance with Appendix A of the racing rules - low point system. The number of races counted in the overall score for the series is shown in the sailing programme. Where races in a club series are cancelled, the number of races to count will be varied according to the formula half the number of races sailed (rounded down if not even number) + 1. Where a competitor has not sailed sufficient races to count, DNCs will be scored to make up the required number of races. Unless notified before the first race, race series comprising less than 6 scheduled races shall be scored as a Regatta, 6 or more scheduled races will be scored as a Series (Appendix A, Clause 9).
The winter sign up races will be scored with half the number of races sailed plus a duty. The Twilight will be scored half the number of races sailied plus 2 duties.
At least two entries are needed to run a race. In the event of only one entry in a race, the race will be abandoned.
Competitors may be asked to perform a duty in order to get a valid series score.
The scoring system will be applied to combinations of helmsmen or boat. Changes of boat or increase in rig power mid series will be scored separately within the series. In the Twilight Series, a competitor's best result will count.
11. Flags. Flags and visual signals will be displayed.
'*'-Laser, 'H'-Handicap, 'NP8'-Fast Handicap, 'NP9'-Slow Handicap, "NPl'-Solo, 'G'-All Comers, 'Z'-Sailboard, 'Skull and Crossbones'-Cadet/Novice, 'N'-Abandon, 'AP'-Postponement, '1st Sub'-General Recall, 'P'-Preparatory, 'S'-Shorten Course, 'I'-I Flag Rule, and 'X'- premature starters. (Note: '*' = Laser logo on red square flag).
12. Protests. Must be made to the Race Officer within 30 minutes of the last boat finishing the race or group of races where they are back to back.
13. A Personal Floatation Device must be worn at all times when on the water. The byelaws provide detailed guidance.
14. Cruising. Is permitted at all times. Boats cruising should keep clear of all boats racing.
15. Propulsion. A protest or race committee, including designated Race Officers and Rescue Officers, may, in accordance with rule 67, disqualify a boat for infringement of rule 42 without a hearing.
16. Continuing Obstructions. The area within 10m of the shore may be occupied by fishermen and may be considered a continuing obstruction at all times.
Last updated 20:01 on 23 March 2025