Eligibility

QYC events are open to any yacht meeting applicable fleet and class rules upon registration with the Race Committee.

Registration

Registration for a series is accomplished by making known to the Race
Committee your name, fleet, and sail number prior to the warning signal. Registering for a
change in fleet status may also be accomplished the same way.

Notice To Competitors

Any change in these Racing Instructions will be posted 1/2 hour before the harbor start on the day it will take effect. All changes will be posted on the official notice board in the Clubhouse.

Signals

Signals shall be displayed from the Race Committee Boat or, when flown on land, from the port halyard on the yardarm of the Club's flagpole.

Start And Finish Line

The starting line and the finishing line is between a staff on the Race Committee Boat from which an orange flag is displayed and the base of a staff on a buoy displaying a white flag.

The Start

Harbor start: Sundays at 1:30 P.M.; Wednesday Twilight at 6:20 P.M. Races will be started in accordance with RRS Rule 26, with the following exceptions:

1. On Sundays:
   
   • 3-minute-intervals will be used between signals
   • Visual start shapes will only be used when requested by a racing participant.
2. On Wednesdays:
   
   • Dingy start
   • No visual start shapes due to limited race committee size.

Standard Start Sequence
Signal	Sound (colored shape)	Elapsed Time (Minutes)
3-5 blasts for Pre-warning		-10 to 15 seconds
Warning	Horn (Yellow shape)	0
Preparatory	Horn (Blue shape)	3
Start of First Class	Horn (Red shape)	6
Start of Second Class	Horn (Red shape)	9
Start of Third Class	Horn (Red shape)	12

• Lower each colored shape one minute before the next signal.
• Start of subsequent classes will follow in the same format.
  

Dingy Start Sequence (using the Ollie Wallock Race Start Machine):
TIME TO START	Signal	Purpose
Start The Timer	10 Count Internal Beep	Indicate Start of Timer
3 Minutes	3 Long Blasts on HORN	3 Minute Signal
2 Minutes	2 Long Blasts on Horn	2 Minute Signal
1:30 Minutes	1 Long Blast and 3 Short Blasts on HORN	1 ½ Minute Signal
1 Minute	1 Long Blast on HORN	1 Minute Signal
0:30 Seconds	3 Short Blasts on HORN	30 Seconds to Start
0:20 Seconds	2 Short Blasts on HORN	20 Seconds to Start
0:10 Seconds	1 Short Blast on HORN	10 Seconds to Start
0:05 Seconds	5 Blasts on HORN - Countdown to START	5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Second(s) to Start
START	1 Long Blast on HORN	START
Next fleet starts using a continuation of the foregoing

Each fleet will have its own start if it averaged at least 3 starters the previous series. Otherwise a fleet starts with the Handicap fleet. Fleets with their own start will be posted on the bulletin board.
The starting sequence of the classes will be posted prior to the warning signal on the Committee Boat using white squares with class symbols. The starting sequence of classes is; Lasers, DaySailer (DS), DaySailer Single-handed (DSS), Mercury (M), and Handicap (H). The Race Committee may combine starts at their discretion if there are too few yachts. If no yachts from a class are entered, that class will not be included in the starting sequence.

The races for any given day will be cancelled or postponed if the winds are consistently below 3 mph or consistently above 18 mph.

All yachts not starting or preparing to start must keep clear of the starting line or risk disqualification (DSQ).

The race committee will attempt to hail each yacht that is over the starting line before the start. However, it is the yacht's responsibility to start properly.

Restrictions of the Starting and Finishing Lines

When the orange pennant is flying any yacht crossing the starting line after starting correctly, or the finishing line except when finishing, will receive an automatic DSQ. All yachts after finishing must keep clear of the finishing area or risk DSQ.

Marks

The permanent marks are designated 1 though 7, and are large barrels painted  white and blue. The temporary marks are designated A through D, and are orange balls with black letters. Temporary marks will be placed at the discretion of the Race Committee in the general areas as follows:

• Mark A Between 1 and the North dock
• Mark B Between 3 and 4
• Mark C Between 4 and 5
• Mark D Between 5 and 6
  

Obstruction

An obstruction off Cemetery Point will be marked by a blue and white triped barrel. No yachts shall pass between this mark and the western shore. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC DSQ. There is no penalty for touching the obstruction mark when passing it on the correct side. All yachts must treat it as an obstruction for the purpose of applying the RRS rules.

The Course

The course pattern will be posted on the board located on the forward end f the Race Committee station. When the permanent marks, with or without the temporary marks, are used for the course, a red square with a white number or letter requires that all yachts will, when rounding the mark indicated, keep it on the port side of the yacht, while a green square with a white number or letter requires that all yachts will, when rounding the mark indicated, keep it on the starboard side of the yacht.

A black square with a white letter R requires that all yachts repeat the marks posted above it. Marks posted below the R must be honored as posted.

Alternate courses are described in Appendix 1.

Time Limit

Time limit for each race will be 1.5 hours. Any yachts not finishing within 0 minutes of the first yacht to finish can be scored as the average finishing place of the achts that have not yet finished.

The Course

The course pattern will be posted on the board located on the forward end if the Race Committee station. When the permanent marks, with or without the temporary marks, are used for the course, a red square with a white number or letter requires that all yachts will, when rounding the mark indicated, keep it on the port side of the yacht, while a
green square with a white number or letter requires that all yachts will, when rounding the mark indicated, keep it on the starboard side of the yacht.

A black square with a white letter R requires that all yachts repeat the marks posted above it.
Marks posted below the R must be honored as posted.

Alternate courses are described in Appendix 1.

Protests And Alternative Penalties

Any yacht having cause to protest shall promptly hail the protested yacht and inform the Race Committee at the finish line. Protests, submitted on forms available at the Club, shall be presented to the Race Committee within 30 minutes of their arrival at the Club dock after the race, or they will not be accepted. Protest hearings will generally be on the same day following the deadline for filing protests. The 720 turn penalty of RRS 44.2 will apply. A yacht that has accepted an alternative penalty should so report to the Race Committee at the first opportunity after finishing, and provide the sail number of the yacht infringed.

A yacht touching any mark of the course while racing shall get well clear of other yachts as soon as possible and make one 360 degree turn, RRS 31.2.

A yacht rounding or passing a mark on the wrong side must correct this error before finishing as required by RRS 28.1.

Scoring

Each yacht shall score 1 point for first, 2 points for second, 3 points for third, etc.

A yacht that withdraws, scores 1 more point than the number of finishers. A yacht failing to withdraw within a reasonable time after an infringement for which it is subsequently disqualified, scores 2 more points than the number of finishers. A yacht withdrawing must so notify the Race Committee as soon as possible. A yacht that receives a DSQ scores 2 more points than the number of finishers.

A yacht not finishing, except on withdrawing after infringement of a rule, scores 1 more point than the number of yachts finishing less 1 point for each yacht disqualified or withdrawing after infringement of a rule.

A yacht that does not start a race scores 1 more point than the number of finishers. Exceptions to this rule are covered under Item 16 of these sailing instructions.

Each yacht's series score will be the sum of her points for all  races held. A yacht will exclude her worst score or scores as covered under Item 17. The series score for each yacht will be the sum of her final series scores, as described in RRS Appendix A.

Sail Numbers

All yachts shall have proper identifying numbers affixed to their sails. Any yacht not meeting this requirement may not be scored. Unless prior permission of the Race Committee is obtained, no duplicate numbers will be scored.

Byes

The Race Committee encourages participation in regattas outside QYC, such as regional, national, or international regattas. A limited number of BYES will be granted to such participants. Competitors must notify the Race Committee in writing at least one week before the event that the competitor intends to enter. They are also to report their final standings for the Race Committee annual report. BYES will be scored in QYC competition by scoring BYE races as the average, after throw outs, of each yacht's performance over the series. During the course of each series, an individual shall be limited to a total of BYES not to exceed two race days. BYES will be used for performing on the QYC Race Committee station or rescue craft.

Awards

For the Spring, Summer I, Summer II, Fall, and Twilight series, awards will be given in each fleet in each series in which the fleet average is at least 1.5 finishers.

For each series, a maximum of four awards will be given in any fleet. The table below shows the number of awards based on the average number of finishers in each fleet.

Finishers	1.5-4.4	4.5-7.4	7.5-10.4	>10.5
Awards	1	2	3	4

 

Flotation

Yachts must be able to swamp without sinking.

Race Instructions

Each yacht should carry a copy of these instructions for reference.

Throw-Outs

In the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Twilight series, throw-outs will be determined according to the following schedule, using the number of official races completed by the Race Committee.

Number of Races	1-7	8-11	12-15
Throw-Outs:	0	1	2

Appendix 1

Alternate Course Descriptions 

Olympic courses will be posted by their letter W, T or O. Any marks including temporary marks will be used for these courses.

Course W = Windward leeward = A, C, Finish.
Course T = Triangle = A, B, C, Finish.
Course O = Olympic = Triangle, Windward Leeward = A, B, C, A, C, Finish.
NOTE:All roundings are to port.

The letters used to describe the courses in these drawings are for reference only. They are not meant to correspond to any numerals or letters that might be affixed to marks on the water.