1. RACING RULES OF SAILING (RRS)
All races will be sailed under the RRS 2021-24 of I.S.A.F., incorporating the RYA prescriptions except where varied by these Sailing Instructions (SI) or those for the event, which take precedence. Open Meetings are covered by separate SI.
2. CERTIFICATES
Boat owners must hold a current Environment Agency Registration Plate number. Please enter your registration details on the Club noticeboard. Owners who do not rectify omissions within one month of the start of the season will not be awarded points until they have done so.
3. ENTRY FEES
No entry fee is required for Club Series races. For special events, e.g. Open Meetings, an entry fee is payable on the day.
4. STARTING TIMES
Spring Series – Starting Times
| Class | Race 1 | Duration | Race 2 | Duration | Race 3 | Duration | Race 4 | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attention Signal | 1045 | - | n/a | - | 1320 | - | n/a | - |
| All Classes ∞ | 1055 | 40 mins | *1130 | 40 mins | - | - | - | - |
| Optimists | - | - | - | - | 1330 | 20 mins | 1430 | 20 mins |
| Lightning 368 † | - | - | - | - | 1337 | 40 mins | 1437 | 40 mins |
| Handicap † | - | - | - | - | 1344 | 40 mins | 1444 | 40 mins |
Race length is given for guidance and applies to mid-fleet boats.
∞ Races 1 & 2 sailed in 3 Classes, but with a single combined start. Finishes may be combined or separate.
† Races 1 & 2 sailed back-to-back, with Race 2 starting no earlier than 1130hr. Race 2 should finish by 1230hr. Please also refer to SI 5 & SI 14.
† The OD may revert to a single combined start for Races 3 and 4 if competitor numbers are low, with the exception of Optimists.
Summer & Autumn Series – Starting Times
| Class | Race 1 | Duration | Race 2 | Duration | Race 3 | Duration | Race 4 | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attention Signal | 1045 | - | n/a | - | 1320 | - | n/a | - |
| Optimists | - | - | - | - | 1330 | 20 mins | 1437 | 20 mins |
| Lightning 368 | 1055 | 40 mins | 1200 | 40 mins | 1337 | 40 mins | 1444 | 40 mins |
| Handicap | 1102 | 40 mins | 1207 | 40 mins | 1344 | 40 mins | 1451 | 40 mins |
Race length is given for guidance and applies to mid-fleet boats.
If Race 1 is delayed it should finish by 1230hr. Back-to-back races may be shortened to suit the timetable.
August Frolic Series – Starting Times
| Class | Race 1 | Duration | Race 2 | Duration | Race 3 | Duration | Race 4 | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attention Signal | 1045 | - | n/a | - | 1320 | - | n/a | - |
| Optimists | - | - | - | - | 1330 | 20 mins | 1435 | 20 mins |
| All Classes | 1055 | 40 mins | 1200 | 40 mins | 1337 | 40 mins | 1442 | 40 mins |
Race length is given for guidance and applies to mid-fleet boats.
If Race 1 is delayed it should finish by 1230hr.
Winter Series – Starting Times (2 races, back-to-back):
| Class | Race 1 | Duration | Race 2 | Duration | Race 3 | Duration | Race 4 | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attention Signal | 1045 | - | n/a | - | - | - | - | - |
| All Classes | 1055 | 60 mins | *1200 | 60 mins | - | - | - | - |
5. THE COURSE
will comprise a number of laps around two or more buoys as follows:
| Buoy | Position on River from Club |
|---|---|
| A (Andrews) | Towards former Andrews boathouse - upstream |
| B (Bend) | In the region of the Bend - 200 yards upstream |
| C (Cookham) | Towards Cookham Bridge, downstream except in light airs or strong current, when opposite the Club is safer |
| If a fourth buy is required this will be designated 'D', a fifth buoy 'E', etc. | |
| A paddle mark 'P' may be laid downstream from 'C' mark. | |
The course & number of laps will be displayed on the board outside the Clubhouse, and on the board at the OD box (or on the portable course board for upstream starts). If there is ambiguity, the course shown at the start line takes precedence over information on the Clubhouse board.
Each buoy shall be rounded either to port or to starboard. The total number of laps to the finish of the race is the number of times the upstream mark is rounded whatever the direction of the start. Buoys not specified for the course do not rank as marks even if concurrently in use by another Class.
The Mark-Room Zone shall be the area around a mark within a distance of 3 hull lengths of the boat nearest to it (RRS Definition of ‘Zone’).
6. SIGNING ON / DECLARATIONS
Unless specified in the event instructions, it is not required to sign on before a race but it is the responsibility of the helm to ensure that his name and his boat number are correctly recorded on the results sheet. Declarations are not required but the OD shall be informed if any boat retires from the race.
In any Series, a race requires a minimum of two boats. In Club Trophy Races a race consists of the number of boats specified in the event instructions. If there are fewer than 3 Class boats for a race, their start may be combined with that of another Class, at the OD’s discretion. However, even with a combined start each Class will continue to be scored separately. A single boat from any Class may race as described above, but shall not score points in any competition.
7. STARTING LINE
The start line is formed by a transit through the flagpole of the OD box and a transit post on the Club frontage, or if Flag ‘V’ is flying at the OD box, a temporary line will be formed by two transit poles elsewhere on the Berkshire bank. The direction of start will be indicated by an arrow fixed on the post nearer to the water. The length of the start line may be limited by the placing of an inner and/or outer distance marker.
8. STARTING PROCEDURE (except for Pursuit Races and Open Meetings)
| 10 minutes before start, | Display the Club burgee, with a single (1 second) sound signal. |
| Attention signal ♠ | Applies only to
|
| 5 minutes before start | Display the Class flag, with a single sound signal. |
| 4 minutes before start | Display Flag 'P', with a single sound signal. |
| 1 minute before start ♦ | Remove Flag 'P', with a single longer sound signal. |
| At the start | Remove the Class flag, with a single sound signal. |
♠ For the second race of a back-to-back pair, the Attention signal is omitted.
♦ All boats intending to start shall be sailing before the 1 minute signal.
Open Meeting Start Procedures will be described in the event Sailing Instructions.
9. CLASS FLAGS
| Lightning 368 | (LN) | Flag 'L' |
| Optimist | (O) | Flag 'R' |
| Handicap Class | (excluding LN & O) | Flag 'K' |
| All Classes | (excluding O) | Flag 'Z' |
Signals will be made as prescribed by the Rules (see Flags & Sound Signals).
10. RECALLS
RRS 29.1 One additional sound signal shall be made, and Flag ‘X’ will be displayed, for an individual recall. The OD will endeavour to recall by hail of sail number, but the onus of making a correct start will rest with the helm. Flag X will be lowered when all early starters have returned and started correctly or when the OD decides that they will not return and will be disqualified. RRS 29.2 – If a general recall is required, two additional sound signals shall be made, and the First Substitute Flag will be displayed. The OD will endeavour to hail accordingly. A new sound signal for a restart shall be made one minute after the aborted start.
11. TIMING
The OD is responsible for recording race positions (Club Classes) and elapsed race times (Handicap) at the end of each lap on a Race Record Sheet, for each boat racing.
12. FINISHING LINE
All races will normally finish in the down-stream direction at the line formed by the starter’s box flagpole and a transit mark on the Berkshire bank, unless shown on the course board or otherwise specified by the OD.
13. FINISHING / SHORTENED COURSE
For a full or shortened course, slower boats in Handicap, Lightning 368, and Optimists Class races will not be required to complete the same number of laps as the leading boat. All boats will be finished the next time they cross the finishing line after the leading boat has finished.
To shorten the course the OD will make 2 sound signals, and display Flag ‘S’ together with the Class flag(s) of the Class(es) to which the ‘shortened course’ refers.
Either
a) The Flag referred to above will be displayed just before the leading boat reaches the last mark to be rounded (this will usually be mark ‘B’ when finishing in a down-stream direction). Any subsequent buoy will not rank as a mark, and it is not required to round it. The leading boat in the Class to which the ‘shortened course’ refers will finish when it next crosses the finishing line.
Or
Where leading boat(s) have started a new lap, or there is little or no likelihood of the remaining boats being able to finish, the OD may shorten the course for the remaining boats and finish those boats who have crossed the finishing line by displaying Flags ‘N’ & ‘S’ together with appropriate Class flag(s) and sound signals. Boats that have already crossed the line will be deemed to have finished in the order of their last crossing of the line, the remainder finishing as they cross the line.
Where the finishing line is not between the marks of the course, any boat arriving at the last mark after the course has been shortened for the leading boat, will also be shortened (i.e. will proceed to the finishing line).
14. TIME LIMITS
A time limit of 15 minutes after the first finisher will apply in all Races, subject to the OD’s discretion.
15. UNFINISHED RACES
If all the boats in a Class fail to finish because of lack of wind, the positions at the end of the last complete lap will be the result of the race.
16. COLLISION
RRS 44 will apply, but where the helms of both boats concerned agree that a minor collision was unavoidable and report the collision to the OD within 10 minutes of the end of the race, the Race Committee may waive the requirements of RRS 44.
17. ALTERNATIVE PENALTY
The alternative penalty (RRS 44) may be chosen by a helm infringing the rules of Part 2 – “When Boats Meet”. The Two Turns Penalty as provided in RRS 44.2 shall apply, instead of disqualification, for infringement of a rule of Part 2. The One Turn Penalty shall apply for a boat that touches a mark of the course (RRS 31). (Note – infringements not expunged by the alternative penalty or retirement will be resolved by protests – RRS 60).
18. RULES DISPUTES (and PROTESTS)
Whenever possible, but excluding Open Meetings, the Exoneration Penalty and Advisory Hearing of the RYA Rules Dispute Procedure will be available. See notice boards for details. The RYA Arbitration Procedure is not offered.
Protests must be made in accordance with RRS 61 except that the OD and protestee must be notified within 15 minutes of the end of the race and a written formal protest must be handed to the OD as soon as practical thereafter and no later than 1 hour after the last finisher of the race. The OD should advise the protestee of this intention and should make every effort to inform the protestee when a written protest is received. The OD is to complete the box on the written RYA Protest form by recording time data etc. and inform the Sailing Secretary promptly of this written protest document. Protests will be heard on the day of the race whenever possible, unless otherwise agreed by the Race Officer. Those concerned must remain available or accept a verdict arrived at in their absence. The Race Committee for the purposes of hearing protests, will be made up from Officers of the Club and other members present requested to form a Committee by the OD.
19. AWARDING OF POINTS
Points will be awarded according to the rules of the appropriate Trophy or Series.
20. CANCELLATION
To cancel racing before any race has started, display Flag ‘N’ over ‘A’. To cancel racing in progress display Flag ‘N’. 3 sound signals will be made.
21. ABANDONMENT
To abandon a race any time after the warning signal and re-sail, display Flag ‘N’ with the relevant Class flag(s) underneath or adjacent. 3 sound signals will be made.
22. INSURANCE
Members must ensure that all his/her boats have minimum insurance cover of £3,000,000 for Third Party Risks.
23. GENERAL
a) Dinghies not racing are to keep clear of all craft racing.
b) During the five minute period before the start of Classes other than their own, helms not yet racing must keep clear of the start line (RRS 24.1). Helms infringing this rule may be disqualified.
24. SAFETY
The responsibility for wearing personal buoyancy for persons over 14 years of age, wearing of wet suits, or competing in a race, will lie with the individual helm.
All boats sailing from Cookham Reach Sailing Club shall carry (if not worn) personal buoyancy for each person sailing. The Sailing Committee strongly recommends that personal buoyancy be worn at all times by persons when afloat, and requires that all persons under the age of 14 years must always wear personal buoyancy when afloat. Wearing of personal buoyancy may be made compulsory at the discretion of the OD or other member of the Executive Committee. A wet or dry suit does not constitute personal buoyancy.
25. SAFETY BOAT
The Committee consider that the Safety Boat is primarily to be used for rescuing Club members in distress, although whenever possible the salvage of boats and equipment will also be attempted. The Safety Boat must be driven by a competent Club member with one crew, where practicable, and all Safety Boat users must wear personal buoyancy at all times whilst afloat.
26. ADVERSE CONDITIONS
The OD or any Flag Officer, may at their discretion shorten or declare a race null and void, if in their opinion the wind or river conditions make racing impossible, unfair, or unsafe.