Rules and Procedures

Boats will be equipped and operated in a safe manner appropriate to conditions.

The Race Committee shall assess the weather conditions on the course. At its discretion, the Committee may require all crew members of boats entered in the race to wear USCGA-approved life jackets (PFDs). If wearing PFDs is required, one will be mounted on the line side of the Race Committee Boat (RCB) in the vicinity of the RC identifying flag. When required by the RC, crew members not wearing PFDs after the Preparatory signal is given, will be disqualified.

In lieu of no requirement, the skipper and crew are responsible for their personal safety and should use good judgment in potentially hazardous weather conditions. The skipper may elect to abandon a race even if the race is allowed to continue by the Race Committee. If a skipper decides to abandon a race, the Race Committee or a safety boat should be notified if possible. Although the SLSC provides safety boats, all skippers and crew of racing boats have the responsibility, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, to aid fellow racers who are in difficulty.

The racing program for the 2011 season has been determined by the Commodore and officers of the SLSC. Responsibility for managing and conducting the races is delegated to the appointed Race Committee chairperson (RCC), who may also be the Senior Race Officer (SRO). In the absence of this official, other SROs may be appointed to serve. For any particular race, volunteers act as temporary members of the RC and are under the direction of the SRO. The SRO is responsible for briefing them on race procedures and providing the necessary instruction and direction for conducting the race. The RCC is responsible for setting the course, appointing a committee to hear protests and recording the results of the races. The on-the-water RC shall consist of:

1. SRO (Senior Race Officer)
2. An Official Timer
3. A Signal Handler
4. A Skipper of the power boat used by the RC (Race Committee)

This category consists of 14 categories. Clicking on the specific topic will take you directly to it.

RC Information Listing

• RACE COMMITTEE BOAT (RCB) SET-UP
• CHECK-IN
• STARTING
• ADDITIONAL FLEET STARTS
• VISUAL SIGNAL STARTING SEQUENCE
• RECALL
• RACE ABANDONED
• SHORTENED COURSE/TIME LIMIT TO COMPLETE RACE
• FINISHING THE RACE
• SECOND RACE
• QUALIFICATION FOR AWARDS
• SCORING
• PROTEST PROCEDURE
• PROTEST HEARING

The Race Committee Boat (RCB), identified by an orange flag, shall set the yellow inflatable buoy (YB) at least 45 minutes prior to the 5 minute warning signal. This will provide a 'target' for the assembling racers. The RCB shall then be anchored, normally on the starboard end of the starting line, no less than 30 minutes prior to the Warning signal.

The starting line will be defined by the orange RCB flag and the top point of the yellow inflatable buoy.

The course, set by the SRO and marked by inflatable buoys on Lake Auman or designated floats on Lake Sequoia, will be designated by visual markers located on the side of the RCB. Unless the RC gives specific instructions to the contrary, all marks will be passed to port. Courses may vary depending on the weather and may Triangular, Olympic, Windward-Leeward, or around the lake or with a special configuration. The finish line is the same as the starting line and shall be crossed on the most direct path from the last mark.

All boats intending to race will approach the Committee boat and hail the Race Committee that they are racing and identify the skipper. Non-Club members shall not act as skippers in SLSC sponsored races, but may perform as crew on member-owned boats. The Race Committee will acknowledge all race entries. Two or more boats shall constitute a race.

The Race Committee shall establish the starting line for as close to a windward start as practical and favoring a starboard tack start. Visual and sound signals shall be given from the line side (port) of the RCB. The visual signals take priority over the sound signals. Unless some event directly affects the RCB or its crew, the WARNING signal shall be given 5 minutes before the published race time. Racers are expected to arrive in the vicinity of the starting line in sufficient time to be checked in and "race-ready". It is he responsibility of the racing skipper to monitor the starting signals and to act as his/her own timer. At the preparatory signal, racing rules become in force, and all "tows" or propulsion other than by sail must cease regardless of position on the lake. SLSC will use rule 30.1, the 'round the end' rule, so any boat on the wrong side of the starting line after the preparatory signal must return to the proper side around either end of the line (no 'dip' starts), without interfering with legal starters.

All boats must make a proper start; i.e. cross the starting line between the committee boat and the pin in the direction of the first mark after the START signal. If a boat is over the starting line early, it shall be hailed by the Race Committee, identified by skipper or boat number, and told "Over Early". Boats over early must sail around either end of the starting line and re-cross the line. "Over early" boats have no rights over any other boats who have started properly and must remain clear of them until re-crossing the starting line.

If many boats are "over early", a General Recall signal shall be given. The Red flag will be waved and two sound signals shall be given. When all boats have returned to the Preparation area, the last five minute starting sequence will begin with the Preparation signal.

It is the responsibility of the Over Early boat to detect the hail from the committee boat. A boat not making a proper start will be scored DSQ by the RC.

If a race must be abandoned (terminated), the Race Committee shall notify all skippers by hailing and/or by contact through the safety boats. Races abandoned or canceled may be re-scheduled at the discretion of the SLSC officers.

The established course may be shortened at the discretion of the Race Committee. If the lead boat has not crossed the finish line by a designated time (generally an hour), the race may be abandoned. Any boat not completing the race within thirty minutes of the first boat to cross the finish line shall be scored DNF (did not finish).

The course may be shortened by the Race Committee at any turning mark of the course. However, this must be done before any of the boats reach the mark. Three sound signals shall be given to alert the skippers of the changed location of the finish line.

The first boat crossing the finish line shall be recognized by one sound signal. Other boats crossing the line will not receive a sound signal. As each boat approaches the finish line, a designated member of the Race Committee shall identify the approaching boat, sight along the finish line, and call "Over". The timer shall record the time. As each boat finishes, it shall clear the finish line to one side or the other and shall not interfere with boats still racing.

If a course shortening or special mark placement/windshift results in a 'buttonhook' finish (a line through the RCB and the pin makes an angle of less than 180 deg. to the next-to-last mark), the RC should reverse finish direction, to accommodate the shortest course, by displaying the white flag over the red racing (starting) flag. Such reversal shall be signaled in time for the first finisher to finish properly and will not be changed after it is displayed. The RC (or a safety boat) will attempt to verbally inform boats who cross in the wrong direction and leave the line.

At the discretion of the Race Committee, and upon successful completion of the scheduled race of the day, a second race may be scheduled. The Committee shall notify skippers completing the scheduled race that a second race will be conducted. The procedures used in the first race shall be the same as for the second race. Scoring shall also be the same. The race shall be considered an additional race in the series.

The method used for scoring races shall be the USSA Low Point System, with DNF, DNS, DSQ, etc. per Rule A4.2.

An entity's series score is sum of the best scores for one more than 1/2 the number of races, i.e. A 2-race series uses 2 scores, a 3-race series uses the 2 best scores, a 4-race series uses the 3 best scores, a 5-race series uses the 4 best scores, etc.

US Sailing Association Appendix A SCORING

A4.1 Each boat starting and finishing and not thereafter retiring, being penalized or given redress shall be scored points as follows:

A4.2 A boat that did not start, did not finish, or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series. A boat that is penalized under rule 30.2 or that takes a penalized under rule 30.2 or that takes a penalty under rule 44.3(a) shall be scored points as provided in rule 44.3(c).

Ties are broken by USSA score ranking method, Rule A8.1. If a tie still exists, the boats will receive equal awards.

If the skipper of a boat believes that a "foul" has been committed against his boat by another boat, he may elect to file a protest for the alleged infringement. The protesting skipper shall immediately hail the other boat(s) involved, so that they can discharge penalties if they agree, and, upon reaching the finish line, shall verbally notify the RC of intent to file a protest. The RC will issue instructions to the affected parties. The protest procedure should be viewed by skippers involved in the racing program as a means to resolve differences of opinion in a sportsmanlike manner. A protest can only be made by the skipper of the boat directly involved in and/or witnessing the incident. The race committee, however, can disqualify boats for observed violations. If appropriate, the skipper of the disqualified boat may appeal through the protest process. A protest flag is not required to be flown by eithr boat.

It is the responsibility of the protesting skipper to immediately notify the skipper of the boat which allegedly committed the foul that a protest will be filed, and shall upon reaching the finish line, notify the SRO of the intent to file a protest. A written protest should be filed with the RC Chair within 24 hours with a copy to the protested skipper. The protest should include:

• Time and location of the rule violation.
• Rule(s) violated
• The identity of the boat.
• A description of the situation

The skipper of the protested boat may also file a report.

The Race Committee Chair shall appoint an ad hoc Protest Committee of three. The Committee may include the RC Chair, members of the RC, or other skippers who where not involved in the incident. A hearing should be scheduled within one week of the completion of the race. The Committee should review the facts and determine if a rule was violated. A penalty, determined by the Committee shall be assessed if in fact a rule was violated. The judgement of the Committee shall be in writing with copies to all involved. Scoring of the particular race should be adjusted as necessary. Judgement shall be recorded and kept on file by the Secretary of the SLSC.

** The DPN value for the Hunter 22 is USSA Provisional = 98.4; USSA Yardstick Value = 96.5.

The Shorts requested the SLSC Handicap for their Hunter 22 be assigned 94.0 by the SLSC Handicap Committee.