OAKLAND YACHT CLUB

Sailing Instructions

 2012 Sunday Brunch Races

January 15 and 29, February 5 and 19, and March 4

First Gun 1255

1.     Rules: The 2009-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) as adopted by US Sailing and the Standing Instructions of SF Bay YRA will govern (YRA prevails if conflicting) except as amended by these Instructions. 

2.     Entries: Races are open to monohull keel and BAMA rated multihull sailboats 20' and over. Other groups wishing to race please contact the Race Chair.

3.     Start/Finish Lines: Start/Finish line is restricted to boats preparing to start, starting, passing through the starting line to begin a second lap, or finishing. X is designated as an offset mark on the course sheet, and must be taken on the side specified on the course sheet. The Race Committee will disqualify violators without a hearing. 

4.     Starting Signals: Starting will be as described in Rule 26 of the RRS. All flags used will be huge international code flags hung vertically from the race deck. The sound signal with the Preparatory signal will be a horn, not a gun.  Note that fleets are often combined into multi-fleet starts. Watch the flags and listen on VHF channel 69.

5.     Course Signals: Course numbers will be indicated by code flags or placards displayed with each fleet's warning signal. A fleet's course signal may be removed one minute before its start.

6.     Radio:  The flags on the race deck are hard to see from the water.  The RC makes comprehensive announcements before and during the starting sequence on channel 69.  The flags remain the official course, class and timing signals.  Alert the RC to any inconsistency between flags and the radio for possible correction.

7.     Late Starts: A yacht will be scored as DNC if it starts more than 15 minutes late unless it hails the RC and requests a late start and is given permission to start.

8.     Time Limit: 1600 hours. Racers who do not finish because of the time limit will be scored for a Late Finish, and will be scored “number of finishers in the division plus 1”.  This changes Rule 35.

9.     Individual Recall: Flag “X” with 1 sound.  Sail number or boat names may be hailed.

10.  General Recall: "First Substitute" flag and 2 sounds.  Any start for which a Warning signal has been made is postponed.  One minute after lowering of the general recall (with 1 sound), a Warning signal and class flag(s) will be displayed.  The recalled fleet(s) will generally be designated as the starting fleet(s).  After a second general recall of the same fleet(s), the recalled fleet(s) will generally start after the other fleets.

11.  Postponement: "Answering Pennant" (AP) and 2 sounds.  The postponement ends with the lowering of the AP and 1 sound signal, followed in approximately one minute by hoist of the Warning Signal and one sound signal.

12.  Abandonment: Code Flag "N" with three sound signals announces abandonment of all races in progress. Monitor Channel 69 or return to the start area for a possible restart.

13.  Reverse Course: Flag "R" with a course signal indicates that the designated course is to be sailed in reverse with mark roundings opposite of those shown on the course sheet.

14.  Changes to Sailing Instructions: Signaled by code flag "L" to signal yachts to come within hail.

15.  Courses: The course sheet is published separately and ranks as a part of these sailing instructions.

16.  Shorten Course: Finish between the nearby mark and the staff displaying code flag "S".  Races are often shortened at the end of the first “lap.”

17.  Restricted Areas: In the Brooklyn Basin, the imaginary line between R2 and R4 must be left to the east.

18.  Sail Numbers: Sails whose numbers differ from number on entry must be reported to RC before each race.

19.  Withdrawals:  Yachts withdrawing are to notify the RC by hailing, phone, or VHF channel 69.

20.  Protests:  Protests must be submitted no later than 1 hour after expiration of "Time Limit.”

21.  Responsibility: Skippers are solely responsible for deciding whether to start or continue racing.

22.  Ratings:  Yachts not holding a current YRA or BAMA PHRF certificate will be assigned a rating. Boats rated with a spinnaker but sailing in the non-spinnaker class will be granted an additional 9 seconds per mile.

23.  Scoring: Scoring per RRS Appendix A using the low point scoring system, except that number of yachts finishing plus 1 for DNF , DNS or RAF, plus 2 for OCS or DNC, plus 3 for DSQ, DGM or DNE.  Time on distance will be the basis for handicap scoring.  There will be one throw out.

      Prizes: Prizes will be awarded immediately after each race.