Sailing News


Cadet Week 2020 final results Outside fleets..

For Cadet Week click above

2010 Race Results

Until a direct link is established please copy and paste the address below into your internet browser to access

the Sailracer web-site. Then scroll down until you see WMYC & DSC Cruiser Racing 2010. Click on

 'no selection' to show the race results.

      http://www.sailracer.co.uk/resultsreport.asp?event=9956&usr=783286441

 You may add the website to your favourites or create a short-cut on your desk top to speed up future viewing.

Alan

14 May 10

West Mersea Yacht Club

Entry Form - RNLI Pursuit Race

Saturday 25th September 2010   H.W. 14:11

This popular race is run to show our support and raise as much money as we can for the RNLI who we

all know are willing and able to support us if in need upon the water.  It is a pursuit race in which the

slowest boats start first, the aim being for all following starters to give chase and the fleet to finish together. 

There will be a separate race for MFOBs providing there are sufficient entries before the deadline.

Assorted fun prizes + the RNLI Pennant and John Harrison Trophy for the overall winner.

Please give sufficient information on this entry form to ensure your boat is recognised and fairly handicapped.

If you cannot participate then please enter your car/dog/wheelbarrow/other and make a donation!

Please note this race is on a Saturday by popular request. Prize giving approximately 18:30 pm

followed by event Supper – please be sure to book.

OUTSIDE FLEET:

open to cruisers, sports boats, smacks, classic yachts, half-deckers, centre-boarders, keel-boats, multi-hulls.

(First start approx 1400hrs).

SAFETY:   Approved life-jackets or buoyancy-aids shall be carried for every crew member. 

Other fleet shall wear life-jackets.

DECLARATION: I agree to be bound by the Racing Rules of the ISAF and the prescriptions of the RYA

as applying thereto and the Sailing Instructions for this Race.  I hereby Certify that I will comply with all appropriate

safety regulations with regard to the vessel and crew and agree that it is my responsibility to decide to start

and / continue in any race and have made my crew aware of my obligations.  I am adequately insured against

Third Party Risks.

Name (caps)__________________________________ Signed __________________________________

(If under 18 must be signed by parent / guardian.  Relationship to entrant _________________________)

Address_______________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________ Tel: ______________________________________

I enclose a donation to the RNLI of £ __________   (Donations can be cheques made payable to WMYC or cash.

Entries PLEASE  to WMYC by 19:00 hrs on Thursday 23rd  September  2010

(Race instructions to be collected from 11.00 hrs on Saturday  25th  September)

Use Gift Aid and make your donation worth more –

please complete form below if you have not done so already – Thank you

__________________________________________________________________________

Giftaid it

RNLI Registered Charity No. 209603

Use Gift Aid and make your

Donation worth more.
For every pound you give to us, we get an extra 28 pence from the Inland Revenue.

So just fill in your FULL name and address –it’s that simple.

To qualify for Gift Aid, what you pay in income tax or capital gains tax must equal

the amount we will claim in the tax year.

For Joint members, we can only accept declarations completed by one tax payer.

Joint declarations are not accepted by the Inland Revenue.

                                  ………………………………………………

I would like all donations  I have made to the RNLI since 6 April 2000 and all future

donations to be made via Gift Aid, until I notify you otherwise.

Title……………………… Full Forename(s)…………………………………………………

Surname……………………………………………………………………………………….

Address………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………….Postcode……………………………………

Signature……………………………………………..                          RNLI

Date ………../…………./20…………………………                 Lifeboats

RNLI Supporter number……………………………..(if known)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     WMYC Round the Island Race 2010  Trophy Winners and Overall Results

  !st Monohull Coconut Trophy

  !st Catamaran Reg White Trophy
  !st MFOB John Litton Trophy

.

707 Eastern Area Championships 17th & 18th July 2010

WMYC is pleased to host this event.  Information for entrants can be downloaded here:

NOR

Entry Form

Sailing Instructions

______________________________________________________________________________________

Click for 2010 Race Programme PDF

Click for 2010 Race Programme EXL

___________________________________________________________________________h

SailingNews

RACING UPDATE

No 1 Buoy

The No 1 Buoy is positioned at 51° 45.993' N  000° 56.321'E as at 7 May 2010. This positioning was due

to insufficient depth at its previous position.

SAFETY DECLARATIONS
A reminder of the need to forward a completed and signed Safety Declaration to the WMYC Office before you race for

the first time. Failure to do this will result in boats being scored DNC (Did Not Compete). This includes the Friday Night

series which begins on 7th May. The Declaration form is to be found at the end of the Sailing Instructions (available

on WMYC and DSC websites and in printed form in the foyer of WMYC).

.

7-0-7 EASTERN AREA CHAMPIONSHIP
The Club will be hosting the 2010 Eastern Area Championship for the 7-0-7 sportsboat class on 17th/18th July.

An entry of between 10 and 15 boats is expected (from Burnham-on-Crouch, Stone and Scarborough), with a

scheduled eight races over the two days, all round windward/leeward courses.
One of the Strategic Review Group’s Initiatives was to run East Coast regattas, and it is hoped to run similar events

in future seasons.
 Windward/Leeward courses will also be set for the J80 fleet.

 2010 Short Handed Series

 The second race of this year’s Short Handed Series will take place on Saturday 26th June, with a 10.30am start. 

Now in its third year, the series attracted good support last season, and it is hoped that numbers will further

increase in 2010.

The series is open to any boat sailing with a maximum of two people on board, and uses West Mersea LH numbers,

so an IRC Rating isn’t needed in order to compete.  Indeed, more “cruisery” boats are perhaps best suited to this

form of racing, although the more boats competing the better!  If your boat doesn’t yet have a 2010 LH number,

please contact Richard Hayden, the Chairman of the Handicap Committee (email Richard@mossglen.co.uk

or telephone 07973-141120).

Autohelms are not permitted to be used at any time in this series. 

Racing single handed is also permissible, and if three or more single-handers qualify for a series result, a separate

prize will be awarded to the leading boat.  However, no handicap adjustment will be made for those boats which

choose to sail single handed.

Before competing in the series, boats may declare that they will not set a spinnaker or cruising chute at any time

whilst racing in the series.  This declaration should be made by email to the Sailing Secretary (jandjlord@ntlworld.com),

who will then liaise with the Handicap Committee Chairman to establish the adjustment to be made to their Handicap.

The other two races in the series (each with a programmed 10.30am start time and a three hour time limit) are

scheduled to be held on:

Sunday 11th July (please note date change from that in Sailing Programme)

Saturday 21st August (which also doubles up as the Wallet Cup Race)

Julian Lord
WMYC Hon Sailing Secretary
22nd Apri

JOINT WMYC/DSC CRUISER RACING COURSE LIST – 2010 SEASON

Race Officer Notes: (a) Most courses bring the fleet back through the Finish line part way through the race, giving you the

chance to shorten if necessary. Mileage at this point is shown in brackets. (b) You are advised to consider the likely depth of

water when selecting a course, particularly at the MG mark. (c)When using the OLM/W the committee boat shall lay at the

Eastern most buoy and when using the OLM/E the committee boat shall lay at the Western most buoy.

Race Marks - Sponsors and Abbreviations used:

1- Quest Motor Group    2- J Gosling (Insurance Brokers) Ltd    3- Swift Boats    5- Voxige Communications

6- Fox's Chandlery & Outdoor    10- Fox's Marina & Boatyard    12- Victory at Mersea

14- Essex Woodcraft Joinery    17- Essex Concrete Ltd

OLM(W)- Green Target Ltd     OLM(S)- Dabchicks Sailing Club    OLM(E)- Space Work Place Ltd

Committee Boat Mooring Buoys: Tolhurst Fisher Solicitors and foxsonline.com

Race Chart and S.I.s - Gowen Ocean Sailmakers Ltd

Navigation Buoys:  BH - Bench Head     CB - Colne Bar     EAG - Eagle     IBH - Inner Bench Head     KN - Knoll    

NWK - North West Knoll  THT - Thirslet Spit     WSp - Wallet Spitway Buoy    Through F.L. - Through the Finish Line

Buoy                                                 Approx.   Location

1                                              51º 45.993'N  000º 56.321'E

2                                               51º 45.211'N  000º 56.620'E

3                                             51º 45.132'N  000º 52.900'E

5                                             51º 45.070'N  000º 54.328'E

6                                             51º 45.739'N  000º 58.956'E

10                                           51º 44.823'N  000º 59.414'E

12                                           51º 44.384'N  000º 52.765'E

14                                           51º 45.583'N  000º 54.138'E

17                                           51º 45.225'N  000º 54.083'E

Middle Ground                      51º 45.809'N  000º 55.346'E

Nass Beacon                          51º 45.821'N  000º 54.833'E

As at 07 May 2010

Alan Jones

Your Sailing Committee for 2010 were voted into their posts at the AGM on Saturday 30 January. There were two

new members, Sue Clifford and Mike Berry, filling the vacancies left by Kay Linscott and Simon Clifton.

The 2010 Sailing Committee are

Alan Jones Vice Commodore (sailing)

Julian Lord Sailing Secretary

Ed Taylor

Seamus Clifford

Mike Alpress

Sue Clifford

Mike Berry

Co-opted members are

Richard Hayden (EAORA representative)

Paul Gosling (Dabchicks liaison)

Please forward any sailing matters (racing and cruising) and suggestions, in the first instance, to Alan.

CRUISER FORUM 15TH NOVEMBER 2009

MINUTES

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Malcolm Peter, John Fisher, Jim McNaughton, Laurie Pearson.

MINUTES OF 2008 MEETING
Agreed

2010 DRAFT PROGRAMME
Simon Clifton presented next year’s draft programme and asked for comments. Discussion ensued on several subjects.
1) LH Series – reintroduced in 2009, but support disappointing. Ideas sought to generate increased numbers. Dave Lewis –

purely for this series, let the people racing set their own handicaps. Richard Hayden (Handicap Committee Chairman) against

this – it should be the boat which is handicapped, with no account taken of full water tanks, dirty bottoms etc. However,

suggested that for the series alone, we might try experiment of helms receiving an adjusted handicap according to their

ability/experience.
2) Additional passage (perhaps as feeders for Felixstowe or Crouch Sail East) and/or pursuit races discussed, but not included

for 2010.
3) Heybridge Pursuit date changed (swapped with Ladies Regatta). Main cruise dates then confirmed by Mike Berry:-
1st/2nd May – Shakedown Cruise, incorporating a Pursuit Race to Brightlingsea
5th June and onwards – Harwich Pursuit Race, followed by Suffolk Rivers Cruise
10th/11th July – Heybridge Pursuit weekend
15th July onwards – cruise to London via Queenborough
4) Sonatas. Match racing weekend re-introduced; Lorraine Cope offered to be OOD and Nick Glanvill offered Smile as

Committee Boat. Julian Lord suggested that an active Fleet Captain and a winter fleet meeting might get more Sonatas

competing in more than Friday Night and Mersea Week races.
5) Part of email from Malcolm Peter read, advocating some longer races. Some support for this – even from skippers of

smaller boats, provided courses chosen with no really long legs. Three dates agreed for approx 25 mile races going beyond

Bench Head – one race from each of Spring (Uncle Stanley’s Mug), Summer (DSC trophy to be advised) and Autumn

(Ellis Cup) series. Course constraints caused by weather on the day recognised.
6) Friday Series – widely regarded as a “brilliant series” and thanks voiced to OOD and Committee Boat crew. Paul Gosling

reported that Denny Dodds was keen to continue providing Zaidinha as Committee Boat. Lorraine Cope mentioned the need

for more support on the boat on windy nights to help pick up moorings etc. Paul Gosling to organise a rota from competitors

with large ribs/dorys to take the Committee Boat crew to/from Zaidinha before/after each race.
7) New Racers Day – continued for 2010, but slightly later in the season with the hope of attracting more participants who will

then go on to race in the other LH Series races. List to be put up seeking volunteers to sail with new racers.
8) Short Handed Series – better turnouts in 2009 (its second year) and support voiced for its continuation.

COMMITTEE BOATS/OODs
Brian Bolton with Horizon of Mersea would again undertake a number of OOD duties. The remainder would be allocated to

those boats which raced reasonably regularly in 2009.
A number of people have participated in OOD courses, most with limited actual racing experience. It was agreed that it would

be good to invite these to gain practical experience in 2010 by assisting with OOD duties. Brian Bolton to provide Julian Lord

with a list of names of people who undertook the ‘Club Plus’ course.
Race Officers to announce over VHF which Club was hosting the day’s race(s), as shown in the Racing Programme – and

where competitors should congregate afterwards.

SAFETY DECLARATIONS
It had been agreed by the Sailing Committees that in 2010, Safety Declarations should be submitted solely to the WMYC

Secretariat, who would copy details to DSC on a weekly basis.
It was proposed Nick Glanvill, seconded Roger Sydenham that, given the importance of the declarations, no boat would be

scored a result in any race until a completed, signed declaration has been submitted. Agreed unanimously.

MERSEA WEEK
Richard Hayden mentioned the success in establishing an IRC Fleet in this year’s Mersea Week. This would be continued in

2010, with efforts made to attract more visiting boats in all the main Cruiser and Classics classes.

The meeting closed at 12.00

Mooring Strops

Would members please advise the launchmen before their boat is launched, thus ensuring clean strops on the mooring buoy.

Kevin Mullins

Honorary Bo’sun

****************************************************

  .

The 'Stella Worlds' conclude at Burnham

At the Crouch Yacht Club on Bank Holiday Monday, Jo Barker presented the prizes at a Stella Dinner for the Classes’

50th Anniversary Championships. Jo kindly accepted the role, in memory of her father Sonny Cole, who had sailed

La vie en Rose, sail number 1, to a resounding victory 50 years ago.

Then owned by Dickie Bird, La Vie is owned by a WMYC member Peter Haldane. Dickie’s second Stella ‘Centaur’,

sail number 100 is also based at West Mersea owned by member Sebastian King.

As with our Stella, Peacock, when a design reaches 50 years the owners become custodians and just hope to stay ahead

of the maintenance.

After an eleven race series, which started at the Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classics then continued throughout Mersea week

and finished over the Bank Holiday Weekend at Burnham, ‘Scorpio’, Richard Mathews won the series. Second was

‘Estrella’, Tom Taylor Jones, who beat ‘Peacock’ on count-back of their scores.

‘Scorpio’ scored 8 points (firsts) whereas ‘Estrella’ and ‘Peacock’ scored 22 points each. Put into perspective, at the

concluding race in Suffolk, ‘Peacock’ finished 2nd after a light wind, long race. ‘Scorpio’ finished 1hr. 5 min. ahead!

The series saw appearances by 19 racing Stellas from the tropics of the Orwell to the arctic Medway! For non-racers a

lock–in at Heybridge was arranged by Trevor Spero, which was well attended and included a curry at the Blackwater

Sailing Club.

The class has enjoyed a very good resurgence for the 50th anniversary of its design. There are a number of good Stellas

for sale and looking for good homes. Visit www.stellasail.org.uk where you will also find a humorous account of Estella’s

visit to The British Classics in Cowes where Tom, not only won class 3, but came 1st overall in the 'Round Island Race'.

Did you know that there are 7 Stellas owned by WMYC members and one (Munter) undergoing restoration? Ignoring

the jokes about log racing, this year I have enjoyed some of the best one–design racing, ever.

Alan

STOP PRESS....................The truth is out

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The winds were brisk all weekend, and the courses as demanding as Burnham Week regulars have come to expect. "Vlissingen

number one, port; Outer Scheveningen, starboard; Crouch Gate" came over the radio in my lurid
nightmares after Saturday's five hours, which had beenfollowed by an epic nine hour Stella barbecue.

Nine Stellas met at Burnham to duke it out for the title of World Champion in the final round of the three regatta circuit. In truth it

had been settled already, with the legendary Richard Mathews' Scorpio scoring a
bilgeful of one-pointers at Levington  and West Mersea, despite parking up spectacularly on his home water, but the competition

for top boat this weekend was wide open.

No one makes money betting against Mick Willett in a Stella on the Crouch and although he no longer has Polaris to hand, he

drove the perennially cheerful Neil Pitman's Rollicker to the winner's podium with two firsts and
a second. With no discards over the three races, you had to be in it to win it, and the boatspeed and handling of the lightweight

flyers Scorpio and Estrella (Tom Taylor-Jones) was for nothing, as navi-guessing errors cost
them a race each. In the first Taylor-Jones made a spirited attempt to claim that leaving a passing mark to the wrong side qualified

for a 2% time penalty since there was no material advantage, which gambit failed, to the
relief of Ed & Fran Maggs in Polaris, who self-diagnosed the same mistake and went back (it took a very long time).

The dark horse of the whole series was Alan Jones' Stella Peacock, very fetching in her buttermilk livery and shocking pink kite.

Only once counting more than four, he sailed every race of the series, was always there or thereabouts and only lost second place

overall on countback to the sporadically brilliant Estrella. It could of course have been any one point over the series that finished it,

but one can't help thinking of the epic
struggle on the last beat (admittedly a six mile foultide beat) between Rollicker and Peacock on the Monday. Rollicker went right

in to play with the seals on the Maplin shore while Alan stayed on the rhumb line, but it
didn't work, and Peacock still had a couple of lengths in hand at the Gate. Like heavyweight boxers they slugged it out side by

side as Willett found inch by inch of speed to ride over them to weather.

On Saturday Roger Reid's Persephone found the fast button upwind and shot back into the Crouch to score a third in that race,

her best of the weekend, although she wasn't to trouble the scorers over the rest of the regatta.
Polaris with her crack Sydney crew (lions led by a donkey) showed good downwind speed at times, but they still have to learn

how to take Stellas uphill and depended for their third for the weekend on the kindness of others.

Vreny couldn't recapture her Levington form, having left their tactician AJ Gregory in his pram this weekend. Stardust had problems

that kept her indoors for the first two days before adding to the spectacle on Monday.
Polaris alone stayed on for the week, battling through Big Tuesday (30 knots) and Fat Friday (40 knots).

Mathews accepted the overall gong at the CYC prizegiving, entertaining the audience with beautifully delivered accounts of great

Stella moments from the past. His prize was the beautiful West Buxey Trophy, beautifully presented by the beautiful Burnham

Siren Jo Barker.

"The Bard of Creeksea"

(aka Ed Maggs)

      Estrella, Stella Peacock and Rollicker run out of the Crouch, Burnham Week 09

Development of a One Design Fleet at West Mersea

  *****************************************

  *  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MEETING REPORT *

 ************************************

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD BRIEFING DOCUMENT

In recent months it has become apparent that there is increasing interest in the development of One Design keelboat racing at

West Mersea. As well as invigorating the round-the-cans racing with close boat for boat competition, it could widen the participation

on the water by opening up possibilities of other formats such as team and match racing and inter-club challenges.

This initiative intends to identify and nominate a suitable class of boat, and then promote it as a One Design fleet, aiming to get

the fleet "launched" for the 2010 season, racing initially as part of the IRC fleet.

It is proposed to have an informal meeting to which all are invited to discuss the varied requirements that, collectively, we might

have of such a fleet, and then to nominate a suitable class. This meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday July 14th, 8pm at WMYC.

The Sailing Committee is researching possible candidate classes. In order to simplify the discussion/debate, it is intended to present

data at the meeting on a shortlist of 5 or maximum 6 classes, from which the nominated class will be chosen.  In nominating a suitable

class of boat, various options exist from the Sonatas across to sports boats to larger keelboats. From the comments received to date,

controlling cost is going to be paramount to the success of an OD fleet, so realistically we are looking at older but still reasonably active

classes that will generate cheap second hand boats on a regular basis.

If you have an idea of a class of boat you think might be suitable for consideration for the shortlist, then please let me know by

June 30th. Provide as much data as you can, in particular: purchase cost, running costs, crew numbers/weight, activity of class

association, numbers at National Champs, total numbers built, IRC/PY, accommodation etc. displacement and sail areas.

Please also get in touch beforehand to express any interest you might have in One Design sailing at Mersea. If you don't have a

particular boat in mind, explain the sort of boat you would be interested in, budget, accommodation etc.

We may, if time permits, issue a briefing pack prior to the meeting.

I look forward to receiving your thoughts, and seeing you on July 14th if not before.

Simon Clifton

email: s.clifton at suffolkbarns.co.uk

on behalf of the WMYC Sailing Committee

Asda Sporting Chance Sports Aid Award

James Bollingbroke was recently presented with this award,
nominated by the RYA, and provided by Asda/Colchester.
It is part of a wider initiative called ASDA Sporting Chance SportsAid
which aims to increase participation in sport across Britain as well
as supporting those selected.
Obviously he was delighted to receive it and once his GCSEs are
completed he will be participating in Kiel Week, The Worlds
on Lake Garda and the Nationals at Hayling island not forgetting
his local cadet weeks with his crew Matt Heathcote.

EAORA Club results

The 2009 RORC/EAORA East Coast Race started in Harwch bay at 2100 hours on 19th June and set off on a 130 mile course

to the Netherlands port of Ijmuiden. With a NW wind it was a fast race with the first yacht finished in 12 hours and 17 minutes.

But our interest was in the biggest Class - the Class 3 yachts  and finishing in 16 hours and 32 minutes, towin the class, was

the WMYC yacht "Dark & Stormy" owned and skippered by Richerd Bailey.

Thats not all - because in second place was the Elan 333 "Boatox" of Richard Hatden & Kay Linscott.... and then in Class 1

- David & Ann Chatterton's "Resting Goose" was third. A triple result for West Mersea - well done everyone. 

RACING RULES OF SAILING 2009-2012: GUIDANCE FROM THE RYA
MAIN CHANGES THAT AFFECT COMPETITORS AND PROTEST
COMMITTEES

Rule 3, Acceptance of the Rules

Rule 3(c) reverts to a previous version that holds that the decisions of protests committees and of the national

authority in any appeal are final, and are not to be contested in a court of law or in any other tribunal.

Rule 17, On the Same Tack; Proper Course

Rule 17.2 is deleted; so an off-wind boat and a close-hauled boat are now on the same footing. Any windward

boat can bear away below a proper course towards any overlapped leeward boat as long as the windward boat

keeps clear. And a boat clear ahead can bear away below a proper course into the intended course of a boat

clear astern steering to pass to leeward, as long as she complies with rule 16.1. Rule 17.1 is therefore now just rule 17.

Section C - At Marks and Obstructions

The words are substantially different, but their meaning is substantially the same.

There is detailed guidance on the new Section C (as well as all other changes) on the RYA

website at www.rya.org.uk/KnowledgeBaselracingrules/pages/Guidetothenewracingrules20092012.aspx and on

the ISAF website (www.sailing.org). Here are the main points:

Rule 31, Touching a Mark

The description of the one-turn penalty (was rule 31.2) is moved to rule 44 to be with the two-turns penalty,

and so rule 31.1 becomes rule 31.

Rule 41, Outside Help

A boat (including her crew) that receives outside help because she is in danger breaks rule 41.

Rule 42, Propulsion

A boat can use her engine 'or any other method' in circumstances stated in the sailing instructions

(to get off when aground, or to cross a shipping lane, for example), but only when the sailing instructions

allow this, and provided no significant advantage is gained.

Rule 60.3, Right to Protest

A protest committee can once again protest a boat based on information she herself has given

(such as a declaration), despite her being a interested party, as defined.

Rule 62, Redress

When a boat is unhappy about an adverse protest or redress decision, her only option (apart from appealing)

is to ask for a reopening, where the decision to reopen is at the discretion of the protest committee. She can

no longer request redress (where it was easier to get a hearing).

Rule 63.4, Interested Party

Good practice is now part of the rule - protest committee members must declare any possible 'self-interest'

as soon as they are aware of it.

Rule 64.1(b), Decisions: Penalties and Exoneration

When a boat has taken the penalty applicable to the rule she broke (turn(s), retirement), she cannot then

be disqualified in a protest. However, if it finds that she also broke rule 2, Fair Sailing, the penalty she took

will not prevent her being given a DNE disqualification (and a turn(s) penalty remains ineffective when

injury / serious damage / significant advantage results).

Rule 69, Allegations of Gross Misconduct

The rule is now clear on how to deal with situations where the competitor cannot or will not attend, or when a

hearing cannot be held promptly for other reasons

Definitions

The term overlap can apply to opposite-tack boats when sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind, but it is significant

only at obstructions. .

       WEST MERSEA YACHT CLUB
       &
       DABCHICKS SAILING CLUB

• NOTICE OF RACE
• &
• SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
  2010
• 

• 

   

  
  WEST MERSEA JOINT CRUISER RACING 2010
  NOTICE OF RACE
  1. ORGANISING AUTHORITY
  The races are organised jointly by West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club.
  2. RULES
  The races will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012,the RYA Prescriptions thereto,

• this Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions and all Appendices issued.
  3. ADVERTISING
  All racing will be conducted under Regulations 20.3 and 20.5 of the ISAF Advertising Code.
  4. ELIGIBILITY
  Any boat owned by or chartered to a member of any RYA recognised Yacht or Sailing Club may

• enter these events subject to the following conditions:-
  4.1 Any trophy which is subject to a covenant requiring it to be awarded only to a WMYC or DSC
• member will not be awarded to non members of those clubs.
  4.2 IRC Fleet - A boat racing in this fleet must be in possession of a valid 2010 IRC certificate, a copy of which must be
• lodged with the Secretariat of WMYC (who will forward a copy to DSC). Both clubs must be advised of any alteration of the
• rating during the season. Dayboats in possession of an appropriate IRC certificate shall be eligible to enter those races
• in IRC series that do not include race marks to the east of the Knoll buoy.
  Owners of all yachts sailing under IRC one-design certificates are reminded that, under IRC Rules 13.7 and 22.4.2, they
• are required to comply with their respective class rules, including crew weight/number restrictions.
  4.2 LH Series, LH Fleet in Centenary Regatta and Commodores Regatta, Short Handed Series, Ladies Regatta Cruiser Race
• and DSC Friday Series - The handicaps used will be those issued by the Joint Handicap Committee, based on the RYA
• Portsmouth Yardstick System. These handicaps may be subject to amendment by the Joint Handicap Committee during
• the course of the season.
  4.3 Competitors sailing in either fleet must, before racing, deposit with the Secretariat of WMYC (who will forward a copy to
• DSC) a completed and signed Safety Declaration, as per the attached form. WITHOUT EXCEPTION, FAILURE TO COMPLY
• WITH THIS REQUIREMENT WILL RESULT IN BOATS BEING SCORED D.N.C.
  4.4 It is a condition of entry that yachts may be required to provide a committee vessel, OOD & start party for a designated
• race or races. Owners are reminded that if their yacht is so designated it is their responsibility to ensure these duties are
• carried out preferably by themselves and their regular racing crew. Failure to perform these duties or to provide an adequate
• substitute is a serious matter and suitable penalties may be applied.
  5. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
  This Notice of Race applies to the following series:-
  Mersea Spring Points 7 races
  Mersea Summer Points Races 4 & 5 only
  Mersea Autumn Points 7 races
  WMYC Points Championship 16 races (WMYC Members only)
  WMYC LH Series 6 races (WMYC Members only)
  WMYC Centenary Regatta 3 races
  Short Handed Series 4 races
  DSC Commodores Regatta 4 races
  Ladies Regatta Cruiser Race
  DSC Friday Series 13 races
  Details of dates and start times of individual races are set out in the sailing programme published by each club.
  6. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
  6.1 Competitors participate in the races entirely at their own risk. See RRS Rule 4, Decision to Race. The organising authority
• will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or
• after the races
  6.2 The Race Organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the
• owner/competitor, his skipper or crew as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover every competitor warrants
• the suitability of his boat for the race or races. A boat is entirely responsible for its own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and
• nothing whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. It is for boats to
• decide whether it is fit to sail in the conditions in which it will find itself. By launching or going to sea, the boat confirms that it
• is fit for those conditions and that its crew is competent to sail and compete in them.
  6.3 Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for
• any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing.
• The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and including the Organising Authority, the Race
• Committee, the Race Officer, patrol boats and Beach-masters.
  6.4 The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of its responsibilities.
  6.5 The owner or owner’s representative of all boats is responsible for ensuring that she is equipped and seaworthy so as to
• be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather;
• and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know how to use it.
  7. SAFETY OF BOAT & CREW
  The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the owner or owner’s representative. He shall do
• his utmost to ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy and manned by an experienced crew (sufficient in numbers)
• who are physically fit to face bad weather.
  He shall ensure the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging and equipment. He shall also ensure that all safety equipment is properly
• maintained and stowed ready for use in positions known by all those on the boat. Crews shall know the recommended way to use
• the safety equipment.
  IT IS ALSO STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT HE SHALL REQUIRE EVERY PERSON ON BOARD TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET IN APPROPRIATE
• CONDITIONS.
  8. INSURANCE
  Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 per event or
• the equivalent.
  
  
  SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
  1 RULES
  1.1 Races will be sailed under the Rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-12 (RRS), the RYA prescriptions thereto,
• the Notice of Race, and these Sailing Instructions, together with any subsequent amendments to these Sailing Instructions.
  2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
  2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official WMYC notice board located in the entrance hallway of WMYC.
  3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
  3.1 Written changes will be posted on the relevant official notice board. When changes are issued within the 24 hour period
• immediately prior to the start of a race, they will be signalled by displaying Code Flag L on the mainmast at the relevant
• clubhouse and may be communicated by VHF radio from the Committee Boat using Channel 77 callsign ‘MOLLIETTE’.
  3.2 Oral changes may be made from the Committee Boat using VHF Channel 77 callsign ‘MOLLIETTE’. When oral changes have
• been issued, the Committee Boat will display Code Flag L over Flag O.
  4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
  4.1 Signals made ashore will be flown from the yardarm in front of WMYC and details will be posted on the WMYC notice board.
  5 SCHEDULE OF RACES
  5.1 Races are scheduled in accordance with the 2010 WMYC and DSC Sailing Programmes.
  5.2 Unless an amendment notice or an appendix to these Sailing Instructions is applicable, there will generally be only one race,
• starting at 10.30am. However, on days when there is a LH Series Race, the schedule of races will be:
  IRC Race – start 10.30am
  LH Series Race – start 10.40am
  Unless otherwise instructed, all boats will sail the same course, as designated by the Race Officer on the day.
  5.3 In any fleet, the minimum number of yachts required for a race to be started is three.
  5.4 Results will be published separately for all yachts that have an IRC handicap.
  5.5 All yachts will be given an LH handicap by the Joint Handicap Committee and results will
  also be published including every yacht that raced on each occasion. This is to enable yachts with no IRC rating to join in the
• Mersea Spring , Summer and Autumn Points series races.
  5.6 Points will be awarded on the following basis:
  * Mersea Spring Points, Mersea Summer Points, Mersea Autumn Points and WMYC Club IRC Championship – points will only
• be awarded to yachts holding a valid 2010 IRC rating.
  * LH Series – points will only be awarded to yachts holding an LH handicap allocated by the Joint Handicap Committee, but no
• IRC rating.
  
  
  5.7 When the OOD has abandoned or postponed a race and it cannot be sailed on its original day the Sailing Committee will
• convene an appropriate meeting to decide what action to take. They will take into account the individual circumstances and
• the knock-on effect on any of the race series.
  6 CLASS FLAGS
  6.1 The following Class Flags will be used :-
  IRC Fleet Numeral Pennant 1
  LH Fleet Numeral Pennant 5
  6.2 Class flags must be flown from the backstay for Joint IRC and Cruiser Races. Penalties may be imposed for non-compliance.

  7 RADIO COMMUNICATION
  7.1 For reasons of clarification, the transmission or receiving of information at any time before, during or after the race concerning

• Sailing Instructions, matters affecting the management of the race, or all or part of the course to be sailed shall not be grounds

• for protest under RRS Rule 41 (Outside Help) nor grounds for redress under RRS Rule 62.
  7.2 Since information regarding the race may be broadcast on VHF Channel 77 callsign MOLLIETTE, competitors are strongly

• advised to monitor that channel before and during the race.
  8 COURSES
  8.1 Unless amendments or alternative sailing instructions are given, courses will be taken from the 2010 WMYC and DSC

• combined Course Card. The number of the course to be sailed will be that displayed on the rail of the Committee Boat at

• the Fleet warning signal. The course number may be removed after the One Minute Signal and replaced with the course for

• the following fleet. If the number of the Course displayed on the Committee Boat is followed by X2, this denotes that 2 laps

• of that course should be sailed, X3 denotes that 3 laps of that course should be sailed, etc.
  8.2 If course number 77 is displayed then the OOD will broadcast the course to be sailed on VHF Channel 77, call sign “Molliette”.

• The broadcast will be issued approximately 15 minutes before the start of the first race of the day.

  9 MARKS
  9.1 The majority of racing marks are yellow can shaped buoys that may additionally have a black flag. The marks are identified

• as: 1 Quest, 2 Gosling Insurance, 3 swiftboats.co.uk, 5 Voxige Communications, 6 Fox’s Chandlery & Outdoor, 10 Fox’s Marina,
  12 www.victoryatmersea.com, 14 Essex Woodcraft, 17 Essex Concrete, and MG Middle Ground. Their approximate positions are

• shown on the Course Card.
  9.2 If a mark is damaged or missing it may be replaced temporarily by a mark of a different appearance.
  9.3 All other race marks shown on the Course Card are charted navigation marks.
  

  10 THE START
  10.1.1 The starting sequence will be in accordance with Rule 26 of the 2009-12 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The following

• starting sequence will therefore be used.

  Signal Flag and Sound Minutes before starting signal
  Warning Class Flag hoist & one sound signal 5
  Preparatory Code Flag “P” (or other appropriate signal detailed in Rule 26) hoist & one sound signal 4
  1 Minute Preparatory flag down & one long sound signal 1
  Start Class Flag down & one sound signal 0

  10.1.2 The countdown sequence may be broadcast on VHF channel 77, call sign ‘Molliette’. This broadcast will be advisory only;

• competitors should refer to the start signals.
  The Start Line
  Either: 10.2 The Nass Line - defined as a line between the main mast of the Committee Boat moored to the North of the

• Nass Beacon and the OLM displayed on a board on the Committee Boat. When the Nass start line is used, the Nass Beacon

• is designated an Inner Limit Mark at the start, but is not necessarily on the line.
  10.2.1 If the board displays ‘S’ then Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ - DSC - (Yellow Buoy with a Black Flag) will be the OLM.
  10.2.2 If the board displays ‘E’ then Outer Limit Mark ‘E’ – Outer Space - (Yellow
  Buoy with a Red Flag) will be the OLM.
  10.2.3 If the board displays ‘W’ then Outer Limit Mark ‘W’ – Green Target - (Black Buoy with a Green Flag) will be the OLM.
  Or: 10.3 a line between the main mast of the Committee Boat moored adjacent to either Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ (Black Flag),

• Race Mark 1 Quest, Race Mark 5 Voxige Communications or Race Mark 14 Essex Woodcraft and the chosen mark. When this

• start line is used, the Committee Vessel may lay an inner distance mark. This mark will be described by the Race Officer as

• part of the start line details and must be treated strictly as a mark of the course.
  Which start line to be used shall be decided by the OOD and this information will be transmitted on VHF channel 77 using the

• call sign “Molliette”, approximately 30 minutes before the start of the race.
  10.4 When the Committee Boat is on station at the designated start line she will display an orange flag 10 minutes before

• the first start, accompanied by a single sound signal. This is to show that she is ready to begin the start sequence for the next race.
  10.5 Competitors shall start in the direction of the first mark of the designated course.

   

   

  11 CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START
  RRS rule 33 is changed:
  11.1.1 Should a Race Committee Boat, positioned at a turning Mark of the course, display Code Flag C and make a repetitive

• sound signal, then the course has been changed and the course to be sailed is as follows:
  11.1.2 Round the Mark at which a Committee Boat displaying Code Flag C is positioned as required by the course displayed

• at the start of the race, then:
  11.1.3 If the original finishing direction from the last mark of the course was westerly, then leave MG Buoy to port and finish

• in a westerly direction.
  11.1.4 If the original finishing direction from the last mark of the course was easterly, then leave 14 Essex Woodcraft Buoy to

• starboard and finish in an easterly direction.
  Shortened course
  11.2 The Race Officer may also shorten a course in accordance with RRS 32.

  12 THE FINISH
  The Finishing Line
  12.1 The finishing line will be between the main mast of the Committee Boat moored to the North of the Nass Beacon and the

• Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ (Black Flag) to the South of the Nass Beacon.
  Committee Boat Off Station
  12.2 When finishing, in the event of the Committee Boat not being on station, boats shall pass between the Nass beacon and

• Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ (Black Flag) and record the time when the Nass Beacon bears due North Magnetic. The timepiece used shall

• be presented to the Race Committee as soon as practical when ashore.

  13 TIME LIMITS
  RRS 35 is changed for all races:-
  13.1 For the three designated ‘Long Races,’ the time limit is 6 hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the

• race valid. Any other boat not completing the course in a further 2 hours (i.e. a total of 8 hours) will be deemed to have retired,

• and will be scored DNF.
  13.2 For all other individual trophy races, the time limit is 4½ hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the

• race valid. Any other boat not completing the course in a further 1½ hours (i.e. a total of 6 hours) will be deemed to have

• retired, and will be scored DNF.
  13.3 For all other races, the time limit is 3 hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the race valid. Any other

• boat not completing the course in a further hour (i.e. a total of 4 hours) will be deemed to have retired, and will be scored DNF.
  
  14 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
  14.1 A boat which wishes to lodge a protest shall verbally inform the OOD aboard the Committee Boat as soon as possible

• after finishing or retiring. Protests shall be lodged in writing to the relevant Clubhouse by 18.00hrs on the day of the race, or

• within two hours of finishing, whichever is later.
  
  
  15 SCORING
  15.1.1 The Low Point System as defined in Appendix A4.1 will be used. Races will therefore be scored as follows:
  1st place – 1 point, 2nd place -2 points, 3rd place – 3 points, 4th place – 4 points and so on.
  15.1.2 A boat which comes to the starting area but does not start, does not finish, retires after finishing or is disqualified shall

• be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that come to the starting area for that race. A boat

• that does not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats

• entered in the series. This changes Appendix A4.2.
  15.1.3 OODs who normally race will receive their average points for the races in which they have competed during that series,

• for any race missed in that series while serving as OOD, calculated at the end of the series.
  Position in a series
  15.2.1 In a series, each boat’s score shall be the total of her race scores, excluding the number of her worst scores as specified

• in 15.6.1 below. The boat with the lowest series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.
  Ties in races and series
  15.3.1 Boats with the same corrected time in a race will be awarded equally the position as if one boat had that corrected time.

• Subsequent boats will be allocated positions as if tied boats ahead had been placed with different corrected times. This changes

• RRS Rule A7.
  15.3.2 When there is a tie in a series, the tie will be broken in accordance with RRS Rule A8.
  Extracting results for other series
  15.4.1 For WMYC and DSC series within combined races each boat will have its points calculated for the relevant event as if only

• boats for that particular event had been racing.
  15.4.2 For the Mersea Summer Series, only boats entering the Dabchicks Sail East Regatta and owned by WMYC or DSC members

• will be eligible to score points for Races 1, 2 and 3 of the Mersea Summer Series.

  Number of Races and Number required to make a Series
  15.6 The number of races scheduled in each series and the minimum number required to make a series in each case is set out

• in the following table:-
  
  SERIES                         NUMBER OF RACES          MINIMUM REQUIRED
  MERSEA SPRING SERIES             7                             4
  MERSEA SUMMER SERIES            5                             3
  MERSEA AUTUMN SERIES            7                             4
  WMYC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP    16                              8
  LH CRUISER SERIES                  6                              3
  DSC FRIDAY SERIES                13                              7
  SHORT HANDED SERIES             4                              2

• 
  

  Discards Allowed
  15.6.1 The number of scores that will be excluded for each boat in a series will be determined by the number of races completed

• in that series in accordance with the following table:-
  Number of Races Completed Less than 3 3-6 7-9 10-12 13-15
  Number of Scores Excluded None 1 2 3 4

  16 PRIZES
  16.1 In general, prizes will be awarded in relation to the number of entries for each Race, Series, Division or Fleet as appropriate.
  Up to 4 entries 1st Place only will be awarded.
  5 to 8 entries 1st and 2nd places will be awarded.
  Over 8 entries 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded.
  16.2 Trophies and prizes will be presented at each Club’s laying up supper.

  17 SAFETY REGULATIONS
  17.1 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the OOD as soon as possible.